Ahh, the breakfast sandwich. A perfect example of simple flavors being put together to make a meaty, juicy, cheesy concoction between two toasted carb vessels of your liking that you can take on the go in your early morning commute hassle-free, and loaded with comfort and calories. The breakfast sandwich is one of the few food items whose integrity went untouched for years. All of that changed once McDonald’s introduced the McGriddle, and from there, the breakfast sandwich broke the glass ceiling. Americans eat more than 300 million breakfast sandwiches every year, thus restaurants have to step their game up, and compete to stand out. We picked the number one, most unique and delicious breakfast sandwiches in all 50 states. Each one packs charm, fun, carbs, and calories. If you didn’t go out to buy a breakfast sandwich after reading this article, then hands down, something is wrong with you.
Sandwich Deck in Anchorage, Alaska
The Sandwich Deck has been modestly plaiting some of the best comfort food in Alaska for the past 15 years. Whether you are looking for an authentic Alaskan dish like their Halibut Burger, or prefer to get your breakfast fix with what you see here, the Reindeer Breakfast Sandwich.
No games here, just good old toasted white bread, and cheddar cheese all on a bed of a snappy sausage and fluffy eggs. Alaska is a place where the views are so exotic you need to take it down a notch to enjoy them. This sandwich does just that, everything you want in a bite while you’re gazing out the window.
Noble Sandwich Co. Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, has gone from a relatively unmentioned destination to one of the most trending cities in America, and Noble Sandwich Co. seems to know this because they put out all the stops to give Austin her true Texas calling of a breakfast sandwich.
You are looking at the “PBLT” this bad boy of a sandwich gives you a run for your money featuring smoked pork belly, roasted tomato, and garlic mayo, fried egg (optional) and cheddar cheese and chili, all between two very fat biscuits. Yes, please!
@ the Corner in Little Rock, Arkansas
The people of Little Rock, Arkansas know more than any American what good comfort food really is, and if you want to impress, then it’s best you try to keep things as simple as you can, but flashy and notable in the same time.
The” Breakfast Bologna” does just that! It all starts with a freshly toasted ciabatta roll, beef bacon jam, fried egg, smoked gouda, pickled red onion, and to add some good old zest some good old lemon-thyme aioli, not enough? How about a side of hash browns or “#browns,” as they say it!
Koko Head Café, Honolulu, Hawaii
Celebrity chef and owner of Koko Head Café Lee Anne Wong opened this adorable island-style brunch house in 2013. Her brunch menu includes a brief section of “Hand Food,” meaning small deckers with just two items to keep things simple yet perfect. The sandwich you are looking at is nothing any one can predict.
The “Elvis’ Revenge”; is an homage to the King of Rock and Roll’s favorite food combo starring banana tempura, billionaire’s bacon (say what?) local honey toasted coconut, and peanut butter, all served on a sweet brioche bun! I’ll take three, please. Two for now and one for later!
Casetta Kitchen, Madison, Washington
Casetta Kitchen is the go-to staple restaurant for Porchetta and all things pork. If you never heard of it, let me indulge you. Porchetta is a slow-roasted boneless suckling pig. Casetta makes their own, and then goes on to thinly slice it, serving it on focaccia, and throwing in provolone, hot giardiniera, and topping it all off with a fried egg.
It’s not a breakfast sandwich without eggs in my book. Plain and simple. Or in this case full of surprises, and delicious!
The French Goat, Lewisburg, West Virginia
Croque Madames is an old 19th-century dish that at most eating establishments at best looks mediocre, and un-edible, but not at The French Goat!
Their Croque Madames starts with tangy sourdough bread and substitutes the usual ham for delicious slices of Italian prosciutto, and they then top it off with gruyere cheese, mornay sauce, fried egg, and a side of salad and fries. Take a walk on their garden terrace if you feel too full afterward.
Biscuit and Bean, Seattle, Washington
If you want to get yourself a sandwich at the Biscuit and Bean, you better set that alarm for 7:30 in the morning and be out of the house by 9. This bustling breakfast hub has been known to sell out of their biscuit’s early in the day.
The restaurant offers five different breakfast sandwiches. Their flagship sandwich is what you are looking at here. This bacon egg and cheese on a biscuit packs a punch, and it doesn’t stop there, be ready for smoked gouda, prosciutto, a buttery fried egg, pickled pepper aioli, and a touch of spinach all topped off with a swipe of sweet tomato jam. I mean, of course, they’re going to run out at this rate!
The Fancy Biscuit, Richmond, Virginia
Take a gander at the “Big Apple” breakfast sandwich. This sandwich really pays homage to its namesake and gives you everything you would expect from the Big Apple.
It all starts with their house made fried chicken that is smothered with apple butter barbecue sauce, “Granny Smith Slaw,” and their house-made bleu cheese vinaigrette, all between two buttery biscuits (egg optional). This is the breakfast to eat if you have nothing to do for the rest of the day. So, plan for a nap after if you can!
Denver Biscuit Company
This all started in 2009 when owners Ashleigh and Drew Shader decided that there was a desperate need for a good biscuit in the city of Denver.
The two went all out on a quest for the perfect sandwich at the Atomic Cowboy Bar to test their recipes and served them to hungover patrons at 8 in the morning. Soon after they opened “Biscuit Bus” food truck hit the road under the name “Denver Biscuit Company.” Make sure to keep your eye out and make time to stand in line!
Pig and Pint in Jackson, Mississippi
The Pig and Pint are known first and foremost for their first-rate authentic Mississippi BBQ. They are, however, also known by locals as the top destination for a well-rounded no games grand slam breakfast sandwich.
Bask your eyes, and let your mouth water as you look at this picture of their Fried Bologna Sandwich, with thick-cut house-made Bologna, on their golden brioche bun. Keep it coming with an over-easy fried egg, American cheese, specialty “comeback” dressing, and house-made pickles. Don’t worry Pig and Pint, after taking a bite out of this one I don’t think I’m leaving the city of Jackson!
Café Marie Jeanne, Chicago, Illinois
The favorite breakfast sandwich of the mom and pop owned Café Marie Jeanne consists of egg, cheese, and any two of nearly three dozen topping options that range from various smoked fish, bacon, duck confit, and even calf brains, shad roe, and fried chicken livers.
All this served sloppy on toasted country white bread, or an English muffin with fries. Try to pick this up without getting messy I dare you!
John’s Roast Pork, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
I myself grew up in the city of brotherly love, or more or less very close to it just across the river. I can tell you as a proud Eagle, we are all pigs who love and will only eat good food, and John’s Roast Pork is our chapel of piggery both before and after a game at “The Linc.”
John’s was named by the James Beard Foundation as an “American Classic” in 2006 and is a low-key sandwich stop that serves up all things cheese steaks and the likes. Check out their all-day breakfast menu, and don’t be fooled by the simplicity of their Roast Pork Sandwich, as we regarded as the golden gem of John’s Roast Pork!
Cateye Café, Bozeman, Montana
The Cateye Café for sure lives up to its name in its cat style attitude. Don’t expect a customer is always right attitude here. There are rules to abide by.
“No ordering off menu, if you have a fork, you don’t need a spoon to mix your coffee, and if you don’t finish that coffee, you may catch some stink eye” All worth the bite of “The Alley Cat” breakfast sandwich, featuring fried egg, bacon, brie, tomato, and peppercorn aioli on toasted wheat, and a side of tater tots.
Love Handle, Indianapolis, Indiana
Chef Chris Benedyk has spent a large portion of his career transforming overlooked cuts of meat like tendons, tongue, belly, and heart into sophisticated yet simple delicious creations.
Above is the never getting old, Biscuit Slider with pork belly, and roasted beet pimento cheese. You will order more, so bring that credit card and just close your eyes and swipe away.
Fried Egg I’m In Love, Portland, Oregon
You are looking at the Yolko Ono, a sandwich consisting of fried egg, house-made pesto, and parmesan cheese all surrounded by homemade toasted sourdough bread. Are you really hungry? Upgrade to the Yolko Zeppelin and double everything inside.
The eggs here are somewhat legend, sourced from nearby farms, and cooked consistently over-medium, and then sprinkled by a secret spice blend they call “Magic Egg Dust.”
Drip Café, Hockessin, Delaware
The “Cali” breakfast sandwich is an honorable nod to organic loving West Coasters and features a fried egg, mozzarella, avocado, arugula, and basil aioli on sourdough toast.
If you would like something a bit more on the meaty end, try their Brunch Burger, an eight-ounce beef patty served on grilled sourdough along with smoked bacon, fried onion, sliced tomato, green chiles, smoked gouda, and an over-medium egg.
Doo-Dah Diner, Wichita, Kansas
The Doo-Dah Diner has picked up something of a cult following in the city of Wichita, and this picture says it all.
A beautiful thick slab of crispy fried Bologna, runny fried egg, gooey Cheddar, and a perfectly toasted wheat berry bread. This place has been voted Wichita’s “Best Breakfast” for three years in a row, and for obvious reasons. Keep it simple; keep it good.
Eckerlin Meats, Cincinnati, Ohio
When you see a role like this in front of you, you may think one of two things. “Either these guys don’t really care, or this meat must be so delicious, that anything else will distract from its perfectness.”
That’s precisely what we are looking at here. The $3.50 Goetta, egg, and cheese sandwich. Goetta is a German meat-and-grain sausage that was brought into the mainland more than 200 years ago by German immigrants and has been considered a delicacy ever since, and Eckerlin Meats definitely packs the best one in America!
Café Lush, Albuquerque, New Mexico
When you see a sandwich like this. You know the magic of the American melting pot is alive and well.
A French Croissant, with spicy green chile turkey sausage, your choice of eggs, with tomato, and cheddar cheese. All with a side of fruit salad.
Allenwood General Store, Allenwood, New Jersey
Nothing is more depressing than finding out that one of the best breakfast sandwiches is in your neck of the woods, and you still haven’t tried it yet.
This custom store clerk creation called the “P&L Custom,” a mountain of pork roll (or “Taylor Ham” as we say it,) egg, cheese, sausage, bacon, all slabbed on a poppy seed roll with red pepper relish. Jersey “ain’t” that bad after all!
MTO Café, Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada
Obviously, our best breakfast sandwich pick for Nevada had to have come from no other than Las Vegas. This sandwich called “The Fat Elvis,” is yet another homage to the king himself, featuring yet again his favorite ingredients of bacon, bananas, and peanut butter, with an addition of Nutella, and fresh strawberries.
No bread here, by the way, just two thick slabs of griddled French Toast. “Until we meet again, may God bless you as he has blessed me” – Elvis Presley
Husk in Nashville, Tennessee
Husk is true to their ethos of Southern culinary cooking, attracting customers with it’s low- country classics such as the chicken-fried steak and eggs smothered in white gravy.
All their food is sourced from the freshest fare regional producers, and the menu changes almost daily. You can also build your own sandwich here, make sure to give their 24-month-aged- country ham a try slab that bad boy in your sandwich!
La Sandwicherie, Miami, Florida
If you blindfolded me, beat me to a pulp, then put me to sleep, and dragged me on a jet, to an unknown location, and stuck this sandwich in front of me without ever seeing it before.
I would know without a doubt that I am in Miami, Florida. A fluffy French croissant, bacon, mozzarella cheese, lettuce tomato, red onion, pickles. Yes, obviously, I am in Miami!
Icehouse, Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Icehouse is located in what was formerly the loading dock of the old Minneapolis, Cedar Lake Ice & Fuel Co., where more than 75,000 tons of ice were once harvested annually. The latest iteration is the Icehouse two-floor restaurant, a late-night destination with a wondrous breakfast creation.
The P&E Sandwich, featuring fried egg and locally made pastrami from B’Wiched Deli, and a side of roasted chiles, or if you prefer a loaded Biscuit instead.
Handy’s Lunch, Burlington, Vermont
Growing up in a family of Jewish immigrants from both the middle east, and Europe, I was not necessarily required to order my food kosher, but this would have been off limits to order in front of my family simply because of the size.
It’s called the Super G, and it’s not for the faint-hearted as it features three layers of ham, bacon, sausage, two eggs, and American cheese. Three layers that are an homage to the three-generation owned Vermont stable that is Handy’s.
Phillips Avenue Diner, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The A.M. Croissant Sandwich is just as much a mouth full of a name as the Croissant is a mouthful of a sandwich.
The A.M. offers up a Paris-meets-Midwest charm featuring bacon, spinach, and two over-hard eggs served on a flaky house-made croissant and sriracha-ranch dressing. “I’d like that with a side of more please!”
Ten Sandwiches, Westerly, Rhode Island
A top priority for this beachy Rhode Island café is to source all their ingredients from local purveyors. This is the number three sandwich on the breakfast sandwich menu with prosciutto, farm egg, fresh mozzarella, basil, and red onion on toasted ciabatta.
If you ask me, this is the perfect sandwich for after a swim on a sunny day.
Hot Suppa, Portland, Maine
You are looking at Hot Suppa’s “roll up your sleeves,” Pulled Pork Egg Sandwich on sourdough, complete with smoked Cheddar, and South Carolina barbecue sauce. Still hungry?
Maybe you don’t want to leave! Don’t worry the Corned Beef Egg Sandwich with an over-medium egg, gruyere cheese, pickled red onion, and spicy brown mustard on marble rye is enough of a reason to stay for more!
Blue Dog Bakery and Café, Louisville, Kentucky
Blue Dog combines its local whole-animal butcher shop, “Red Hog,” and Blue Dog Bakery to make some of the best-sourced ingredient sandwiches in the State of Kentucky.
Like this free-range egg, bacon, and avocado sandwich that reminds diners what breakfast should be! It looks small so get yourself the poached eggs on levain with serrano ham, spinach and parmesan too.
University Library Café, Des Moines, Iowa
On top of their 40 beers on tap, including very hard-to-find craft beers as well as Iowa microbrews, this spot has some great breakfast sandwiches that rock the “Drake” neighborhood of Des Moines, such as the Texas Melt, with bacon, eggs, and cheese on Texas toast all with a side of country potatoes.
Keep killing it in the breakfast game Des Moines, hope to see what else you have in store for us!
Folk Art, Atlanta, Georgia
You are looking at no other than the Folk Art’s very own, “Folk Southern Fried: It’s fried chicken, egg, and sausage gravy (yes you read that right,) sausage freaking gravy all piled onto two griddled biscuits.
Did you not come hungry enough? I personally would be offended, but you can still get the slightly more comfortable to stomach down turkey sausage, egg and cheese on your choice of a biscuit, asiago bagel, or English muffin.
Culprit Café, Omaha, Nebraska
Culprit may not have been the first establishment to incorporate cornbread into a sandwich, but they damn sure took it the next level.
After we take a moment to thank the first person who ever thought of a cornbread sandwich, let’s move towards talking about the “Egg White Sandwich, Silky egg whites drenched in Mornay sauce, all stuffed between two slices of blue cornbread, along with fresh dill pickles, and greens.
Miss Shirley’s Cafe in Baltimore, Maryland
Going down the east coast, you will find that most of the breakfast sandwiches you come across ingredients that are meant more for comfort than they are for health or energy.
Although a sausage filled, cheese lathered flour-based sandwich is my breakfast of choice, I think that Miss Shirley’s Southern Slammer may be a better substitute for a balanced breakfast featuring fried green tomato, applewood smoked bacon, mashed avocado, Cheddar, and a fried egg, all settled in between freshly baked pumpernickel bread.
Buffalo & Bergen in Washington, D.C.
If you had your way around the Big Apple, maybe you ate some pizza, enjoyed a couple of bars, perhaps you checked out Little Italy, or china town. Chances are you have seen some of the best food you ever had in your life, but it’s in un arguable truth that the best of all foods N.Y. has to offer is the bagel.
That is unless you go to Buffalo & Bergen in Washington, D.C. where you can get flavor combo consisting of fresh mozzarella, hot soppressata, pesto, and a sunny-side-up egg, all brought together by the loving embrace of a house-made bagel.
Mike & Patty’s in Boston, Massachusetts
Mike & Patty’s boasts a very tiny storefront with little to no room to turn around during busy lunch hours. However, what Mike & Patty lack in size, they make up for in flavor.
This sandwich features Eggs, and thick-cut smoky bacon meets creamy avocado, sharp Cheddar and red onion, all on slightly sweet multigrain bread with a spread of house mayo.
Persephone Bakery in Jackson, Wyoming
The most depressing part about writing an article like this is the fact that I know that the chances of being able to knock these all off my bucket list are little to none, but I’m staying strong for you because maybe you can!
This bakery in the middle of “Cowboy Country” makes a traditional French croissant made with 100% real butter, and packs between it two organic eggs, Gruyere cheese, a choice of ham and bacon, and a Dijon aioli. What can go wrong here?
Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Lord forgive me my sins. What a beauty. Leave it to North Carolina to birth one of the most beautiful little breakfast sandwiches in America.
The Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen is an award-winning drive-through restaurant with two locations in Chapel Hill, and there most loved menu item of all, the fried chicken, bacon egg and cheese on a biscuit. It’s recommended to get a side of hash browns, and go ahead and squeeze them between everything else! Why not at this point, right?
Luke in New Orleans, Louisiana
Uke in New Orleans is a creole-inspired brasserie located on the world-famous Charles Avenue, just steps away from the French Quarter of New Orleans.
Here you can dive into their classic Boudin Benedict on an English muffin, or have yourself a BLTAE or double-smoked bacon, arugula, avocado, tomato, and sunny side up eggs on toasted sourdough.
Zookz in Phoenix, Arizona
When it comes to innovative breakfast sandwich ideas out west. Zookz may be taking home the cheese.
Zookz boasts five unique, stuffed-to-the-brim breakfast sandwiches that all cost under $6! There’s not much to say here other than the fact that I may fly to Phoenix just to get a taste of one of these, or all five of them!
BEC in New York, New York
So, we are back on the east coast, in no other than New York city herself. N.Y. has it all, from one-dollar slices, and their Sabrett street meat. BEC stands for a bacon egg and cheese of course, so why not name your restaurant BEC if that’s what you do best?
Try the BEC classic which combines two over-easy eggs with applewood-smoked bacon, and New York sharp cheddar on a bacon-and-cheese crusted brioche bun. If you hate this sandwich, you are from another planet.
Stanley Baking Co. in Stanley, Idaho
This little log cabin eatery is open mid-May through October and serves some of the best breakfast sandwiches in the city of Idaho since 2000.
Try the Crag Sandwich, a ciabatta roll packed with egg, your choice of meat and cheese, and grab some pastries, like an almond bear claw or sticky pecan bun, for the trail.
Waffle Champion in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
My favorite thing to do when I order breakfast at a diner is to order a short stack of pancakes, with a side of bacon and sausage, and scrambled eggs.
I then proceed to put all of it on top of my short stack and begin dousing with syrup. Waffle Champion gives a new twist on that classic way of eating an American breakfast with their two hot crispy thin waffles nestling within them bacon, eggs and, cheese all drizzled in maple.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit in Charleston, South Carolina
If you are heading to South Carolina, and don’t know where to have breakfast on day one, head on over to Callies.
At Callie’s you can get one of the best “cream cheese laced” biscuits you ever had in your life, stack up your schedule and make sure there is time for a nap after eating this sausage egg and pimento topped breakfast biscuit.
Cahawba House in Montgomery, Alabama
Cahawba’s House biscuits cost only one dollar, and from there, diners can pile on all sorts of fillings, like scrambled eggs, fried green tomato, sausage gravy, pimento cheese, and meat options such as sausage, bacon or a boneless fried chicken breast.
Make a real day out of your morning and side it all up with their signature cinnamon apple fries.
Lake Zoar Drive-In in Monroe, Connecticut
Lake Zoar’s Drive-In is known for their award-winning burgers, and chili dogs, but behind all the fame there is a hidden treasure only locals know to get, and that’s the signature, Hangover Buster.
Consisting of four slices of bacon, two eggs, two slices of cheese, and a hash brown patty. Keep em’ coming’ New England!
BernBaum’s in Fargo, North Dakota
BernBaum’s is a classic Scandinavian-Jewish fusion bagel concept brings a taste of old New York to Fargo, North Dakota that is modeled after the cozy Jewish NY deli’s Americans have come to know and love.
There are only 17 places to sit in this small iconic bagel joint, so make sure to make to time to wait in line!
Mildred’s Coffeehouse in Kansas City, Missouri
Mildred’s boasts their signature flash steamed feather-light and fluffy scrambled eggs that are ideal in a sandwich.
The Standard Breakfast Sandwich, known to many as the ultimate breakfast sandwich in Kansas City, is the perfect delivery vessel. The steamed eggs join forces with bacon, American Swiss and pepper-dijon mayo on a choice of wheat, sourdough, marble rye, jalapeno bread or ciabatta.
Eggsl^t in Los Angeles, California
A very bold name for a sandwich place could only come from a place that one has to be brave to be noticed, and that place is no other than the City of Angels.
Los Angeles, California. These guys compel their fans to endure two-hour lines in front of a food stall just to get a taste of some of the most delicious breakfast sandwiches in the United States of America. I don’t need to describe them, just look at that picture it says it all!
Even Stevens Sandwiches in Salt Lake City, Utah
During their first six months of operation, Even Stevens donated more than 30,000 sandwiches to local residents in need.
I have to say, if I were homeless and were given a sandwich like this, it would make me want to get up, clean myself off and go to work just so that I can go and buy another one of these sandwiches again!
Zingerman’s Delicatessen in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Zingerman’s Deli is an Ann Arbor institution baker, creamery, and coffeehouse all in one. Oh, and let’s not forget that they manufacture candy too! However, nothing hits home better than their sesame bagel, applewood bacon egg, and cheese when you have that early morning urge.
A good bagel, perfectly cooked egg, nicely cooked bacon, and cheese. Nothing really gives you a better feeling than this classic combo, and Zingerman’s does it best. Let us know what you think, and if we missed something you think could make our list and knock out a current contender in your state.