The Best Breakfast Sandwiches in Brooklyn
A wise friend of mine once said that “if bodega breakfast sandwiches aren’t in your top 5 reasons for loving New York, then we are just on different wavelengths.” We can’t help but agree with this sentiment, though we also think there are many delicious beyond-the-bodega takes on the staple to ignore. We’ve taken on this task before, but are so dedicated to the cause of breakfast and the abundance of delicious sandwiches in Brooklyn that the topic warrants revisiting. Please add THAT to the list of reasons we love living here.
The beauty of the breakfast sandwich lies in freedom from the shackles of all things brunch related, though it makes appearances in that arena as well. Not that we mean to throw shade on brunch, but it can be fraught with shade-inducing frustrations, from long lines to the culture associated with it. From class B.E.C.s to innovative bialys, Brooklyn’s breakfast sandwich offerings are wide ranging. Read on for our picks, and share your favorites we might have missed in the comments.
From class B.E.C.s to innovative bialys, Brooklyn’s breakfast sandwich offerings are wide ranging. Read on for our picks, and share favorites we might have missed in the comments.
The Kwa’son, Early
This small Manhattan Avenue establishment is always packed. A major draw? The breakfast sandwiches. They’re all worthy of your taste buds, but for reasons that include both the cheeky name and particular combination of ingredients, we’re partial to the Kwa’son. Served on, you guessed it, an always fresh tasting croissant, the Kwa’son is comprised of soft-scrambled eggs, chives, goat cheese, avocado and chili flakes. The spice is enough of a kick to get your day going while goat cheese compliments the fluffiness of the eggs.
967 Manhattan Avenue, Greenpoint
B3, Eagle Trading Co.
Located practically where the sidewalk ends in Greenpoint, ETC has something of a cult customer base and is known for its creative breakfast goodness. The B3 layers smoked salmon, brie, capers & red onion in its spin on a classic lox bagel. Served on Balthazar baguettes, the welcoming cafe’s breakfast sandwiches are larger than usual. Come for the sandwiches, stay for the coffee.
258 Franklin Street, Greenpoint
Egg on a Homemade Roll with Cheese and Bacon or Ham, Margaret Palca
Not to be biased, but this sandwich is the writer’s favorite. Margaret Palca herself continues to bake at this Cobble Hill establishment, open in its current location for 20 years. Served on a house made roll—you can choose between sourdough, plain, or wheat—this breakfast sandwich tastes like it was made with love. A simple spot, Palca’s baked goods and sandwiches stand out. There are no pretentions: service is friendly and personal. It’s worth the pilgrimage to the bakery if out of your normal stomping grounds.
191 Columbia Street, Columbia Street Waterfront District
Old School, Southside Coffee
The much-beloved South Slope cafe has a devoted following, and with good reason. The service is always friendly, the food is thoughtfully sourced and its sandwiches reign supreme. While its eponymous breakfast sandwich has received quite a bit of press already, we’re partial to the Old School. In a sea of B.E.C.s, this particular sandwich, served on a Balthazar bun, is perfection. Filling without being “too much,” pair it with delicious coffee from Alchemy Espresso.
652 6th Avenue, Park Slope
Bacon, Egg and Cheese on a Roll, L-Mo’s
Priced moderately, we had to mention at least one bodega sandwich here, perhaps as more of a stand in for everyone’s personal pick. The bodega breakfast sandwich is something of a savior to the hungover forager, not to mention an antidote to all things obnoxiously bougie. Everyone is partial to their own particular deli, but L-Mo’s truly does a stellar job. The bacon is always crispy, the cheese generous. Not to bring hangovers up twice in the same paragraph but there is also something to be said for the demeanor of the folks behind the counter at L-Mo’s. They’re always welcome and never question why I’ve kept sunglasses on indoors.
51 Morgan Avenue, Bushwick
Cheddar Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich, Milk Bar
This Prospect Heights favorite is always abuzz. Known for its breakfast – the salmon toast is also much beloved, its homemade cheddar chive biscuits are reason enough to visit. When paired with swiss cheese, scrambled eggs and spicy aioli, said biscuit becomes a breakfast sandwich worthy of adulation. Meat lovers can add thick, apple-wood smoked bacon for just 2.00. This is one of the heartier options on our list, a breakfast sandwich that might just fill you up through lunchtime, too.
620 Vanderbilt Avenue, Prospect Heights
The Pork Roll, Court Street Grocers
The sandwiches at this Court Street staple are frequently described as “epic” on Yelp and the like, and with good reason. Costing just $6, the hearty pork roll is well-priced compared to similarly upscale joints and keeps you full for hours. But none of that would matter if it weren’t also one of the most beautifully balanced breakfast sandwiches we’ve ever had: Original Taylor ham pairs well with melty slices of classic American cheese and perfectly cooked eggs, all on a squishy, squashy Martin’s potato roll. We’ll have two, thanks.
485 Court Street, Carroll Gardens
Biscuit, Egg, and Cheese (and sausage, if you want it!), Marlow & Sons
We love the Euro-cafe vibe of Marlow & Sons. In a sea of brunch-y Williamsburg spots, Marlow & Sons wins for offering breakfast daily. The biscuits are consistently flaky and dense in all the right places. The sausage is spicy, the eggs never overcooked. Though they’re on the pricier side—this biscuit, egg ,and sausage burns a nine dollar hole in your pocket—the quality has this southerner’s stamp of approval. Just don’t ever tell my father I spent nine dollars on a breakfast biscuit.
81 Broadway, Williamsburg
Ham and Cheese Croissant, Blue Stove
This Graham Avenue staple is a full-service bakery. Nothing they make is bad. Nothing. The homemade croissants are as fresh tasting and flaky as they come. Needless to say, said baked good makes a perfect home for ham and cheese. A great option to grab on the go, but Blue Stove smells so heavenly you’ll want to dine in (and maybe also grab a slice of pie).
415 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg
Egg Sandwich on a Roll, Summers
Northside bakery makes its Parker House roll exclusively for this South Williamsburg spot. White cheddar, cage free eggs cooked to fluffy perfection (i.e. not overcooked), sriracha, avocado, and bacon for the carnivores among us makes for an all around classic breakfast. Summers is committed to freshness, and you can tell—this sits better than your average bodega sandwich. Bonus points go to Summers for bumping vibey tunes while a projector rolls skate videos. Combine a Summers egg sandwich with one of their delicious juices for well-rounded breakfast bliss.
155 S. 4th Street, Williamsburg
Magic Bialy with Egg + Prosciutto, Supercrown
This newly opened Bushwick spot has garnered a love of love its delicious coffee roasted on site, but its time the hearty bialy receive its due attention. The bialy is made exclusively for Supercrown in collaboration with the bakers at Roberta’s. According to co-owner Philip Hoffman, “the bialy is a bit of a lost art and has always been a bit of a Proustian Madeleine” given his Eastern European ancestry. Garnished with fresh cracked tellicherry pepper, Maldon salt and chopped arugula, the bialy is actually (or practically, anyway) magical. Cut into the egg-centric “sandwich” for a delightfully gooey experience. It’s rich, but oh so worth every bite.
8 Wilson Avenue, Bushwick
Parmesan and Thyme Egg on Croissant, House of Small Wonder
This place is worth a visit for the environment alone. It flies under the radar in Williamsburg thanks to an unassuming exterior. In a sea of hyper rich sandwiches, this egg served on a croissant is simple, just enough. Cooked with thyme and balanced with just enough parmesan, the eggs’ fluffiness defies gravity.
77 N. 6th Street, Williamsburg
Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit with Fig Jam, Campbell Cheese & Grocery
This is heaven on a biscuit. Salty Benton’s bacon, raclette, soft-boiled egg and scallions are balanced by the sweetness of fig jam. Their biscuits—firm but doughy—are the perfect antidote to roll fatigue. The specialty store and sandwich shop focuses on sourcing from the best domestic cheese makers, and the raclette, when melted, is a taste that will linger on your mind long after breakfast… and lunch. We chose this one due to entirely subjective standards, but it’s worth noting that Williamsburg’s Campbell Cheese & Grocery has one of the more unique menus on the list. In other words, we wish we could feature the jalapeño ham and egg biscuit, too.
502 Lorimer Street, Williamsburg