Where to Wake Up with the Perfect Breakfast Sandwich in Boston
Rise and shine—and chow down.
A great breakfast sandwich is a beautiful thing. It can power us through the slog of a morning commute, nurse us through a hangover, fortify us for a weekend hike, or serve as an indulgent antidote to work-from-home ennui. Here’s where to find some of the best around—a mix of new spots that have been catching our eye lately and some all-time faves.
Last updated on August 12, 2024; stay tuned for periodic updates.
Amba
Chef Will Gilson’s restaurant group (Puritan & Co., the Lexington, etc.) gloriously expanded again in summer 2024 with the addition of a delightful all-day, fast-casual Eastern Mediterranean spot that serves up rose petal-garnished rotisserie chickens, crispy waffle-iron latkes, and beautiful baked goods from the group’s award-winning pastry chef, Brian Mercury. In the morning, a breakfast pita fills the sandwich craving, stuffed with sesame eggs, hash brown, garlic sauce, and herbs. (We recommend sticking around for lunch hours to get a taste of the incredible halva milkshake, too.)
57-59 First St., East Cambridge, 857-706-1962, ambacambridge.com.
An Eggspañola from Bagelsaurus. / Courtesy photo
Bagelsaurus
Greater Boston’s had a corner on the bagel market for a while now, and it’s thanks in no small part to this pioneering Porter Square bakeshop (and three-time Best of Boston winner). Between COVID-era optimization of online ordering and a summer 2024 expansion into an adjacent space, you won’t see the same long lines that used to snake down the sidewalk in the popular bakery’s early days. But rest assured, baker Mary Ting Hyatt’s chewy-on-the-inside, crackly-on-the-outside bagels are just as popular as ever—and still used for fantastic breakfast sandwiches. A swipe of mustard butter elevates a classic egg-and-cheese, and the Hot Smoked take on cream-cheese-and-lox features pickled red cabbage and fresh dill. But the crown jewel is the Eggspañola, with a slightly runny egg, feta, pimentón aioli, and parsley gremolata.
1796 Massachusetts Ave., Porter Square, Cambridge, 857-285-6103, bagelsaurus.com.
An eggwich at Blunch. / Photo by Kiki Larouge Photography
Blunch
We’re kind of obsessed with this breakfast-lunch joint tucked into a South End street corner, a previous Best of Boston winner for its signature “eggwiches.” The frittata-style egg patties are baked but still fluffy, and they come on a hard roll topped with fire-roasted peppers, goat cheese, artichoke hearts, fried shallots and more. Meanwhile, the “bagelwiches” (sense a theme?) offer fixings like sausage, boursin, ham, and aioli—plus even more whipped eggs—on your choice of locally made Zeppy’s bagels.
59 E Springfield St., South End, Boston, 617-247-8100, eatblunch.com.
Clover’s Impossible breakfast sandwich. / Photo by Brett Mickael
Clover Food Lab
16 years after hitting the Boston streets as a food truck at MIT, Clover—now with over a dozen brick-and-mortar locations around Greater Boston—has stayed true to its mission of converting meat lovers to veggie lovers. In fact, it’s even managed to lure at least some of us away from Dunk’s with its Impossible breakfast sandwich, for which vegan, lab-derived Impossible “meat” is blended in-house with brown sugar and spices to closely replicate a sausage patty. Also super New England-y is Clover’s popover breakfast sandwich, which pops tomatoes, fried leeks, Vermont cheddar, local smokey tempeh, and vegan mayo into a flaky roll.
Multiple locations in Boston, Cambridge, and beyond, cloverfoodlab.com.
Comfort Kitchen
Dinner at Dorchester’s Comfort Kitchen is one of the most coveted reservations in town; the place can’t stop getting local and national acclaim. But Friday through Sunday, you can soak up some of the magic with the restaurant’s no-reservations café hours—and yep, there are some great breakfast sandwiches on the menu. Try the Dreamer—pork belly, fried egg, and dill havarti on toasted Iggy’s brioche—with iced Nepali milk tea.
611 Columbia Rd., Dorchester, Boston, 617-329-6910, comfortkitchenbos.com.
A sausage b-boy with hash brown at Jim’s Market. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Jim’s Market
Fuel up for your hike in the Middlesex Fells at this nearly 50-year-old Medford sandwich shop, a local favorite for its hearty “b-boys” (breakfast sandwiches). Options abound—as do potential customizations—but whatever you get will come on a fluffy sub roll with a side of James River barbecue sauce (one-third of the trifecta in a classic North Shore three-way). You should definitely add hash browns and/or chicken fingers to your sandwich.
463 Fulton St., Medford, 781-395-5704, jimsmarketmedford.com.
Johnny Boy’s longganisa sandwich at Juliet Social Club. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Johnny Boy
Greater Boston has a dearth of Filipino dining options, but Jeff Almendras has been helping to fill the void for a few years now, with a focus on breakfast sandwiches. His pop-up, Johnny Boy, currently operates out of Juliet Social Club in Somerville’s Union Square a few days a week, serving a streamlined menu of sandwiches (and chicken bites) that scratch that breakfast sandwich itch. Take the longganisa sandwich, for example: sweet and garlicky sausage, fried egg, and banana ketchup on brown butter pandesal, a Filipino roll.
257 Washington St., Union Square, Somerville, johnnyboyeats.square.site.
Mamaleh’s
Fresh off the summer 2024 opening of a new location in Somerville’s Boynton Yards, Mamaleh’s continues to be Greater Boston’s go-to spot for Jewish deli delights (and towering slices of chocolate cake). That means loads of sandwiches, with some of the breakfast-y ones served on a bagel and others on a house-made challah roll. The latter includes a heaping combo of Russian dressing-topped pastrami, egg, and cheese, a solid start to any morning. For meat-free options, don’t miss Mamaleh’s special vegan menu, available through the end of October 2024 at Mamaleh’s Kibitz Corner at 233 Cardinal Medeiros Ave. in Cambridge (a short walk from the original Kendall Square location).
Multiple locations in Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville, mamalehs.com.
Mike & Patty’s grilled cheese with bacon and eggs. / Courtesy photo
Mike & Patty’s
At its original Bay Village location, this tiny eatery cures hangovers on the spot with all-around good vibes and an extensive sandwich selection, many served on the company’s own English muffins. Try the Baller, essentially a classic bacon, egg, and cheese—but with fancy ibérico de bellota instead of bacon. There’s also an over-the-top, four-cheese grilled cheese on sourdough with fried egg and bacon—how’s that for getting your day started? Good news for those in other parts of town: You can also find Mike & Patty’s at a recently expanded outpost at Somerville’s Bow Market, at Best of Boston downtown food hall High Street Place, in Jamaica Plain, and inside Newton sibling spot Flourhouse Bakery.
Multiple locations in Boston, Newton, and Somerville, mikeandpattys.com.
Pavement’s vegan Tequila Sunrise. / Photo by Jade DeRose
Pavement Coffeehouse
Breakfast sandwich connoisseurs can’t sleep on Pavement’s creations with eight cafés found around the Boston area. It all starts with kettle-boiled bagels, rolled from scratch and stone-fired at Pavement’s Brighton kitchen. One surefire hunger-slayer is the Harper, slathered in lemon-dill cream cheese and topped with tomato, cucumber, and sprouts. Another is the vegan Tequila Sunrise, which features seasoned tempeh, diablo tofu spread (which gets a kick from habanero and jalapeño peppers), pico de gallo, and sprouts.
Multiple locations in Boston and Cambridge, pavementcoffeehouse.com.
A breakfast sandwich at Pepita Coffee Co. / Photo by Emma Arnold, Lamplighter Brewing Co.
Pepita Coffee Co. at Lamplighter Brewing Co.
Even before the draft lines start flowing at Lamplighter’s taproom, the hot (or iced) coffee drinks are being already poured at Pepita, the craft brewer’s on-site café. They go well with awesome breakfast sandwiches, including a croissant with fried egg, banana peppers, cheddar, and “special sauce.” Save room for pastries sourced from Best of Boston bakery La Saison.
248 Broadway, Cambridge, 617-945-0450, lamplighterbrewing.com/pepita.
Revival Cafe & Kitchen
We’re not going to judge if your breakfast sandwich plans get derailed when you take a peek at Revival’s pastry case—maybe a funfetti-filled cake slice is really what you need today. But this friendly café mini-chain from the Mothership team does breakfast sandwiches right with options like the Bagelicious, featuring egg white, a broccoli “situation,” cheddar, and spicy aioli on a house-made bagel. Pair with a refreshing drink; there are always interesting specials, from iced orange blossom honey mochas to lavender matcha lattes.
Multiple locations in Boston, Cambridge, Lexington, Somerville, and Watertown, revivalcafeandkitchen.com.
Sally’s Sandwiches
It comes from the folks behind Boston’s beloved Blackbird Doughnuts, so it’s no surprise that Sally’s is a standout when it comes to breakfast—including its own a.m.-time sandwich of scrambled egg and American cheese on a bulkie roll. Even better, get nostalgic for Sally’s late, much-loved South End sibling the Gallows with the Gallows breakfast sandwich, an Italian baguette stuffed with fried egg, hash brown patties, bacon, avocado, cheese, and spicy aioli. Don’t worry: It’ll never leave the menu. (Oh, there’s also a breakfast sandwich on a doughnut.)
492 Tremont St., South End, Boston; 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard Square, Cambridge; 617-482-9000, sallyssandwiches.com.
Shirley
With a tagline bidding you to “eat more sunshine” (in a metaphorical way), this takeout-only Davis Square shop features an always-rotating menu of sandwiches, baked goods, and such, all showcasing ingredients that are local, artisanal, and/or otherwise lovely. You’ll often find intriguing breakfast sandwiches among the offerings, such as the summer “disco” focaccia breakfast sandwich with house-made pickles, garlicky aioli, an olive oil baked egg, and Cabot cheddar on a “chubby” and cheesy house-made focaccia bun. “Time for your summer flip-flops and summer disco vibes!” promises the menu in its usual enthusiastic manner, also noting that you can add a house hot sauce (“this one is fun.”) You can’t help but leave here smiling.
22A College Ave., Davis Square, Somerville, 617-996-6581, shirleyeatmoresunshine.square.site.
Shy Bird’s fried chicken and egg sammy, pictured without the pepperjack. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Shy Bird
With two locations and a third on the way (Fenway, winter 2024-2025), this Branch Line sibling knows a thing or two about chicken. That’s why we love the fried chicken and egg breakfast sandwich, jazzed up with hot honey and pepperjack. Plus, the South Boston location has a pretty sweet remote-working deal if you want to make your restaurant the office for the day.
390 Third St., Kendall Square, Cambridge; 12 Old Colony Ave., South Boston, 617-766-8309; shybird.com.
Sofra Bakery & Cafe
When it comes to building a great breakfast sandwich, sometimes you have to think outside the bagel or brioche. Sofra certainly does. The perennially perfect Middle Eastern-inspired café from local legend Ana Sortun and similarly celebrated pastry chef Maura Kilpatrick puts out an amazing breakfast pita, in fact, filled with spicy sausage, orange, pickled peppers, olives, and feta butter. Pair it with some potent Turkish coffee (or hot chocolate) while you’re at it.
1 Belmont St., Cambridge, 617-661-3161, sofrabakery.com.
Sunny Girl’s Truffle Shuffle breakfast sandwich. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Sunny Girl
Mike & Patty’s alum Jesse Rosen brought his sandwich expertise to the opening of a sandwich shop on the edge of the North End last year, in partnership with industry vet Peter Fiumara, who owned the late nightclub the Good Life. It has proven to be a winning team-up, with a cheery menu of sandwiches (many served on house-made English muffins)—not to mention proximity to gorgeous harbor views. We love the Truffle Shuffle: an over easy egg, black truffle pecorino, burrata, tomato conserva, basil gremolata, and pancetta, served on focaccia from local bread experts Iggy’s. There’s a bit of seating right outside the shop, but for water views, head to Pilot House Park on the Harborwalk nearby, which helpfully has a couple picnic tables and benches.
252 Commercial St., North End/Waterfront, Boston, 857-277-0356, sunnygirlboston.com.
Verveine Cafe & Bakery
This hotly anticipated Cambridge spot opened in 2024 to eager crowds thanks to its pedigreed team (restaurateur Ken Oringer of Toro, Coppa, etc. and award-winning pastry chef Monica Glass) and the fact that it’s all gluten-free. For breakfast, the spicy chili biscuit sandwich fits the bill, spread with spicy chili jam and stuffed with scrambled eggs, arugula, and avocado. Or there’s Verveine’s take on a classic BEC, with maple pepper bacon, a fried egg, and American cheese on a fluffy Japanese milk bun.
298 Massachusetts Ave., Central Square, Cambridge, 617-395-3125, verveinecafe.com.
Vinal Bakery’s G.O.A.T. / Photo by Rachel Leah Blumenthal
Vinal Bakery
Pastry chef Sarah Murphy’s charming New England bakery distills the rural New Hampshire native’s knack for seasonality into sweet treats like wild blueberry muffins and maple walnut scones, as well as sandwiches (see: the Ham Jamboree with apple cider jelly and brie). Those sandwiches, by the way, can be made with buttermilk biscuits or Murphy’s famously fantastic English muffins; either is perfect for morning-time options like the Sausage McVinal (turkey sausage with an over medium egg, cheddar, and spicy mayo) and the G.O.A.T. (egg with goat cheese butter, spicy pesto, and arugula).
222 Somerville Ave., Somerville, 617-718-0148, vinalbakery.com.
