Best breakfast sandwiches in NYC: The breakfast melt at Murray's Cheese
The breakfast melt at Murray's is an example of where high and low mash up in a beautiful and delicious way. The ingredients are the same: bread, egg, cheese, bacon, but the details are where the complexities lie. Murray's swaps out the boring and often stale "roll" with an English Muffin, and the cheese is Fontina. Ooooh.
murrayscheese.com(Credit: FLICKR/ Mel Peffs)
Best breakfast sandwiches in NYC: Hippie Banjo at Pies 'n' Thighs
And for something completely different, in comes Pies 'n' Thighs, which also makes some of the best fried chicken in the city. The hippie banjo sandwich, served at both breakfast and lunch, is, put simply, a fried egg on toast. But it's called a hippie banjo for a reason, and that reason is in the details. Also on the refreshing sandwich: avocado, Alfalfa sprouts, cheddar, tomato and mayo. And the bread? Anadama, a staple of your 60's-era mother's kitchen. 166 S. 4th St., Williamsburg and 42 Canal St.
piesnthighs.com(Credit: FLICKR/ Robyn Lee)
Best breakfast sandwiches in NYC: Breakfast sandwich at Il Buco Alimentari
Il Buco's market, Alimentari, serves a seriously delicious breakfast sandwich made with Salame Rosa that's cured in-house. A soft organic egg and Salva Cremasco cheese from Northern Italy rounds it all out and it's served on focaccia. 53 Great Jones St. ilbucovineria.com(Credit: Il Buco Alimentari)
Best breakfast sandwiches in NYC: Perfect Little Egg Sandwich at Dominique Ansel Bakery
Like everything at Dominique Ansel's little SoHo bakery, the breakfast sandwich is perfect. It's even called the Perfect Little Egg Sandwich. A steamed egg with caramelized shallots and chives is served with a delicate slice of Gruyere all on a sweet brioche bun. Dainty. Delicious. 189 Spring St., dominiqueansel.com(Credit: Dominique Ansel Bakery)
Best breakfast sandwiches in NYC: Sesame pancake sandwich at Vanessa's Dumpling House
Available all day and into the night, the sesame pancake sandwich with egg at Vanessa's Dumpling House is an awesome Asian version of the classic breakfast sandwich. You can add veggies and meats if you choose, and of course we advise adding Sriracha and soy sauce, if you're down for intense flavors. These pockets of yum are salty, greasy and very flavorful. 118A Eldridge St., 220 E. 14th St., 310 Bedford St., Williamsburg.vanessas.com(Credit: FLICKR/ adam kuban)
Best breakfast sandwiches in NYC: Avocado toast at Cafe Gitane
Okay so this one isn't exactly a breakfast sandwich, but in this era of avocado toast, we can't just ignore the phenomenon. So here's the grand dame of AT, served (go figure) at lunchtime at both Cafe Gitane locations. Avocado comes smeared on top of seven grain toast with lemon juice, chili flakes and olive oil.cafegitanenyc.com(Credit: FLICKR/ Francis Kirigin)
Shake Shack
Shack Shack is best known for burgers, but it makes a mean egg and cheese (bacon and sausage optional). Available only at the JFK airport locations, this breakfast item makes flying, especially early in the morning, less painful. The eggs are cage-free, the cheese American and the bun potato. It's delicious. Terminal 4, near gates B37 and B23. shakeshack.com(Credit: Georgia Kral via Instagram)
