Hillary EatonFrom each perfectly orange oozing yolk, to every smoky bite of bacon or herb-flecked sausage between a piece of toast or warm brioche bun, eating a truly great breakfast sandwich can become something of a spiritual experience.
That's especially true in Los Angeles, a city with no shortage of outstanding breakfast sandwiches to satiate your most basic first-meal-of-the-day desires. From a fried clam–and-bacon sandwich to an homage to the McMuffin, here are 10 delicious options to start your day off right.
Connie & Ted's Nor'easter breakfast sandwich; Credit: Penelope Eaton
Connie & Ted's
This WeHo seafood spot by chef Michael Cimarusti of Providence focuses on turning out top-notch, East Coast–style seafood, from fried clam strips and lobster rolls to house-smoked bluefish dip and fish and chips. But if you think seafood may not seem like a breakfast thing, think again: It also has one of the most delicious brunch menus in the neighborhood, which is where you'll find the gorgeous seafood-stuffed breakfast sandwich dubbed simply the Nor'easter. This beauty comes with buttery house-made English muffins stuffed full of fluffy scrambled eggs, Nueske's smoked bacon, crunchy fried clams, Hook's cheddar and tartar sauce. We knew clams and bacon were a good pairing before, but now we're pretty sure they're made for one another. 8171 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (323) 848-2722, connieandteds.com.
Fairfax sandwich at Eggslut; Credit: Photo: Joshua Lurie
Eggslut
To say chef Alvin Cailan's breakfast sandwiches have amassed a cult following is an understatement. The food truck turned Grand Central Market mainstay garners daily lines of hungry fanatics looking to indulge in Cailan's egg sandwiches on a brioche bun. While you may have to get in line for it, the bacon-topped over-medium egg with cheddar cheese and chipotle ketchup sandwich and fan favorite Fairfax, with soft scrambled eggs, chives, cheddar, caramelized onion and Sriracha mayo are well worth the wait. Plus, if you're a breakfast sandwich fan, you can get these babies all day, every day, at least until Eggslut closes at 4 p.m. 317 S. Broadway, downtown; (213) 625-0292, eggslut.com.
Braised bacon breakfast sandwich and bagel sandwich; Credit: Courtesy of the Rose
Rose Café
The recently revamped Rose Café under chef Jason Neroni has become a favorite among Venice locals. The perpetually buzzing space offers everything from take-away deli sandwiches and salads to a stellar bakery, coffee bar and a beautiful outdoor patio perfect to enjoy Neroni's take on the breakfast sandwich. What makes this sandwich stand out is the thick-cut, juniper-braised bacon, which Neroni keeps deliciously simple with the addition of smoked cheddar and a perfectly fried egg. 220 Rose Ave., Venice; (310) 399-0711, rosecafe.com.
Dagwood sandwich by Top Round Roast Beef; Credit: Penelope Eaton
Top Round Roast Beef
This wonderfully nostalgic, chef-driven fast-food concept takes classic American comfort sandwiches and kicks them up a notch with high-quality ingredients and lots of skill. Perhaps the most gluttonously glorious item on the menu is the Dagwood, which consists of a fried egg, tater tots, Provel cheese, Round sauce, mayo and your choice of Nueske's bacon, sausage or the signature roast beef, all served on an onion bun. Let's just say you'll probably be skipping lunch. 1000 S. La Brea Ave., Mid-Wilshire; (323) 549-9445, eattopround.com.
Gjusta
While some might argue that sister restaurant Gjelina's take-away spot, GTA, should be on this list, Gjusta takes the cake (er, sandwich) when it comes to breakfast. Why? GTA cuts off breakfast at 11:30 a.m. and you can get your hands on the exact same delicious egg sandwich (simply called egg sandwich at Gjusta) or the sesame bialy egg sandwich with arugula, harissa ketchup and bacon (oddly without the additional GTA bacon charge) all day long. Enough said. 320 Sunset Ave., Venice; (310)695-1748 , gjusta.com.
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Division 3's biscuit sandwiches; Credit: Garrett Snyder
Division 3
Helmed by chef Matthew Dickson of Venice's former FEED body+soul, this relative newcomer to Glassell Park seems to have found its calling in the form of breakfast sandwiches. Dickson's freshly baked, buttery biscuit sandwiches come with an array of fillings ranging from corned beef, over-medium egg and jack cheese to fennel-cured salmon and soft scrambled eggs with chive creme fraiche. Order at the takeout window and grab a seat on the cozy, dog-friendly patio, or take your breakfast to go and never suffer a subpar breakfast on the road again. 3329 Division St., Glassell Park.
République
If there's one thing certain about République, it's that chefs Walter and Margarita Manzke know how to nail breakfast — and that goes double for the breakfast sandwich. Their delicious offering takes shape in the form of pork belly sausage, fried egg, mayo and American cheese, all happily commingling on a toasty bun. Pair it with a coffee and find yourself a seat at one of the communal tables and you'll start the morning — or afternoon — just right (this breakfast sandwich is available till 3 p.m.). 624 S. La Brea Ave., Hancock Park; (310) 362-6115, republiquela.com.
The ‘mc_abigaile’ breakfast sando combo #1; Credit: Courtesy of Abigale
Abigaile
For weekend brunch, this Hermosa Beach restaurant offers the “mc_abigaile” breakfast sando combo #1, an homage to the classic McDonald's breakfast sandwich. With melty American cheese, house-made fennel sausage, special sauce, egg and a side of crunchy tots, you'll be the glad McDonald's version exists, if only because it inspired this far better sandwich. 1301 Manhattan Ave., Hermosa Beach; (310) 798-8227, abigailerestaurant.com.
Scrambled egg and chorizo breakfast sandwich; Credit: Sycamore Kitchen
It should come as no surprise that a breakfast sandwich created by culinary power couple Karen and Quinn Hatfield is one of the best the city has to offer. While it's pretty simple — just scrambled eggs, chorizo and melted Swiss cheese, served on oven-griddled bread — it's the truly amazing chorizo that makes this breakfast sandwich one that you'll want to come back for over and over again. 143 S. La Brea Ave., Hancock Park; (323) 939-0151, sycamorekitchen.com.
C&M Cafe
If you're the type of person who can't decide between sweet and savory when it comes to breakfast, C&M Cafe makes sure you'll never have to choose. Order the BAM breakfast sandwich, a beautiful monster of a breakfast that takes bacon, sausage, cream cheese and an over-easy egg and sandwiches it between two pieces of cinnamon roll French toast with an ample pour of maple syrup. 3272 Motor Ave., Palms; (310) 694-1516, cmcafe.com.
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