In a city brimming with superb sandwiches, Detroit has stepped up its breakfast sandwich game over the years. Diners, cafes, butcher shops, bakeries, fine dining restaurants, and sandwich shops alike are bringing their A-game these days, and residents of the metro Detroit area are benefiting big time.
Detroit’s Best Breakfast Sandwiches
Skip the Egg McMuffin
Danny Palumbo is a Detroit-based writer who has been covering restaurants, writing recipes, and publishing essays about food for the last eight years.
In the year 2025, you’ll notice some trends in the breakfast sandwich universe. Restaurants are comfortable using English muffins as an homage to the Egg McMuffin. Pimento cheese is a constant, and the same can be said for hot honey. Some of the sandwiches on this list also feel completely bespoke to Detroit — like the pita-wrapped egg and cheese at Mitso’s. This is a hard-working, blue collar town, so it’s nice to see the always reliable “egg and cheese” permeate the city as a sidecar to the many very good breakfast establishments around town.
New to the Map: Tragically, this map hasn’t been updated since Breakfast Week circa 2016 (remember Breakfast Week? We do, barely.), and in that time many exceptional breakfast sandwiches (and restaurants) disappeared. This is basically a total reboot save for Mudgie’s Deli and the Hudson Cafe.
Detroit’s Best Breakfast Sandwiches
Skip the Egg McMuffin
Danny Palumbo is a Detroit-based writer who has been covering restaurants, writing recipes, and publishing essays about food for the last eight years.
In a city brimming with superb sandwiches, Detroit has stepped up its breakfast sandwich game over the years. Diners, cafes, butcher shops, bakeries, fine dining restaurants, and sandwich shops alike are bringing their A-game these days, and residents of the metro Detroit area are benefiting big time.
In the year 2025, you’ll notice some trends in the breakfast sandwich universe. Restaurants are comfortable using English muffins as an homage to the Egg McMuffin. Pimento cheese is a constant, and the same can be said for hot honey. Some of the sandwiches on this list also feel completely bespoke to Detroit — like the pita-wrapped egg and cheese at Mitso’s. This is a hard-working, blue collar town, so it’s nice to see the always reliable “egg and cheese” permeate the city as a sidecar to the many very good breakfast establishments around town.
New to the Map: Tragically, this map hasn’t been updated since Breakfast Week circa 2016 (remember Breakfast Week? We do, barely.), and in that time many exceptional breakfast sandwiches (and restaurants) disappeared. This is basically a total reboot save for Mudgie’s Deli and the Hudson Cafe.
Mudgie’s Deli and Wine Shop
Mudgie’s is Detroit’s gift from the sandwich gods so, naturally, its breakfast sandwich game is strong. Many hearty egg-topped options grace the brunch menu. Though the Stinson — with peppered ham, bacon, cheddar, maple onions, chipotle mayo, and fried egg on a brioche roll — is a standout. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday’s, Mudgie’s turns into a breakfast sandwich haven. Be sure to get there early; it can get quite busy.
Alba
Ask a group of Detroiters what their favorite breakfast sandwich is, and you’ll likely get some votes for the specimen at Eater Award-winning Alba. What sets Alba’s “Egg Sandie” apart is that it features an airy souffled egg instead of the usual folded or scrambled. It’s put in between a buttered brioche bun with a smoky chile de arbol aioli and fresh chives. It’s both light and rich, and a perfect start to any day of the week. It’s a worthy replacement for a former mainstay on breakfast sandwich lists that used to reside at this same address.
The Hudson Cafe
Founded in 2011, the Hudson Cafe has been slinging breakfast and lunch for almost 15 years now — save for a break in 2023 for renovation. Expect big, juicy burgers, pancakes, omelets, waffles, and plenty of sandwiches. If you can’t wait until lunch for your staple BLT, grab the “BLT...EGG”, which is served with a fried egg, guacamole, and mayo with a side of sweet potato fries or waffle fries. They serve breakfast until 3 p.m., so feel free to sleep in. You earned it. Online ordering and reservations are also available at all three (yes, there are three now!) locations.
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Le Suprême
This Parisian-style brasserie offers wonderful French fare in an airy, modern setting filled with natural light. Experience French classics like the salad Lyonnaise with frisee and bacon lardons, steak tartare, steak frites, and roasted duck. For brunch, the kitchen rolls out a series of sandwiches — from a traditional jambon-beurre to an herby smoked salmon tartine. You’ll want to try the croque madame, however, made classically with Mornay sauce, griddled ham, cheese, and adorned with a runny egg on top. This sandwich is iconic for a reason, and Le Suprême’s doesn’t miss a beat. Drop in or book a table on Resy.
Iggy’s Eggies
Since crashing onto the scene in 2018, Iggy’s has turned a bustling business off Capitol Park from its walk-up window (before the pandemic made it mandatory to have one). Originally envisioned as a spinoff of a burger restaurant attached to the same building, it’s outlived that restaurant and gone from sidekick to main event, even expanding to Ann Arbor. The menu has grown a bit from its conception but still sticks to the core breakfast sandwich menu. The Original Eggie is a choose-your-own-adventure of fried egg, cheese, meat (breakfast sausage, bacon, ham, veggie sausage!), plus accouterments like avocado, crispy hash brown, and even strawberry jam. If you find you have room, it’s also worth ordering the French toast sticks. Online ordering is available for takeout and delivery at both locations.
GB in Detroit
Fred’s
Fred’s is a newcomer to Gratiot Avenue, having just opened in the former Bunny Bunny space — though it might be familiar to folks who recall its tenure in Ann Arbor. It’s got a great list of thoughtful breakfast and lunch items like avocado toast with a fried egg, a spicy chicken cutlet sandwich with cheddar and spicy mayo, and a gooey tuna melt with tomato and Gruyere. The breakfast sandwich is especially smooth and velvety, too. It’s a simple, buttery sandwich featuring soft scrambled free-range eggs, Tillamook cheddar, sliced avocado, and spicy mayo on a Zingerman’s challah roll. This spot also accepts online orders.
Danny Palumbo
Mitsos Greek Food & Coffee
This Greek restaurant in the heart of Eastern Market serves a deliciously reliable, S-tier breakfast sandwich. Fresh pita bread, alone, makes it worth the trip, and it envelopes a two-egg omelette and American cheese. It’s warm, gooey, filling, and deceptively simple. It is a must-order for both locals and tourists and to-go options are available if you’re in a hurry.
Bev’s Bagels
Bev’s is bagel heaven. Celebrated chef Max Sussman brought his love for bagels to Core City in May, using only organic flour to make his tangy, crunchy, crispy, tender sourdough Os. At Bev’s, there are no misses; Max only plays the hits. While there’s plenty of lox, wild caught fish, and creative cream cheese schmears to enjoy, Bev’s has a list of four stellar breakfast bagel sandwiches that you’ll want to regularly take advantage of. The green chile and chorizo sandwich is both sharp and meaty, and the Over My Egg Body (nice) is gooey and rich with eggs, mayo, and Cooper sharp cheddar cheese. Online orders are accepted, but there’s also a handful of seats at tables and at a diner-style counter.
Bev’s Bagels/Mark Kurlyandchik
Norm’s Diner
This cute and cozy West Village diner won the hearts of every Detroiter when it opened in 2024 with its thoughtful breakfast plates, stacks of pancakes, exemplary turkey club, wonderful weekly specials, and one hell of a breakfast sandwich. The “egg + cheese” sandwich costs $13, and is a massive two-hander that features scrambled eggs, spicy pimento cheese, and a homemade sausage patty smooshed lovingly in-between English muffin halves. The secret to the pimento cheese? Elise Gallant, co-owner and chef of Norm’s, mixes her mom’s recipe for spicy pepper jelly in with the cheese. Expect a wait during peak weekend hours.
Danny Palumbo
Balkan House
Known for its giant, clam-shelled döner kebab sandwiches, Balkan House also has a nifty breakfast menu Detroiters will want to take advantage of. In particular, the cevapi breakfast wrap comes with minced meat grilled sausages, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, and eggs wrapped in a flatbread and served with ajvar (roasted red pepper spread) and kajmak (clotted cream). It’s a wonderful deviation from the standard egg and cheese sandwich you see everywhere, and a big reason why Detroit’s breakfast sandwich game is so strong. Online ordering and delivery are available from both the Hamtramck and Ferndale location.
Marrow Eatery and Provisions
This long-standing West Village butcher shop and restaurant recently opened a second outpost in the ‘burbs with one key difference — Marrow Birmingham is open for breakfast. Expect lots of expertly made breakfast sandwiches with house-butchered meat. The beef bacon breakfast sandwich stands out, and features folded eggs, beef bacon, pimento cheese, and maple Dijonnaise all between a spongy English muffin filled with nooks and crannies. It’s got all kinds of flavor, and is worth the early morning drive out to the suburbs.
Danny Palumbo
