When you’re hungover, there is truly nothing better than a greasy bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich. The BEC sandwich is a cure-all—being it’s uber-popular nationwide. Through a painstaking Yelp and Instagram review process and numerous recommendations, I have found the best BEC in every state.
Use this as your hungover/still-drunk, morning after GPS, and you’ll never be lost (or at least without a BEC) again.
Alabama: Crestline Bagel Company
This BEC is made with whole wheat bread, so it’s healthy right? Let’s at least pretend.
Alaska: Alaska Bagel Restaurant
Bagels are so last season. Order your BEC on a waffle for a special treat, and drench it in syrup to get real fancy.
Arizona: Matt’s Big Breakfast
Listen to Matt’s Big Breakfast and keep your sunny side up. I love how fresh their eggs are compared to the competitors.
Arkansas: Mugs Café
Any place with a sign that reads, “unattended children will be given espresso and a free kitten” is a place for me. Also look at that gouda. That’s cheese goals.
California: Eggslut
It’s okay to be an (egg)slut. Eggslut adds a chipotle ketchup sauce and a warm brioche bun to the classic BEC to make this combo irresistible. Just look at that sandwich.
Colorado: Wooden Spoon Cafe
I’m really into their bread – it’s super thick and soft, and it perfectly soaks up all the oils that make the BEC great (not again, just great).
Connecticut: Elm Street Diner
Elm Street Diner is basically everything that any Gilmore Girls fan ever dreamed about. It ain’t Luke’s Diner, but it’s close, and look at that cheese.
Delaware: Brew Ha Ha
My friend from Delaware would possibly kill me if I didn’t put Brew Ha Ha on the list. They are famous for their latte art, but their BEC is also something to write home about.
Florida: Toasted Bagelry & Deli
I have romantic feelings about this sandwich. I would legit break up with my (non-existent) boyfriend for a bite of this sandwich.
Georgia: Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
What is more Southern than a biscuit? Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit truly knows what’s up.
Hawaii: Lox of Bagels
What’s better than a regular BEC? A purple BEC. It will add a pop of color to the Insta feed.
Idaho: Blue Sky Bagels
So this is a game changer: cream cheese on your BEC. I don’t know why I’ve never thought of this before, but this just about changes the entire course of BEC history.
Illinois: Chicago Bagel Authority
If you have some time, check out Chicago Bagel Authority’s website. It is full of orgasmic bagel pictures. I’m sorry in advance for the stomach growls.
Indiana: Bloomington Bagel Co.
This is legit a deluxe BLT and BEC crossover. Is it breakfast or lunch? I don’t know/care; I will be eating this at all three meals TBH.
Iowa: Heirloom Salad Company
Don’t let the name fool you, Heirloom Salad Company whips up far more than just salads. Order “The Loom” if you want to add some pesto to your BEC.
Kansas: Milton’s
Milton’s is Spoon approved and sounds amazing for drunch. Also, look at that cheese.
Kentucky: Please and Thank You
Southern hospitality is real at Please and Thank You. Also, it was a Luke’s Diner popup, so that’s just low-key cool for all my Gilmore Girls fans out there.
Louisiana: Humble Bagel
Ain’t nothing humble about this bagel. Humble Bagel also features some quality street art (for the Insta, of course).
Maine: Ohno Cafe
If bacon is not your thing, try Ohno Cafe’s maple-glazed prosciutto, egg, and cheese sandwich. They also have bacon if you want to stick with the classic.
Maryland: Bethesda Bagels
If your mouth is not watering looking at this, I think you might not have a stomach. Also, try their rainbow bagels.
Massachusetts: Bagelsaurus
What’s the only thing that could make a BEC better? Avocado, of course.
Michigan: Zingerman’s Delicatessen
Zingerman’s is famous at the University of Michigan for their amazing breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and it is Spoon approved.
Minnesota: St. Paul Bagelry
The Hot Buttered Soul BEC is the perfect hangover cure. Butter, carbs, and more cheesy, greasy goodness is my Sunday morning ritual, and St. Paul’s Bagelry pulls it off with grace.
Mississippi: City Bagel and Cafe
How many bagels is it socially acceptable to eat in one sitting? I could go for all five of them right now.
Missouri: Half & Half
I love everything about this sandwich. Look at the avocado, the hot sauce, and the big slabs of bacon. Now that’s what I call a BEC.
Montana: Bagels on Broadway
Look at that bagel diversity. Also look at that cheese. I appreciate a generous portion of cheese in my BEC.
Nebraska: The Hub Cafe
This just looks fresh. From the arugula to the fried egg, I want it all. The bread also looks crumbly and satisfying.
Nevada: The Bagel Cafe
Nothing is better than a big slice of avocado. Nothing.
New Hampshire: The Works Bakery Cafe
Stacks on stacks on stacks has never been more real. And a scooped out bagel? Bold moves.
New Jersey: Summit Bagel
I want to be clear, Summit Bagel, does not sell BEC: it sells THEC. TH, or Taylor Ham, is NJ Bacon, and any true New Jersey resident will correct you if you say otherwise. These people take their bagels very seriously.
New Mexico: Iconik Coffee Roasters
This BEC is iconik (literally). All of Iconik’s bagels are created Montreal style, so expect a sweeter and slimmer bread.
New York: Black Seed Bagels
New York has probably been the hardest state to sift through because there are so many options. I love Black Seed Bagels because I have never seen such a strong melt in my life, but here are some other New Yorker favorites.
North Carolina: Bull Street Gourmet and Market
Class up your BEC with a fork, knife, and some fruit. Sometimes this classic tastes better dressed up.
North Dakota: Bernbaum’s
I know this is all about the BEC, but I really want that crepe too. Sign me up for a trip to North Dakota, ASAP.
Ohio: Cornerstone Deli & Café
The Cornerstone Deli literally has it all: BECs, rice bowls, sushi, wraps, and bubble tea. It’s truly the cornerstone of the Columbus food scene, and I’m jealous of all the OSU students that can go for all their food cravings.
Oklahoma: Old School Bagel Cafe
Okay, what is this magic? That is a BEC with avocado and hollandaise sauce, so it’s basically a portable, deluxe eggs benedict. I’m all in on this.
Oregon: Pine Street Biscuits
Upgrade your typical BEC with fried chicken, biscuits, and gravy. Are you hungry yet?
Pennsylvania: Kimey’s Place
I love how stuffed this bagel is. It is the true definition of food porn.
Rhode Island: Bagel Gourmet Cafe
Brown students got it good. They can go to Bagel Gourmet for all their hungover eats, and I am super jealous.
South Carolina: Tricera Coffee
I love it when a BEC is made with real fried eggs. It allows for exploding yolks, and who doesn’t love that?
South Dakota: Josiah’s Coffeehouse
Objectively, this BEC is a healthy girl’s drunken dream. It’s got all the goods (bacon, egg, and cheese) with a lighter English Muffin bread. It’s truly the best of both worlds.
Tennessee: Bagel Face Bakery
Spoon Vandy lives for Bagel Face Bakery, and I can see why. Bagel Face recently added a food truck, so you can find this BEC all around Nashville.
Texas: Irene’s
This is pure, Southern comfort. I need to see that yolk cut (even though it will inevitably result in drooling).
Utah: The Bagel Project
The Bagel Project specializes in both homemade bagels and bialys (a cross between an English muffin and a bagel). I would like to sample both on a BEC (for scientific purposes, of course).
Vermont: The Bagel Place
This technically is a Chorizo, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich. Chorizo is basically a better version of bacon, so I’m into it. If you’re looking for the OG, the Bagel Place has that too.
Virginia: Bodo’s Bagels
This caption for Bodo’s Bagels is everything: “Bagels over bitches.” It certainly rings true, and it’s way better of a sentiment than bros before hoes.
Washington: The Wandering Goose
The Wandering Goose is slightly upscale but still reasonably priced (under $10 for your favorite BEC). Check out their Fried Chicken Fridays for a Southern time in the Pacific Northwest.
Washington, D.C.: GW Deli
Have you ever seen so much bacon in your life? I think that the perfect ratio for a BEC is 45% bacon, 45% cheese, and 10% egg, but that’s just me.
West Virginia: The Grind
Cheese bagels are truly the best invention in the world. Honestly, once you go cheesy, you don’t go back.
Wisconsin: Gotham Bagels
Okay, there is enough green in this BEC that I would call it healthy. It’s not, but a girl can dream, right?
Wyoming: Pearl Street Bagels
I like a place that truly commits to the phrase “extra cheese.” Pearl Street Bagels will provide you the cheese pull you’ve been craving.
No matter where you are, you are never without a BEC. Take notes, you’ll thank me when you’re hungover.