This Is the Best McDonald’s Breakfast Sandwich Ever—and It’s Not Even Close

McDonald’s celebrated 50 years of breakfast by bringing its iconic bagel sandwich to all 50 states. This news shook me to my core—I had no idea that some Americans had yet to experience the McDonald’s Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel. Though you are all strangers to me, I am overcome with joy for each and every one of you.

I’m the country’s leading fast-food critic (according to my editor), and as such, I’m well-acquainted with the chain restaurant landscape. I hold unreasonably strong opinions about all fast-food burgers. And while McDonald’s may be most famous for its Big Mac and Quarter Pounder, the Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel is low-key the best sandwich on the entire menu.

What’s so great about McDonald’s Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel?

The breakfast menu actually has three bagel sandwiches, the others being Bacon, Egg & Cheese and Sausage, Egg & Cheese. But McDonald’s Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel is something truly special. It’s preposterously indulgent. This is not a healthy McDonald’s breakfast by any means, nor is it something to be eaten casually. This is a sammie that you order when you need a morning meal.

The bagel is not great, and that’s fantastic. I grew up in New York City, so bagels are another food group I take seriously. And if McDonald’s used a serious bagel in this situation, the sandwich wouldn’t be as good. This bagel is too dense and chewy to be enjoyable with cream cheese, but as the base of something marvelously greasy, it couldn’t be more perfect. It sucks up all the errant juices and flavors from the fillings without losing structural integrity.

As for those fillings, there’s a fluffy folded egg topped with a slice of melted American cheese and sweet roasted onions. Then there’s a steak burger patty, which is exclusive to breakfast for reasons unknown. It’s far better than the beef patties used on the Big Macs or McDoubles (which are small and have a tendency to dry out), with enough moisture to balance out the egg.

A simple sandwich becomes sublime if all its elements work in perfect unison, and that’s exactly what the McDonald’s Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel achieves.

Is there a way to make this bagel even better?

While I think this breakfast sandwich is perfect on its own, it can be brought to higher levels of wonderment with the addition of McNugget sauces. I’m partial to Buffalo, but McDonald’s Tangy Barbecue Sauce is also a strong option. It’s essential to request extra napkins, as this sandwich will definitely leave your hands greasy, the way good fast food should.

Just remember: Even if McDonald’s Steak Egg & Cheese Bagel is the best sandwich on the menu, it’s only available for breakfast, so get there before 11 a.m.