Real bagel breakfast near the A-gates at Midway
In Concourse A post-security, Einstein Bros. Bagels is one of the few spots in MDW Main where you can get an actual bagel breakfast sandwich instead of a wrapped muffin from a cooler. It sits along the A concourse walkway, close enough that you can grab food and still keep an eye on A-gate departure boards.
Hours vary with flight banks, but they reliably open for early morning departures in Terminal A, catching the 5–9 a.m. rush. Expect the line to snake into the hallway during those hours, yet regulars say it moves steadily enough that a 10–15 minute wait is typical. If your A-gate boarding time is under 25 minutes away, skip it and grab something closer to your gate.
Prices land in the $6–$8 range for sausage, egg, and cheese or bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwiches, with plain or flavored bagels and shmear usually around $3–$4. The food is standard Einstein Bros. chain quality: decent chew on the bagel, predictable egg patties, and pre-sliced cheese. It easily beats $12 snack boxes on a Southwest flight out of MDW.
Go-to orders here are the sausage/egg/cheese bagel sandwich or a plain bagel with cream cheese, which show up again and again in Google reviews. Some regulars grab a second bagel to bring on board for later, especially on two-leg routes like MDW–DEN–West Coast where the first sandwich won’t last the day. If you care about toasting, say "well toasted" when you order.
Watch out for long waits and order mix-ups during the early wave of departures between roughly 6 and 8 a.m., when staff rush through orders and items sometimes sell out by late morning. Bagels occasionally come out barely warmed during the crunch. One practical move: get in line immediately after clearing security for Concourse A, place a simple order, and check your gate on the app while you wait.