Shorter line than Starbucks in SAN Terminal 2
In Terminal 2 airside at San Diego (T2 post-security), Einstein Bros. Bagels is the “I just need a hot sandwich” option when Pannikin and Starbucks queues snake down the hall. Prices sit in the $ range, so a bacon, egg, and cheese comes in under typical sit-down breakfast spots in the terminal. It’s a counter-only setup, so plan on grabbing your food and heading back toward your gate rather than camping out here.
Menu is standard Einstein’s: egg sandwiches, plain bagels with cream cheese, and drip coffee or espresso drinks. Regulars stick to simple egg-and-cheese or a plain bagel with cream cheese because those move fastest when the morning rush hits around 6:30–9:00 a.m. Most reviews land around a 3-star rating: “fine, nothing special,” but reliably faster than waiting 20 minutes for Starbucks in T2.
Food quality tracks with the chain: some sandwiches come premade, then reheated, which helps with speed but can mean a lukewarm bacon, egg, and cheese if they’re slammed. Travelers mention bagels sometimes running out closer to 10:30–11:00 a.m., especially plain and everything, so earlier is better if you care about flavor and not just calories. If you’re walking over from gate 20-28, budget five extra minutes in case a short line suddenly balloons.
What regulars do: order a plain bagel or a basic egg-and-cheese, ask for cream cheese packets or spread on the side, and take everything back to the gate. That trick stops the bagel from getting soggy on a 3–4 hour flight to Chicago or the East Coast. Seating right at the shop is limited to a few stools, so expect to eat at your gate or at a nearby charging bar.
Tip: if the Starbucks line in T2 has more than 10–12 people, walk to Einstein’s, grab a bagel sandwich to go, and buy your coffee later from a smaller kiosk near your gate.