The Best Bagel Shops Across America

Whether you prefer yours smeared with cream cheese, loaded with lox, or topped with other fixings for an epic sandwich, nothing compares to a crusty, chewy, soft-on-the-inside bagel fresh out of the oven. Bagel fiends, particularly NYC ex-pats, have strong opinions on the breakfast staple, so some might say we're biting off more than we can chew by curating some of the best makers across the country. But, rest assured, you'll know where to score the most mouthwatering bagels from New York City to Los Angeles and favorites in between — all highly recommended by discerning noshers.

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New York City

As the indisputable king of the bagel scene, it's a real challenge to pick just one outstanding purveyor in New York City, but the mom-and-pop institution Ess-a-Bagel is considered by many to make the best in Gotham. Founded in 1976 by an Austrian baking family, devoted customers say it's worth the wait for its classic, New York-style bagel. One local Google reviewer says, "The best bagel shop in NYC. There's a reason I keep going back and standing in lines for these bagels. The texture is just right — it's something substantial to bite into. Just firm enough on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. Heaven."

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Philadelphia

Located in Philadelphia's Center City neighborhood, Knead Bagels sells itself as a non-traditional bagel shop. While it does serve the usuals bagels and spreads (everything bagel with plain cream cheese, for example), there also avant-garde selections such as charred long hot cream cheese on a black sesame bagel. One Yelp reviewer says, "They differentiate themselves by having some unique bagel and cream cheese varieties. My favorite is the togarashi bagel, which is kind of an exotic version of an everything bagel. The sandwiches are really solid and won't break the bank."

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Key West, Florida

Goldman's Bagel Deli serves traditional "boiled and baked" bagels — from cinnamon raisin and cranberry wheat to rye and pumpernickel — and all from scratch daily. Yelp reviewers note that these are the "best bagels for miles" and the staff is friendly despite a busy atmosphere: "The best breakfast spot in Key West. This place is very clean and the staff makes you feel like you are at home. The coffee and fresh bagels are great."

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Omaha, Nebraska

Bagel Bin boasts New York-style bagels, which makes sense: Founders Joel and Susan Brezack moved here from Long Island in 1977. This is the only kosher bakery in Omaha, and customers rave on Yelp about the family-friendly atmosphere, fresh bagels — "soft but with a great chew to them" — and sheer variety of cream cheese spreads, which range from honey almond to jalapeño cheddar.

Denver

Joshua Pollack, founder of Rosenberg's Bagels and Delicatessen, grew up in the suburbs of New York City and wanted to bring an authentic New York-style bagel to Denver after he studied at the University of Colorado. According to reviewers on Google, he's succeeded: "Coming from Philly and NYC the places you have to choose from in Denver are limited for bagels. I got the Jersey Boy and it was a flashback to living back east. The bagels are on point, everything is fresh!" Opt for one of the signature breakfast, deli, or fish bagel sandwiches or "build your own" dream bagel.

Burlington, Vermont

Myer's Bagel Bakery boasts amazing hand-rolled, wood-fired Montreal-style bagels and, judging by customer reviews on Yelp, delivers. No matter what you try, these "wicked good bagels" seem to be a crowd pleaser — from the house favorite Ivan with fried egg, brie, avocado, and sriracha to the Montreal Spice bagel with lox or rosemary sea salt bagel with maple cream cheese. Myer's also features gluten-free bagels, which can be difficult to find.

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Phoenix

While it can be difficult to find a solid bagel shop in the Southwest, even native New Yorkers say The Bagel Man's homey shop is a gem that aficionados must visit. Bagels are boiled and made fresh daily on the premises; customers promise on Yelp that they're "definitely worth the wait in line" since they're the "best bagels in town." Get there early, as the line forms quickly (don't worry, it moves fast), and the shop closes as soon as bagels are sold out for the day.

Los Angeles

The hand-rolled, New York-style bagels at Belle's Bagels are some of the best on the West Coast. Breakfast bagel sandwiches served with signature "Shalom Sauce," "Newish and Jewish" classic bagel sandwiches, and fresh bagels with a schmear won't disappoint. As one Yelp reviewer states, "The only thing you will be disappointed about is why you haven't made the trip sooner."

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Portland, Oregon

Foodies can find legit New York-style bagels in the Pacific Northwest at Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels. Even East Coast snobs note they're boiled and baked the right way and can "taste the difference upon the first bite." They rave about the Portland shop's quality goods served fresh from the oven with a crunchy crust and tender inside — often loaded  perfectly with house-smoked salmon or lox. Others recommend the Reuben sandwich, a pumpernickel stuffed with hot corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing.

Raleigh, North Carolina

Housed in a downtown Raleigh food hall, Benchwarmers Bagels has become an essential stop by using fresh-milled heirloom grains and a wood-fired oven and teaming up with a local coffee company. While these aren't traditional New York-style bagels, reviewers rave about the za'atar and sea salt versions with a Carolina Reaper schmear; other cream cheese flavors such as pimento cheese, spiced honey, and pecan butterscotch add a nice Southern touch to any style bagel. While the combinations seem endless, sandwich selections range from fried bologna to peanut butter, banana, and roasted marshmallow. 

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Washington, D.C.

Brightly colored D.C. shop and self-described "Jew-ish" deli Call Your Mother elevates old-world culture with its modern takes on classic New York-style bagels. It's quickly become a sensation in and out of the District for flavors such as za'atar, sesame, cheddar, and cinnamon raisin, with beyond-generous schmears such as candied salmon and one of the best bacon, egg, and cheese (and spicy honey) sandwiches in the country.

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Nashville, Tennessee

Kettle-boiled bagels and bialys at Nashville's hip Proper Bagel are mixed from scratch and baked in a stone-lined oven daily. With more than 40 years of traditional baking experience and New York roots, the family-owned, modern eatery balances tried-and-true techniques with "new school" flavors. Bagel offerings run the gamut from classic egg and pumpernickel to spinach everything and cinnamon crunch; mouthwatering spreads ranger from lavender honey and jalapeño bacon to scallion dill and cookie dough.

Shrewsbury, New Jersey

Customers rave about the "consistently awesome" and "luscious tasty" New York-style bagels hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and baked fresh daily at Bagel Masters. With a variety of  flavors, homemade specialty spreads (including vegan options), and breakfast sandwiches, there's a winning combo for everyone. One Yelp reviewer notes, "Their bagels are the best. When we are up visiting family in the area we always stop by, and bring a dozen back to Maryland to enjoy. Place gets busy, but your patience is always rewarded."

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Austin, Texas

Founded in 2010 by a New Jersey transplant and former bakery supply salesman, Wholy Bagel serves up the best scratch-made bagels in Austin. Kettled and baked on the premises, most specialties, which include salt, everything, sesame, rye, onion, jalapeño cheddar, and cinnamon raisin, typically sell out by 1 p.m. daily. Hand-folded cream cheeses come in varieties such as garlic and herb, olive and pimento, strawberry, and even chocolate chip. Grab a true Texas-style baker's dozen of 14 (because everything's bigger in Texas) to go.

Lincolnwood, Illinois

Since 1965, the no frills, cash-only deli New York Bagel and Bialy has been churning out some of the most sought-after New York-style bagels you can find in Chicagoland. Dense, crusty, and chewy, the hole-in-the-wall shop's fresh, reasonably priced goods "rival the kind of bagels that you can get in NYC" and they'll "wow your taste buds every time," according to Yelp reviewers. It's open 24/7, so you can get your fix — like the always reliable Nova lox sandwich with jalapeño cream cheese on a bestselling "mish mosh" bagel — whenever a craving strikes.

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Cleveland

The Cleveland Bagel Co. hand-rolls its stuff "Cleveland-style" as a throwback to "what a bagel used to be'' — a recreated old world-style based on careful research. Not too doughy and not too sweet, they're small and chewy with a perfectly crisp exterior. Made fresh daily, these golden beauties in flavors from everything and rosemary sea salt to cinnamon cranberry — pair well with popular house schmears such as cheddar chive, chorizo chipotle, and brie honey walnut as well as seasonal offerings including cherry-goat cheese and garlic herb. This grab-n-go establishment is "a definite Cleveland must-try," according to customers on Yelp.

Lewes, Delaware

Two brothers combined their passion for surfing and authentic New York-style bagels when opening their beachy Surf Bagel in 2004. Scratch-made varieties include traditional poppy, salt, everything, and egg, as well as blueberry, chocolate chip, spinach, sun-dried tomato, jalapeño, and an "old bay" flavor patrons rave about — all of which can be "waxed up" with spreads such as scallion, lox, and raisin apple cinnamon. Yelp reviewers say this coastal spot is "the best bagel place in all of Delaware."

Alpharetta, Georgia

Family-owned BB's Bagels has developed a loyal following for its hand-rolled, kettle-boiled menu items. The suburban Atlanta shop has perfected the art of soft, chewy, and fresh-tasting New York-style bagel-making, and "the cream cheese varieties are out of control," according to one Yelp customer. Bagel options run the gamut from sweet French toast and cranberry to savory cheddar and marble-rye with hand-whipped schmears such as horseradish bacon and apple cinnamon crunch. You can't go wrong with any.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Bakeshop and cafe Bagelsaurus specializes in slow-fermented, hand-rolled goods made from a sourdough starter — and they're what many Yelp reviewers deem to be the "best bagels in Boston" with a "perfect chewy/crispy ratio." Bring your appetite and sample well-executed, light and fluffy bagels in traditional flavors such as everything and sea salt, plus rarer offerings such as black olive and cheddar garlic, smeared with spreads including honey-rosemary or spicy pepper cream cheese.

Greenville, South Carolina

One thing about Sully's Steamers is clear: "This isn't your ole' plain bagel and cream cheese kind of shop," according to its website. But the aptly named "steamer" shop's fresh-steamed, flavor-packed signature sandwiches — such as the popular Griswold steamer, layered thick with thinly sliced turkey, bacon, provolone and pepper jack cheeses, shredded lettuce, and a kick of Sully Sauce — will hit the spot. As one Yelp reviewer asks, "Who knew steaming a bagel would ruin us for all future bagels?"

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Salt Lake City

"New York chic meets ski chalet comfort" at Feldman's Deli, the only local shop serving authentic Jewish sandwiches and old-world specialties. Reviews on Google and Yelp call the bagels "legit" and sandwiches such as its reubens "heavenly" and "mind-blowing" — making it a must-try. Head here for fresh-made, hearty bagel and lox platters, "delicious and mouthwatering" pastrami sandwiches, and highly praised everything bagels with schmears of chive cream cheese.

Las Vegas

Mom-and-pop shop The Bagel Cafe is the place to go for "a little bit of NYC without the attitude," according to one website reviewer. East Coasters feel right at home at this "always busy" hospitable shop established by New York transplants because it's stocked with comforting, made-from-scratch Jewish delicacies such as a vast selection of boiled and baked bagels and bialys with homemade schmears, overstuffed pastrami and corned beef sandwiches, hand-sliced smoked fish, and knishes.

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Tulsa, Oklahoma

The owners of Old School Bagel Cafe have perfected the techniques of New York-style boiling and baking. As demand for the Tulsa shop's traditional and new-fashioned bagels — think French toast, spinach parmesan, and everything-jalapeño — and unconventional schmears such as tzatziki, tabouli, and jalapeño salsa grew, it's expanded into a local chain with locations throughout the state. Customers on Yelp note that these are the "best bagels ever" with the "perfect chew of a New York-style bagel" and "you can't find a better bagel in Tulsa."

Detroit

Founded by Morris Goldsmith in 1921, New York Bagel has been churning out old-fashioned, New York-style bagels and bialys the same way for a century. With the Goldsmith family still in charge, patrons know they're getting the real deal when they come to one of the Detroit area's shops, whether it's for the variety of signature sandwiches or fresh-baked bagel and schmear selection (and even "dogels" for your canine companion). Locals who've been coming since childhood say "these are the best, most authentic, well-made bagels you'll ever eat."

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Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The owners of Bagel Boy take pride in their scratch-made, kettle-boiled bagels — and both Sioux Falls locations are crowd-favorites for the New York-style bagels and friendly service. The family-run business bakes flavors such as asiago, pretzel, and honey oat all day long and they "for sure do not skimp" on the cream cheese, which you can find in custom-blended flavors such as cucumber dill and bacon scallion. One Yelp reviewer says, "This is the first real bagel I've had since leaving the New York/New Jersey area … Crisp on the outside, chewy and light inside, with the proper texture and taste."

South Portland, Maine

Artisanal bakery Scratch Baking Co. experiments with flavors and textures to produce highly sought-after boiled and hearth-baked bagels with a distinct sourdough tang, giving them "a complexity a New York bagel does not have" that's "reminiscent of a Montreal bagel but better," according to Yelp reviewers. While you can't go wrong with any of the varieties, locals recommend the Maine sea salt variety. Stop by early (or order ahead) since Scratch sells out fast — and load up on cream cheeses such as pimento, smoked salmon, and house-made vegan made with cashews, apple cider vinegar, coconut milk, and salt.

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Green Bay, Wisconsin

Lox, Stock 'n Bagel offers a range of delicious, homemade bagels and cream cheeses alongside coffee and other baked goods such as scones and cinnamon rolls. Stop in for what some Yelp reviewers say are the best and freshest bagels around, "the closest to a real NY bagel" you'll find in northeast Wisconsin. With varieties such as traditional sesame, poppy, and everything as well as pizza, spinach sourdough parmesan, banana walnut, and cranberry orange, in addition to schmears such as green olive, jalapeño cheddar, chocolate chip, and Door County cherry, the flavor possibilities feel endless.

Jackson Hole and Wilson, Wyoming

Founded by an East Coast transplant, Wyoming staple Pearl Street Bagels boils and bakes throughout the day — they're so fresh and hot out of the oven that they don't even need toasting. Locals swear by the "super flavorful and satisfying" baked goods in flavors such as tomato herb, honey sunflower, spinach feta, seven-grain, and everything, and unique schmears that include Mexican, mountain berry, sun-dried tomato olive, and wild Alaska salmon. Hikers, skiers, and bicyclists on Yelp and Google note they're filling enough to power them through adventures in the Tetons and Jackson Hole for the day.

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Charles Town, West Virginia and Winchester, Virginia

With a baking legacy dating back four generations, Royalicious Bagel Bakery combines a family's Jewish and Italian heritage in its handmade bagels, breads, pastries, and sweets — from lox cream cheese to rugelach to cannoli. Even out-of-town customers have made it their go-to spot for New York-style bagels, raving on Yelp and Google: "Royalicious has the best bagels south of NYC" and it's "worth the drive from D.C." From pumpernickel and jalapeño everything bagels with green olive schmears to breakfast sandwiches and lox-and-nova platters, the portions are generous and the "staff is friendly and an additional perk on top of the great food."

Slidell, Louisiana

Family-owned Creole Bagelry and Cafe in Louisiana makes kettle-boiled and baked New York-style bagels in house daily from scratch using local ingredients and in small batches — so arriving early or ordering ahead is advised if you want to ensure your favorites are available. Yelp reviewers note the variety of bagels and spreads, from cranberry almond and sun-dried tomato bagels to honey walnut raisin and spinach and artichoke cream cheeses. Google reviewers say these are the "best bagels in the greater New Orleans area" and they're "crisp and chewy, just as a bagel should be."

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