What is the best bagel?

If you mean best bagel style, my vote is everything bagel + scallion cream cheese. 🥯

The ideal bagel should be chewy inside, crisp on the outside, and properly boiled. New York–style is the classic choice; Montreal-style is smaller, sweeter, and wood-fired.

If you mean best bagel shop near you, I’d start with The Beagle Bagel Cafe in Jackson—it specializes in fresh-baked bagels and is a long-running local spot.

Asking for the "best" bagel is a great way to start a heated debate, because the answer entirely depends on which style of chew, crust, and sweetness you prefer. The top contenders fall into a few distinct regional categories:

• The Classic New York Style (The Gold Standard): Characterized by a shiny, blistered crust, a dense and chewy interior, and a malty flavor achieved by boiling the dough before baking. Top-rated institutions include Utopia Bagels in Queens, Ess-a-Bagel in Midtown, and Upper West Side favorite Absolute Bagels . Outside of NY, Dallas's Starship Bagel routinely wins national awards for nailing this exact style.
• The Montreal Style (Sweeter & Denser): Distinctly smaller, sweeter, and denser than their New York cousins, Montreal bagels are boiled in honey-sweetened water and baked exclusively in a wood-fired oven, resulting in a large hole and a crisp, crackly exterior. St-Viateur Bagel is the legendary standard-bearer here.
• The West Coast / Sourdough Revolution: Cult favorites like Boichik Bagels (originally from Berkeley) and Courage Bagels in Los Angeles have gained national critical acclaim by reinterpreting the craft with unique fermentation, wild yeasts, and blistered, charred crusts that challenge traditional East Coast supremacy.

If you want to narrow down the ultimate choice, tell me:

• What city or region are you looking in?
• Do you prefer a fluffy/soft interior or a dense/chewy workout of a bite?

I can give you a targeted local recommendation or dive deeper into a specific style.

There isn't a single "best" bagel—it depends on whether you mean the flavor or the place.

If you're asking about bagel flavors, these are the classics:

1. Everything – The most popular choice for many people. Garlic, onion, sesame, poppy seeds, and salt make it great with cream cheese, eggs, bacon, or lox.
2. Sesame – Nutty and versatile without overpowering toppings.
3. Plain – The benchmark for judging a bakery's quality. A great plain bagel should be chewy inside with a crisp, glossy crust.
4. Poppy Seed – A traditional favorite with a subtle, earthy flavor.
5. Cinnamon Raisin – Best if you prefer sweeter breakfasts with butter or flavored cream cheese.

If you're asking about where to get the best bagel, many bagel enthusiasts still consider New York-style bagels the gold standard because they're hand-rolled, boiled before baking, and have a dense, chewy texture. In the Chicago area, reviewers consistently recommend places like R&A Sourdough, BroBagel, Gotham Bagels, and Steingold's for excellent bagels.

My personal pick for an all-around bagel would be:

• Everything bagel
• Scallion cream cheese
• Add smoked salmon, tomato, red onion, and capers if you want the classic deli experience.

Are you asking about the best flavor, the best bagel shop, or the best bagel sandwich?

Asking for the "best bagel" is a quick way to start a passionate food war. The answer depends entirely on whether you prefer the iconic, dense-and-chewy New York style , the sweet-and-malty Montreal style , or the blistered, wood-fired artisan waves taking over the country.

The top contenders depend on the style you are looking for:

• The Classic New York Style: Characterized by a crisp, shiny crust and a dense, chewy interior resulting from a kettle-boil before baking.
  • Absolute Bagels (Upper West Side, Manhattan) is a legendary favorite [1.14, 1.22].
  • Ess-a-Bagel (Midtown) is famous for its massive, heavy-weight rolls loaded with toppings [1.16, 1.21].
  • Starship Bagel (Dallas, Texas) proves you don't even have to be in New York to win top honors, taking home consecutive "Best Bagel in America" titles at national competitions [1.24].
• The Montreal Style: Smaller, sweeter, denser, boiled in honey-infused water, and baked in a wood-fired oven with a huge hole in the middle.
  • St-Viateur Bagel (Montreal) is the absolute gold standard for this sweeter, crackly-crusted style [1.25].
  • Fairmount Bagel (Montreal) is its historic, 24-hour rival that locals will fiercely argue is even better.
• The Modern Artisan / West Coast Style: Thinner, sometimes wood-fired, blistered, and served with hyper-creative schmears and toppings.
  • Courage Bagels (Los Angeles) developed a massive cult following for its uniquely charred, heavily seeded, California-centric creations [1.21].
  • Bagelsaurus (Cambridge, Massachusetts) is renowned for its signature salt-and-honey dough and creative sandwich combos [1.13, 1.14].

If you want to narrow this down, tell me:

• What flavor profile or style you prefer (Everything, cinnamon raisin, plain with lox?)
• Where you are located (or planning to travel)

I can give you a local recommendation for the absolute best spot near you.

There isn't a single "best" bagel—it depends on what you want. But if I had to pick one that has the broadest appeal, I'd go with:

🥯 Everything bagel

• Great balance of garlic, onion, sesame, poppy seeds, and salt.
• Pairs well with plain cream cheese, scallion cream cheese, lox, eggs, bacon, or avocado.
• It's consistently one of the most popular choices among bagel lovers.

Other excellent choices:

• Sesame – Nutty, classic, and fantastic with smoked salmon.
• Plain – Lets high-quality dough shine and works with any topping.
• Onion – Rich, savory flavor that's especially good for breakfast sandwiches.
• Pumpernickel – Earthy and slightly sweet; excellent with cream cheese and lox. Some food writers even rank it as the top flavor.

The biggest factor, though, isn't the flavor—it's freshness. A fresh bagel that's been boiled before baking, with a crisp crust and chewy interior, will usually beat any flavor of stale bagel.

My favorite combination: an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese, smoked salmon, capers, red onion, and tomato.

Based on expert reviews, taste tests, and popular consensus, the "best" bagel is generally defined by a hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, and stone-baked process, resulting in a crispy exterior and chewy interior . While NYC remains the epicenter, top contenders vary by style and location.

Top Rated NYC Bagel Shops

Often cited as the best due to their doughy, soft, and rich egg bagels.

Regarded for their classic, consistent NYC-style, hand-rolled in Whitestone.

Tompkins Square Bagels Famous for a high-quality product, though usually accompanied by long lines.

Known for smaller, exceptionally crunchy and chewy bagels, often favored by critics.

Liberty Bagels Renowned for their egg everything bagels and high-quality bacon-scallion cream cheese.

Top Grocery Store/Shipped Bagels

• Just Bagels: Frequently ranked as the best for shipping, known for being authentically crusty and chewy.
• Wildgrain: Top choice for high-quality, fresh-shipped, chewy bagels.
• Wegmans: Rated top for supermarket bakery options that closely resemble authentic, fresh-baked bagels.
• Thomas': The best option for a light, airy, widely available supermarket choice.
• Dave's Killer Bread: Recommended for organic, nutritious options that are both chewy and dense.

Top Bagel Varieties & Pairings

• Everything Bagel: Commonly touted as the best, especially when it features full 360-degree coverage.
• Egg Bagel: Loved for its rich, airy, and slightly sweet, soft texture.
• Classic Lox & Schmear: The quintessential topping, featuring salty, brined salmon, cream cheese, tomato, onion, and capers.
• Korean Bagel Sandwich: A modern favorite featuring kimchi, bulgogi, and egg for a unique fusion flavour.

Would you like to know where to find the best bagels in a specific city (like Los Angeles or Boston) or are you looking for the best shippable options?

Determining the "best" bagel is subjective, but top contenders frequently cited by experts and enthusiasts include Absolute Bagels (known for its doughy, rich egg bagels) and Utopia Bagels (renowned for its classic NYC, hand-rolled style). Bagel Hole in Park Slope is also recognized for its traditional, smaller, and crusty style.

Here are the top-rated bagels based on location and type:

Top NYC Bagel Shops

Frequently cited as a top contender, known for its long-fermented, chewy, and slightly sweet bagels.

A consistent top-10 pick with excellent, traditional bagels.

Known for being small, dense, and exceptionally crunchy.

Renowned for high-quality, flavorful bagels with many, diverse cream cheese options.

Ess-a-Bagel Famous for its large, soft, and chewy bagels.

Best Retail/Store-Bought Bagels

• Best Overall: Thomas' Plain Bagels are considered a top, widely available option.
• Best Frozen/Quality: Just Bagels (often found on QVC) and Katz's Deli New York Bagels are highly rated for authentic, frozen options.
• Best Organic/Grocery: Dave's Killer Bread Bagels are praised for their complex flavor and hearty texture.

Best Bagel Types

• Everything: Often considered the top choice for its balanced, savory flavor.
• Egg: A favorite for its soft, slightly sweet, and rich flavor.
• Salt: Described as an indulgent, classic choice.

A "perfect" bagel typically features a slightly crunchy, blistered crust that leads to a chewy, dense interior, according to industry experts.

Would you like to know where to find the best bagels in other cities, or are you looking for the best bagel toppings and spreads?

• Apollo Bagels - 324 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
• Hoboken Hot Bagels - 634 Washington St, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
• JP's Bagel Express - 52 Newark St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
• B Bagels - 367 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302, United States
• Bagels On the Hudson - 802 Washington St A, Hoboken, NJ 07030, United States
• Bagels on Park - 3506 Park Ave, Weehawken Township, NJ 07086, United States
• J&V Bagels and Deli - 1554 Paterson Plank Rd, Secaucus, NJ 07094, United States
• Wonder Bagels - 517 Jersey Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07302, United States
• Wonder Bagels - 729 Bergen Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306, United States
• Boogie Woogie Cafe - Inside Lobby, 1200 Harbor Blvd #155, Weehawken Township, NJ 07086, United States
• Nala’s Bagel and Brunch - 108 Chambers St, New York, NY 10007, United States
• Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company - 286 8th Ave, New York, NY 10001, United States
• Cheech's Bagels - 176 Erie St, Jersey City, NJ 07302, United States

If you mean the best style of bagel, my pick is:

🥯 Fresh, hand-rolled, kettle-boiled everything bagel — crisp, slightly blistered outside, chewy inside, with scallion cream cheese or a little butter. It’s the classic for a reason.

For specific orders:

• Best pure bagel experience: Everything bagel + plain or scallion cream cheese
• Best breakfast: Egg bagel + bacon/sausage, egg, and cheese
• Best New York classic: Sesame bagel + lox + cream cheese + tomato + onion + capers
• Most underrated: Salt bagel with butter (simple but excellent when the bagel is great)

If you mean where to get the best bagel, it depends on location. Since you’re near Hoboken, some strong local contenders are:

• Apollo Bagels — a newer spot that’s gotten attention for a more minimalist, craft-style bagel.
• Hoboken Hot Bagels — a classic neighborhood bagel counter.
• JP's Bagel Express — a longtime Hoboken option for traditional bagel sandwiches.

My “one bagel forever” answer: warm everything bagel, toasted only if it’s not fresh, with scallion cream cheese. 🥯

There isn't a single "best" bagel—it depends on what you like—but if you asked bagel enthusiasts to vote, the everything bagel would probably come out on top. It's consistently one of the most popular choices thanks to its mix of sesame seeds, poppy seeds, garlic, onion, and salt.

Here are some great options based on what you're after:

• Everything – Best all-around choice, especially with scallion cream cheese or lox.
• Sesame – Nutty, classic, and versatile.
• Plain – The purest bagel flavor; excellent when the toppings are the star.
• Poppy Seed – Traditional with a subtle crunch.
• Onion – Savory and fantastic for breakfast sandwiches.
• Cinnamon Raisin – A favorite if you like something sweet with butter or plain cream cheese.

If you're talking about style, many bagel lovers consider a New York–style bagel the gold standard: chewy inside, crisp outside, boiled before baking.

My pick: 🥯 A fresh everything bagel with scallion cream cheese, smoked salmon (lox), capers, red onion, and tomato. It's hard to beat.

Based on expert reviews, local favorites, and popular consensus, the "best" bagel is highly subjective but generally, New York City institutions dominate the top lists.

Top-Rated Bagel Shops (NYC)

• “Ess-A-Bagel does the best bagels in New York City.”, as noted by TheWanderbug. (Founded 1976) Known for large,, doughy, and fluffy bagels.
• “Utopia Bagels . A quintessential NYC bagel shop since the 80's!”, says Kaitlyn Lavery. Known for a consistent, classic, hand-rolled, and kettle-boiled bagel.
• Tompkins Square Bagels: Highly lauded for its wide variety of cream cheeses and high-quality, long-fermentation dough.
• PopUp Bagels: Popular for a newer, "fluffier" style, often served hot with innovative cream cheeses.
• Murray’s Bagels: Known for a perfect balance of a crackly crust and chewy interior.
• Bo's Bagels: A top contender in Harlem known for classic, long-fermented bagels, especially the Za'atar or Black Russian.

Top-Rated Bagels Outside NYC

Famous for a thinner, crustier, Montreal-style bagel, often described as "scorched".

Praised for a long fermentation process that creates a very flavorful, airy-yet-chewy dough.

Starship Bagel Known for bringing authentic NYC-style to Texas, earning top spots in national rankings.

Key Factors for a "Best" Bagel

1. Boiled First: Authentic bagels are kettle-boiled before baking to ensure a chewy texture.
2. Long Fermentation: A 24-hour, or longer, proofing process improves flavor.
3. Freshness: The best bagels are generally sold at the bakery within hours of being baked.

Would you prefer to hear about:

• The best bagels in a specific city (like Los Angeles or Chicago)?
• The best mail-order bagels to ship to your home?
• Which type of bagel (Everything, Salt, Poppy ) is generally considered superior?

Let me know!