Find the best bagel shops in New York City

When in New York, enjoy a sandwich New York style

While visiting New York you must indulge in a typical New York specialty which is the bagel sandwich made with cream cheese and lox. Bagels are donut shaped breads found in many urban cities which have large Jewish populations. New York City is one such city and the bagels of New York City have a fan following of their own.

What makes the New York bagel special?

The New York bagel contains salt and malt and is boiled in water prior to baking in a standard oven. As a result the New York bagel is puffy and chewy inside with a noticeable crust on the outside. The Bagel sandwich is a breakfast favorite in this city that never sleeps.

New York Bagels come in a wide variety of flavors such as poppy seed, onion, pumpernickel and even an ‘everything’ bagel which has all the possible toppings.

A classic New York bagel sandwich is composed of a bagel, cream cheese, Lox and a few slices of tomato and onion. Lox is salmon which is cured in brine and not smoked. Lox was introduced to New York City by its Eastern European Jewish immigrants. Though bagels are available at every street corner deli in New York City, The residents of New York have their favorite bagel shops where they enjoy their bagels and bagel sandwiches.

Where in New Yorker would you find the perfect bagel sandwich?

• H&H Bagels

A unanimous favorite amongst New Yorkers is H&H Bagels . H&H Bagels was founded in 1972 and still exists at its original location at 80th street and Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It is open 24 hours a day and operates as a take out service. You will have to buy your own cream cheese and lox along with your bagel at H&H to create your sandwich at H&H bagels.

• Tal Bagels

If you would like to sit and enjoy your Bagel sandwich you could head to Tal Bagels on the Upper East Side. Tal Bages has a predominantly red décor which gives it the ambience of an old style diner .Tal Bagels has a variety of bagels and a number of bagel accompaniments like spreads, schmears, cold cuts and smoked fish on its menu. However unlike other bagelrys, Tal doesn’t toast your bagel. New Yorkers generally prefer to have their Bagels toasted before they are made into a sandwich. Tal Bagels are located at 333, East 86th Street, New York, New York 10028. Phone: 212 427 6811. Tal Bagels has second location in Midtown at 977 First Avenue between 53rd and 54th street as well.

• Russ & Daughters

For a truly authentic Bagel sandwich experience you might want to head down to one of the bagel institutions of New York City located in one of the original Jewish neighborhoods the Lower East Side. This area which is currently undergoing a rapid gentrification is home to a historic bagel store called Russ & Daughters. Russ& Daughters having opened for business in 1914 is today is run by the fourth generation of the Russ family. America’s domestic goddess Martha Stewart is a frequent visitor to this popular lower East side store.

• Ess–a-Bagel

Yet another Bagel store which is highly regarded by most New Yorkers is a store which was founded by members of Austrian baking family and is called Ess–a-Bagel. Ess-a-bagel has two locations in Manhattan and it features has an assortment of bagels and cream cheeses on its menu. In addition to bagels, this café also serves a variety of cakes, pastries, muffins, cookies and Jewish bites such as rugelach along with freshly brewed cappuccinos and espressos. For those counting their carbohydrates, Essa-a-Bagel even offers low carbohydrate bagels, so you can enjoy your bagel sandwich relatively guilt free at Essa-a-Bagel.

Photo of New York bagel originally posted by adactio

Topic:  Restaurants & Food | 2 Comments
Tags:  New York

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About the author

Anjeeta Nayar is a professional freelance writer and blogger based in New York City. She relocated to the Big Apple from Mumbai two years ago. She loves New York City for its incredible buzz and energy. It really is the city that never sleeps and there is always something to do and see here. In addition to being a writer and blogger, she is also an avid traveler with London and cities in S.E.Asia being the places she enjoys visiting the most!