There’s nothing quite like a New York City bagel: the deliciously doughy inside, the crispy, shiny crust, and the thick layer of schmear that adds a captivating zestiness to each and every bite.
Oftentimes referred to as the “bagel capital of America” New York City is home to some of the best bagels you will ever eat.
While everybody and their overbearing Jewish mother know where to get a classic bagel and lox in NYC, only true foodies know how to sift through the menu for the city’s most coveted bagel sandwiches.
See Also: The Best Off-The-Menu Dishes In NYC, From Lilia To Don Angie
Keep reading for the most outrageous, over-the-top bagels in New York City, from french toast crust to cookie dough frosting, and beyond!
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Multiple Locations/Website
Roe on a bagel? Please say less. Russ and Daughter’s famed Super Heebster bagel is perfect for that annoying friend who can never decide what food they’re in the mood for. The warm, chewy dough is coated with a harmonious blend of creamy whitefish and salmon salad. Topped with horseradish, dill cream cheese, and the star of the show, melt-in-your-mouth wasabi roe, this bagel is a true culinary masterpiece.
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463 W Broadway, Manhattan/Website
It’s no secret that Sadelles is famous for their decadent bagel platters, and out-of-this-world french toast. But have you ever tried the deliciously gooey grilled cheese? We don’t discriminate when it comes to this classic dish, but grilled cheese on a bagel just hits different. Unlike any grilled cheese sandwich you have ever consumed, the bagel is flipped inside out, creating gorgeous layers of American and Munster cheese. Once toasted, the melty cheese drips onto the outer casing of the bagel, holding onto the seeds for dear life.
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69 5th Ave, Brooklyn/Website
This critically-acclaimed bagel shop is at the forefront of everything they do. First, they invented the original Rainbow bagel, and now the most delectable French Toast bagel in all of Manhattan. Thank you for making our dreams an edible reality. The buttery dough has a custardy interior, with crispy golden-brown edges. Topped with sausage, egg, cheese, and the most addicting maple syrup you will ever taste, this unique creation is a genius blend of sweet, savory, and everything in between.
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181 Grand St, Manhattan/Website
Latkes and bagels are two of god’s most wonderful creations, and when paired together, they have unstoppable superpowers. SoHo’s famous Baz Bagel is the temple of Latke Hash–pun very much intended. This city-renowned bagel shop elevates a traditional egg and cheese by adding the Jewish holy grail: the latke. The buttery, crispy hash beautifully complements the runny eggs and cheese, which is then amplified by the soft crunch of the toasted bagel. Pro Tip: add corned beef to your sandwich. You will not regret it.
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Multiple Locations/Website
The Pepperoni Pizza Bagel at Black Seed Bagels is worth the annoyingly long (and sceney) wraparound lines. You’re guaranteed to see last night’s hookup when waiting for your food, but hey, at least you’ll get clout for knowing the menu’s best-kept secret. Prepared with mouthwatering mozzarella, luscious provolone, sweet homemade marinara, and smoky pepperoni, this dish is more of a work-of-art than a greasy hangover food. As you bite into the warm dough, you are instantly transported back to the good ol’ days of frozen pizza bagels with a side of multiplication tables.
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500 6th Ave, Manhattan/Website
Chicken cutlet on a bagel? Name a better combination, we’ll wait. The crispy chicken pairs perfectly with the soft dough, resulting in an explosive juxtaposition of textures. The crust soaks up the juices of the chicken, creating an everlasting oasis of flavors. This one-of-a-kind bagel sandwich is saltier and flakier than your ex, which we didn’t know was physically possible.
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Multiple Locations/Website
If you have a sweet tooth, look no further than Tompkins Square Bagels. Although intimidating at first, the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is one of the best things we have ever put on our bagel. And we’re savory tried-and-true, so that says a lot. The warm cookie dough melts into the dough seamlessly, imitating the type of dessert found in a quaint, artisanal bakery. The Birthday Cake Cream Cheese mimics the intoxicating sweetness of a vanilla cake that evokes a comforting sense of nostalgia.
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1065 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn/Website
We don't know who you are Tommy, but we would like to ask you out on a date. Made with golden-brown hashbrowns, three slices of oozing cheese, tangy sausage, and ketchup, this state-of-the-art sandwich deserves to be written about in history books. And how could we forget about the MVP: the hot honey that takes this dish from great, to extraordinary. Can we talk about how hot honey is criminally underrated? This secret weapon adds a spicy, sweetness to the savory flavors of the potatoes, cheese, and sausage. A+!
Photography by: Vicky NG
