As students in NYC, I think we can all agree that bagels are delicious. Some might even say that they deserve their own food category. Whether you need something for those 8 AMs, or you’re just looking for a quick bite to enjoy with friends, bagels are a great option. Luckily, we have access to an overwhelming number of good bagel shops, but what makes a “good” bagel “great?” I will be judging based on a few criteria–texture, portion size, service speed, price, and location convenience in reference to NYU’s main campus–to provide you with the only bagel guide you’ll ever need.
*For all these reviews, I ordered the bagels un-toasted because NO “great” bagel ever needs to be toasted, but you’ll learn these key tips as you keep reading.
Best Bagels & Coffee
225 W 35th St A, New York, NY 10001
My Order: Garlic Bagel with Sausage and Egg whites
Price Without Tax: $10.04
Courtesy of @lgbf.munch on Instagram
I thought it’d be fitting to start this review off with the “Best Bagels.” Get it? The title? Anyway, I was disappointed to find out that these certainly weren’t the best bagels I’ve ever had in NYC. Contrary to positive, overhyped reviews, it was pretty average. Bagels should be dense and slightly sweet, but this one had little to flavor or garlic seasoning.
The morning line was long as expected, and I ended up waiting about 10 minutes to get my bagel. In terms of price and distance from NYU, I wouldn’t go out of my way to try these.
Liberty Bagels
260 W 35th St, New York, NY 10001
My Order: Garlic Bagel with Plain Cream Cheese
Price Without Tax: $4.50
Courtesy of @lgbf.munch on Instagram
Just 3 minutes away from Best Bagel & Coffee and home to the viral rainbow bagel is my favorite bagel from this entire list (I’m not the type of writer that makes you wait till the very end to get the juicy details). Liberty Bagels has four locations, but I visited the one closest to our campus. The price of a bagel with just cream cheese was very similar to those from other shops (around $5), but it was much larger than others and, as you can see in the photo, they don’t skimp on the cream cheese either. It was dense, chewy, slightly sweet, and the crispy exterior was well-seasoned with garlic chunks on both sides. Plus, the smooth, subtly sweet cream cheese, available with or without dairy in over 23 different flavors like honey bacon sriracha, Oreo, and birthday cake, was so delicious.
The line was outside the door, half a block down, but I received my bagel in less than 15 minutes. Liberty Bagels checks off all my boxes–except for location convenience. For early morning classes, walking 1.5 miles may not be the best idea, but I’d highly recommend you check out any of their locations whenever you have time!
(PS: I tried their french toast bagel with cinnamon walnut raisin cream cheese and it was pure heaven)
Pick A Bagel
210 E 23rd St, New York, NY 10010
My Order: Garlic Bagel with Scallion Cream Cheese
Price: $7.25
Courtesy of @lgbf.munch on Instagram
Finally, a location that’s close to campus. Pick A Bagel would suit those who like a neutral-tasting bagel, similar to white sandwich bread. Its texture was fluffy and light, which made it good bread–but not a good bagel. Even the cream cheese was lacking in flavor. However, I was shocked by the fresh, crisp scallions dispersed throughout. They were so fresh that they gave me the same sensation as eating fresh, raw onions. But it was not worth the additional $2. Charging over $7 for a bagel with just cream cheese is absurd.
There was no line when I went, perhaps a foreshadow, so this could be a good option if you’re in a time crunch. Besides convenience, nothing about this bagel stands out to me.
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
63 E 8th St, New York, NY 10003
My Order: Onion Bagel with Garlic Herb Cream Cheese
Price: $5.45
Courtesy of @lgbf.munch on Instagram
With 6 locations across Manhattan and Queens, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company is giving Liberty Bagels a run for its money. Although not as large as Liberty’s, this bagel was big, dense, chewy, and you guessed it, slightly sweet. It was also HEAVILY coated with onion seasoning on both sides. As for the thick layer of cream cheese, talk about flavorful. I also tried the plain cream cheese, which was divine, but be sure to check out their Instagram for the special weekly cream cheese flavors!
*Fair warning, only get the garlic cream cheese if you are a garlic lover. Luckily, I’m a garlic girly at heart so the fact that it left a bit of a hot, spicy feeling in my mouth, similar to eating raw garlic, was impressive. Trust me, you’ll want to brush your teeth after eating this one.
But the most appealing thing about this bagel has to be its location. Just 4 minutes away from Washington Square Park, Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company has options for gluten-free and dairy-free people, making it a great option no matter the occasion. I’ll definitely be going back to try their rotating weekly cream cheeses.
Ess-A-Bagels
324 1st Avenue, 19th Street, New York, NY 10009
My Order: Everything Bagel with Garlic/Herb Cream Cheese
Price: $6.60
Courtesy of @lgbf.munch on Instagram
Hot take: I wasn’t too impressed with Ess-A-Bagel. Before you fight me, take a look at the uneven seasoning in the images below.
Courtesy of @lgbf.munch on Instagram
Through a side-by-side comparison, you can clearly see that the top half was almost completely bare. Since almost all the seasoning was on the bottom, some bites were really salty. At times like these, I remember why bagels should have a little sweetness to them. Texture-wise, it was chewy and a bit hard, plus the bread was quite bland. I did like the cream cheese though, as it reminded me of the garlic cream cheese from Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company, just less garlicky and saltier.
Although I didn’t like this bagel, I could see the appeal to people who prefer a dense, but not too dense texture, and savory flavor. The closest location to NYU’s main campus is a little over a mile away, so I wouldn’t go out of my way to get it, but this could be a great option for salt lovers.
My favorite bagel from this list is hands down Liberty Bagels, but out of convenience, I would go with Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company. I know I was a bit harsh, but I’m dedicated to providing 100% honest reviews and will continue to do so throughout my bagel hunt. Be sure to check in for more bagel reviews coming soon!
Final Rankings🏆:
Liberty Bagels
Brooklyn Bagel & Coffee Company
Ess-A Bagels
Pick A Bagel
Best Bagels & Coffee
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