The Best Bagels in Philadelphia
Philadelphia is one of the great all-American cities. This city has a long and proud history that extends back many centuries. One of the best things about the community is the chance to enjoy lots of wonderful food. Over the years, the region has developed an incredible array of diverse places to eat. Residents and visitors alike can take advantage of this fact. Bagels make an ideal meal. They are fast, easy to eat and lend themselves to many varied toppings. If you are looking for bagels in Philadelphia, you’ll find lots of incredible possibilities.
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on November 22, 2021 and last updated on March 16, 2023. Please refer to restaurant websites and social media pages for the most up-to-date information. For more recommendations on where to eat and drink around Philly, check out our city page.
Photo credit: Yelp
Kaplan’s New Model Bakery
901 N 3rd St Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 627-5288
If you’re in the mood for delicious bagels made by a bakery that’s been in business for a long time, this is the right place to head. These bagels are kosher. That means they follow certain dietary laws when prepared. At the same time, the company is also a modern one. The tasty bagels on here are come in varied flavors. They tend to change every so often so there’s always time to experiment and see what you like. Purchase a single bagel or bring a dozen back to the office.
Photo credit: phillymag.com
Knead Bagels
725 Walnut St Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 519-9920
If you love bagels with a twist, you’ll definitely want to poke your head into this fascinating bagel place. They love playing around with your expectations and coming up with new ideas. Go for a classic plain bagel with lots of cream cheese or check out the cream cheese option of the day. They have bagels that you can toast or just eat it on your own without any heat as you stroll the city’s streets. When you’re really hungry, they have incredible sandwiches. Each one is piled high with a great combination of items.
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Spread Bagelry
262 S 20th St Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 545-0626
If you’ve never tasted Montreal style bagels, this is the place to begin. These are hand rolled and placed in an oven. That gives them a light and airy texture as well as enough heft to stand up to a wide variety of toppings. Try a rye, onion or garlic bagel. Top it with maple bacon cream cheese or the pistachio nut variety. If you’re in the mood for something a bit heartier, they can do that here too. There are many sandwiches on the menu that make a great lunch option. The roasted chicken BLT offers layers of flavor that work with any bagel on the menu. Wash it down with one of their hot beverages or a cup of iced coffee.
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K’Far Cafe
110 S 19th St Philadelphia, PA 19103
(267) 800-7200
Jerusalem has long been developing an impressive bagel culture. This is where many cultures meet to the benefit of the eater. K’far Cafe brings these bagels to the city. They like to put them in a panini press and grill until the fillings merge. You’ll find lots of bagel types on the menu to sample. You’ll also find plenty of wonderful toppings that help bring the bagel to life. Smoked salmon is a local favorite. It come with red onions and plain cream cheese. For an interesting take in the classic grilled cheese, you can go for the grilled cheese bagel. An egg and cheese is another fabulous option. The rest of the menu is equally inviting. There are plenty of drinks and lots of sweet treats for any eater.
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Schmear It
3601 Market St #5 Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 792-3892
To schmear means to lay on thickly. That is the secret to the success of this widely admired Philadelphia bagel chain. Try one of their varied types of toppings on the bagel of your choice. The build your option lets you customize any bagel to your specific preferences. It all begins with the base of your choice. Options like cream cream cheese, butter, peanut butter, nutella as well as hummus, whitefish salad and tuna salad make it easy to create a full meal from a few simple ingredients. You can add an egg and cheese to the entire bake and then chose the yoghurt. There are also lots other inviting menu options that make it easy to enjoy this place with a crowd. They have items like oatmeal that make any meal special.
Photo credit: bartsbagels.com
Bart’s Bagels
3945 Lancaster Ave Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 596-5157
Founded by natives of Philadelphia, Bart’s is the place to be for authentic bagels made with great care. Each bagel is made with a hearty, New York style crust that holds plenty of toppings. That is why it is easy to find something you like on their large menu. The handmade bagels are boiled until soft and then carefully baked each day until golden brown. They come in lots of familiar flavors such as poppy, sesame seed and onion. Each bagel is ideal for breakfast. If you want something that’s a bit more filling, you’ll find a wide range of toppings that make the whole thing come together. Their smoked fish sandwiches are a must. Go for the one with Nova smoked salmon or opt for the pastrami smoked fish for a new version of an old favorite.
Photo credit: Yahoo
Korshak Bagels
1700 S 10th St Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 592-7678
Phil Korshak is the mastermind behind this fabulous new bagel place. He grew up in Brooklyn where he learned all about what goes into making a really good bagel. After mastering his trade, he decided it was time to open a place of his own. Every single bagel they offer here is made carefully using proven techniques. Pick out a single bagel of your own or go for a few bagels to bring back to the family. They come plain as well with all sorts of possible accompaniments. Sample one with whitefish salad or nova lox. There’s all sorts of options on the menu so everyone can have something they would like to eat. A full array of beverage options makes it easy to start the morning on the right note.
Photo credit: Yelp
Vanilya
1611 E Passyunk Ave Philadelphia, PA 19148
(917) 751-7044
One of the best things about this bakery is you’re very spoiled for choice. They make all sorts of wonderful baked goods. You can buy a single bagel to much on or opt for a large group of bagels that make an ideal way to entertain guests at your office. They do all kinds of bagels such as the za’atar bagel as well as lots of varied types of schmears and pies.
Photo credit: Yelp
Essen Bakery
1437 E Passyunk Ave Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 271-2299
New York style bagels are the star of the show at this low key but fabulous Philadelphia bakery. Tova du Plessis is the chef behind the homemade bagels with luscious fillings of all kinds. Varied types of bagels are always made fresh daily. They come hot out of the oven and ready to eat immediately. Go for one of the great homemade spreads that are ideal for a meal of your own or with your best friends and family. If you want something more, you can also find it right here. Try an assortment of her sweet pastries.
The Bagel Place
404 Queen Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
215-551-2387
Since Ringo Roseman opened The Bagel Place in 2017, it’s become the pride of Queen Village. While the fresh bagels made in-house every day are a major reason why, they also do much to support their community, like paying their employees livable wages and offering full benefits, as well as donating leftover bagels to organizations that help feed the homeless and offering space to those teaching ASL courses. And oh yeah, those bagels! They’ve got all the classics, as well as some funky options like French Toast and Rosemary & Cracked Pepper. You can also get a few lunch specials like Pastrami (with swiss, caramelized onions, and spicy mustard), Chicken Cutlet (with provolone, tomato, arugula, and lemon dill aioli), and Lox Special (with cream cheese, tomato, red onion, and capers).
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