In the pantheon of best breakfast foods, bagels are oft forgotten. Eggs, bacon, and pancakes seem to get all the love. There’s no denying the appeal of a farm breakfast. Still, bagels deserve more respect. These little hand-sized rings of bread are delicious in their own right. Bagels are a breakfast treat whether you’re on the go, craving lox, or just looking for an excuse to feast on cream cheese. With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to decide where to go. To help you out, we've compiled a list of the top six bagel shops you simply must visit in 2024.
Do you know the bagel man? Though he doesn’t have as much notoriety as, say, the muffin man, the bagel man is quickly becoming one of Phoenix’s most beloved figures. Located in the Phoenix suburb Ahwatukee, The Bagel Man was opened by New Jersey transplant Kal Salih. He’s brought his East Coast bagels to the Valley and offers hungry customers favorites like homemade cream cheese and hot breakfast sandwiches. The freshly dough bagels come at a good price too. You can get a bagel for $1 or a baker’s dozen for $10.
New York Bagels ‘N Bialys is an oasis for old-fashioned bagel fans. With original locations in both Chicago and New York, New York Bagels ‘N Bialys dishes up classic Jewish staples to their customers. Since opening in 1987, this restaurant has been making old-fashioned kosher bagels by boiling and baking the dough for an extra thick crust and doughy inside. The result is a delicious bagel served in over 20 flavors. Their flavored cream cheeses, lox, and veggie toppings make for a quintessential bagel eating experience. To complete the experience, New York Bagels ‘N Bialys has a full bar for some breakfast cocktails.
The Nosh Café is no longer just a bagel joint. In 2011, the owners decided to expand and bring on a full kitchen. Though their popularity has surged, they’ve remained true to their bagel loving customers. Nosh’s made from scratch ingredients pair well with their southwestern infused menu. Favorites include the bagel breakfast sandwich and lox topped bagel. You can also get the ranchero—a bagel covered in sausage, egg, red onion and house made cream cheese.
Biff’s Bagels is a treat in downtown Flagstaff. This family owned bagel and coffee shop combines great service with healthy, fresh ingredients for an all around great experience. Their menu includes over a dozen flavors of bagel and cream cheeses. It’s easy to like the food and even easier to like the business. Biff’s has many vegan friendly options and is committed to using cage-free eggs. Early risers will love their organic and fair trade certified coffee. Biff’s, named after the owners dog, also supports the local no-kill animal shelter and has a full wall of dog pictures.
Kokobelli is a find in Mesa. This mom and pop serves fluffy bagels and New York style breakfast sandwiches. Their homemade bagels are available in over 20 flavors and on seven breakfast sandwiches. The real treat is the westerner—an egg sandwich on a cheddar bagel topped with pepper jack, onion, ham and bell peppers. That’s not to mention the deals. Kokobelli’s bagels are so cheap you can get a baker’s dozen for $10.
Goldman’s Deli is a traditional Jewish restaurant dishing up Chicago style dishes. That means Goldman’s serves up classic far like chicken chopped liver, matzo ball soup, and hand-made crepes. That also means really good bagels. Goldman’s sells their toasted bagels with cream cheese for just $2.99. You can add some Nova lox, tomatoes, onions and chive cream cheese to your bagel for a legendary start to the day.