When it comes to our morning breakfast, it really hasn’t started until we have a hot cup of coffee and fresh bagel in our hands. While Chicago isn’t filled with bodegas at every corner, we can put together a classic New York City bagel that is not only delicious but will have you asking yourself, “Why am I paying 15 dollars for an NYC bagel when I can get one just as good for half the price in Chicago?” Well, that’s a good question (maybe move here) because the best bagels in Chicago are truly at your fingertips.
1. New York Bagel & Bialy
Since 1965, the New York Bagel & Bialy slogan remains “Real New York Bagels Made Fresh In Chicago, ” as they proudly serve some of the best bagels in the Midwest. With two locations, you can choose from a selection of Cinnamon Raisin, Egg, Garlic, Mish Mosh, Onion, Poppy Pumpernickel-Rye, Salt & Poppy, Sesame, and the quintessential Plain.
Whether you want to make a classic bagel by schmearing cream cheese, lox, and capers or go outside the box with Jalapeño Strawberry cream cheese, New York Bagel & Bialy does it all.
📍Address: 4714 W Touhy Ave, Lincolnwood, IL 60712
📍Address: 3556 1/2 Dempster St, Skokie, IL 60076
2. The Bagel Restaurant and Deli
This is considered a local Jewish deli spot, where patrons come routinely with their specific order already made. You can tell by the way everyone greets each other by name, the warmness of the Bagel. It’s notably a consistent favorite for those residing on Broadway because The Bagel offers delightful toasted bagels, hot soup, and dessert options galore!
3. Tilly’s Bagel Shop
Tilly’s Bagel Shop’s inception starts with a heartwarming story about the founder, Hannah. Every Sunday, her dad would bring home fresh bagels from the local bagel shop, which shaped her love for the food and desire to create the best bagels in Chicago.
All of Tilly’s bagels are made in small batches and rise overnight at a cool temperature before being boiled, topped, and baked the next morning, followed by each bagel hand-dipped all around in toppings and then baked at a very high temperature. It’s the recipe for a warm, moist bagel that never lets you down.
📍Address: 34 E Balbo Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
4. Cory’s NYC Bagel Deli
With over 1,000 bagel order daily, Cory’s NYC Bagel Deli know how to do it right. They have five locations downtown and near the suburbs and are constantly requested to cater to various events, like Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, corporate events, and graduations—clearly, people use them because they have some of the best bagels in Chicago.
Their menu includes a ton of bagel choices, and whether you want just schmear, a breakfast sandwich, or are ready for regular lunch, you can order it all on a fresh bagel from Cory’s NYC Bagel Deli, which is the worthy option.
📍Address: Find your Cory’s NYC Bagel Deli location here
5. Mindy’s Bakery
Mindy Segal has been on the restaurant scene in Chicago for almost two decades, and you might have heard or probably gone to her first restaurant, Hot Chocolate, which was a beloved neighborhood staple.
However, the restaurant closed in 2020, morphing into a weekend bakery pop-up that would eventually become Mindy’s Bakery in the summer of 2022. Mindy’s Bakery is known for her delicious creations of yeast, sugar, and flour that transform into Bagels, Bialys, Coffeecake, Danish Dough, and more.
📍Address: 1623 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
6. The Great American Bagel
If you’re traveling by plane, you’ll likely run into The Great American Bagel in one of the O’hare terminals. While it’s not our favorite bagel in all of Chicago, if you’re craving a bagel while waiting for your flight, we recommend this is where you go. They hit the right spots for us, which is all you can ask when looking for a bagel schmeared with cream cheese.
📍Address: Find your The Great American Bagel location here
7. Taste of New York Bagels & Deli
At Taste Of New York, they welcome you to the TONY family. If you’re looking to get the luxury of New York sandwiches blended with the freshest ingredients, TONY is for you. The motto of Taste of New York Bagels & Delis strives to bring that taste to Chicago without that expensive price.
📍Address: 3268 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
8. Steingold’s Of Chicago
As a kid, Aaron Steingold often went on family trips to his parents’ native New York City. It strengthened his passion and love for classic delis that would become Steingold’s. Steingold’s was born to keep a foot in the timeless traditions while bringing a Jewish deli to a more modern place. It brought a rule-breaking and innovative take on the Modern Jewish deli.
Steingold has the key to one of the most delicious bagels in Chicago—bagel dough mixed, fermented, cut, hand-rolled, steamed, topped, and then baked to perfection. Is your mouth watering yet?
📍Address: 3737 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
9. Gotham New York Bagels and Eats
Gothan Bagel’s secret ingredient? Tradition. In 2006, a New Yorker dreamed of bringing New York City bagels to the Midwest and perfecting the best bagels in Chicago. The process passed down from bubbe to bubble. The time spent making the bagels, searching for higher-quality ingredients, and perfecting traditional methods created their bagel. This is truly a New York Bagel shop with multiple locations all over Chicago.
📍Address: Find your Gotham Bagel location here
10. Reno
It’s not the traditional bagel shop, but Reno is where you’re trying to have a night out but still crave a scrumptious bagel. Offering a community fun, casual place to hang in Logan Square, Reno has delicious food that’s still affordable. Almost everything on their menu is made in-house, including our wood-fired bagels and Chicago pizza, as well as offering local seasonal and organic ingredients.
📍Address: 2607 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
11. Brobagel
Since 1983, the Jacob brothers, Andy, Bill, Pete, and Steve, have memorized Chicagoans with Brobagel. The brothers crafted Brobagel bagels with a unique and meticulous method: they are boiled in water first, hand-dipped in seeds, baked on redwood planks, and finished on the hearth of our bagel oven—resulting in their signature bagels: crunchy on the outside, chewy in the middle, and delectable all around.
📍Address: 1931 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622