A Bagel is Never Just a Bagel

Bagels are the "Circle of Life." Well, they're at the center of my life. Who needs a significant other when you can just have a BAE-gel? All jokes aside, bagels are my breakfast food of choice, whether it's a savory sandwich on an everything or a sweet treat on a cinnamon raisin. But can Philly bagels rival New York? I think the bagels on this list could give NYC a run for their money (both figuratively speaking and literally since they're way cheaper).

1. Schlesinger's 1521 Locust St, Philadelphia, PA 19102

I warned you you'd be seeing a lot of Schlesinger's on this blog. Of course, it wouldn't be a Jewish delicatessen without lox. My co-blogger and I are both obsessed with lox so much, we could eat it on its own. But it's even better on an everything bagel with cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, cucumbers, and olives (which I personally love). This sandwich requires a bit of construction; you have to take it apart and assemble it yourself in order to eat it without it falling apart, a lesson I learned the hard way the first time. Nonetheless, the little bit of extra effort is so, so worth it for the finished product.

2. Knead Bagels 725 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Are you seeing green with envy because you want this right now? Or are you grossed out by the...broccoli? I never understood why this was everyone's least favorite vegetable as a kid; I liked broccoli so much that I'd even eat it raw. But breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not sneak in some veggies? Knead has some of the most abnormal bagels and spreads around- like this egg, cheese, broccoli, and aioli sandwich on a black sesame bagel- and, on top of that, their menu is constantly changing. You might be skeptical at first, but you'll be a believer at first bite. When I'm craving Knead, it's not a want; it's a need.

3. Rachel's Nosheri 120 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

One new bagel topping I was just introduced to this year is whitefish salad, and boy was I missing out! One bagelry I was just introduced to recently was Rachel's Nosheri, another Jewish delicatessan, and man, I've gotta get out more. Not only do they have some of the freshest everything bagels in Philly, but they also give a generous glob of whitefish salad AND cream cheese with black AND green olives. I'd like to give a big shout out to my boyfriend for playing matchmaker and setting up this arrangement.

4. Talia's Grille 122 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19123

Hey, there's little ol' me posing with this BIG bagel. I normally wouldn't post a picture of myself here, but I needed to demonstrate how HUMONGOUS this bagel sandwich is to scale. It's literally (not the Gen Z slang) as big as my head, and it probably weighed as much as it too! I've only ever ordered delivery from this Mediterranean eatery in Fishtown, so my pictures are not the most aesthetic, but I think this cross section still accurately portrays just how thick and stuffed this sandwich is. The delivery time is pretty hit or miss; the first time, it arrived in under 30 minutes, while the second time we had to call the restaurant twice, and it took about 2 hours. I was so hangry that I finished the whole thing, but my anger immediately dissipated as soon as I took- or should I say attempted to take- a bite. Oh yeah, it's a little hard to tell, but it's another lox sandwich, and I hate to say it, but it's even better than Schlesinger's...

5. Milkcrate Cafe 400 E Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

I bet you're sick of seeing lox on everything bagels by now, and you probably think I have no variety, but to be fair: this is only a small fraction of the bagels I've had in Philadelphia, and this was one of the first bagels I had in the city. My friend and I wanted to get brunch, so we googled "best brunch in Fishtown," and this indie, music themed cafe popped up. Being the hipster music snobs we are, of course we had to go, and it was also one of the cheapest options. This cafe decorates their walls with records and names all of their dishes after music puns, such as my "Smoke on the Water." FYI- they sell vinyls too, so you can spend even more money!

6. Chestnut Street Bagels 1705 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Taste the rainbow! Rainbow bagels have been in for the past few years, so I had to see what the hype is all about. To be honest, the bagel itself doesn't taste any different than a normal bagel, but you have to get it with funfetti cream cheese! It's like eating cake for breakfast, which I have been guilty of doing on several occasions. This super sweet treat is definitely not the most nutritious start to your day, but it's super cute and Instagrammable! Head over to Chestnut Street early though, as they sell out of this bagel especially fast.

7. Spread Bagelry multiple locations

Spread is really spreading the love- and the carbs- with this inside out grilled cheese bagel sandwich. This bagel will turn your preconceived notion of a traditional grilled cheese upside down, but if you think about it, we already put cream cheese on bagels anyway, so what's the difference using American and cheddar? You can even add tomato or bacon and choose your kind of bagel. Although, I recommend sticking to a plain, as it's the most similar to sourdough bread, objectively the nest bread to use on a grilled cheese. Spread is adding a new location in Center City, so I dare you to try it yourself! Trust me, you'll thank me later.

8. K'Far Cafe 110 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

You're probably used to the iconic circular shaped bagel. However, K'Far has a different take on bagels; behold, I present the Jerusalem bagel, an ovular shaped delicacy. These sesame seed bagels are buttered and pressed between a panini press, making them a flattened, warm bagel/panini hybrid. They're a lot crunchier than a normal bagel, but they're also longer and more filling. The egg and cheese bagel looks like it has pesto in it, but that's actually za'atar, a Mediterranean spice. And look how fluffy that egg is; it's almost up to par with Middle Child. However, the smoked salmon bagel may be my favorite bagel in the entire city due to the fact that it not only has a ton of dill, but it also has PICKLES! This bagel is definitely for pickle lovers like myself (and any sane human being).

9. Kismet Bagels

Kismet Bagels is run by a new dynamic duo to the Philly restaurant scene. Although they don't have a brick and mortar shop just yet, they have been hosting pop ups and teaming with other shops around the city to sell their fresh, homemade bagels. I went to their pop-up at the Bakers Jar in Center City to get their bagel bundle- three bagels and three scones for only $15! They may look small, but they are thick, chewy and topped with so many seeds that you can't even see the bagel underneath. Check out their Instagram page (@kismetbagels) to stay updated on where they will be next. P.S. They also make their own specialty cream cheese, which they call "schmear." They gave me a coffee schmear for free, and if you're a coffee lover like myself, then you could eat this spread by the spoonful!