A Well Rounded Breakfast: Philly’s Best Bagel Based Sandwiches

If you are anything like me, then you know that as the temperature drops, my craving for bagels intensifies. And, if there is meat, cheese, and eggs involved in the creation of this bagel; count me in! So, while Philadelphia may not have “New York Bagels”, we have our own bagels with regional variations unlike any other.

Here are six of Philadelphia’s best bagel shops:

• Spread Bagelry
• South Street Philly Bagels
• Knead Bagels
• High Street on Market
• Philly Style Bagels
• Kermit’s Bake Shoppe

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Spread Bagelry, the Standard | Photo by Jason Varney

Wanna know if someone has ever spent any time living in New York City? Just take her out for bagels anywhere outside the five boroughs and listen to her go on for days about how no bagels are as good as New York City bagels. But you know what we do have? Some of the best regional variations you’re going to find anywhere (and the exceptional breakfast sandwiches made from them), plus our own booming local bagel scene. Here are six operations that take a backseat to no one.
Spread Bagelry // This Rittenhouse destination bagel shop does Montréal-style bagels—which means they’re hand-rolled, boiled in honey water, then baked in a wood-fired oven in small batches all day long. The bagels alone are worth coming for (as evidenced by the morning lines that can run out the door), but Spread also does some excellent breakfast sandwiches, like the Standard (pictured), with egg, cheese and cherrywood-smoked bacon. 262 South 20th Street, 215-545-0626.

South Street Philly Bagels // And while we’re on the topic of giving the finger to the Big Apple, how about some proudly Philly-style bagels? This Queen Village shop has been open nearly 20 years (and just expanded with a second location at 1705 Chestnut Street), supplies a lot of local coffee shops and cafes, and focuses almost exclusively on making bagels. Granted, owner Michael Wagner learned the craft from his Brooklynite father-in-law (a member of Bagel Bakers Local 338, no lie), but his two decades here make these authentically Philly. 613 South 3rd Street, 215-627-6277.

Read full list here.