Phoenix: Good bagel shops?

[ghibli99]

Hi all,

Did a quick search, and didn't come up with much... first of all, thanks for everyone's recommendations on the donut places. I'll definitely give them all a shot! I was thinking of doing bagels and cream cheese spreads this Friday, and wanted to ping you all to see if you have any good recommendations. I'll probably buy juice and milk again, too.

Personally, I'm not that knowledgable about bagels, but I know when I've struck gold... just an ever-so-slight crunch on the outside, opening up to a wonderfully soft and doughy inside, full of flavor and great texture.

Size of the bagel doesn't matter too much, and I'd rather the bagels not be split until I buy or serve them. The inside tends to get that dry crust if cut too soon before consuming.

Anyway, I'm off of 24th St and Highland, so anything within a few miles would be great. Thanks in advance!

-Mike

[travelchow]

I have always gone to Chompies because it's close and the bagels are good but whenever I have a chance to go out west, 59th Ave north of Union Hills is a small place called Hot Bagels, they are are the best bagels I have had in the Phx area.

[cjs123]

Never heard of Hot Bagels. That's a looong way from me, but maybe worth the trip. Will keep them in mind. I travel sometimes to Back East Bagels in Tempe, and I love to have a bagel and coffee there (really like their coffee, too), and get a chicken salad sandwich on a bialy to go. I've asked the owner if there are any plans to open a place further east, but no dice!

[travelchow]

It's on 59th avenue, south of the 101 on the west of the road in a strip center. The owners are I believe eastern european and the bagels are great! Luckily I have a cousin around the corner, so always an excuse to stop when we visit.

[azhotdish]

I believe there used to be a Back East Bagels on Southern/Power in Mesa but it closed several years ago.

[misohungrychewlow]

I love Karsh's and faithfully buy bagels there almost every week, even though they are not an authentic bagel. I grew up on the east coast and I know a real bagel. Still, Karsh's is still good for what it is, a dense, bready bagel, lacking the true boiled sheen ... Scott's next door has good bagels, sourced from either Chompie's or New York Bagels & Bialys. The latter does a reasonably honest bagel that I pick up a few times a year. Back East Bagels in Tempe isn't bad, and when I still lived in south Tempe I was bummed when Bagel Nosh shriveled into oblivion -- glad to hear they're still open (?) ... Even though it's been several years since I've been there, that place in McCormick Ranch may have the best bagels in central Arizona.

[ejs1492]

Big City Bagels in Scottsdale at 101/Hayden

[ciaogal]

stopped in to BigCity Bagels yesterday morning and ordered an everything bagel with the whitefish salad to go...as I was hitting the road for a week long conference in Vegas....
I have to say it was delicious.....The whitefish salad wasn't too 'mayonaissey' nor were there too many bones.....
Thanks ejs1492 for the tip!
I will definitely be back!

[ejs1492]

Glad you enjoyed. It's not a real deli, but the food is pretty good. Seems like you frequent a lot of the places that I do, based on some of your posts.

[ciaogal]

we probably live in the same neighborhood! We love to support and frequent the small independent restaurant operators. We are tired of the mundane offerings of the vast array of corporate establishments that the Valley has to offer. Always looking for something new!
Thanks again!

[ejs1492]

i'm in the Thompson Peak/FLW area....any place that you love around there? We're so sick of the same places and usually go out to eat 4-5 times per week.

[ciaogal]

you sound like us...the choices are limited...we feel as if we have to drive a bit.. I am waiting to see what they are building on 100th st and FLW southeast corner.....

[AzChelle]

The New Times did an article last fall that describes the bagels for shops in town (including Tempe, Scottsdale, and Fountain HIlls). They only mention Karsh's and Chompies for Phoenix. I thought it described the bagels really well.

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/Issues...

[Max Fischer]

My Girlfriend swears by a place called 'BagelNosh' which is on Warner road, just east of 48th Street in Awahtukee (sp) They have decent bagels, and it's fun to watch the owner snap at the high-school kids who are spacing out, rather than taking your order, helping you, etc.

[mamamia]

Spotty service attitudes from the servers keeps us away from Chompies. I thought we were the only ones, glad to see we're not.

[ghibli99]

Thanks, everyone! One of my coworkers just mentioned Chompies yesterday, since he buys them at the local market and thinks they're great. I haven't sampled any of those other places, but I think I might try out Karsh's first, since they're close. I may also opt to check out Chompies since they're pretty close, off of Greenway and the 51. I sure hate the rush hour traffic around here, though, and I'm from LA! :)

[silverbear]

Chompies is a more of a bagel specialist, so I do think their bagels will be better. Nevertheless, I suggested Karsh's simply because of proximity to your office. I agree with the comment above that service at Chompies can be brusk, and the same is true at Karsh's. I guess it's all part of the New York-style authenticity.

[Firenza00]

A NYC-style pizza place in Dallas prided itself on the semi-rude behaviour touting is as part of the authenticity. :) Damn good pizza, too. :)

[kindofabigdeal]

where are you talking about? campisi's?

[amkirkland]

Chompies from the bakery are much better than chompies from the market. I don't know if it's because their older, or if they use a different recipe or preservatives. No matter why, they're better.

[Booger]

I have to second the recommendation for Chompies. I think they are great NY style bagels (which means they are boiled then baked, chewy, while crispy on the outside).

I find the service at the counter (at Greenway and Cave Creek) very rude. They never say thank you, or treat you as a valued customer. However, I think their bagels are great, and continue to go their frequently. If I didn't love their bagels, the poor service would be a turnoff, but I'm hooked, so I keep going there.

[Firenza00]

It's actually at Greenway and 32nd Street. NE corner. I've never been that one, just the Chompies near 92nd St and Shea.

[amkirkland]

agreed, service is rude and presumptuous. I sometimes find chompies bagels to have too little crust, but I know they swear by boiling them. Also, for my taste, they're under toasted, but that's just a personal preference thing, and I'm afraid what their staff would do if I asked them to do anything above and beyond, like double toasting.

Anyone know anything about the chompies going into PV Mall?

[RHWW]

While this discussion is about bagels, I do want to mention that I ordered a corn beef on rye at Chompies (Shea) and they gave me pastrami. I didn't reallize the error until I got home. When I spoke to the manager (Josh) to complain, he rudely said "what do you want me to do about it?" Say goodbye to overpriced and rude Chompies!

[Max Fischer]

Not to be a jackass, but the place is a New York style place. Really. That is how it goes down in NY. Besides, you don't go to Chompies for service, it's all about the bagels baby, best in town!

[amkirkland]

My problem with them isn't just the attitude, but that there isn't anything endearing about it, as in a NY place. You're no jackass, but keep in mind that no one said they weren't going there... these are just comments.

[geg5150]

So funny, both of my parents grew up in NYC and lived there until their late 20's, neither one of them like Chompie's bagels. They prefer Lox, Stock & Bagel in McCormick Ranch. I wish there was one in Central Phoenix.

[ciaogal]

I grew up on the East Coast as well...and I too prefer Lox stock and bagel over Chompies. Chompies bagels are too "bread" like. No crusty outside and chewy soft middle. They are much better toasted!

[silverbear]

Just to clarify: Whose bagels are better toasted -- Lox, Stock, and Bagel or Chompies?

[amkirkland]

Have you tried NY Bagels and Bialys? They're my fav, but I've never made it to lox, stock and bagel... mostly because i avoid eateries with clever names.

[Max Fischer]

amKirkland,

Gotcha! I agree that service is super-important. When I go to Chompies, I hit the bagel counter, grab my stuff and run for the hills, I try not to stay there. I did have lunch at the Tempe location last Sunday, and it is an entirely different atmosphere, great service, etc.

[Booger]

Well, as endearing as a NY attitude is when you are on the East coast, we live in the West. People are nicer here, and friendlier.

I expect the same polite service at every restaurant I go to in Phoenix. Having a NY theme doesn't excuse you from common courtesy.

BTW, I have been to plenty of bagel places in NYC, and I usually get a Thank You, or a smile (but not always I have to admit).

I also find myself going to Chompies all the time. I do love their bagels. Didn't much care for their Mandel Bread (doesn't hold a candle to auntie Bonnies).

[silverbear]

I would suggest Karsh's at 7th St. and Missouri as the best bagel option in proximity to the Biltmore area.

http://www.karshsbakery.com/

[ciaogal]

Great Bagels in this town are hard to find. A few good bagel shops are:

Lox stock and Bagel on McCormick Ranch...crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle.

New York Bagels and Bialys Shea and 71st St. (Agua Calinente) Decent Bagels....great onion Bialys. http://www.nybagelsnbialys.com/

Karshs's bakery on 7th st and Missouri. Not sure about their bagels...their onion pockets are divine and their rye bread is fabulous! http://www.karshsbakery.com/

Brueggers Bagels....Tempe on Mill Ave. They make them the old fashioned way....Boiled then baked. They are as close to NY as we have found in AZ.

Would love to know what otheres recommend!

[amkirkland]

I'm a big fan of NY Bagels and Bialys, and Chompies is a close second. If you're at 24th/Highland then you're far away from anything I know of, so you should just accept what you have nearby, which is fantastic english muffins at La Grande Orange. Also, there's Au Petit Four at 2501 E Camelback Rd # 18. They've got the only good croissant I've found in Phoenix.

[ajs228]

Chompie's makes a pretty good bagel. They have a few locations around the valley.