Best bagels in Manhattan?

[mgwerks]

I am going to the city in the near future, and this is a must-have culinary outing. Who has the best, and where are they? I'll be staying at 53rd & 3rd Ave.

Mark

[theaman]

No doubt about it, H & H is the best bagelry in the city. I have tried them all, and there is no comparison to H & H.

[thursdaynext]

Brooklyn Bagel on 25th & 8th Avenue without a doubt! They are big & fluffy & water boiled. Just had one this morning :)

[umai]

Ess-a-bagel is not bad. H&H is okay. Tal's bagels: good, but the one i had was so crunchy it cut the roof of my mouth (kind of like capn crunch cereal does). My favorite by far, though, is hot jumbo bagels on 2nd ave, between 56th and 57th. Really superior to any other i've had in manhattan, so far.

I'm generally a bit of a bore when it comes to ordering bagels. I always get sesame, toasted, with lox spread, or if they don't have it, plain. Not only are the bagels lovely and chewy with plenty of sesame seeds at HJB, but their lox spread is fantastic, with actual chunks of lox spread throughout.

[fifiboutiq]

Yes. Absolutely Ess-a-bagel!

Pumpernickel raisin with baked salmon salad and veggie tofu spread!

[kcijones001]

They make a mean olive cream cheese too!

[JungMann]

Ess-a-bagel is good, though my vote for best bagel in NYC would have to be H&H. The closest location, however, would involve a short train ride to the UES.

[silencespeak]

I agree. H&H is the classic new york bagel. Ess-a-Bagel is also a great choice, though I'd side with H&H.

[LNG212]

Me too for H&H. However, to the OP, the "H & H Midtown" bagels on the east side and "H & H" bagels (UWS and W46th St) are *not* related. The UWS H&H has a sign in their shop stating so in emphatic terms (always wondered about the history there).

[nativeNYer]

i agree with the H&H bagels crowd. for me, ess-a-bagel is too huge, tasteless and the texture is just all wrong IMO. H&H is more crispy, soft on the inside and just better tasting ... but it is clearly a matter of personal preference. try to buy whatever is hot out of the over. the other big winner is absolute bagel Brdwy near W107.

[jenniebnyc]

ewwww

[kcijones001]

54th and First is Tal's bagels and Ess-a-Bagel is on 3rd and 52nd

[jenniebnyc]

I second both recs. No need to walk any futher. I prefer Tal. If you like chopped liver...theirs is the best.

[thursdaynext]

The thing i don't like about Tal bagels is that they won't toast them! I just want to have the option.

[jenniebnyc]

no real bagel place will toast. Come on!