I grew up in NYC, and recall all the great Jewish bakeries of the 1950s and 1960s in the Bronx and Brooklyn. They're almost all gone, and I miss the homemade bagels, bialys, rugelach, bobka etc. We knew all the great ones. Asa's isn't amazing, but it's good. Along with Cecil's in St Paul, Jewish food is represented well in the Twin Cities. I enjoyed Asa's homemade bagels and bialys. Along with some lox and cream cheese, Asa's suppled a great lunch. Go and enjoy some authentic food. read more

I needed this. Simple but delicious fare, kind staff. The lox bagel sandwich with fresh dill and pickled shallots- perfect!! Yes, the website is still accurate and you do have to wear a mask inside the building, but they will provide them for you at the entrance. read more

Asa's Bakery - Lox Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Had my first bialy today and definitely not my last! Stopped into grab a loaf of sourdough and decided to get a couple bialy's to try - which I wish I ordered a dozen. The perfect chewiness and flavor and felt lighter than a bagel. I stopped in right before close on a Saturday and was happy to see they still had a few items left. A perfect grab and go spot and was lucky to have no line given the time of day. There is some seating both inside and out to enjoy something to grab and go. Will definitely be back. read more

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I've never really understood the world's obsession with bagels. Asa's has changed that. I LOVE their bagels so much. Not to mention their sourdough and pumpernickel bread which I am also obsessed with. This place had the best stuff. They do have some other offerings but they are limited. The shop doesn't allow for dine in so expect to take your bagel to go. The service is always quick and kind. But again these bagels are the greatest. read more

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Asa's is a neighborhood gem. While they do have a more limited selection of baked goods, their bagels, sour dough bread, and bialys are always so fresh and delicious. The staff is always friendly. FYI they do require you to wear a mask in the bakery however they do provide complimentary masks. read more

Asa's Bakery - Everyday sour dough - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I've been trying to patronize this place for years, but it seems like whenever I try to go, they're always closed. Hooray, today was the day! I was thrilled to find a white fish sandwich option on the menu--for a reasonable price, too. It was so fresh and smokey, and the radish, scallion, and cucumber provided a good crunch. Loads of fresh dill. I'd give it an A+. I also ordered an everything bagel with butter. The texture was just how I like it--crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. It was fabulous, but to be fair, everything was missing some things. Theirs is poppy seed heavy, with sesame seeds and just a hint of fennel to make it interesting. I'd love to taste salt and garlic in the mix. I'd give it a B. The loaf of bread looks great! Saving for dinner tonight. Things of note: They have a little merchandise market where you can buy canned fish and small gifts. It's expensive, but the goods are unique and great quality. You could pull together a great host/hostess or housewarming gift with these goods. Just a little idea. It's my understanding they don't allow people to eat in the restaurant and there is a lot of unused space. Per their website, "We require masks. We have staff, customers, and family who have chronic illnesses and disabilities that make them more likely to become very sick if they get COVID. Access and community care are important values to us, and this is why we have you wear a mask when visiting. We always have some available for you!" The restaurant is a Body Positivity Zone. There is a sign asking customers to refrain from the following: * Diet /Weight Talk * Body Policing (criticizing appearances) * Food Shaming judging food options or eating habits) * Health or Concern Trolling (keep your health advice to yourself) * Gender Policing (reinforcing gender norms) * Ableism (discrimination against people with disabilities * Racist Beauty Standards Closing Thoughts: The food is special, so I'll be back as long as they're open and I'm hungry. Additionally, I'd love to see Asa's do more to bring back the sit-down dining experience. Nothing builds a stronger, authentic community than connecting with others in a shared experience. This menu is rich in culture, and it offers a real opportunity to bring people together. Instead, I, along with the couple parked next to me, ate my bagels in the parking lot. read more

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I was excited to try their Cheesey Scallion Bread I spotted on their website last Sunday. I used it to make a tasty grilled cheese sandwich. The bread itself was doughy and had a great texture. I have had cheesey breads from other bakeries with more cheese though. In my case, not a problem since I added cheese to my sandwich. Chalk that up to the inner Wisconsinite I am. There's no such thing as too much cheese. I plan to use the left overs to make croutons. Not sure I'd buy this one again, but would try a different flavor. read more

Asa's Bakery - Cheesey Scallion Bread - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Asa's has become of our local go-to spots when a good bagel/bialy is needed. They have a handful of bagels always available, as well as rotating bread, bagel, bialy and schmear specials. Service is at the counter and geared primarily for takeout (there are a few outdoor tables available). As others have mentioned, they do still require that customers wear masks, which they do provide. read more

I can never figure out the hours. They are only open a few days a week, but during those posted hours, they still seem to be closed. Finally caught them on a day the doors were open. When I entered, there was a girl brushing back her hair, handling cash with the same dirty hands, then handling food without washing hands or wearing gloves. I had only been in the shop for a few minutes when this girl glared at me and instructed me to put on a mask. I told her I was not going to wear a mask in 2025, to which she replied that she could not help me. I told her good luck with that business model and I don't think I could eat any bread or bagels she was shoveling into bags with dirty mitts. I left on this one visit they happened to be open and will never return. They will probably be closed soon anyway. read more

The bagels here are crisp on the outside with a lovely chew, and the seasonal cream cheese (today was nettle, Parmesan, black pepper I think!) are always a delight. I appreciate that they still require masking for staff and customers because covid took me out for a solid week from work and it took me a month or more to fully recover. There are seats outside to enjoy your bagel and we always get a cold brew or kombucha too! read more

Very expensive. The lox sandwich was good, but not worth the price. The bagel exterior was crackled and flaking off. Not sure if this was intended or not; but i don't think it was preferable. The indoor experience was still closed out of Covid precaution in Winter 2022. Not sure if this is still a serious concern for them, or if they are using it as an excuse to not return to the costly indoor dining experience. read more

Asa's Bakery - Lox Sandwhich - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Delicious bagels and I learned of a new food - the bialy. I had never had a bialy so had to try one. I will say I like bagels better but it was also good. There aren't enough places to get bagels around the cities so I'm glad to have stumbled upon Asa's while heading to Minnehaha Falls. I'll for sure come back next time I'm in the area. read more

I love exploring neighborhood spots and this bakery is a gem in South Minneapolis! I just tried Asa's jalapeño cheddar bread & it was amazing! I'm a regular customer of their bagels, bialys, & scones but the bread is always the star for me! My regular choice of bagel is sesame. Also, after trying their cream cheese, I'm unable to go back to store-bought generic stuff. I like that they have different seasonal flavors but I usually just get the plain cream cheese. Staff have always been very welcoming & efficient. You can buy other local things here too like honey, pickles, or mustard. It's a takeout operation so bring your own bag if you need something easier to carry than the brown paper bags they offer. They are only open Thu-Sun which is sad for me on like a Mon/ Tues but I support businesses who are trying to offer work-life balance for their employees. Plus, it makes the wait even better! read more

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The bagels and bialys were meh, not bad but not great. I also had a whitefish sandwich and pulled two large bones out of my mouth while eating it. What I was most shocked by was the sign in the door demanding that patrons wear masks when entering. This is 2023, not 2020. This isn't just some tinfoil hat fringe theory anymore, it's been on practically all of the mainstream news. These are people who probably have "we believe in science" signs in their windows/yards, but clearly don't. The second thing I found off-putting was a sign that said customers were only allowed to use gender-neutral terms when referring to employees. I'm not condoning anyone being intentionally disrespectful, but do you really need that? Are a lot of customers saying things like "dude" or "guy" or "ma'am" or "sir"? If I hadn't been there with a bunch of friends, I would not have patronized. read more

Most definitely one of my favorite places to get a bagel and/or bialey! Make sure to try their seasonal cream cheeses. Plenty of street parking and a coffee shop is right next door. I love sitting outside of Asa's. Don't miss out on this! read more

Asa's Bakery - a display of baked goods - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Bagels unparalleled in twin cities. Fantastic cream cheese mixtures. Great sourdough bread and nice staff. I was planning on making this a place to go to as a special treat but find myself in line once a week. read more

Asa's Bakery - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I thank the heavens for bringing Asa's bakery and their bialys into my neighborhood. I visited their new location (only a few days after opening) at 10:30AM there was a line out the door. Within 15 minutes I was able to order - 1 everything bagel with the pink radish and scallion cream cheese for my bf and a bialy with liptauer cream cheese for myself. The smell of the fresh bagels coming out of the oven lingered in the space as we waited for our orders. The space was filled with people waiting patiently, and the owner has addressed on Instagram that the team is working on scaling up their production. In the meantime everything is take out only. Finally after another 15/20 minutes our orders were called and I happily bit into one of the best bagels I've ever had! The bialy, id describe as a bread bagel, with onions on top. The texture and bite is delightful, with the chewiness of a bagel but the airy ness of bread - no wonder the fresh bread sells out all the time! Some people may say the price is too steep, but I think the quality of the product makes it understandable and I will definitely be coming back to try more. As for the inside, it's quite plain with homey decorations and a small marketplace by the cashier. There is minimal street parking in the front of the building, I had to park next to the Oxendales nearby. I think once the team settles into the space and is able to scale up their production, this may be the best bagel place in the Midwest! read more

Asa's Bakery - Onion Bialy with liptauer cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

We went here for the first time on a Saturday in late April. We agreed that these are the best bagels in MN and probably the best we have ever had anywhere, including New York. It was our first time trying a bialy and it did not disappoint. We would definitely go back but don't plan on eating here and enjoying your coffee and bagel. They are STILL practicing covid precautions with the indoor dining closed and requiring masks. Healthcare facilities no longer require masks and let you sit indoors. We tried to make the best of it and sit at a sidewalk table but it was in the 40's, so a little cold and the cross-fit class that is next store runs laps around the building so every so often you will have 20 people running by. We ended up eating in our car. 5 star bagels and bialys but 2 star experience. read more

Coming into Minneapolis for a work trip and I needed to check out this bagel spot for a breakfast visit. Deemed one of the best bagel spots in MSP, the New Yorker in me had to test this for myself. I tried one of their specialty Whitefish sandwiches, on a poppy seed bagel. Would've went with the bialy, but unfortunately it's offered later in the day. Paired with my usual black cup of coffee, I would say it left me very impressed. The presentation and amount of care made into this sandwich, definitely blew me away. Very tasty and you can tell the high-quality ingredients utilized in every aspect of the sandwich. The coffee was really impressive too. Solid breakfast spot if you're ever in the area! read more

Asa's Bakery - Poppy bagel whitefish sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Still struggling to find good bagels in Minneapolis. These are okay. They have a decent yeasty flavor but are too dense and leathery. Their sourdough suffers similar problems and is too sour for my tastes. Seems underrisen. Maybe the starter is too weak. Regardless, they are passable, but not great. Unfortunately, no great alternatives either. read more

There was a horribly moody staff member at the counter, but the bagel was great. I hope they are welcoming the next time I consider spending money there. This was a Sunday mid-morning. Cheer up. Life is short. read more

The bagel - shivers ran through my body! As I unwrapped the "plain" bagel with cream cheese I gazed upon the glossy blistered surface with excitement. It looked perfect. It felt perfect. It was heavy for its size. Hints of caramel, sourdough, and bagel (not bread) wafted around me as I admired the craft and care that went into making this piece of perfection. I took my first bite. I was met with a thin yet firm crunch as I bit through the chewiness of it's interior. Nirvana! Hits of salt and cream cheese blasted my taste buds in perfect harmony. As I chewed and chewed, I fell more and more in love. A bagel SHOULD BE a workout for the jaw and this did not disappoint! My heart was happy. My brain was buzzed. A humble bagel had made my day. The little bits that stuck around after I was done were a delicious reminder of what I had just experienced. An excellent bagel! I was brought this bagel so I didn't experience the staff myself, but the way this bagel was crafted I can only assume that they are amazing! Thank you! read more

Fall in the air and hot coffee in hand I thought what a perfect way to start a morning with trying out a new bakery. Get in the car and drive all the way there excited to try a bagel and buy a loaf of sourdough. Unfortunately, when I stepped in I was immediately asked to put a mask on. I said "I prefer not to" and they said I couldn't be serviced without wearing a mask. It's Oct 2023 mind you. I chose to respectfully leave. WHY does anyone think they can tell another human what to do with their body? Let alone mandate your beliefs on the community to simply place an order of bread and support a small business? Frankly, from woman to woman it's appalling. Will you also deny patrons based on race or religious rights you do not believe in? what's the difference? As a small business owner myself I find this behavior not only DANGEROUS but ignorant. Take accountability for your OWN health and do not take on a savior complex through bread making. Another absolutely dumbfounding act of entitlement based soley out of owners personal fear. In an already broken world you can choose to lead with inclusiveness and agency around INDIVIDUAL CHOICE or you can create an exclusive establishment that collapses community. Over and Next. Just sadened to witness this behavior. read more

Lox on onion bagel was awesome. Wearing masks and no inside seating inside because of Covid restrictions is a 2021 thing.

Best bagels around. The seasonal cream cheese flavors are creative and delicious. I see some previous reviews complain there is no toaster. You don't need to toast these because they are fresh and "East coast/NY" style. The outside already has a slight crunch and the insides are chewy. Service is good. They do get busy at certain times on the weekends, but that's expected. The Kasha and the cheddar scallion are our favorite bread flavors. My only complaint is that I can no longer enjoy most other bagels as they pale in comparison to Asa's read more

As an northern NJ transplant (36 years in MN), I'm so excited that Bialys are now available here. And, Asa's doesn't disappoint. Just like I remember them! Thin, chewy exterior, soft interior. The dough could use a bit more salt, but they were still delicious. The bagels are also the real deal NY style; although they should use coarse salt on the Salt bagels. Otherwise, my only minor complaints are that they should offer plain cream cheese (although the Dill and Scallion cream cheese was delicious), and butter as options. Asa told me he's working on getting lox available; can't wait. Definitely worth the drive for us, but have to get there early before they start running out of choices. read more

Asa's Bakery - Bialys in MN! Only the Bialy is from Asa's (Lox is my homemade, Whitefish is from Coastal Seafoods) - Bakeries Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

As an ex-New Yorker bagel maven, I can attest that you are making the real deal. The bagels have excellent taste and texture, which is something that seems elusive for just about every bagel shop outside a tight 50 mile radius of New York. The sourdough bread is also excellent and well worth buying at $6 a loaf. However, I'm docking one star because $3.00 PER BAGEL is outrageous. Be a mench and figure out a way to lower the cost because $36 for a dozen bagels does not make them worth it. That's about 100 percent more than a reasonable cost. read more

I enthusiastically waited for Saturday, as that was the day of our open house, and we were having a sandwich board. Saturday is the day of the week for Rye bread - yay! The other half came back with a bag of bagels and over the next three days heard repeatedly how terrific they are, and how expensive. He is a bagel lover but doesn't know if he will return, since St Paul is closer and far cheaper. Huh. I do want to support new, local, small retail businesses. But here's the kicker. Our loaf of bread (He got one instead of two because of price) came back UNSLICED. He couldn't believe it, I couldn't believe it, and I get the whole idea of rustic, but what if I want a loaf for sandwiches?? Sorry, I simply don't get it. You're a bakey, you sell bread, you offer to slice it. Hopefully they were just waiting to get feet wet and maybe reach a profit point before buying a commercial slicer because it's a deal-breaker for us, and probably other people (?) and the bread was SO good, but even my electric knife had a tough (tough as in the outer shell) time getting through. Three people worked to slice this loaf, and of course each slice was different in thickness that the others. Fingers crossed that this is a kink that will get worked out, and maybe prices will come down a bit. read more

I love bagels, and I personally think these are some of the best in the Twin Cities. If you're a fan of bagels, I'd definitely recommend this place. read more

We come here at least once a month because the bagels are the best around. Bialys are also very good. The employees (like others have noted) are a little rude. I once asked if I could try their seasonal cream cheese since it wasn't busy and it was a unique flavor and was told they don't do that. Masks are still required, which seems wasteful. If you're that worried about Covid, get a plexiglass screen for the register. read more

This place was a mixed bag for me. First, my gripes. Yow this place is expensive! With a modest tip to the employees, two bagels with vegan cream cheese was just shy of $15. I came here to try the bialys but I guess they're not usually ready until 10 am? That seems oddly late for a breakfast food but tracks with the rest of the sleepy twin cities breakfast and coffee game, which barely makes it out of bed by 9 on the weekends. Service was pretty weak tea. A smile and a hello go a long, long way in my book. The person working at the bagel station was really nice, but the person at the register barely acknowledged anyone. Now on to the good stuff - the bagel I had (everything with smoked vegan cream cheese) was very good! They're honestly too expensive for me to buy with any kind of regularity but I did see that they sell their cream cheese at a fairly reasonable price. Perhaps I can dress up some St. Paul Bakery bagels at home. I would absolutely be a regular here if it were more affordable. I'll likely be back some afternoon to try the bialys. read more

Ok, this is a five star because of the bialys. I had heard a lot of hype about them but they lived up to the challenge. A bialys is polish Jewish in origin and not commonly found outside of New York. You have to get them fresh because they sell out quickly. Pro tip ... get there at 9am, that is when they come out. The bagels are good too and I love the dill scallion cream cheese. Price is $$. read more

Great bagles, just a heads up they're the very chewy kind and outside is kinda hard and they can't toast them for you. The nettles cream cheese was a surprise and very good . Great queer friendly establishment. read more

I rarely give a bad review, but like another reviewer stated, the bagels are quite bland. I wish I'd read the review first. I won't be back. Too many better options. The service was off-putting as well. The staff were not very friendly. read more

I didn't dare dream it was true...finally real deal bialys and bagels in South Minneapolis. Haven't had this quality since the last time we were in NYC. Please support this greatness! read more

Unwelcoming. Bagels overrated and difficult to swallow. Suggest El Mar bagels for better taste and price point.

Love this bakery - delicious breads, wonderful staff and great ambiance. Appreciate that they require all staff and customers to wear masks in the store so it is a safer place for immunocompromised & other vulnerable folks to visit. read more

Finally a good bagel in the twin cities. I see a lot of complaints about the bagels here being chewy ... that's what bagels are supposed to be like. Most of the other Minneapolis bagel shops just make round bread not bagels. read more

1. The bagels and bialys are great; as good as i've had outside N.Y. and Boston. 2. The $3 per piece, no matter quantity ordered, is steep. Bagels as a luxury item. 3. Service was tough. Waited over five minutes to place order. Only one other customer in shop and they were having difficulty picking out which one of six bagel choices they preferred. Cashier rebuffed my order of six bagels to go as we all waited. Then, When you pay, you the get the opportunity to add a tip of 15/18/20%. Oy vey! read more

Had the bialy and everything; really good structure, but as someone else noted, was lacking in salt; and I'm not a salt lover. Just seemed to be missing a few grains. Having said that, I would absolutely go again (though maybe not when it's super cold out; the tiny counter is right in front of the door and super chilly. read more