Bagels Forever is a Madison institution - I've been going their since the early 80s. Their bagels are cheap, fresh and plentiful. The taste and texture of the bagels doesn't blow me away though. Regardless, this place is always busy and beats the pants off Einstein Bagels. The smell of freshly baked bagels permeates the rather Spartan interior. Staff is efficient, but a bit gruff at times. read more

What can one say about near NY perfection bagels for about 2 dollars a dozen in Madison Wi? Holy what the.....

The bagels here are worthy of the Yelp praise. I had a breakfast sandwich on a pumpernickel bagel, and it was just right. I'm also happy to report that the bagels are normally sized, not like the usual kind of bagel monstrosity that you see these days. Hyperobesity this is not. The service was a little bit bumbling when we stopped in. Maybe it was an off day, but they didn't give us our bagels as they were ready, we waited ages for coffee, and they left the cucumber off boyfriend's bagel. The other thing is that they NEED to get those little cardboard things for their coffee cups. My thumb was red for hours after having to hold my cup for the less than 1/2 mile walk back from the shop. The price is definitely right, though. A bagel, a breakfast sandwich, and two coffees was just over $5. read more

I've lived in Madison all my life; 21 years, and I have never been to Bagels Forever. I've driven past there several times and have even bought their bagels in the freezer section at Woodman's. I regret never having stopped there before. They. Are. AWESOME. I don't know if they make what people would consider "authentic" bagels, but in my opinion, they do bagels right. They also know a thing or two about making delicious made-to-order sandwiches on the cheap. As long as I live in Madison, never again will I be going to Einstein's. I can get that same thing at Bagels Forever except it tastier, fresher, and a whole heck of a lot cheaper. I think I may have a new obsession on my hands... read more

Of all places that deserve five [million] stars, of all places that were formative in my youth, of all places whose provender I crave on my biannual sojorn back to Madison, YOU, Bagels Forever, hold the highest place in my heart. And that's sayin' a lot! To wit: My mother gave me a Cuisinart for Christmas. This rocked. I had to take an extra suitcase back with me on the plane to carry it, one that was one-and-a-half times as big as the actual box it came in. What did I pack the rest with? You guessed it: poppy seed bagels from Bagels Forever. These bagels are SO AWESOME that they are the gold standard by which I judge other bagels. And yes, I've fed them to New Yorkers (the owners, IIRC, are from the Big Apple anyhow, so they're legit). These bagels are SO AWESOME that I mailed four of them to my friend who was in another state one summer (I hope they were still good when they got there). And then I wrote a poem (caveat lector: it's really bad -- http://www.maenad.net/jnl/archives/2000/07/#7-31-00) about them. These bagels are SO AWESOME. Full stop. I'm crying just thinking that I'm 2000 miles from them. Good thing you can order them online! read more

Bagels Forever is a great little Madison secret for those on a budget. Bagels are 45 cents each and are made fresh in the BF headquarters behind the bagel shop, as evidenced by the smell of blueberry, cinnamon, and everything bagel that wafts over University Avenue on certain days. I always gravitate towards the sesame and (w)hole wheat bagels, but I love the cinnamon raisin too. Other notable flavors include maple cinnamon, cranberry oat, salt, egg, and pumpernickel. My colleague tells me that their bagels are some of the closest you'll get to New York bagels, as they're boiled. If I ever visit NYC someday, I'll know what bagels to compare them to. However, I wouldn't recommend the lox here-the one time I had it, I found it mushy and flavorless. What I really, truly love about this place are the cheap sandwiches. Cheaper than Einstein's or Panera, and better than a fast food joint. $2.35 will buy you a hot, toasted breakfast sandwich with a protein (bacon, sausage, Canadian bacon, you name it), egg, and cheese on a delicious bagel, wrapped in foil. Their lunch sandwiches are in the $2-3 range, made with Boar's Head meats and cheeses and come with a dill pickle spear. To go with your food, Bagels Forever sells cans of (Dr. Brown's!) soda, chips, their own cream cheese, milk, butter, half and half, etc, so they're handy if you live nearby. I also get their sliced deli meat to go. What's great about this place is that they seem to sell their food at wholesale prices. It's kind of a throwback to buy a Coke for 52 cents plus tax. Decor looks like it hasn't changed since the place opened, there are no tables, and the lines can get long at breakfast time, but don't let that stop you. If you're on the way to campus, stop in and try this place out. read more

BREAKFAST BAGEL SANDWICHES - get them here. they are so reasonably priced, the bagels are made there, AND they have maple cinnamon bagels, perfect for breakfast sandwiches. They are open at 6:30 in the morning, so great on the way to work or school. No, they are nothing like NY bagels, but I didn't know love until I gave bagel's forever a fair try. read more

I heart their bagels. They are really good and all the varieties!! Mmm for the egg bagel and the salt bagel :) I can't remember which grocery store I have seen Bagels Forever in, but they were in the freezer section. Pick some up if you can't get to the store! read more

A Madison original. Bagels are fresh, sandwiches are cheap, and service is pretty quick. These aren't your traditional NY style bagels so don't get your hopes up but a pumpernickel sandwich with cream cheese and salami is hard to argue. read more

I have traveled around the world and I love Bagels Forever bagels more than any others! A cinnamon raisin bagel with some cream cheese and a can of root beer is among my all time favorite meals. There is a wide variety of bagels and they are always fresh and delicious. As a kid on occasion the family would get a dozen but they would always get eaten quickly. Delicious Bagels period. read more

Great lox bagel for the price. Will definitely come again to try the different bagels, as the egg bagel wasn't my favorite but everything else in it was. read more

So I just wanted to let consumers know that I purchased a pack of egg bagels from this company at my local grocery store and my family and I ate the majority of the package. Prior to eating the last bagel, we discovered a winged insect baked into the bagel when we split it in half. I dropped the company an email several weeks ago regarding this but never received any acknowledgement. Not looking for anything, just would have expected a professional response from Forever Bagels. Plenty of other bagels to eat out there. read more

When we lived in Madison, we made weekly stops in to this Bagels Forever! They make all of the bagels that they sell in stores right here at this store. Nothing is quite as good as a super, fresh warm bagel. These bagels are truely the best. They have probably about 18 or more varieties of bagels to choose from. In our local stores, I think they carry only about 5 or 6 varieties. We try to make a stop at Bagels Forever, everytime we are in Madison, WI. The service is always fast and friendly. Every dozen of bagels is actuallly a baker's dozen of 13. Love 'em! read more

A truly incredible place, especially for their insanely cheap breakfast sandwiches. read more

Bagels Forever - Bagels Forever - Bagels Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

WOW, people are snotty and picky about bagels, judging from the other reviews on this page. Damn. ANYHOW. My boyfriend and I started coming here about a year ago, and it's really the only bagel store we go to anymore. We'd tried to go to Gotham to get a lox bagel for him, and they were out...on a Saturday morning at 9:30. Yeah. So, we headed over to Bagels Forever where, not only did they have lox-a-plenty, but it only cost, like $4.60 or something like that! Come on. When we go now, we get a lox sandwich for him, a bagel and cream cheese plus veggies for me, and then one more bagel for his "dessert." And it costs under $9. And it is delicious. They have a really full menu where you can get a breakfast sandwich (egg, cheese, meat), a deli-type sandwich, hot dogs, drinks, sides - it's simple and great. Just go here. read more

We were driving through Madison on our way to Stevens Point.. We knew we had to stop due to all of the great reviews. We purchased a box of bagels, a breakfast bagel with sausage and a cream cheese and lox bagel. So delicious and so glad we stopped.. Great value, great food, great service. read more

$3 for bagel and lox! What century are we in?! Though Bagels Forever lacks in seating, they make up for it in quality and price. Even a bottle of water will only set you back $.85. Move over, Einstein, this neighborhood gem will fill me with bagels FOREVER. read more

Great bagels... that's all!! Super cheap place for carbs. No frills deli front. I have been going there for years and always get at least a dozen onion or jalapeño bagels! read more

I recently moved away from Madison and was missing my Forever Bagels so I decided to order some online. I received the bagels in a timely manner and enjoyed my first pack! When I opened the second pack, I noticed speckles of mold and was disappointed. I reached out and before I knew it, Forever Bagels was sending me a replacement package. This was above and beyond for me, completely unexpected and definitely resolved my disappointment. Thanks Forever Bagels! read more

Bagels Forever is a gem. New York style bagels in the midwest, made fresh daily. That would be enough. But they also have a deli counter with hot and cold sandwiches at what I assume is the best deal to fill up on a non-greasy lunch (or a moderately greasy breakfast) in the country. First, let's establish that all the sandwiches are on bagels. These are normal size bagels. Not the tiny ones they use for so called bagel sandwiches at fast food joints, and not the giant mutant ones you get at upscale chains that charge $5 for coffee. You can get breakfast sandwiches all day. Egg, cheese, and choice of meat on choice of bagel will set you back less than $2.50 and be a completely filling breakfast. I typically get egg, cheddar, sausage, AND bacon on cranberry, add grape jelly, which still totals less than $3. Lunch options are similar, cold cuts, cheese, and veggies on a bagel run less than $4. My usual is the blazin' chicken on a jalapeno bagel, add swiss, lettuce, tomato, sprouts, onions, cream cheese, bacon. The cream cheese and bacon add extra charges but my total is still under $5. You can add a side of Jacobson's potato salad or cole slaw for $0.50 I tried their Chicago style hot dog for the first time the other day, for around $2.50, and it had variations on all of the appropriate Chicago style toppings. If you're really poor you can get a pizza bagel for around $1, it is a bagel topped with cheese, marinara, and pepperoni. Interesting fact: a bagel is $0.45. Cream cheese is $0.29. A bagel with cream cheese applied is over $1. Here is a link to my food Vlog (YouTube video) about Bagel's Forever: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4UNQMScBbA read more

My perfect Saturday morning is Lox on an Egg bagel from Bagels Forever. I like it with veggie cream cheese instead of the plain. To. Die. For. It is seriously so good. I'll admit, if I am by myself I eat it in the parking lot because I have to get into it right away. Sometimes a bit of a wait on weekend mornings, but that is okay - worth the wait! Staff could be a bit friendlier, but no way I couldn't give my favorite breakfast a 5-star (and its only $4. Awesome deal!). read more

I love Bagels Forever Bagels. I live in New York now which is supposed to have the best bagels in the world but I would rather have Bagels Forever! My favorites: Egg bagels and Onion Bagels with whipped cream cheese read more

Amazingly tasty bagel sandwiches- love all the options and prices! Breakfast sandwiches are so cheap. I love that you can add whatever you want to the lunch sandwiches. The cream cheese is great too. Wish this place was closer to my office. read more

It's like $4.50 for a dozen. Is that good? I really don't know. This is a bagel factory - meaning they make it on site and ship them around. What's weird is that they are open so late. I don't remember any bagel places being open past three - and for that matter, having any bagels left after 11 on a weekend. But that was in another state... As for the bagels, I guess they're alright. A little bit undersized, with all the usual types you had as a kid (sesame, poppyseed, onion), and then some concessions to more 'interesting' kinds, like jalapeno, or dried cranberry, etc. I think einstein bagels started the fancy bagel trend. Very on the soft side - not really chewy enough for me. But I'm fucking picky and hypercritical. Big selection of sandwiches made to order, but not like awesome overstuffed deli sandwiches or anything. Nothing spectacular. I've yet to try their lox (which is advertized as 'sushi on a bagel' - which irritates me for some weird reason). read more

Favorite starving student food! Cheap as heaven, tasty as hell. I'd recommend the sandwiches and also getting a bakers dozen. The onion bagel is the best. read more

I know that people have strong opinions on bagels. There are New York bagels and Montreal bagels. There are big bready bagels and smaller chewy bagels, and if you feed one to a fan of the other, you're in for a world of complaining. But you know what? I don't care, because my formative bagel experiences came at the hands of Bagels Forever. The bagels are average-sized and perfectly formed. You can enjoy one with cream cheese without feeling like you've blown your calories for the day. There are a range of flavors, but nothing outrageous. The price is right. For a brief and glorious time, they were available in a large box in the refrigerator case at Meijer in Champaign, Illinois, where I was attending grad school. That ceased to be the case, and I've been dreaming of them ever since. Therein lies the problem with my love for Bagels Forever: scarcity. I live on the other side of Lake Michigan, and while Zingerman's makes a mean bagel, they're a poor replacement for Bagels Forever. read more

When I first started dating my boyfriend I thought he was nuts with his Bagels Forever addiction. Every time he went to the grocery store he picked up a 4 pack and loved the texture of the outside of the bagel and the unique crunch. I quickly found myself in love with this gem as well. Whether purchased from the grocery store or at their store, I'm never left unsatisfied. If you have the pleasure of hitting up their main location in Madison, be prepared for choices. You can have a bagel with cream cheese or a sandwich. The sandwiches choices are vast when you have to choose between 15+ different kinds of bagels, a variety of cheeses, condiments and meats including lox smoked salmon. I recommend the jalapeño cornmeal bagel. Something different and delicious. Oh! And they're super cheap! $12 something for two dozen when I was there last. Ok. I'm done. Go and thank me (ok. ok. my boyfriend gets all the thanks) later. read more

Price and size are the keys to this place. Its prices are from the 1970s and the bagels aren't a whole loaf of bread like the national chains. You actually feel normal after eating one. Fresh, CHEAP, LOCAL and unique. I'm in. I go for the lox bagel toasted. Its a perfect breakfast and basically 1/2 the price of anywhere else. read more

I have been many places, had many bagels, and I am typically disappointed in the experience, so what a pleasure to visit Forever Bagel. I always want to get the toasted bagel with cream cheese and eat it as a little breakfast sandwich, but 10 times out of 10 you get an over toasted bagel, or a really tough bagel, or runny cream cheese and bam....it suck! But now I am 2 for 2 at Forever Bagel. Great tasting bagels that are not too tough and very flavorful. Cream cheese that is solid and does not simply drip out. I have had the Honey Oat and Cinnamon Maple bagels thus far and neither disappointed. Pumpkin cream cheese (we, as a society have overdone the pumpkin thing, but I still like it!) was delicious as well. And the price.....I almost fell over it was so low! Coffee is good as well. The location knocks it down a star....very difficult to get heading back in the correct direction after a visit, but such is life for good, inexpensive bagels! So skip Panera and hit Forever Bagel if you have the choice! read more

I read a news report recently about a fire and wept inside a little. Fortunately, it did not shut the place down and I can continue to enjoy the myriad flavors when I visit. $13.95 for two dozen bagels and two tubs of cream cheese makes the bagel box a perennial winner. read more

Bagels Forever - Bagel box waiting to be devoured. - Bagels Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Been a huge fan all my life - there is no better way to start a road trip than with a paper bag filled with a variety of still warm bagels and a tub of cream cheese. When I left Madison for college in '92, I was shocked to find out that bagels weren't ten cents a piece anywhere else. Now, they're up to 50 cents or thereabouts, but still an incredible value. I don't understand why anyone would go any where else in Madison. read more

I grew up sprinting across University Avenue every summer morning after swim team to stuff myself with Bagels. The delicious smells tortured us daily during practice. Now, Bagels is my measuring stick for all others. None have measured up to a warm Bagels' bagel right out of the oven. read more

Very cheap yet decent bagel. My regular is the lox in the new everything bagel for only $4.20. It is to-go only so perfect for breakfast. If you buy a dozen, it is only $0.50 a bagel. It's that cool? read more

Super delicious bagels that are not too big. I hate a huge hunk of bagel, I just can't eat them without feeling bloated. If you are going west on University, getting there is kind of a pain, but it is totally worth it. I didn't have the sandwiches or coffee, but they smelled amazing. The bagels are crazy cheap. I went in for a dozen for myself and they were so cheap I took a dozen to my co-workers and became a hero for the day. Great place! read more

Good Fresh Bagels at Great Prices! Their bagel sandwiches are also very good and at very reasonable prices. A dozen bagels there are HALF of what you pay at the Panera down the street. Service is generally pretty good too. It's nice to go into a place and get quality food without the feeling you're getting gouged on price and value. read more

Great bagels, but please don't bogart the cornmeal-jalepeno!!! Super affordable bagel sandwiches that satisfy. Been getting bagels here since 1989. I've found that they can go bad pretty quickly (within a week), so eat 'em up or freeze them. read more

Super slow morning service. Long line, waited forever, and then the dude at the cash register motioned for the man BEHIND ME so he could take his order like I wasn't even there. Arrived late to work, and guess what? The everything bagels I ordered were chocolate chip instead. read more

Hi. Hello. Jew here. Brooklyn-born, East Coast-raised, Jew here. I like to think that those of us from the NYC area can be pretentious about two things: pizza and, not surprisingly, bagels. Don't get me wrong--for Madison, Bagels Forever is excellent. It's far better than the competition (I'm looking at you, Gotham), and their customer service is wonderful. Compared to the East Coast, though? It's middling, at best. Not airy enough...or dense enough. I know that seems contradictory, but trust me--it's simply not the same. Regardless, this is the only place I'm getting bagels in Madtown from now on. Their lox and whitefish is alright. Nothing special. Oh, and to the guy who's apparently been to New York once--naming H&H and Zabar's doesn't give you much legitimacy. H&H quality has been declining for years, and Zabar's is merely a fancy grocery store. Try going to the Lower East Side, and then maybe revisit your "expert" opinion. FYI: Russ & Daughter's makes Zabar's lox and smoked whitefish look like something you'd get at Einstein's. Okay, dickish pretentiousness over. read more

FIVE STARS! After growing up with Bagels Forever, moving away from Wisconsin, and then returning to live in Madison....I went to the building where the magic happens today. The man behind the counter, Isaac, was helpful, funny and had a welcoming smile on his face. I hope he works when we go next time! We ordered two breakfast bagels, a bakers dozen of bagels, OJ and some chips and it came to an astounding $13. Say what?!? Plus, it was the best bagel sandwich I'd ever had, especially given the price....and I still have 13 more bagels to enjoy. This place is an absolute gem and Madison is lucky to have affordable and delicious bagels that aren't grossly gigantic! read more

I'm sorry New Yorkers, but I think these are the best bagels... Maybe I just haven't had the right New York bagel yet. Anyway, I grew up on these and still have an intense love for these bagels. They crisp up on the outside and are still chewy on the inside when you toast them. And, they are the perfect size. Just like Goldilocks' bed: not to big and not too small... Just right! Try the jalapeno cornmeal, which is excellent and not available in stores. read more