Been going to the original Kossar's since I was a kid and my grandparents lived in the neighborhood. It was their local bialy (what they're known for) and bagel place and turns out may be the Old School mothership of bialys in the U.S. This was way before there were sweet bagels like cinnamon raisin, bialys other than onion, and the walls were only painted some off-white color. Didn't remember a place to sit and eat because we took them home. So, excited to discover this W. 72nd St. location, only two subway stops away. This spot has fancy tiled walls inside, many tables, and a wider selection (at much higher prices) than days of yore including sandwiches, black & white cookies, and babkas! Although I intended to get bialys, was happy to see yummy Onion Boards (a.k.a. Pletzls) available so grabbed one along with a few Pumpernickel! Love that it's relatively convenient and will be back to this location! Recommend you stop by too! read more

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We stopped by on a Saturday morning around the Holiday season and were shocked to see the line out the door. However, it moved pretty fast and we were able to order within 15 mins. There are quite a few options here, but I ordered a grilled chicken club sandwich and my friends ordered a bacon egg and cheese on and everything bagel. I thought my sandwich would also come on a bagel but I was wrong about that. However, it was still top quality and something I would order again. Being nice, warm and properly cooked on a cold Saturday morning, it definitely hit the spot. As for my friends bacon egg and cheese, it was quite delightful. It took about 10-ish mins to come out in the crowd of a Sunday morning rush, and it was a well toasted, soft, and seasoned bagel. Located in UWS, this is definitely the best bagel spot in the area after the closing of absolute bagels. Not too far from the 72nd street 1 stop, and there are about 5-6 small tables on the side counter that are clean and well kept. Despite the crowd, its very grab and go, so its normally not too hard to grab a table for a party of 2-4 to sit down. Dog friendly and plenty of people doing their morning routines in the area around. There is also a display cabinet with several pastries at the enterence that look quite tempting to try. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Counter - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

I don't live in New York. But I know a few of the better bagel places. Kossar's was off my radar though. I ordered an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. The bagel was fresh. Had a good chewy texture. Good everything seasoning. Above average veggie cream cheese. The iced coffee was good for a bagel shop. The shop was clean. Had some seating. Service was good. 4.5 Stars read more

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In town for a concert and could not leave without some bagels. Easy to order online. Order was ready when we got there (skip the line and head in the other door to the register). Our bagel sandwiches were hot, fresh, and perfect. Love that they are wrapped in both paper and foil. My bacon, egg & cheddar on an everything bagel held its shape while I ate it in the car - nothing fell out - only lost some everything topping. And we ordered black & white cookies - very fresh and hit the spot after the bagel. Won't hesitate to stop back when in town. read more

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Solid bagel stop in NYC! I tried a sesame bagel w scallion tofu and an everything bagel with the salmon delight cream cheese which is like lox spread with scallions. Both were very tasty and I thoroughly enjoyed them. However, I prefer my bagels with a softer exterior. I do enjoy popup's bagel "crust," if you will, but these were just too hard on the outside. I am still mourning the closure of my favorite bagel shop, Absolute. Overall, I will still return! I want to try their bialys! read more

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There are probably not enough bagel spots to service the New York population, and Kossar's is just another blip on the map of the city. We tend to stop by for brunch and boy are the weekends rough, you're in a long line with others where you should spend the leisurely time scheming what to order-chances are your order will either be missing an ingredient or they gave you someone else's order. I ordered a #4 breakfast wrap and they missed the main star of the show: the smoked salmon! Even when I told them about it and the receipt was shown, they were still a bit skeptical and it took a good amount of time to even get the corrected wrap back. On top of the crazy wait for something so basic and simple, you somehow leave smelling like the oils/food they cook, which is not an alluring scent to surround others with. Wouldn't recommend going out of your way on stopping by at a Kossar's, but they're there for you when in a pinch. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

I stopped in for a bagel early on a Friday morning. The service was really quick and the staff were friendly. I noticed that the shop was clean and cozy, with some interesting pictures on the walls. I ordered a whole wheat bagel with herb and garlic cream cheese. The bagel was fresh and had a soft, chewy texture. The cream cheese was flavourful and full of fresh herbs. I really enjoyed my bagel and will be back soon! read more

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The service was great and the bagel was delicious! We were in and out within a couple minutes. The bagel was delicious and had the perfect amount of cream cheese! The space was clean, bright, and cute! I'd come back again. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Egg bagel with Scallion Cream Cheese - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

The pastrami lox sandwich with the horseradish cream cheese was surprisingly very yummy. I added tomato which I'm glad I did. The black and white cookie was also so good. It may have been as good as my favorite Zabars one. Service was quick and the store was clean and a nice ambiance. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

Kossar's Upper West Side is in my old neighborhood. It was very convenient when I was visiting over the 2024 holidays. Everyone knows I'm an early riser so their hours are perfect. In the past I've enjoyed the Everything and the Plain Pumpernickel Bagels. When I'm going to hang out with friends and I want a lighter breakfast I get the Bialy with cream cheese. Of all the bakeries I love their Bialy best! This day I had strawberry cream cheese with my Bialy. I'm amazed at how well they made use of the space for seating. I'd be here a lot if I still lived in the neighborhood! Kossar's is a historic NYC Bagel Shop. I'm recommending you go. I can't wait to go back! read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Strawberry Cream Cheese on a delicious Bialy. Posted with review. 01/25/2025 - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

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This was a stop for a quick bagel. There is usually a small line, but it moves quickly. It's a small place, with just a few tables. The orders are taken quickly, so it helps to know what you want or browse the menu while in line. We had the bacon & egg croissant, bacon & egg everything bagel, and a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese. They were all good, but could have used a bit of seasoning on the eggs. Bacon was perfect. But the best part was the strawberry cream cheese. Delicious. I gave them 3 stars because of the flavor lacking eggs and also because the staff wasn't very friendly. read more

Very solid bagels -- good flavour, texture and size. Salmon salad spread was exceptional. Service was fast and efficient snd pleasant. Tables were well spaced and did not feel like people were on top of me. Coffee was strong and slightly bitter, but quite good. read more

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First let me say the bagels are good. For some reason I think the ones at the lower east side location are better. But nonetheless they are good. Next, service. The staff tries hard to keep the line moving on a Sunday morning. Perhaps this was the worse time to come cause things moved very slowly. After getting my bagel I waited and waited and waited to get my coffee handed to me. I saw it just sitting on the counter waiting to be handed to me by the cashier who was focused on just ringing up other customers. Finally what really got to me, when i got outside the lid to the coffee was not properly secured and my coffee spilled all over the place. I'm sure if I went back inside I could have gotten a replacement. But the place was so busy I didn't want to wait for ever. So what ever stars I gave are for the bagel. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Spilled coffee - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

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A solid NYC bagel. The line moves quickly and the staff is great. Plenty of cream cheeses to pick from and the bagels are on display behind the counter. They never feel super warm and fresh out of the oven, but definitely a good option in the neighborhood! read more

As a Californian, the bar is admittedly low for quality bagels. Got a BEC on an everything bagel. Also got my first bialys (also everything). Delicious. Perfectly chewy. No notes. Fast (I ordered ahead and the pick up area was very clear). Super clean inside. I'd like to go back and order in one day. Next time! No photos per usual. read more

Was barely a line when I visited. Ordered egg and cheese sandwich on an everything bagel. It was an okay sandwich; it's not becoming my go-to spot for a bagel (so don't have a bagel spot I love on UWS). read more

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A welcome new addition to the area, . A reliable, complete neighborhood bagel shop. $4.75-5.25 for a bagel with shmear, $3.00 for La Colombe coffee. Their bagels are large, a bit fluffy, and what I consider standard high-quality NYC bagel. Not particularly distinct. They have all the other usual suspects too: options for lox, BEC, fish salads; and other offerings like bialys, basic pastries, bottled drinks, and smoothies. The staff is efficient and cordial. They keep the line moving. read more

A very very very welcome addition to the neighborhood. Solid bagels, great orange juice, warm service and great bialys! I've tried the traditional bagel and cream cheese, the turkey bacon egg and cheese on a bagel (solid) and the tuna melt- hit or miss, one time ordered and great, another time it took forever and a half and was not great, Love the fresh squeezed orange juice, and the smoothies are refreshing. I do wish they would add lemonade to their menu so I could get an Arnold Palmer! read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Turkey Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich everything bagel - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

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Bagels are awesome. They are soft, chewy and well seasoned. The pumpernickel and whole wheat "everything" are my favorites. The line moves quick and they do an amazing job with the service even on crowded weekend mornings. Next time need to try their whitefish salad. read more

Courteous and friendly staff. Fresh hot bagels and bialy's My sesame bagel was perfect. The veggie tofu spread was absolutely fresh and delicious. Great menu, reasonable prices. I'll be back. read more

The bagels and spreads are very good, and the person handling the coffee orders is (relatively) attentive. Last time I visited, the bagel counter server didn't ask if I wanted my bagel toasted (toasing should be default unless asked explicitly not to). When I asked for it toasted while he was preparing, he gave me an annoyed look, as if it was a huge inconvenience. When he handed me the bagel, he dropped it (it was wrapped in a bag). If he had professionally apologized or offered to make a new one, I would have said it was fine since it was wrapped and just taken it as is. Instead, he silently picked it up, went back to the station for a few seconds, and handed it back. There's no way that was a fresh bagel -- it seemed like he just changed the wrapper and/or bag. read more

Ordered pickup and waited 40 minutes at the counter from when it said my order would be ready. Staff kept brushing me off saying "they were working on it" when they clearly weren't. Food is decent but they really need to rethink the pickup system. It's been getting worse and worse over time. read more

Went around noon on Sunday. The line wasn't too long and moved quickly. The bagels are fresh and delicious. Ordered the Kossars Classic. So good! Will be back. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Kossars Classic Sandwich - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

It was late 2022 when signs went up in the windows of this corner space -- once home to a humble yet beloved diner -- advertising the upcoming opening of Kossar's, one of many NYC institutions that in recent years have suddenly begun branching out (and cashing in) after decades of operating at only one location. This sort of expansion has tradeoffs, increasing everyone's access to estimable eats but also decreasing the charms associated with restaurants that can only be experienced at a single spot. That said, these expansions can be done in a thoughtful way that's about more than merely getting bigger, and at this new cathedral of carbs, Kossar's is showing its fellow throwback eateries how to sell more food without also selling their souls. The long wait for its 2024 opening was actually instructive in that regard, as it reportedly stemmed partly from Kossar's being committed to an impressive aesthetic and highly specialized kitchen equipment, even if that meant waiting for deliveries via a sluggish global supply chain. Another lesson is the specific location of this Kossar's: It's on the UWS, which, like the LES of yesteryear, is densely populated by bagel/bialy aficionados whose voracious appetites for bread rolls and schmears are seemingly limitless. But nearly as important, it's over by West End Avenue, where restaurant options are growing but still mega-meager relative to the huge number of residents nearby. So, by choosing this particular space, Kossar's measurably improved the quality of life for those of us who consider a good nearby bakery to be one of life's essentials, not too far behind air, water and shelter ;) And getting to the main part of this review, Kossar's is absolutely a very good bakery. I know a lot of reviews have derided the bagels as unremarkable, but imo they're pretty solid -- not destination-worthy, but well above average (a good crust and chew, not too large, usually fresh and still slightly warm). More importantly, Kossar's is not famous for its bagels -- the place made its name because of its bialys, and imo they're indisputably top-notch, simultaneously crisp and puffy with robust flavors of garlic and onion. I should note that Kossar's also sells something called a "pletzel," which is supposedly its own type of flatbread but which really just seems like a manhole-lid-sized bialy. It's a steal at $7 and is quite versatile (I've used it as a crust for homemade pizza). Given that Kossar's is a real-deal bakery, the bagels and bialys are just the most prominent parts of a large menu that also features superb cinnamon rolls, large and lovely black-and-white cookies, and truly exceptional apple turnovers, to cite a few highlights. There's also a flawless vibe -- enter at almost any time of day and you'll find a bustling and stylish space where lively jazz is playing with the volume turned way up and the staff is somehow smiling and friendly despite the stress of relentless crowds with idiosyncratic demands for the preparation of their bagels, bialys, etc. So, bakery lovers should definitely stop by, and NYC's other old-school restaurants should definitely look at Kossar's if they're thinking of expanding, because this is how it's done right. read more

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Went in late morning and grabbed a fresh poppy bagel with cream cheese. The service was quick but friendly. Multiple options for cream cheese and options for bagels. The setting was quiet and had a lot of pictures on the wall giving a homey cafe feeling. read more

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I arrived around 1pm on a busy Saturday, but I got right in. I even got a seat. I ordered a toasted everything bagel with lox/creamcheese spread. I also asked for a decaf cappuccino. It was very delicious. The bagel filling was so voluminous, it was falling out. The staff is super nice. I tried to go back the next day, but the queue was around-the block. I didn't want to wait, so I moved on. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Cappuccino and everything bagel with cheese/lox spread - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

I'm sad to report although I love their bagels, their service has really gone down. We've had wrong orders twice and when my husband spoke to the counter staff about it, the man laughed. We regularly bought a half dozen bagels but it doesn't make sense to go somewhere there the staff let you know you're not welcomed by not treating you well. read more

Love that they are open early. Staff was friendly despite the extra early daylight saving shift. Great bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel.

This place deliberately made our order wrong instead of communicating with us, and that's what really ruined the experience. We ordered a tuna melt on a specific type of bread. Instead of telling us there was an issue with the size, the guy making the sandwich decided on his own to change the bread because he thought it would be "too big." We only found out because we literally heard him say it to the woman calling out the orders. That's not his call to make -- and it's not okay to change a customer's order without asking. If there was a size issue, the normal, professional thing to do would've been to tell us and give us options. Not quietly change the order and hope we wouldn't notice. On top of that, we ordered an extra toasted bagel with scallion cream cheese, and got an untoasted bagel with a giant ball of cream cheese plopped in the middle, not even spread. Mistakes happen -- but this wasn't a mistake. It was a choice. And the lack of communication and care is what makes it unacceptable. Won't be coming back. read more

We've been searching for our new bagel spot after the closure of Absolute Bagels. And I think we've found it. We had a dozen delivered, and they were pretty close to the perfect bagel. Chewy outside, perfect texture inside. I actually prefer these to Ess-a-Bagel, which I find to be too large and bready. The cream cheese -- I ordered cinnamon walnut to go on the cinnamon raisin bagel -- was very delicious too. Pastrami lox were also good. read more

Just opened for a few days and still needing to work some kinks out. We tried the bagel sandwiches and also had a bialy. The service was definitely trying their best but this is where they need to work on the kinks. We loved our food. Felt that the bagels were crispy on outside and chewy inside. The bialy was just perfect. I missed that he toasted it. Toasting wasn't necessary since they just came out fresh and hot!! Ambiance nice. There are some tables inside that you can sit and eat at once you've ordered. Nice and clean, spanking new! Remember you will need to be patient but have a look at the menu while you are waiting so you are prepared when you finally make it to the counter! read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Always a line. Plan to be patient! - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

Good place. What a New York bagel should be. We had an everything bagel with some lox cream cheese.it wasn't too doughy or too thin. Place has a nice vibe, like an old school place where old people have second dates. Service is very efficient. I would go back. read more

Not the best bagels in Manhattan, but the best bagels that I have found so far in Manhattan! They have several locations and this spot just opened in May 2024, so I expected some hiccups but things went really smoothly when I stopped by. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Outside - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

Mediocre bagels unfortunately and now they're skimping on toppings. Too many options to accept this for $19. More red onion than anything else. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Special - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

Good neighborhood spot, decent bagel, a bit chaotic during weekend mornings. Double check your order if you get take away, before you leave. I didn't realize until I got home that mine was wrong, so I paid for more than I received. read more

Terrific bagels and pastry's. Great nice staff! So happy this popped up right next to my building

It's close by the office where I work a few days per week...and the 72nd and West End Ave location was under construction for many many months ... we thought it was one of those Covid retail casualties! But luckily one day it was open! I'm told the original Brooklyn Kossar's is legendary, which made the endless wait even more excruciating. Luckily the wait was worth it...the bagels are fresh and tasty, the lox is top notch and the coffee excellent. The staff is good natured and efficient... so yeah I'm happy! My favorite: poppy seed bagel, toasted, with lox spread...and for a treat, nova on poppy bagel with cream cheese onion capers and tomato...yum!! read more

The bagel was really tasty, but the staff was slightly rude. It's a really busy spot and they are pumping out fresh stuff constantly. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Interior - Bagels Near Me - New York, New York

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Solid bialys and bagels (+spreads)! Unique foods and a NY staple for many generations!

First time going to Kossar's and it did not disappoint. The cream cheese options looked like gelato, they were so delicious looking! I got a plain bagel with cream cheese and an everything bagel with the salmon and chive cream cheese. SO good. read more