If you're from the New York/ New Jersey area and you are Jewish, then you grew up on bialys. Trips to the lower east side were a ritual to pick them up along with pickles and knishes. It was the routine and then maybe head up to Katz's or Rockefeller Center. My brother and I would each have a fresh, hot bialy to eat in the car and we were happy. Since I no longer live on the east coast, my father would bring bialys when he'd visit while I lived in Texas and being that this was my first visit since living in Oregon, I picked up a dozen to transport back. Now I haven't been to Kossar's in decades. The place is not the same as it was when I was a child. I remember chaos, I remember flour on the floors and the windows all steamed up from the baking of the bialys. Times have changed, but the bialys are still bialys and are still worth the trip downtown. I even grabbed a bag of chocolate ruggelach. Something my grandmother used to make. They were ok, but the texture wasn't right to me. They also had babka, and one can not go wrong with babka. Nothing like a visit to ones memories past. Places like this are what make New York City great. Keep supporting the old businesses. Enjoy. read more

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I'm going to keep this one to the point. I ordered breakfast from Kossar's. I ordered their classic sandwich without onion and an iced coffee with skim milk. It came to $18. CLASSIC SANDWICH: -LOX: Gummy/chewy/no. -TOMATOES: Squishy. -ONIONS: I said no onions. The receipt stapled to the bag said no onions. However, for some reason, there were onions. It's almost like they were intentionally mocking me. -CREAM CHEESE: The "everything" cream cheese was either very garlicky/oniony OR the taste of the onions that I specifically asked to not exist had permeated the entire sandwich. -BAGEL ITSELF: Average at best. COFFEE: -No skim milk, or milk of any sort. -No straw? No sugar in the bag? But you felt the need to include a take out menu? -Full of grinds at the bottom of the cup. -Dumped largely down my sink. PRICE: -This is partially on me for spending almost twenty bucks on a bagel and coffee anywhere outside of Russ & Daughters. I was better off taking $18 and throwing it into the wind. IN SHORT: -If you want to overpay to have your instructions ignored, go ahead and do it. read more

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

What happened to this place? Gone is the intoxicating aroma wafting right outside the shop as you walk past it. I remember back in the day when my best friend and I would go into Kossar's to get one very warm bialy to go for 25 cents. There were no counters, just a guy standing around asking what you want. We would leave the store happy, ready to tear into the soft onion bialy. Each bite was oh so good. I can't tell you how many I have eaten there while growing up in this neighborhood. This morning we had it for breakfast. Yesterday we ordered 3 sesame and 3 onion bialys to bring home. If you blindfolded me, I would not be able to tell you if it was sesame or onion. I couldn't taste it nor smell what flavor it was. For all I know, it might as well have been a plain one. The softness is still there, and the veggie cream cheese that we got was delicious. What a let down, not the same bialy as I remembered. The original owner sold the business. You would think that they would have given the new owners their recipes as well, doesn't seem to be the case. The place is still bustling with customers but I think it's a generation that doesn't know what a true good bialy is supposed to taste like. What a disappointment!! read more

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Got to taste a few of their bagels and fillings on a food tour and we devoured them all! All the cream cheese is smooth, simply just melts in your mouth. And the bagels? What New York is all about. read more

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

This place gets super busy in the morning!!!! But definitely worth it! My son and I stopped here. We come here every time we have to stop in the LES but we always get bagels. But this time so decided to switch it up and get some French Toast! We got 4 pieces of French Toast. We got the Challah and the Bobka French Toast! Hand down the best French Toast in Manhattan!!! The Bobka French Toast was a 1st for us but it was incredible! We hope to stop back in again soon! read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Waiting for our French Toast!!! - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

In my humble opinion, the best bilay shop in nyc. My family goes every time they visit nyc and usually bring a bag home too. The bagels also slap. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - onion bialy BEC - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

It opened only two weeks ago, so I know that the staff is not fully trained. It was at lunchtime and it was very crowded. We ordered two different biali sandwiches; each different. My wife repeated the order twice and the counter person then repeated the order. Of course she got them mixed up. I will wait to go back until they are more comfortable and we'll trained. The bialis were good though. read more

Rude and slow staff, you are expected to wait for 20 mins just to get a wrong order of bagels and bialys. We wanted 6 bagels, got 4. We wanted 3 bialys, got 6. What the hell? People coming after us got their food and left; and no, they didn't call ahead of time. Some person got their sack of bagels and bialys faster than us despite our order being smaller than theirs. 2 stars for having bialys around the city and bagels are not bad. Deducted stars are for what I've already said and experienced. read more

I ordered an everything bagel with cream cheese and got a poppy seed bagel instead. I was in a rush so I didn't ask them to make me another one. The bagel was ridiculously hard so I barely got through half of it before I tossed it out. Won't be back, wouldn't recommend either. read more

I wish there was a way to leave zero stars. I am not sure what has occurred, but a place that was once a culinary pilgrimage for me and my family seems to have been bought by a tourist family from Indiana. In addition to an unnecessary makeover which has robbed the space of any old New York charm, the focus of the visit , the bialys, have undergone an awful transformation. What was once a beloved treat adored by generations of New Yorkers as a flat 4 inch wide pillow of deliciousness, seems to have morphed into a heavy, dome shaped ball of dough that resembles a knish (see photo). I fully recognize that Jewish upward mobility and the suburban exodus from the city has robbed New York of some of its Jewish food heritage such as Ratners and the Carnegie Deli just to name a few. I would actually just rather see Kossar's disappear than die a slow agonizing death. read more

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

The first time I came here a 2 years ago, they had one of the best cream cheese lox bagels. The bagel was nicely toasted on the outside and the inside was super pillowy. I was hoping to get the same experience when I came here today, but instead the bagel I got felt very dry and tough. Although the bagel wasn't what I was expecting. The salmon was still pretty phenomenal and so was the cream cheese filling. But this place is now quite expensive for the quality I'm getting. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Kossat The Kossar's Classic Sandwich - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Ordered these bagels and bialys on Goldbelly for a special occasion, and they never even shipped! Apparently they failed to send out 734 packages this week, with no notice or even apologies. Bad business. Avoid!!! Such a shame. If you're needing NY bagels shipped, order from the OGs - Russ & Daughters, who know how to deliver. Thanks for (quite literally) nothing. read more

The 3.5 stars is confusing. I used to work in the area and Kossars was my go to. I was visiting for the week and took my girlfriend for her first time. We both agreed that the bagels and shmears were delicious and that we don't get the Russ and Daughters hype. read more

If I didn't have to give at least one star, I would not have given any. I stopped into Kossar's at about 1:45 today. My daughter was coming in from Ct. and wanted a dozen bailies. Iso I did just that. Bought a dozen bailies, 2 bagels and a round disk. I got home around 2:00 and decided to have a bialy. Boy, was I disappointed. The bialy was so hard, I couldn't eat it. If it wasn't cold and rainy and riddled with arthritis, I would have brought them back. The disk didn't fit in a bag and was just thrown as is in my shopping bag. NEVER AGAIN. Will travel to Thompkins square bagels from now on. Their bagels are all fresh for days. read more

First thought of walking into this place was how clean and white it all was. Not sure if it was because so many places in NYC are so dark and dirty and kind of stinky.... I've read it's a new location so this could by why, but it seems so open and inviting. Just stopped here because it was the closest bagel place near where I was staying. Service was fabulous and helpful. I'm from out of town so I could tell by the service they are used to regulars but they helped me pick a few items to get and were just so funny about it. Got a salted bagel with cream cheese (felt like a tub of cream cheese OMG THANK U KEEP IT COMMIN DUDES). Bagel was freaking delicious and exactly what you want out of a fluffy New York bagel. Also got an everything bagel with two eggs. Duleeecioiuss. Everything is made to order so you can get one egg, egg and cream cheese, just cheese ?? How about some bacon? They cook it right there in front of you as you order. All the pricing is super basic and made to add up per item. Which I actually love how you can customize anything. There were so many cream cheeses and a huge case of to go food. Brilliant!! Wish I could have taken some home with me. Also ended up getting some chocolate rugelach to go because why not. Wish they were a bit more crunchy but still delicious. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Salt bagel with cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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This has gotten a lot better since they renovated and reopened a few months ago. The bagels and bialys still aren't the best, as evidenced by the guy advising me to always get them toasted, even if they are fresh out of the oven. He was right, as the next time I went and got my sandwich toasted and it was much better. The collaboration series they just did with a number of Lower East Side businesses was great, including a Black & White Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich with Ice & Vice and an excellent Tuna Melt on a Japanese Style Bialy with Ivan Ramen. If you were lucky enough to try those, or one of the other new sandwiches they've added to the permanent menu, you will leave here satisfied. read more

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Kossars has been in the lower east side for decades. Nothing outstanding since there are much better bagels elsewhere, even on the LES. Not enough variety, stale rugelach, bland bialys. But if you want an overpriced bagel, this is your place. Having said that, my review is more about the SERVICE. Today, I ordered a whole wheat bagel with nothing on it. Tapped my card and said thank you. I waited and waited and waited. There were perhaps 3-4 orders ahead of me and their food was from the grill i.e egg sandwiches, bagels with the works. Please note that there were 3-4 guys behind the counter at this point. After waiting several minutes, one of them placed a whole wheat in a bag and left it there along with 2 onion bialys from another order that no one claimed. The cashier who was also working the coffee station came over and looked at the receipt and threw it away instead of passing over the order. I finally went up to him and asked about it. Why didn't he call out the order? He was free to take more orders but to fulfill them was something else. This isn't the first time either. So maybe this is their new business model - to make everyone wait their turn despite the simplicity of an order. Kossars, you've lost a customer and that can't be good in this economic climate. read more

Very disappointed. I have been going to Kossars for decades. I haven't been there since the pandemic. I used to go whenever I was in the city. But since they changed their hours they are not open when I go. My friend went there today and I asked him to bring me back a half dozen bialys. Saw what he brought back. 6 tiny 3-4 inch hard bialys. They taste odd. They are not the same as I am used to getting from Kossars. I will now need to find a new bialy store. read more

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

Coffee was decent, but the pastries were INCREDIBLE. And the workers were so very kind. Know they definitely put up with a lot of entitled jerks so the fact they remain kind says a lot. Thanks so much folks ! read more

Good bagel sandwich with egg and cheese. My sons liked the black and white cookies. The bialys were delicious. Service was fine

This review is only for their Babka French toast. My boyfriend and I saw this featured on a YouTube video and immediately wanted to give it a try. While the video looked promising, this french toast was overtly sweet, soggy and undercooked on the inside. I wish we enjoyed Kossar's more, but unfortunately biting into mushy wet bread was not enjoyable. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Babka French Toast - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

This place is great! One of the last real NYC bagel joints. Plenty of options, but don't expect anything fancy. This is the traditional approach that let's them concentrate on the quality of the food itself. Hard to find a better neighborhood for walking around in as well. read more

What a nice looking place after the remodel! Kossar's has been making bialys since 1936. The current location has been open since 1960 which make Kossar's the oldest remaining Bialy bakery in the United States. Go NYC! A few weeks ago I was having breakfast with my family and at the kitchen table we were talking about things we had in Brooklyn as kids. I mentioned the best thing was a fresh Bialy. With the little onions? Mmm mm! Kids look at me like a have 3 heads What the heck is a, what are you saying? Buy-alley? Be-alley?? Vitamins? And I guess I have to blame myself. Over the past 20 years of living in Lawg Island, when I went out for Sunday bagels I'd see bialys but I always passed on them. Yeah, next week I'd say. Well, this weekend I'll buy six from the real deal in NYC. My son & I walk into the newly renovated bakery. Lotsa folks here on Saturday morning buying bagels and bialys. I order a 1/2 dozen of mixed bialys to go. We get in the car and split a sesame bialy. It was a warm pocket of love! However, I do have to point out, no one eats a plain bagel. You butter it, put flavored cream cheese on it, something to give it that punch. We had it fresh off the hot rack but it was lackluster. Let me zip it up in the morning to judge it better. Kossar's, keep rockin' in the 21 century! read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Sorry, NYC rules! - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

They are not the same as I would purchase in the 60's, 70's 80's Everything is so different in the texture and taste especially the Bialy's

Everything bialy with scallion cream cheese was delicious. The bialy was very warm, fresh, and satisfying. It was supposed to have onion too, but onions were out, which was disappointing :( I can only imagine how much more amazing it'd taste with onion! Scallion cream cheese was good. read more

I must say since my first review, Kossar's has really surprised me. The bagels have gotten better and I am consistently going there in the morning for breakfast. read more

Kossar's is a neighborhood staple in the LES. It's been around for decades. Growing up I remember the location was still on the same block a storefront away and next door was a toy store (where donut plant is now). They also had pickle guys on the corner and a kosher pizza store all on the same block. There was also a kosher restaurant called Noah's arc. And across from Seward park there was Joe's pizza which later became Vic's pizza. It was 60 cents for a garlic bialy and in the early 2000s it was 90 cent. The bialy was chewy and had garlic in the center. It wasn't out of this world but it was different. I remember back in the days the store was very messy with flour all over the store. The bagels and bialys were on the left and the cashier was this short lady with glasses. No smile. Just pick out want you want, pay and leave. Btw the bialys are never hot. I had them so many times and they were always cold. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - How kossar's look in the 90s and early 2000s - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

The only bagel shop in lower east side that opens before 7am. This shop has a great selection of bagels and spreads. They also have muffins. Decent selection of coffees and great selection of hot teas. This place is small with a total of maybe 10 seats but most people grab their food to go and I have never had a problem finding a spot and enjoy my breakfast there. read more

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

Since 1936. The staff was extremely friendly, the service was fast, and he whitefish salad was excellent. But, I made better bialys at Noah's Bagels after it became a subsidiary of a huge Corp. . There was no onion mix in the center and it needed some salt. The bagels looked great though. Next time. read more

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During a recent stay in the LES daughter wanted a NY bagel and I found Kossar's on Yelp. Indoor/outdoor seating, no frills bagel shop. Review the menu before going. There are so many choices. My daughter enjoyed her egg/cheese everything bagel. I ordered an eggs/locks everything bagel and realized after I paid that a little cream cheese would be a great addition. This was going to cost me $5 extra and the girl couldn't figure out how to ring it so I passed. I guess the midwesterner in me just expected to be handed a little cup of cream cheese. But the bagels were delicious and filling. I enjoyed the black and white photos of old Eastside NY. read more

So they opened up and the newly renovated Kossars looks so bright and shinny. The bialys are now $1 instead of 90cents..but won't break the bank. Flavors are still the same and they make sandwiches out of bagels now from cream cheese and smoked salmon. Service is attentive and great. Kossars is here to stay in the neighborhood and hopefully it stays true to their original authenticity and not become a tourist hyped up Russ and Daughters who charge an arm and a leg for cheap bagels and smoked fish. read more

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Update: have now tried their chocolate babka and I can say it is one of the best most dense moist, chocolatey and crunchy babkas I've had in NYC. 2nd best to Oneg in Williamsburg (that I've had so far) Get their babka! read more

Ordered 2 plain bagels with an almost invisible slice of tomato, and a scoop of the blandest unseasoned chicken salad, 2 small bottles of water for a total of $27.50 Unreasonably overpriced for a low quality bagels. Never again read more

I've got Bialys on the Brain! I have been coming here since I was a tot and my brother used to take me to go see teenage mutant ninja turtles at the theater next door. That was ages ago and it seems that over the years the neighborhood has definitely changed but one thing that has not are the bialys here. I enjoy the clean simple taste of the bialy and the pure ingredients. Some people who have lived in New York have never tried a bialy before or even know what it is. Not quite a bagel yet not quite bread and looks like a bellybutton. The tiny bellybutton holds a smattering of garlic or poppy seeds or sesame seeds with a light dusting of flour on the bottom. If you like fresh baked bread you should try the bialys here. Made fresh every day and has a nice chewy texture. Yes you will put your teeth into it definitely not for dentured folk. Have one with lox or have one with cream cheese and jelly or have one with your soup. Whichever way you have it just have one. Makes for a good breakfast or a snack. My orthodox friends are always happy when I bring them and I think they are great. its hard to find a good bialy these days believe me I have looked. Every time I pass by I have to go in and bring some home or for my work buddies. If you are greedy try an onion disc. Yes it looks like a frisbee and is gigantic and you will feel like a caveman tearing into it with your teeth. Or at least thats how I like to eat them. I do not know why people compare this place to doughnut plant next door. You would never compare doughnuts to a bagel. It makes no sense. They follow the sabbath so usually closed at sundown on friday and closed on saturdays. They now take level up so it's easier for me to flash my phone to pay. If you have a buck come by and you've got yourself a bialy. Yelp 100 challenge: review #12 read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Bag of onion bialys - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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First day reopened! My toasted onion bialy with whitefish salad is YUMMY. I'm waiting for a pletzel, should be fresh from the oven in 10 minutes - this place smells heavenly! All kinds of non-traditional bialy available as well: sundried tomato and pesto (unheard of in the "old country "!) is just one example. Not much in the way of seating, but I'm prrched on a stool, facing out onto Grand Street. Sun's coming up after morning snow - great lunchtime treat! read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Toasted onion bialy...mmmmmm! - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Kossar's was a delicious final meal on to our trip to NYC on 1/6/19 (yeah, I'm a little behind in my review!). Thanks Team Kossar and an especially warm thank you to Trish for her gracious hospitality! As an out-of-towner (I'm from Nebraska, what do I know about Bialys and Bagels?), I thought the food was delicious, piled high with meats and cheeses. I can't say enough good things about their flavorful coffees, generous portions, and clean everything. We liked watching the bakers do their thing. We enjoyed Sunday morn' bagels and coffee with Team Kossar so much we purchased two sandwiches for the flight home! Obviously the purists and locals have their own valid and educated opinions. I can only say that having eaten at Kossar's made our trip to New York City utterly complete. Thank you Team Kossar for rising at O dark 30 to bake for us and have these amazing creations waiting! You all rock! Sincerely, Patrick Shaughnessy read more

This place is sitting at 3 stars after coming here again. Last time I was here I ordered a semi complicated sandwich. This time I figured I'd make it simple to it wouldn't be messed up or missing anything. Ordered a everything bagel toasted with scallion cream cheese. Opened my order later the bagel wasn't toasted. Shouldn't be a big deal, but I told the man taking my order very clearly I wanted it toasted. The bagel tasted okay but it would've been a lot better toasted. The sandwich felt kind of sad and disappointing because I simplified my order and it was still incorrect. Also ordered garlic bagels since I was trying to get that last time. Got it but one bagel was so badly burnt I couldn't eat it. The toppings and the bottom of the bagel was black. read more

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I LOVE KOSSARS! They renovated and reopened not too long ago so there are all these new food possibilities. Before leaving back to Miami, I purchased some bagels and two days later, they were still soft and great to eat. Their bagels are everything a bagel should be and should taste like. They have a variety of bagels that they bake in-house as well as plenty of spreads. They also have bialys and other treats. I love their blueberry cream cheese and poppy seed bagel. I usually get that or egg and cheddar on a poppy seed bagel. The bialys are 90 cents! There can be quite a line on weekends so prepare yourself to wait but you won't be disappointed. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Turkey bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese on a plain bagel - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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On a Saturday morning, I ordered A cinnamon bagel with cream cheese and it is the hardest bagel I've ever had in my life when I took my first bite into it and tried to chew with my jaws popped. I paid $7 to just throw it away. This place is overrated. read more

Never on time, never gotten an order right once. Foods not good enough to put up with the awful service. Was assured multiple times my bagel order for the next day would be ready by 10am. Definitely wasn't, had to wait two hours when I went to pick up. My three worst service experiences have all been here. There are soo many much much better places like this to go in nyc. read more

Kossar's Bagels & Bialys - Two wrong sandwiches that took 2 hours - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York