I'm extremely thankful to have a friend who introduced me to this bagel spot. Definitely a top 2…read morefavorite of mine. I haven't been to the location but have had these bagels consistently for over 10 years. The texture and flavor of the bagel is everything a NY bagel is and should be. Fluffy on the inside, somewhat crispy on the outside, and oh so thiccccccccck! Their cream cheese?! Ugh! Don't skip on it, seriously everything about this place is perfect. My go to selection is the egg bagel with chive cream cheese. It's chef's kiss and hits the spot. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!!!!

If you're expecting this to be interchangeable with the franchised bagel places that have spread…read moreacross the country, recalibrate now. This is not that. I've been going to New York Bagel & Bialy for over 50 years, and places like this operate on a different clock, a different standard, and frankly, a different philosophy of what a bagel is supposed to be. Timing matters. If you show up after about 8:00 AM, your odds of getting bagels at their absolute peak--still warm, properly textured, with that slight resistance on the outside and softness inside--go up significantly. Earlier can be hit or miss depending on the batch cycle, but once they're in stride, this place delivers. The essentials are all here and worth your time: poppy seed, sesame, everything, and especially the bialys. The bialys alone are reason enough to make the trip--properly done, with the right chew and depth of flavor that you simply won't find in mass-produced versions. Don't overcomplicate it. Grab a dozen. On your way home, stop and pick up a couple packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese and some smoked salmon a jar of capers, a Bermuda onion--whether here or even from Walmart--and you've got a meal that outperforms most brunch menus at a fraction of the cost. This isn't trendy. It's not trying to be. It's something better: consistent, old-world, and still doing it the right way. If you're going to call something a bagel, the standard is not branding--it's process. That's why New York Bagel & Bialy on Touhy stands apart. They actually do it right: kettle-boiled first, then baked in rotating ovens. That single decision--boiling--changes the entire structure. It gelatinizes the outer starch layer, locks in density, and produces that thin, glossy crust with real chew. Without it, you don't have a bagel--you have bread with a hole. The rotating ovens matter too. They deliver even heat, which means you get the correct balance: a slight exterior crisp with a dense, elastic interior. No puffiness. No sponge. No collapse under toppings. That's the difference here. Most chains optimize for speed and shelf life, so they steam or shortcut the process. Many local shops land in the middle. This place doesn't compromise. If you care about what a bagel is supposed to be--not just what it's called--this is the benchmark in Chicago.

Just a note that my leftover onion rings were delicious. I had them for breakfast today.read more

I had a Nashville hot chicken sandwich. I almost never write reviews, and I certainly don't…read moreexpress having the absolute best of anything, but I must say that this was the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. It has creamy coleslaw on top and pickles on a brioche bun. The chicken breast was nice and thick. It was very spicy but the cold slaw definitely cools it down. The fries were fantastic too. This place deserves to be discovered so please go! I'll certainly be back.

Ambiance is nice: no music, but quiet and calm. Nice furniture, seems they've replaced old…read morefurniture and updated some things. The firecracker chicken wrap was 5 stars. The firecracker chicken strips: 4 stars. The burger: 4 stars Fries: 5 stars. Chips: 4 stars

All the food tasted great! Great service, great food, and great experience. We work next door and…read moreenjoy their food all the time.

First time visit and what a pleasant surprise! I'll be back to walk through their mouth watering…read moremenu. I had the Italian. It was a hot sandwich that tasted fantastic! Stop in and give them a try.

This place is very nice and clean. This is a cashless eating establishment…read more Ordered the Cubano and the Steak Chimichurri sandwich. The Cubano was really good. It is as good as the Cubano sandwiches you get from Miami's little Havana area. Highly recommend. The Chimichurri Steak sandwich on the other hand was Good, but not as great as the Cubanoz the steak sandwich consisted of pieces of steak, topped with fries and chimichurri. I think this sandwich would be way better if it had more Steak, (especially for the high cost). I felt like I was eating too much bread. The bread overtook the great taste of the steak. Also, the Chimichurri was more like a pesto sauce. It was good but that's what I felt like I was tasting. The regular fries were tasty, and coleslaw was very good. The person who took my order was very nice.

03/17/26 - Zalman's, @ 2931 W Touhy Ave. I've driven up & down Touhy for decades. I was told this…read morelocation has only been here for about 2 years. I hadn't eaten lunch yet, it was 2:45 so I decided to stop in & try someplace different. I tried their Jumbo spicy hot dog w/tomato, grilled onion, sauerkraut & garlic mayo. These hot dogs are their own recipe. They are pretty good w/slight spicy kick on the hot dog (their own homemade recipe). In addition they offer a number of different burgers & panini sandwiches that looked really good. I saw a bunch of pictures on the wall of Zalman's restaurants w/access to the exterior. I asked & was told that they are a franchise restaurant in Israel.

This is the second Zalman's hot dog restaurant in the world and the first in the U.S. The original…read moreis in Israel. They use nitrate free hot dogs. The staff and service is excellent. P.S. Soft opening until further notice.

I have been wanting to try this place for while and had the opportunity to do so. It's a cute cafe…read morewith the nicest people and fresh tasty food. I ordered the salmon croissant sandwich and my friend had an egg one. We thought they were both delicious and filling. I'd love to try more options next time. I did notice they don't have a ton of meat options. Service was friendly and I like that you can pay on a portable machine while sitting. Plenty of free street parking.

About a 1-1.5: I hate to do this to you, Blue Kale, but our recent visits for brunch/lunch have…read morejust been super disappointing. Not sure if there's a lack of quality control or there are different individuals preparing the food at different shifts, but we have been receiving almost inedible plates. The Garlic Mushroom Scrambled Eggs had an off-putting smell and were scrambled hard - was not possible to enjoy these so these were pushed off to the side and tossed. The B.A.T. Tartine's arugula/mix was not fresh and had a slimy consistency, and they were also not dressed well. The lattes were served lukewarm, even though we requested them to be extra hot - they were also watered down. Staff are friendly, but the price point just does not justify the items you receive. No dice, Blue Kale. +avoid the scrambled eggs +slimy arugula +weak lattes

A hidden gem in an office building (Wi-fi building) on McCormick! Definitely would not know there…read morewas a restaurant in this area but a pleasant surprise. It's a kosher restaurant with sushi as well. We got the BBQ Brisket Flatbread, The Mac Crispy Sandwich + Fries, and The Nashville Crispy Sandwich + Sweet Potato Fries. Food was delicious but on the pricier side. Would recommend splitting the food. Honestly even the flatbread would be enough to fill two people alone. Service was friendly and the seating area is in a separate room. They have a Paris type of aesthetic.

This place is excellent. . .if you can find it :) It is inside an office building , go in the side…read moredoor. I do not keep kosher, but went with a relativew who does. The food was excellent by any standard. Each item is a creative mix of ingredients and flavors. The serive is very friendly. Shimon makes great suggestions. The setting is not fancy, but the food is! Burgers to beef wellington.

The challah rolls here might be the best I've ever had. So soft and delicious. I think it's worth…read moremaking a trek out here just for this. I'm I accidentally got the soft salami instead of the hard salami. It was more like bologna. The rainbow star cookies were amazing. Not too sweet and just like the ones I remember getting as a kid in New York. They also have discounted bagels at the end of the weekend. I recommend grabbing a bag to take home and the slicing them and putting them in the freezer. There is plenty of free parking and they do have a few tables in the front if you want to dine there.

did I even slightly hesitate on driving 45 minutes for a bagel? like no. not even "like no," just…read moreno. i had to try Kaufman's - I got the breakfast bagel once and the Reuben on a bagel this time... and lemme just say this was an intimidating place. all the food at every counter looked amazing but i couldn't figure out what to order. it seemed everyone just knew what they wanted without a menu so ACT FAST PEOPLE - the bagel itself was surprisingly average considering this was authentic ass deli (not kosher tho) - the fillings tho were what stepped up the game...SOOO much egg in the breakfast game. they asked if I wanted salami or bacon which was interesting like I'm a sausage girl (lol) but honestly it was so yummy - the Reuben though... best sandwich I have ever had in Chicago and that is 0 exaggeration. i shall be returning again and they make the sandwiches BY THE POUND

Stopped in on my way home. I was promptly greeted. As I looked over the menu and trying to decide…read morewhich sandwich I wanted, one of the employees said that they had a cheesesteak combo special for that day, so I decided to try that. I waited briefly for my order to be taken care of the dining area was neat and tidy as they were about to close within 45 minutes of my arrival. I received my food and was really impressed that they have a really good cream soda as a fountain drink. The combo includes a bag of chips and drink. The cheesesteak was fresh off the grill hot. It had nice flavor with plenty of cheese. The next time I go there and get a cheesesteak I would definitely ask for less peppers and more onion. Also a little mayonnaise because that's just the way I like to eat my sandwiches overall it was really good for the price. Looking forward to trying other things on the menu.

Always fire Jersey Mike's! Love the subs taste so good. This location is a great location always…read moregood service and awesome subs. Keep up the good work.

Popped in for a meal and to watch some ncaa basketball…read more Erin waited on us and was awesome I had traditional sliders and a brew Great food Great service Great price Great setting Love this place

Huge portions, recommend if not hungry or if getting a few appetizers to ask for salad dressing on…read morethe side so you can have good leftovers the next day. Only negative to mention would be some of the spicy foods are spicier than you might think.