The best bagels in the city; it is not even close. Picking my favorite thing to get there is very difficult, but I would have to go with an everything bagel toasted with lox cream cheese. Yes, there is usually a long line, but it moves pretty quickly. read more

About a 1-1.5: Yikes, Absolute Bagels - not sure what happened, but you ain't it anymore! This has always been my first pitstop when we land in NY - I'm a fan of their freshly baked bagels, which never has to be toasted since it's still warm and has that crisp exterior, with a generous shmear of cream cheese. It has always hit the spot, every single time. However, on the most recent visit, it was just shocking at how bad it was - the onion bagel that I received tasted stale and hard, overly chewy; the garlic & chives cream cheese that I got was also hard in texture and not at all soft and creamy. It wasn't even spread properly, and overall, this bagel was a total bust. Albeit, I did go at around 8 AM, which there was a long line already; we are usually there right when they open at 6, when there's no line and the bagels are just coming out. I can see why everyone was requesting their bagels to be 'toasted' for an extra charge, because if it's not at 6 AM when you're ordering and consuming it, it's not 'fresh' anymore so it has to be toasted. Staff is friendly and do keep the line moving. The place is also cash only. No dice, Absolute Bagels! +stale, chewy bagels +hard cream cheese +friendly service +cash only read more

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Breakfast Sandwich time from Absolute. I'll start by saying it was a BIG disappointment. I heard and read terrific things about Absolute but I think everyone meant terrible. Arrived at 8:30 on Saturday to a line of 12 in front of me which was expected considering everything I heard. Maybe being #13 was the issue for this visit. Line moved with some medium speed but a little chaotic since you ordered and then the line continued to the cashier. By the time you got to the cashier your order was ready. Convienent. So give an ok to service. +1 star. Ambience ok, basic storefront, no seating but you did see the boiling water kettle and the bagel baker dumping the hand rolled bagels in every once in awhile +1 star. Now for the main event. Since the everything bagels were being dumped out straight from the oven I forgo toasting it. I ordered my BEC straight up with butter salt and pepper. In the words of Astro from The Jetsons Ruh Roh! The bagel itself was I would say average. Nothing to rave about. From here it was all downhill. I figured since the bagel was hot the butter melted completely. Again Ruh Roh, Very little butter taste. I did get some hint of butter. Next the egg, double Ruh Roh. The eggs were not made to order but rather kept warm in a warming tray. They tasted the same as if you were at a Holiday Inn Express breakfast buffet. Also a little watery. Probably came from the same kitchen. Next the bacon, Ruh Roh... slightly cooked. See the picture. Next up, the cheese. Almost liquid. Perhaps the cheese was diluted by the watery eggs. Lastly, the coffee. Ordered my usual. Hot not too much milk and 3 sweet n low. Since there was no seating I took my culinary to the mall benches on Broadway . By the time I sat down and took a sip the coffee was lukewarm at best. Whatever stars Absolute earned just got lost. Needless to say I cannot recommend Absolute Bagel. So disappointing read more

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CASH ONLY! Visiting New York and we tried place since we heard so many great things about it. The bagels here are made really well! It's the perfect amount of crunchiness and chewiness--I get why this is heavily recommended. They do get busy though so be wary of that. Worth the try for sure! read more

Absolute Bagels - Cinnamon raisin bagel w/ blueberry cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Screwed up my order, bagel itself pretty average in my opinion. Cream cheese nothing special either.

Hole-in-the-wall, cash only bagel spot with no seating. Came here on a weekday around lunch, and there was only a short line. Not as many filling/sandwich options as places downtown, but they do a good bagel! I ordered an everything bagel with sundried tomato tofu cream cheese. The seasoning on the bagel was just perfect and so flavorful. It was warm and had a nice chewy texture, and the tofu did not disappoint! I just wish the bagel was a bit larger, it was a little small for the price. Plus, the people working there are so sweet and friendly, and the service here warms my heart! read more

Absolute Bagels - Everything bagel with sun dried tomato tofu spread - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

It's the last day for fresh NY bagels. We ordered 3 everything bagels and I got an everything bagel with egg. I had a nice warm breakfast. It was delicious. Until we visit again. read more

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The bagels are good don't get me wrong but I don't get the hype. On the weekends be prepared to wait in a long line. I only go when there is no line. They are good but I don't find them any more exceptional than Tal Bagels, Pop Up, or other bagel spots on the UWS. read more

I have been here so so many times, this is my go to spot for bagels in NYC!! love ABSOLUTE!!! They're always solid , doughy and JUST PERFECT. Never disappoints. My HOT TIP? Do not sleep on the egg bagel, which is my absolute favorite on the menu. It always comes out super hot and the bagel is dense but so DOUGHY and delicious. It's really my favorite with the cinnamon walnut cream cheese!! It's a must try! The everything bagel with salmon lox cream cheese is also a showstopper Bring cash and be prepared to wait in a 30 minute line on the weekends. read more

Absolute Bagels - Egg bagel and everything bagel - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

You know it'll be good when you see a line out the door! The only issue is the fact that you need cash, but other than that, they have tons of choices for variety of bagel (note that toasting your bagel will cost extra) and tons of choices for cream cheese as well. It's a small place, but it's all to go if I remember correctly (i dont remember there being seating inside). Worth the trip though! Would recommend. read more

I had an okay first experience. I will say the egg bagel with lox spread was a 10/10. Service was quick, but communication is kinda spotty, so that's why I'm giving 3 stars. The guy made my bagel and then wasn't giving it to me for a while. I admit I was confused about what he was asking me, and I thought he was getting my order mixed up with the person behind me. But it ended up being my order, and he didn't double check what my order was until 5 people after me got theirs. Then when he gave it, all the coworkers were laughing about it and saying he was joking with me. Listen, it was early in the morning, and I was half asleep and hangry, but kept my manners because it was partly my fault. But instead of making a joke of things, Id prefer being treated like a valued customer. I respect the business and establishment, but service has to step up. It's also cash only, so be prepared for that. There's always a long line in the morning. read more

Excellent bagels! These are some of the best bagels that I've ever tried. The outside had a subtle crunch, and the inside was soft, warm, and bready. My everything bagel had a very strong sesame flavor; I'm not a fan of sesame, so I will likely try a different type the next time I visit. The roast beef wasn't anything noteworthy. I will likely refrain from adding it to my bagel next time. The egg bagel with sun-dried tomatoes was very tasty. It had some sweet notes. The presentation of this bagel was also nice! Both bagels were *loaded* with light cream cheeses. They were flavorful without being too overpowering. My partner joined the morning bagel line at around 10:30 AM on a Sunday morning, and he had to wait for about an hour and a half just to get inside the shop! But the ladies running the store were quick and absolutely delightful; there isn't any room to eat inside, but the ambiance was wonderful nonetheless. I'm unsure if it was truly worth the 1.5 hour-long wait, but the bagels were great regardless! read more

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I'm typically a generous guy when reviewing places, but I couldn't help but feel my bagel was way overpriced for what I got. Nova lox bagels have always been my favorite and I've tried many to compare with, and I can say this wasn't anything special. If anything, there were some spots missing so a few bites felt off. I got the nova lox everything bagel with tomato, onion, and lox spread, and for a $16 dollar bagel (with the add-ons), I'd expect it to be loaded to the brim, but this was average at best. The other bagels weren't as expensive so they might be a better deal, and this place must offer some good things since the line went way out the door, but paying a high price for a mediocre bagel wasn't a good experience. Also, they only take cash so come prepared. read more

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This is the best bagel place in New York!! I had this bagel 4 years ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it since then. Well last week I finally got the chance to try it again and boy oh boy it did not disappoint! The shop is small but efficient. And cash only! But the bagels are excellent and well worth the trip. Everytime I'm in New York I have to stop for one of these. They are chewy, soft, and just overall everything you could want from a bagel. read more

Absolute Bagels - Plain bagel with cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Finally had a chance to drop by and try this place out, on a pure whim, on a Friday night. The place is as old-school and laid back as it gets, in terms of the set-up, the decor, the payment options (cash only), the menu items. Very straightforward, no fuss. Select bagel type, select cheese, select meat or fish or veggie options, ask for toasted vs non-toasted, grab a drink, pay up. I grabbed myself a basic Everything bagel with Lox spread and a Salted bagel with smoked salmon and scallion cheese. VERY filling food here, I was pretty much done for dinner after 2/3rds of the first bagel and saved the other for a meal at home. Apparently I really lucked out with the timing, as all the reviews say this place gets quite packed during morning hours. Is this the ultimate, best bagel in all of NYC? Maybe not, but it's very good and not obscenely priced. I'm satisfied. read more

Walked right in, no line. Ordering was fast and simple. Their cream cheese is godly. The bagels are everything you'd ever need. Cash only. Simple place, no frills. Might be my favorite bagel thus far. read more

I had an error in judgment the previous morning and failed to grab a bagel, so best believe I made a bee-line for the nearest bagel shop on the following day! Unfortunately, Absolute Bagel, being the only option in this part of town, was the closest shop to me. I was met with a slow-moving line spilling out the door, maybe 20 people deep. As I finally made it to the entrance 30 minutes later I realize they are running a not only small but downright inefficient operation. Only three workers were manning the fort. Two were baking and churning out the boiled and baked bagels -- one double tasking to ring people up -- and a third was taking orders, running around the other side of the L-shaped display case to prep it, pack it up to then call out the order, and then run back around the other side to take the next order. How frustratingly inefficient. They had a number of cream cheese options which looked and sounded appealing. They even had some vegan options in the form of their "Tofutti" cream cheese. On the other hand, I went for a sesame bagel with a sun-dried tomato cream cheese spread. I asked for "untoasted" but received a toasted bagel in its stead, so I was charged an extra 10 cents on top of my deflated bagel! The cream cheese slab thankfully was not overkill and tasted rather yummy with a delightful thick texture. Nonetheless! The whole process here was nearly 1-hour and the product was far from worth the wait. I get that they are locally owned and a small operation but they could easily service their patrons more effectively by streamlining their process. You can get a more fulfilling bagel elsewhere and with a significantly shorter wait time. If you go earlier than 10:30am and there isn't a line, maybe pop in, but one guidance is "absolute" and that is if there is a line -- avoid!! read more

Absolute Bagels - Toasted sesame bagel with sun dried tomato cream cheese, $5.30 - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Cash only!! Really good bagels here, there was a line when I went but it moves super quickly. The bagels themselves are really good quality with a nice chew and a hefty amount of cream cheese, just how I like it. My friend and I were planning on a whole day of eating so we ended up splitting one, and it still filled us up pretty well. read more

A very solid bagel spot in New York! I personally feel like the less reviewed but still known bagel spots are actually so much better than the really really popular ones (ie. Best Bagels, Ess-a-bagel, etc). I was staying nearby so the journey here was just a short walk, and we came when there wasn't a line. Service was super friendly and I enjoyed speaking to staff members too! I ordered an everything bagel with egg salad, lightly toasted. The bagel was a bit smaller than expected, but still was delicious. It was light, had a slight chew, and I really liked the flaky salt on top. The egg salad was probably one of the best egg salad's I've ever had though, which I actually enjoyed more than the bagel itself hence the five-star rating. It was the perfect combination of egg, onion, mayo, and seasonings and they also gave a very generous portion of it. I can definitely see this being a go-to spot for breakfast bagels in the morning! Too bad there aren't any in California that rival :") read more

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These were such average bagels for the hype I've heard around them. I got the Cinnamon raisin bagel with walnut raisin cream cheese. It was definitely good but not earth shattering. They are pretty cheap though which is nice. I thought there was too much cream cheese to bagel ratio but that's just my preference. Would go back! Long line but it moved fairly quickly. read more

Absolute Bagels - Cinnamon raisin bagel with walnut raisin cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent Bagels here, not sure if it was worth the long wait but I was happy to enjoy two bagels from here. Loved the toasty bagel with a warm soft inside. Cash only when I went here DEC 24 but they have an efficient system of getting orders filled. read more

Absolute Bagels - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow, one of the best bagel spots I've tried in New York. Between Absolute and Popup, both places are probably top 2 and I would say pop up is just a little bit better, but I still HIGHLY recommend checking out absolute bagels. The bagels are really good and fresh and there are so many options to choose from. read more

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Okay YUM! Absolute Bagel gave me a egg and sausage sandwich with a bagel that was fresh out of the oven, and I have to say, it was the best bagel sandwich I've ever had. I also got to split a toasted pumpernickel bagel with homemade blueberry cream cheese, and that was also delectable. Next time I'm in New York, Absolute Bagel is a lock for a breakfast stop. read more

Look, sometimes they have off days. The bagels are a bit stale, or they put too much cream cheese, or they're on the smaller side... but when Absolute hits, it absolutely hits. My go to order is a toasted everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and nova. Egg bagels and salt bagels are also very delicious. If I'm feeling generous to myself, I'll grab a Thai iced tea. On the weekends, the long lines (which usually snake around the block) start to die down around noon, and on some weekdays I've been able to walk right in with no line at all. I'm very blessed to have Absolute as my local bagel shop. I wish they would sell merch!! The interior of the shop is a bit rustic but still charming. (One warning: don't get the BEC. It's just not as good.) read more

The wait is heinous but the bagels are pretty dope. They don't skimp at all on the cream cheese. I really also liked their Thai tea! Get two if you're hungry. read more

Absolute Bagels - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Thanks yelpers for the recommendation. When there is a line outside you know something good is on the inside. Great fresh bagels and different spreads. I went with my two favs everything with Lox Spread and Pumpernickel with Lox spread. I was t disappointed and would wait in this line anytime. It was good and highly recommend read more

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the absolute BEST bagels! i came here every morning during my trip to New York, that's how good it is! be warned, the line on the weekends can get insane. weekdays are much more manageable. also, they are CASH ONLY! i've tried the blueberry cream cheese, strawberry cream cheese, nova with garlic and chive cream cheese, and the bacon egg and cheddar bagel sandwich - the bacon egg and cheddar is a must try. it is so delicious. i love their everything bagel, it's so perfectly airy and flavored, nothing is overpowering. the nova sandwich is also delicious, the smoked salmon with the garlic and chive cream cheese is chefs kiss. i wish the sandwich came with arugula and red onion tho. absolute bagels, i will miss you when i'm gone. i will dream about these bagels forever. you will be seeing me again! read more

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CASH ONLY MOST IMPORTANTLY. Wow! This place is so delicious. Line was wrapped around the block and it took about an hour to get up to the front but the food came quickly. The staff calculates your total right in front of you and CASH ONLY!!!!!! Thankfully since they do hand calculations we had a second to sprint to the nearest ATM and grab some cash. It was $27 for both bagels which was more spendy than I thought. Overall the bagels were delicious. The crunch, freshness and taste is incredible. The cream cheese is so fricken good too. Next time I'll probably get something a little cheaper & more simple but definitely worth a return visit. read more

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tl;dr at this hole-in-the-wall Morningside Heights, the high-quality bagels paired with flavorful (and affordable!) lox spread can rival even the most reputable smoked salmon sandwiches in NYC Founded by Sam Thongkrieng, a Thai immigrant and alumnus of Ess-A-Bagel, Morningside Heights' Absolute Bagels has established a reputation for its baked rings, and it has the long lines to match. Beneath the circus tent-esque awning, a small shrubbery of houseplants occupies the window. Inside, harsh fluorescent lamps light the whitewashed walls, viridian shiplap trim, and dirty brick-red tiled floors. Plaques of Absolute Bagels' accolades and bagel-related photos line the walls. The queue loops to the far back of the space, where the many bagel varieties are separated into heaps. Directly to the right is a coolly-lit display of spreads and toppings, and the cafeteria-style red-and-yellow font menu is pressed above the counter. Teeny bopper pop mixes with the aroma of baked bread to fill the air. My partner and I arrived early on a weekend, and there was only a slow trickle of customers. We opted for an iced coffee and 2 toasted Everything Bagels -- one with Lox Spread, the other with Strawberry Cream Cheese (unfortunately, Absolute was out of the Blueberry). After paying (cash only!), we waited briefly before being handed a nondescript brown paper bag. The bagels were immediately notable for their large size, a blistered and crisp exterior with a generous coating of salt and other everything seasonings, and the chewy, flavorful interior. Our heavy dollop of lox spread, salty and packing a punch of flavor, was as enjoyable as full lox slices for just a fraction of the price. In comparison, the strawberry cream cheese was disappointing, sporting some strawberry slices but tasting wholly unremarkable, and further exacerbated by Absolute forgetting to toast this bagel. Finally, the iced coffee tasted somewhat watered down, and undissolved sugar crystals crunched throughout it. Despite the hiccups during this visit, I was impressed enough with my toasted bagel and lox spread that I had to visit again for round 2. This time, I arrived on a Friday morning to a more substantial line going out the door. I braved it and had a brown bag in-hand within 20 minutes, and, fortunately, the quality was just as exceptional as my original experience. $6 for a bagel with spread does not immediately scream bargain. But Absolute Bagels' churns out a killer bagel and a decadent lox cream cheese, rivaling $15 smoked salmon sandwiches I've had in the city. I would emphatically recommend that any bagel lover go out of their way specifically for this item. read more

Absolute Bagels - Toasted Everything Bagels with Lox Spread - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Be ready for at least a 30 minute wait on weekends. This is one of the best bagel places in NYC, the dough has that amazing chew that epitomizes the New York bagel. Their everything bagel is a true culinary accomplishment. Highly recommend one of the many spreads they offer, I often go with the lox spread but they are all excellent. I would avoid the egg and cheese option since they don't make the eggs fresh. Bagels with spreads generally run between $5-10. Cash only and there is no ATM onsite. read more

Absolute Bagels - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

Really a great bagel! I got the everything bagel with plain cream cheese and it was exactly what I wanted it to be. Cost about $6 and was LOADED with cream cheese. The line wasn't too long but certainly not a quick stop. Not a great place to sit down and eat there. Overalls thought bagel was TASTY! read more

Absolute Bagels - everything bagel with plain cream cheese - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Classic UWS establishment where the bagels are actually better untoasted than toasted. Usually get a few bagels and smears, then pair with assortment of toppings at home. Bagel sandwiches are great too read more

FYI: I care a lot about the bagel's chewiness/softness and its cost-per-weight factor Good, not mind-blowing. Not worth waiting more than 10 minutes, which you are bound to do if you're going on a weekend. We tried the BEC, egg bagel, and onion bagel. The cheese in the BEC was not melted at all, resulting in a rather jarring separation of flavors and textures (I expect the cheese to melt into the bacon and egg in a BEC). Here's the thing. If you love a crusty, hard-shell bagel (the type that when you bite down, it ends up smushing the entire bagel by 70%) and have an hour to kill to get a bagel, then come here. If you're a Columbia student walking by on a Tuesday and there's no line, come here. If you want to just cross it off your NYC bucket list, come here. Would I recommend it as your go-to bagel spot in NYC? Probably not. read more

NOW THIS IS A BAGEL SPOT! Now i may tell a joke but id never tell a lie, this bagel was legit! Should've known with the line outside of the spot when I pulled up. CASH ONLY! And if you're nice with the crew they seem to take care of your food well! No where to sit but again get ya food and go about your day, so chill vibes. I had an Everything Bagel (toasted which .10) with Jalapeño cream cheese, Egg, lettuce, tomato and onions. The sandwich parts paired so well with the cream cheese, it wasn't event spicy or anything crazy. I couldn't stop thinking about that bagel all day, very soft, very tasty! 10/10 would come back again! read more

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As of now, this tops my list of favorite bagel in NYC! The consistency is like no other - extremely chewy and fluffy, moreso than any other bagel in the city. Even toasted, the bagels retain their fluffiness. Apparently the shop is run by a Thai family with people who used to work at Ess-A-Bagel. It's obvious they took what they learned, and elevated it to another level. The lines on weekends can be insane, made up of both tourist and local alike. Make sure you're carrying cash, because they don't take credit card. In a city jam packed with incredible bagels, in my opinion this is the best! read more

Absolute Bagels - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

The bagels here are delicious and the service is friendly! We waited in line for about 20 minutes and it was well worth the wait! I had the sesame bagel with jalapeño cream cheese and really enjoyed it - the jalapeño cream cheese was flavorful without being spicy, which I appreciated. My husband devoured his everything bagel, with a little help from my 5 year old. Our friends thought the onion bagel with jalapeño cream cheese was phenomenal. They also got the cinnamon raisin bagel with strawberry cream cheese, but found that particular combination a bit too sweet. This place is cash only and take out only - we enjoyed eating our bagels at little Straus park across the street. Definitely very glad our friends brought us here during our NYC visit! read more

Cash only! Friendly Vietnamese owners. Bagel itself was a solid bite: chewy and dense, good crust. The only nitpicks are: 1. Plain cream cheese was really soft, as if not refrigerated prior 2. They only serve breakfast up til 11am. This unfortunately includes your classic bacon, egg & cheese. read more

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So good!! The breakfast specials hit different. If you're in the mood for something savory, try the bacon egg and cheese on an everything bagel (or whatever your favorite bagel is). The bacon was crispy. Everything was perfect. Make sure you bring cash to pay. There is not much seating in absolute bagels so you'll have to plan to eat on the go or find seating elsewhere. There is a line but it moves at a moderate pace. Worth it for a first time visitor! read more

Absolute Bagels - Bacon egg cheese on everything bagel / IG: @ashleyyyvonne / @foodbyashley - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Great lil bagel spot - I'm usually a fan of blueberry bagels, but their everything bagel is amazing. Lox is alright. Line can be around the block. Usually better around noon. Cash only. read more

Absolute Bagels - Lox on everything bagel - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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Absolutelyyy delicious! This small joint had so many options for bagels and cream cheese. I got the everything bagel with lox creamy cheese and they really stuffed it in there. The bagel had a toasty crisp on the outside and soft light doughy inside. I was so full after one, but was also ready for another. The inside is pretty small, line goes by quick, but they only accept cash! read more

Absolute Bagels - Cream cheese options - Bakeries Near Me - New York, New York

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