Vivian L.

Phenomenal sandwich! The meat is really flavorful - the marinade is great. The bagel is also really nice and fluffy. Huge portion. Great service as well, I didn't meet Ben but the other workers were very nice. I tried Ben's balls which were very good - good portion of meat inside. There's seating but no bathrooms but I wouldn't expect that from a deli-style place anyway. I will definitely be back when I'm in the area!

Theodosios C.

Sandwich. EXCELLENT. Devoured a larger than expected DAP Sandwich featuring tender, spicy Pork , melted Mozzarella, grilled Onions and Jalapeños, all elevated by the satisfying crunch of Kimchi in what ranks as one of the BEST Sandwiches I've ever had. RECOMMEND.

Jando S.

There are certain gimmicks that I don't subscribe to, which is any kind of fusion in bagel form. (#1) Between The Bagel proved me wrong, in a way that I haven't fully yet recovered and as a result has become a go-to destination for me whenever I'm back in Astoria. They've done such an outstanding job across the board (customer service, price, food, etc.) that I am constantly thinking about going back. Located on the constantly busy (#2) 30th Ave, one wouldn't notice this place as being any different from any other bagel shop. There's hardly any seating but a steady stream of customers all throughout the day. The NSFW signage (#3) keeps the place fresh and interesting, if not extremely memorable. The first thing that is offered (and often complimentary) is their fried rice balls, dubbed "Ben's Balls" that are mixed with seasoned rice, kimchi, topped with a gochujang mayo that would wake up any sleepyhead. Each bite had a nice crunch, but the lingering effect of the kimchi makes it addicting. It is the ultimate complementary snack, a desired, potluck item, and frankly genius. This is not something I would ever consider getting out a bagel shop, but having had them I would gladly buy them by the dozens. Most folks are here for the Seoul Meets Bagel (SMB) and rightfully so: it's layered with chopped bulgogi meat, cheese, egg, kimchi, topped with gochujang mayo and is packed with flavor. While the dank ass pork sandwich is a crude name, but it's not hard to see why it's one of their best sellers. Their regular bagels are also excellent. Folks who are expecting a large variety of cream cheese may find it disappointing that there's only a handful in the display, but they do have lox, bacon scallion, tofu cream cheese, and some flavored cream cheese. For what it's worth, my toasted everything bagel with lox was fabulous. It was pillowy soft, nicely toasted, and extremely filling. Offering Korean savory bagels wouldn't be complete without actual Korean fare, which is also a part of their larger than expected menu. It includes items such as Korean fried chicken, kimbap, pajeon (various), bibimbap, kalbi, ramyum, and mandoo. This is in addition to the burgers, breakfast platters and sandwiches, and a number of pastries. The staff is mostly Spanish and English speaking, in addition to the owner Ben who brings Korean to the table. Prices are very reasonable for Astoria and I'm hoping they continue to stay that way. This spot is the ultimate neighborhood spot and I'm insanely jealous of all the residents in the area that get to enjoy this on the regular. ___________ (#1) Why mess with something that doesn't need changing? Oh, because palate + innovation. (#2) And incredibly gentrified. (#3) One sign reads: "My happy place is when I tell people to .... FU, KMA, MF, STFU, SOB, SMD." Oh how New York.

Scott S.

On a day of exploration we started in Astoria. Went to Between the Bagel for the first time to try the Bulgogi egg and cheese sandwich. While we waited we were treated to a Korean rice ball with bulgoggi inside called "Ben's Balls". Fantastic starter with gochujang sauce. We split the bagel as it was massive. So good but very messy. Never had bulgoggi on a bagel before but this was something I want more of. Tiny spot. Found street parking. No bathroom so if you need one Paris Baguette across the street but you have to buy something to get the code. Definitely returning here to eat this again.

Ro Z.

The owner Ben is the funniest and friendliest cafe owner I've ever met!!! He is really what brings the place to life and keeps people coming. The Korean and American breakfast fusion foods are so unique and delicious. He also has A LOT of vegetarian options which is a relief for people like me :). The veggie Seoul meets bagel sandwich is a must try!!! Also Ben's Balls (yes that's what it's called) is incredible. He will usually have complimentary banana pudding for everyone at the front counter and he'll give you a treat to snack on while you wait. 1000000/10. Despite all the change and gentrification that is happening to Astoria, he is keeping it grounded and it's a breath of fresh air. MUST TRY!!! YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

Elizabeth S.

This place has great bagels (the Seoul Meets Bagel and Dank Ass Pork), great balls, and great vibes. The owner is always here when I go, and he's very fun. The stand out for me is the kimchi rice balls (aka Ben's Balls) that you get with your bagel. Ben also commonly brings out free food as an added bonus (if you get lucky) - brown sugar cinnamon cake, bagel chips, banana pudding. Pro tip: I usually bring a water bottle here since they don't offer water unless you get a bottle.

JT T.

Had to try out the Seoul Meets Bagel which consists of beef bulgolgi, egg, cheese, kimchi, and gochujang mayo on a bagel! It's a massive bagel with a ton of flavor from the bulgolgi and definitely more of a meal than it is just an early breakfast sandwich. While I did enjoy it very much, I will say the flavor from the bulgolgi over powers all the other elements of the sandwich. Everything else got drowned out from the beef. Still enjoyed it, and will definitely grab another one if I'm in the area!

Felipe W.

The first thing I want to point out is the wrapping - it was beautifully wrapped and made the bagel nice and cozy. Second thing I want to point out is the portion - the portion of egg, meat and cheese to the bread is perfect. I loved the amount in between the bagels (lives up to the name, heh). My friend calls it a burger but I call it a great bagel. The bulgogi egg cheese burger was fantastic, and so were the kimchi rice balls - all the flavor is amazing and I want to come back for sure. Amazing and kind service, you can feel the love even when you order take-out.

Brett N.

Why 5 stars? Because this was my first meal of my trip and arguably my favorite. --- --- --- I told my friend and former Yelp Queens Community Manager to take the wheel and I didn't ask any questions. I was visiting NYC for 3 days and was going to spend most of that time in Queens. So he proceeded to send me a collection of 63 of his favorite Queens eateries. I ended up eating at about 7 of them, which might seem like a terrible ratio, but to be honest, I'm pretty proud of that number. It all started with Between the Bagel - my first stop after stepping out of LGA. And it's hard to I definitively had a better meal in the next three days than the Seoul Meets Bagel aka SMB. It was near perfect. An everything bagel with bulgogi beef, egg and cheese? Each bite made me wonder why this isn't a thing at more places. And the owner was so funny. When we told him I came all the way from Houston to eat here, he could not have been less impressed, and quickly pointed out that someone once requested a delivery from Alaska. And that there are Between the Bagel stickers all over the world, including at the Eiffel Tower. So I guess I barely crack the top 200 this month in terms of effort to visit, but that's okay. I still win because I got the chance to devour this thing just like that guy in Alaska who thinks he's so cool. We also got to sample Ben's Big Balls and anytime I can have another man's big balls in my mouth, it makes for a great Wednesday. Stop one of many: great success.

Andrew M.

Our first time here and we are already looking forward to going back! This place is such a gem and I can't recommend this place enough! Staff was super nice and service was fairly quick (especially given the number of patrons they had). We took our sandwich to go but there are a few tables available if you wanted to dine in. The place was cozy and didnt feel crammed even though there were many customers. We ordered a Seoul Meets Bagel which was a unique twist to a bagel. This sandwich was HUGE!!! We were pleasantly surprised with how much bulgogi there was and especially given the price. This sandwich was delicious and so worth it! We even got a complimentary Bens Rice Ball which was also delicious.

Dee D.

We stopped by this bagel spot for the first time, and it did not disappoint. The bagels were fresh, tasty, and truly New York style, exactly what we were hoping for. Ben has a ton of character and definitely makes the visit memorable; he really adds to the whole experience. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese, and it was solid. We ended up taking two dozen bagels back home to Maryland. We had preordered ahead for pickup, which was super convenient, but we wish we had known they make bialeys too, because we would have definitely added those to our order. They also have some Korean treats on the menu if that's your thing, which adds a fun and unexpected twist. Overall, great bagels, great energy, and absolutely worth the stop.

Simon W.

Ben's awesome! The bagel combinations with a Korean influence are the best. Bulgogi on a bagel? Let's go! These bagel sandwiches are on steroids. When I finish one of these I'm always in a food coma for the rest of the morning. Every time I've been here I've been given a complimentary Ben's balls with is a Korean arancini. I've only ever seen that here. These balls are good enough to get on their own, I've visited other times just to get them. The owner is both NYC friendly and fast which is the best thing because there are a ton of orders to cycle through, Ben and his guys do move fast.

Bailey R.

Delicious bagels served with personality in this local, eclectic bagel shop! The first thing I noticed when we walked in was the sassy decor hanging everywhere! Signs such as "No stupid people beyond this point" and "bee kind or STFU". This not only gave me a good laugh, but told me that this place has character! Something I appreciate about local businesses. Ordering is a bit chaotic because they don't have a clear "order here" line. Instead, you approach the counter, place your order (which is hand written on a note pad), then step back and wait for your order to be ready. Once it's ready, THEN you pay. Despite their more old-school approach, they accept credit cards! Now to the good part - their delicious bagels!! My husband and I both ordered an Everything Bagel with egg and cheese and we were both impressed! Not only was it flavorful, but the seasoning STAYED on the bagel throughout each bite. I've had everything bagels from other establishments that make a mess because the seeds and seasonings fall off as you eat it. This is NOT an issue here - woohoo! The only downside was that I felt it didn't have enough cheese. I came back for another round today (just 4 days after my first experience) and had them add extra cheese this time. Now THIS was the perfect bagel sandwich I needed for a midweek pick-me-up! Thankfully we live walking distance from here because we will definitely be returning regularly!