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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!
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
4 months ago
2 months ago
I found between the bagel from TikTok and I loved that it combined breakfast items with Korean influence. I got the SMB (Seoul meets bagel) which has bulgogi, egg, cheese, gochujang mayo, and kimchi. SMB was delicious! I wish there was a spot to ash my hands after as it was kind of messy. I also was given Ben's balls and those were pretty good as well. Will definitely come back. I also liked how every order had a sour strip candy. Service was busy! I think I waited about 20 minutes but definitely noticed that ordering ahead is the way to go. read more
3 years ago
People say that "New York bagels are the best in the world" and I've always been a skeptic...until today. Those looking for a quick and filling sandwich, stop by this place and order the SMB. Since I don't eat meat, I can only comment on the reactions of the rest of our party after eating this sandwich. Everyone absolutely loved it, and kept saying how unique, tasty, and large it was. They would 100% order this every time. I ordered the egg and cheese bagel sandwich because I don't eat meat. While the egg and cheese didn't seem as unique as the SMB, the everything bagel itself was so dang good! It has the perfect crisp on the outside and was still so soft and dense on the inside. The flavor of the everything bagel was so good that I regret not just ordering the bagel by itself. Yes, the service is just as good, funny, and fast as everyone says it is. So, are New York's bagels all this delicious, or is it only Between the Bagel's bagels? I don't think I'd keep searching...I think I found the right place already. read more
Business owner information
Ben S.
We do make a veggie version of the SMB ;)
My sisters picked up food from here on a Friday morning. One of them was able to talk to the owner who apparently opened the restaurant right before COVID! To still be operating is extremely impressive and they should be really proud! Because of the hardship though, their initial plan to completely renovate the interior of the restaurant wasn't able to be done. I personally didn't get to see the inside, but the food alone made me think this deserved 5 stars! We got the SMB (kimchi, bulgogi, and egg on an everything bagel) with kimchi arancini balls. The bagel was completely loaded up! There was a hearty amount of each ingredient and the flavors were so unique but definitely worked well together for a delicious breakfast. The bulgogi and egg were soft and tender while the kimchi added some punch and crunch! The kimchi arancini balls blew my mind. I was curious to see how much kimchi was inside and to my surprise, not that much. I think it worked well though or else it might've come out too pungent and soggy. They were very very crispy and I loved the spicy creamy sauce they put on top! Would love to check out their other options sometime! read more
2 years ago
The SMB that I got was absolutely incredible. Egg, cheese, Bulgogi, and kimchi which made for the perfect bagel sandwich. The bagel itself was toasted nicely and it was massive for $10. One of the best bagel sandwiches I have ever had! They gave you a free rice ball when you order the SMB (Seoul Meets Bagel). You can go in here and order any type of bagel and it's also a Korean deli with a bunch of Korean dishes you can order! read more
10 months ago
Swung by here again on a Saturday for a Veggie Meets Seoul bagel and it was still great! There was a steady line of people ordering but orders were taken and prepared efficiently! Definitely a great spot to grab a bagel at! read more
2 years ago
Stopped by between the Bagel, and ordered the SMB and a bacon egg and cheese on a plain bagel. Between the bagel is a no frills shop, what they are missing in appearances they more than make up for it in customer service and quality of the food. Customer service is 5/5 the staff was kind, patient and communicated effectively. Food was 5/5 The SMB is delicious, the meat is cooked perfectly, everything is well seasoned and balanced with the kimchi. I highly recommend this sandwich. I will definitely be back to between the bagel. I know there are a lot of bagel shops in Astoria, this one is a must try in my opinion read more
10 months ago
TDLR- decent sandwich, owner makes the experience fun. Don't get a basic bagel+spread Getting this out of the way- if you are expecting a more tradition ny, Jewish bagel place you're going to be both disappointed and also missing out. The bagels are decent, but getting a spread and not one of the four specialty dishes on the board definitely lessens the experience. As of writing this review, Between the Bagel has a nearly-unanimous 5 star review from 139 reviewers. And yeah, i can see why. Ben, the owner and front of house, is incredibly charismatic through the whole experience. If you eat in, he'll shout from behind the counter, checking up on how great the food is (which you'll reply "its amazing" through mouthfuls of bulgogi). I had some fun surprises from Ben along the way which was nice too! Overall it was a fun and engaging experience with good food to boot. The interior is a basic diner setup, but Ben really does make it worth at least a try. I got the Seoul Meets Bagel (SMB), Ben's Ball, and a drink for $20, which may seem like a lot until it hits that halfway through the SMB I'm good until a late dinner. read more
2 years ago
One thing I love about being in Queens is that it's so diverse and you have so many options! This place was amazing. Amazing service, staff was extremely friendly and the vibes were vibing! The bagels were very flavorful but what I loved most was the Seoul meets bagel, eggs, cheese, bulgogi beef and kimchi! You just need try it! Get the Ben's Balls too! Deep fried rice balls with kimchi topped with spicy mayo ! Amazing and I hate mayo! Anyways the food is A1 but the experience of everything made it 100 times better! Definitely can't wait to come back ! read more
1 year ago
I love Between the Bagel! This is such a cool concept! They do Korean-inspired breakfast sandwiches and other Korean dishes. The vibes are so homey too and the owner Ben (I'm pretty sure) is so genuine and authentic. He is also hilarious and treats people like family. His card machine was down and he told me and friends to pay later and just asked us not to leave LOL! For our food, we got the Seoul Meets Bagel or SMB (bulgogi, kimchi, cheese) on an Everything bagel and the Dank Ass Pork Sandwich (LOL) (stir fried pork) on the Jalapeño Cheese bagel. They were both so delicious and had a tonnnn of meat! In both the bagels, the bulgogi and the pork were literally spilling out of the bagel. The bagel itself wasn't the best quality though and I wished it was more fluffy. Overall I liked the pork better 8/10 but the bulgogi was good too 7.5/10. I loved that the SMB had kimchi layered on one of the bagels mmmmm. They also gave us a service (free!) of Ben's Balls HAHA, which are fried balls of kimchi fried rice with an aoli sauce. It was so good. The sauce held it together perfectly 8/10. Let me just add, the names of the dishes are so creative and made me want to get them more! That's smart marketing for real. I would 10000% go back again but next time, I'm going to make sure I'm hungrier so I can eat more. Thank you so much!! This place deserves all the praise and the business. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Truly live up to the glowing review. Staffs were really friendly, making recommendation on bagel option to go with the filling, and give out Ben's Ball randomly for customers to try. They genuinely look happy to be there. Opted for the famous Seoul Meets Bagel and although its ~$11, it is a good value and fill with flavorful marinated beef. A good spot in the neighborhood! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Everything I've had here so far is incredible, top 5 NYC bagel spot for me. SMB is just as good as everyone says highly recommend. Gets very crowded after 11am go as early as you can. read more
4 years ago
I saw June and had to come here in-person. I am child at heart and nothing was going to stop me from possibly getting free candy!!! Food: 5/5 You know I got the SMB (w/o cheese *lactose intolerant*) but I still ate the complimentary fried kimchi rice ball with gochujang mayo (w/ a lactose supplement). Even without the cheese, it was delectable!! Salty and acidic from the kimichi, sweet and fatty from the Bulgogi, and crunchy from toasted everything bagel. I even saved half for my partner and he loved it. Definitely coming back. Vibe: 5/5 The owner made me regret moving away from Queens. He is funny, remembers the locals, and was very considerate of my dietary restrictions. He asked what brought me and he knew it was because of June. All in all, definitely worth the stop even for a regular bagel or kimbap!! read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
I heard about Between the Bagel through various TikTokers so I made the trip out to Astoria to try them out. I ordered the Seoul Meets Bagel or the SMB ($10.83) which was one of their specialty sandwiches. The SMB is a riff of the classic BEC breakfast sandwich, except the B is a mountain of bulgogi beef, and the sandwich comes with gochujang mayo and kimchi. I thought the kimchi was too salty and made the bagel a little soggy, despite me eating it immediately at the shop. Because the kimchi was sautéed, it lost a lot of the spice and fermented tang that I love so much about kimchi. I think it would be better if they combined the eggs and kimchi together to minimize excess moisture and preserving that unique kimchi flavor. There is also the Dank Ass Pork Sandwich or the DAPS that is a spicy pork sandwich with grilled jalapeños, onions, mozzarella and a kimchi slaw and scallions that I may return to try. I also ordered a Ben's Ball ($2.50 each), which ended up being on the house. I love arancini, and this felt like a great example of Korean-Italian fusion, with the kimchi fried rice and bulgogi bits enveloped in a perfect crispy panko crust on the outside. The gochujang mayo added some extra spice and creaminess too. Their asiago bagel with lox spread ($6) was on the chewier side. The crust is on the thinner side and the dough is fairly springy. The lox spread had a good consistency and flavor as well. Overall, a decent bagel and schmear but I think the specialty sandwiches are where Between the Bagel's strengths lie. Personally, I think the food merits 4 stars (perfectly respectable) but the service makes it 5 stars. The owner, Ben, was on top of everything and even though it was a very hectic morning rush and the wait was a little long because everything was made to order on a tiny griddle in the back, he made sure everyone got their breakfast and made polite conversation with regulars and newcomers alike. PS- They accept card + Venmo/Zelle but there is a cash discount. read more
4 years ago
Delicious! The three of us ordered SMBs and loved them. The iced coffee was also really good. We also got some free spicy rice balls - not sure what they're called but they were really good Ordered from here for pickup and our food was ready on time and packaged well too. Totally recommend. read more
2 years ago
Phenomenal bagels!! SMB was so delicious, the bagel was soft and the bulgogi with mayo and egg were a combination unlike any other. Ordered to go and it travelled well and half the bagel was more than enough, saved the other half for later and it was still good. Definitely my go to for bagels in Astoria. read more
1 year ago
One of very few reliable top-quality bagel places in the neighborhood. Bagels themselves are pretty good. Eggs always cooked well and great Korean flavors if you try those options. read more
Pleasantly surprised by an unassuming bagel shop that turns out to have the dankest spicy pork breakfast bagel, appropriately named DAPS, which stands for Dank A$$ Pork Sandwich. The owner was at the register, and he gave me his famous Ben's Balls, which is a kimchi fried rice arancini. Clever spin on traditional Korean comfort foods into a very New York City breakfast staple. Definitely worth visiting! read more
Was craving a bagel with cream cheese so I obviously turned to Yelp. I came across Between the Bagel and their Korean fusion bagels caught my eye. I decided to order the SMB on an everything bagel because how can you go wrong with kimchi, bulgogi and egg?? When I got there, my sandwich was already ready which I was pleasantly surprised about (I hate waiting) and it came with a sour power! The owner, I believe was Ben, even gave me a complimentary rice ball. I loved this so so much and would definitely be back for it. The bagel was delicious as well and packed with flavor. The bread, however, was a little soggy after taking it back, which was to be expected. Anyway, I would come back and have already recommended it to my friends! ** Note: They only accept cash or venmo! read more
2 years ago
Absolutely worth the hype and conveniently located right next to the train! Ben (the owner) is hilarious and you could tell every customer that comes in LOVES this place. Definitely an Astoria must-try. read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
Always a line out the door but I can see why. I'm not a huge bagel person but I have to say I will definitely come back for this! I ordered the Seoul Meets Bagel and it had bulgogi egg and cheese with a delicious sauce. It was the perfect Asian fusion food. Also it was huge so it was enough to share with two. read more
3 years ago
First off the bagel is amazing, SMB is the go to bagel. Owner was also very nice, great combination of Korean flavor and NYC bagels read more
3 years ago
The bagels are made on premises and are delicious, prices are affordable and good portions.The staff is friendly and funny, as Ben is a great host. The place is nicely decorated for the holidays Try the famous Ben's Balls or SMB ! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
The food is wonderful and the service is great. The Seoul meets bagel is a must try. The ambiance is comforting. read more
Located half a block from 30th St station in Astoria, Between the Bagel's a reliable and convenient stop for your bagel fix! You can buy bagels by the half or dozen too. Good energy all around: Ben's friendly and the place seems to get alot of regulars! No credit cards accepted but they take Cash and Venmo. read more
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