Little bagel shop right by the train station. The people here are pretty friendly, and the atmosphere is very welcoming. I love when the menu is pretty large, but this place takes it to another lever. The menu literally takes up the entire wall. They have all sorts of warm, cold, sandwiches with all sorts of meats, spreads and fixings. Me being usually indecisive went with the "Chicago Fire" sandwich. It was pretty good. I'm not a bagel guy but, for people who are, and take the L on a regular basis this could be a great option. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Chicago Fire Sandwich - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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There is no where with better bagels! Love love love the oak pork BLT everything about that bagel sandwich is perfection! The Dirty Swede is good but you can reallllly taste the lentils, almost tastes grassy. Tried the rocket fuel cold brew for the first time, which was surprisingly good on its own without sweetener or creamer. It was definitely a good way to start my morning felt super energized read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Oak Park BLT Sandwich - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time here! I decided on the Denver bagel. I would say it's a 8/10. Curious to try other options. Definitely a spot to come to if you want something quick on the go. The portion is generous and can def. satisfy a hungry man! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Denver bagel - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Visiting Chicago for the first time and I think we found the sandwich bagel shop!!!! It was a cute little cafe near the train. It gave off a relaxed, easy-going vibe. They have a lot on the menu so it did get overwhelming but all looked delicious! I order the Clayboy (bomb!!!) and bae ordered the Ritz (great!) - spent about $17. Not a lot of seating in the front but they did have an outdoor patio. The place was poppin' though with people who seemed to be regulars. I would definitely come back again! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - The Clayboy - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had been wanting to try CBA for 2 years now but left a bit underwhelmed. 1) Covid safety precautions are great - you have to order online/no inside ordering. They are only letting people inside to pick up their orders. Everyone was wearing masks, keeping distance, wearing gloves. I felt very safe and comfortable. 2) It took about 20-30 minutes for our order to be ready. Not a problem, just keep this in mind. We were also ordering at peak time during Sunday brunch. 3) I was craving a normal bagel and cream cheese, so I didn't get any of their more elaborate menu offerings. That being said, I am dairy-free, so I did get tofutti cream cheese with my everything bagel. I do like that they have LOTS of vegan options (like vegan cream cheese, vegan cheese, lots of bagel "steamwiches" that are fully vegan, etc). 4) The bagel wasn't great. It was very chewy. I would much rather have a toasted bagel. This might be personal preference but I was very underwhelmed. Also, the bagel was small and they didn't put nearly enough cream cheese on it. There was only a small layer, and it didn't even cover the entire bagel. 5) My friend tried one of their vegan steamwiches (the "Sideways Vegan") and thought the same thing. The fillings were good, but the bagel was just too chewy/not toasted/mushy. I think just not our type of bagel, but I know that so many people love CBA. So just keep in mind that they are steamed and not for everyone. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - everything bagel with tofutti - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Menu chalkboards overtop the long counter. Interesting music. Old character deli with local charm. Below the counter, is an entire wall of assorted chips. Looks like there's a back patio too. When I check out, the cashier asks me which sandwich I ordered, so no ticket system I guess. What about in a busy day? Staff is friendly enough, but this is def a very lax joint. One nice touch, they do greet people they know by name. :). A CTA worker and a little old lady walk-in and I can tell they're regulars. My "Dirty Swede" is an overstuffed steamed onion bagel (a small bagel (like the basic sized ones in the freezer section) really, not toasted :/ ), and the gumminess of the untoasted bagel is getting stuck in my teeth. There is, however, an ample amount of turkey, thick sliced cheddar, don't see any Colby, and the sprouts (both which are listed on the menu to be on my bagelwich) are actually shredded lettuce pieces. Bacon is tasty but too salty and a bit fatty. I end up taking the middle of the sandwich out and eating it, as the bagel is now too sticky. read more

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i never knew a bagel could be this good. truly life changing and delicious. try itttt read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Green Goddess - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Extremely busy restaurant but definitely worth every minute of it. This bagel was freshly made and I could taste it. I love how they steam the bagels - it doesn't make it too tough. I love the flavor of the meat and how friendly they are with the suggestions. The bagel was filling and wasn't too expensive for me. I even enjoyed a bagel on the sweeter side - it was okay but I really enjoy my bagels with some mean and cream cheese in them. Definitely will come back if I'm in the Chicago area. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If you're looking for a traditional bagel, this is not your place. Bagels should be crispy (baked) not soft (steamed). Get them to go and toast them up the next day and they're delicious! Really good! They do have an extensive menu of sandwiches , I'll give them that. read more

Plain bagel with cream cheese was flavorless and not good. I asked for it to be toasted and instead it was a heated up mush. Music was also terrible and too loud. I won't be returning. read more

I have been going to Chicago Bagel Authority as a loyal customer for over 3 years now and has been one of my favorite go to spots for a breakfast sandwich or lunch. I normally have gone to the Belmont location (fantastic crew and on point), but twice in a row now I have had a bad experience with Armitage. They messed up both orders. The first time they apologized profusely and offered for me to come back in to replace the sandwich. I did at a later date, only to be told that I was wrong by a dude that I swear was high off his ass because I had to repeat everything about 5 times and he kept asking "what?" So I had to pay for my meal again. I get home and the sandwich order was wrong, yet again. This time, I just went to emailing their management in a detailed and kindly laid out email. I don't like to complain about wrong orders, but it's the principle of the matter - if I'm paying for something, I should get what I ordered - right? I had to email a couple times to get the first response and they claimed they refunded anything - though I can prove my credit card statements where the charge exists but no refunds. The managers reply? "Figured it's best to part ways." I followed up again kindly saying that that wasn't true. They ignored it until I followed up a couple more times only to be called a liar and a "good scammer." I sent receipts and even pictures of my sandwiches that were wrong, they haven't bothered responding so guess they really did part ways and broke up with me. I've never even complained once prior to coming to this store and when I prove valid complaint of wrong food, I get name called, accused, and received unprofessional responses. Long story short, if they mess up your meal and you kindly ask for resolution? Don't bother. They will assume you're scamming them and will just be rude to you. By far the worst customer experience I have ever had and I have been in customer service game for 17 years. How on earth are you going to lie saying you've refunded and then turn around and call the customer a liar and a "good scammer" and expect to stay in business? Love these sandwiches, but incredibly disappointed. read more

I LOVE the atmosphere! I love everybody here! Amazing service and help keep customers safe during this time. I want to try the Fire Walk With Me bagel next. It looks like it'll hit the spot. They are the MF best!! read more

Amazing bagels! Prepared steamed not toasted which keeps the bagel warm, soft and delicious. I tried the Sam's Sunrise bagel sandwich and added veggie cream cheese (+75 cents) which was 100% worth the up charge! The cream cheese is very rich/creamy and added nice dimension. The menu has a TON of options which is great but also a little overwhelming for a first timer. I'd suggest checking it out prior to going. There are no lines here. Instead you stand by the counter and order when a staff member acknowledges you. The staff is really nice/upbeat and get orders out very quickly. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend! read more

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These bagels are steamed, which means any Bagel Sandwiches will be WET. Not my taste.

My god this bagel was soo good!! I got the salmon lox bagel and it was much better than any I've had before. The salmon and capers were mixed into the cream cheese which made it much more tasty! read more

Never had a bagel sandwich this good! The combinations they have are crazy good. I ordered the vegetarian with an egg in a pretzel and it was out of this world! read more

Phenomenal bagel sandwiches. Only issue is the day we went here- they seemed to be giving the same sized cups for small and large iced coffee?? So would not ordered it there again. Sad :( got Starbucks next door afterwards instead read more

The bagels are great but if you order delivery it will take an hour and they will arrive sort of soggy. Im not mad about it but its a messy experience. read more

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So many good options, it's hard to choose! I love little shops that have an intimate, casual, diner type of feel that also have great food and friendly staff. Feel free to enjoy breakfast or lunch here. And best of all, it's inexpensive! You really get the value of a dollar at this location. I mean, who doesn't love bagels? Especially a good one!? If you're ever hungry and strolling down Armitage in Lincoln Park, this place is a perfect spot to stop and check out. read more

First off the menu options seem a little daunting. Spent a little time determining the toppings and didn't even really consider the different kind of bagels. So they have breakfast toppings and lunch toppings. Went with lunch toppings of turkey, honey mustard, lettuce and tomato. They have a good method of heating the bagel up so the bread is softer and warm but not too hot as the bagel won't become to toasted to enjoy. They have patio area which is pretty neat but took my bagel to go! read more

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Waited 15 minutes for a bagel sandwich and bagel with cream cheese. Got home and they forgot one of the bagels. Don't recommend.

Forgot items for delivery - didn't really try to resolve told me to deal with Uber when it was their fault

Words can't describe how delicious my bagel sandwich tasted. They need branch out into suburbs. Keep up great work.

Quite the wait but sooooo worth it. The options are endless!!!! Will definitely be coming back to try all the different flavors.

A bit of a wait since I came in during the breakfast rush on a Saturday. That being said, food was amazing and the steamed bagel idea works perfectly. The Belmont breakfast bagel is a go-to! read more

Great service. Yummy steamed bagels and English muffins, as called bialy. Loved the assorted choices for everything.. bagels, cheeses, cream cheeses, meats and steamwhiches. Only disappointment is that I wish they toasted them bagels too. They only steam. read more

The guys who work there are very nice and the location is great for people watching. Unfortunately, STEAMED BAGELS ARE GROSS. This is not about being a bagel purist -- I'm willing to eat a "bagel" that is essentially just bread that's bagel shaped, if I have to. But STEAMED BAGELS ARE GROSS. If you must eat here, ask them to toast your bagel, so it's not a ball of mush. read more

I went to this place after hearing so many great things about it. Also, I was yearning for a delicious bagel after having them in NYC. Let me tell you this first. The location is good, the staff was friendly. BUT bagels were terrible. If you are looking for a soggy, steamed bagels then this place is a must try. I like my bagels toasted and I asked them to toast it for me. You know what they said? They don't have a toaster?! Apparently, steaming them is their thing and I didn't know this. So, please don't go there if you are dreaming about a nice crispy and chewy bagel. You won't get it. read more

I would never recommend this place to anyone!!! I had Groupons to use today that I bought a year ago. SURPRISE! Get there and they decided to post signs in the window reading "We will not accept Groupons on weekends"!! I called later that day and the guy on the phone said they wouldn't because "we're too busy". I said "So we're just out of luck?" He stated "Yeah" Really? Way to get a gold star for customer service!! And you were quite busy at 8:15 a.m. with the two people sitting in there! Awesome business practice to sell Groupons and accept them on weekends in November and then before they expire you're going to decline them? I only paid $3 for an $8 Groupon but it's not about the money, it's about the principal. When we did use Groupons on a SATURDAY in November, the food was bland and overpriced. By the way, we were the only ones in there at about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. read more

About a 2-2.5: The Chicago Bagel Authority, also known as the 'CBA,' has been around in Chicago for quite some time. They offer breakfast, turkey, veggie, roast beef, corned beef, ham, bacon, chicken, tuna, meatball, and salami bagel sandwiches. The variety in terms of the selection is pretty extensive, so it might take you a while to decide on what you would like to try out. I tried their 'Hide the Salami,' which was a salami 'hidden' under bacon, pepperoni slices, banana peppers, provolone cheese, lettuce, and avocado, all drizzled with a parmesan peppercorn ranch on an onion bagel; the sandwich itself was just okay, but the ingredients could have been more fresh and the peppercorn ranch was a little overpowering. My sister had 'The Dirty Swede,' which were turkey slices, cream cheese, bacon, colby cheese, smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts, with mayo on an onion bagel; the sprouts were not too fresh, and the ingredients didn't seem to mesh well together. Both bagel sandwiches were definitely filled generously, but we found the bagel to be underwhelming - it was a little too chewy and more on the wet side, and these can definitely become quite soggy with the dressing and such, so quickly consuming them is highly recommended. There's counter seating and it's a little dark in the eatery, so keep that in mind. +underwhelming bagels +not-so-tasty combinations read more

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This place is Bananas!!! I had to. I will try to refrain from using more Rachel Zoe/Gwen Stefani talk talk. The absolute, hands down, BEST hangover food EVER! Well, not just hangover, but any day or night of the week food. It will ALWAYS be packed but luckily they have an area out back for when it's nice to sit outside. Before becoming a Veggie Terry my fave was the Oak Pork Bagel. I don't believe it's on the menu anymore but you can still order it and it involves double bacon, avocado, nummy cheese... just order it and bring a spare pair of pants for when you cream your first pair. Go there and love it, live it, lose your CBA virginity. And don't forget to get their delicious crispy treat bars with golden grahams cereal and other various marshmallow'y goodness. read more

The slowest bagel shop in existence. The workers could care less about your order. Avoid this place the bagels aren't even good.

Cool vibe- delicious sandwiches. A bit on the pricey side but you get your money's worth with the overstuffed high quality ingredients. Pssst- There is a reason they serve lots of napkins with most of the sandwiches... totally overstuffed with bagel goodness. Creative fun names give all the sandwiches a gotta-try feel. Unique combinations of awesome bagel goodness, but once you find one you love (which will likely be the very first one you try) it'll be tough to actually order anything else. Seriously, I think I've tried 3 and I never have the guts to order anything else because choosing between those three that i'm obsessed with is already tough enough. TIP: Check in on yelp for a freebie :-) During non-peak hours the place is quiet and casual offering free wifi and ample table seating through the narrow restaurant. Certain times of the day (or when a frequent large group of under-20-somethings piles on in) the smaller-ish space can feel a bit claustrophobic. I hear there is outdoor seating outback although I've never explored. TIP: One of the few places you can still get mouth-watering sprouts on your sandwich! Cooler with a variety of bottled beverages, hot coffee always available, and the entire place is lined with a row of help-yourself hot sauce choices (which is A+++++ in my book... everything is more awesome with hot sauce!) Convenient location right off Armitage and steps away from the L stop. TIP: Gluten free (really tasty) bagels are available for a slight up-charge. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - The "Greg-O" on a gluten free bagel...my new favorite! - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Yep, it was my first time. I have to admit I was a bit of a skeptic, but when I saw that ginormous menu with loads of steamed bagel sandwich goodness, I was sold on the idea. And then when my order showed up at my company lunch meeting, I was in shock that I hadn't experienced this place before! After a week of eating too much meat, I opted for the Greg-O veggie sandwich with cream cheese, smoked cheddar, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and sprouts. I was super hungry and was nervous this wouldn't curb my appetite, but I was completely stuffed for hours after the fact. It was so yummy that I'm sad I don't live closer, because I would be meeting Greg-O for a date tomorrow (shhh, don't tell my hubby). Soft, chewy and beyond messy, the flavor combination was exactly what I needed. Aside from the bagel I ordered, my colleague also ordered a bunch of cookies for us to sample for dessert. Ummm, excuse me, is that a bacon cookie? What the heck? The most interesting menu you'll discover with loads of veggie and meat options. I've passed by this place a million times over in a hurry and never thought to step inside. Four out of five stars for this review since I didn't have the full dining in experience. I will be back for sure, but the question remains...will I be back for Greg-O, Slick Willy, or Toby-Q? read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Greg-O veggie bagel - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been eating here for years. The one thing they have been consistent about is never, ever getting special instructions correct on delivery. If you're like me and have a serious allergy, that's very concerning. I make a very simple order, a Bob-E-Que with NO LETTUCE and a peanut allergy. At least 75% of the time the order comes with lettuce, and makes you think "hey they probably didn't take precautions for the peanuts did they?". Then they issue a refund. Just get it right the first time so we can both be happy and I don't have to wait over an hour just to throw your sandwiches in the trash. Workers clearly not paying attention to the order tickets. Seems like a simple fix but what do I know. I continue to order from time to time because the food is good and I hope that they'll get it right, but the management needs to start training their employees to read. read more

OK, I'm going to be really unpopular by saying this but I don't know what all the fuss is about. I've been here a few times and feel like the food is just eh and I'm someone who loves bagels. This visit I got the La Dolce and a rice krispie treat, my total came to just under $7, which seemed high for the treat and a bagel with just cheese, cream cheese, tomato and onion. Again it was decent, but not great. Service was friendly, but slow and it wasn't all that crowded either. Bottom line: This place seems to have a lot of devotees, but I'm not one of them. I'm sure I'll be back on occasion when, like today, I'm running late and need to grab something before hopping on the L. read more

I'm sitting here in the waiting room of my doctor's office for a check up regretting not grabbing a bite of something before making my way to the appointment. My stomach grumbles so loud the nurses down the hall are looking at me weird. Dreaming of what I can order the moment I leave here, I began to remember the deliciousness that is Chicago Bagel Authority. Of course, that's now miles away from me and I shed a single year knowing I can get anything close to the insane bagel sandwich I had back when I was in Chi-town. I had the Oak Pork BLT. Amazeballs - yes, I said it. This bagel sandwich was amazeballs. It was packed with goodies and oh so messy to eat. I did kinda feel like the little brother in Christmas Story scarfing down my food like a little piggy. Oink oink. The bagel is big, spread with chive cream cheese, more bacon that you know (super crispy), not just regular cheddar but smoked cheddar, lettuce, tomato, AND avocado. It was a challenge getting all that in one bite. My mouth is watering just remembering the melding of flavors. Oh how I wish I could enjoy you right meow. So if you're in Chicago, go! Go now! And order the Oak Pork BLT. No regrets. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Oak Pork BLT - yum! - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been coming to CBA for years now. I used to live in Chicago but now I'm in Milwaukee-however whenever I visit my parents back in Chicago, I crave CBA like no other. Maybe it's the nostalgia for me but I do really love their sandwiches. My go-to is the Clayboy, a popular choice, and sub the plain bagel with a poppy seed bagel. I always appreciated how stuffed the sandwiches are. They are messy to eat but that was always part of the fun for me. I'm back in town and felt like grabbing my old fave, but unfortunately it just wasn't really the same. I don't want to fault them too much, as COVID has made a lot of things difficult (especially restaurants), but the bagel was a bit too chewy/soggy for me this time. They are steamed bagels, so they're not meant to be crunchy but I'm used to them being more soft and pillowy rather than the chewy bagel I received today. I have to say the flavors of the sandwich were all still there and I was pleased with that--but I just wish the bagel itself were how I was used to it being. Besides that, I think CBA has been amazing with their COVID precautions. I ordered my sandwiches online, and they were ready within 20 minutes as promised. Everyone is required to wear a mask indoors and the orders were placed in bags for us to pick up ourselves. They even had an option on the online order form to have a worker come out of the store and bring your order to your car. It's things like that that show me that this is a good establishment to support. While disappointed today, I will never take CBA off my list of places to go when visiting my favorite city. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - The Clayboy Sandwich - Bagels Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I like going here for breakfast sandwiches sometimes. Just wish the sandwich was bigger

Soft, soft, mushy, mushy, wet, wet bagels. CBA, a bagel should be toasted and crisp. Crunch when you bite into it. These are sloppy and flavorless. Truly disappointing. It does not even hold up to the egg or the cream cheese. The bagel literally droops and the toppings slide off. I know they are "steamwiches" but come on. Let's up our game, please. read more