The first time I ordered during Covid I was not prepared for ordering ahead and ended up waiting outside for at least 10 min. Luckily it was summer then. This time I was more prepared and ordered before leaving work! Less wait time and they made the pick-up process easy. All the orders are set up on tables organized by last name. You come in, grab your bag, and exit through another door. I went with the Eggosaurus and it was so good! I love their roast beef options. I had to wait until I got home to eat it but it was worth it and still hot despite hopping on and off the train and walking in the cold. Til next time, CBA! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Part of the Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I stopped by every morning for breakfast when visiting family in Chicago. I had their Country Breakfast on a Bialy and it was so freaking good. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great service with that local, feel-good atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I would highly recommend! read more

First time trying this bagel place. Had the Huevos rancheros and it was delicious! Cant wait to try their other flavors. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Huevos Rancheros - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have worked in the hospitality for over 20 years and it wasn't a bagel place. I walked in today and yes it was busy, but because the bagels are good I was willing to miss my train that came in 9 minutes. The next train was coming in 20 minutes, I'm like ok a bagel under 20 minutes. Well when they where going to give it to me, they messed up the order, and I missed my train. Had to call and say I was going to be late because the people at Chicagos bagel's authority can't make a bagel right. And then I was waiting for them to remake my order and I missed another train!! Like as working in a fine dining restaurant setting all my life, if you mess up an order, you stop halt the kitchen and do the error ticket on the FLY AKA YOU DO IT FIRST. There was literally like 15 orders passed out before I had to go to the guy and say I can't miss this train coming in 11 minutes. 3 minutes later I got my bagel, and I made the train!. The fact of the matter is that who ever you hire is either working high,hungover, is just not ready for a fast paste establishment like this one. I'm very patient and respectful. I got my bagel and left and I enjoyed it. Have a meeting with the staff , see what you are doing wrong and try to do a better job next time I walk in I don't want to wait for a " GARLIC BAGEL WITH CREAM CHEESE,BACON AND AN EGG PATTY WITH A FANTA TO DRIN" For over 40 minutes!!! Unexceptionable!!!! McDonald's is always pack in front of Lane tech high school and they can deliver a bagel faster then your establishment. The staff was nice and all it was just the flow of your order makers. You all be bless and have an amazing Sunday read more

After recently having my first (and second!) New York City bagels, I wanted to revisit Chicago Bagel Authority to compare. I'll start out by saying they're both very different. I appreciate the "steamwich" style of CBA and that they have vegan options. That's where my two stars come from. Where my stars go away is that my order was forgotten and my 25 minute wait turned into 50 minutes--with dozens of people who I watched come in and order after me--getting their food sooner. (Minus one star) It was underwhelming waiting almost an hour for a bagel sandwich that was half the size of and half as loaded as my NY bagels but the same price/more. (Minus another star) I got the Weir's The Beef (vegan bagel sandwich). It is supposed to be a poppy seed bagel with vegan cream cheese, mushrooms, green peppers, onions, jalapeños, arugula, mustard, and hot sauce. My sandwich had maybe four total slivers of mushrooms, no jalapeños, and no onions, and the cream cheese was loaded in one little pocket. (Minus the third star) I wanted to say something but I also didn't want to wait another hour for them to maybe remake my sandwich. There's a lot of promise to CBA but they've been here so long I'm not sure why the place still operates so messy. I won't be rushing back here anytime soon. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Veggie Steamwich menu with clearly labeled vegan options. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Steamed bagels aren't exactly an idea I can get behind. The moist, rubbery, chewy texture wasn't satisfying at all. I did like the the variety of the menu and the ingredients were good. They have vegan options! read more

CBA offers a HUGE assortment of sandwiches served on bagels. I usually avoid bagel sandwiches because they are a bit tough, but CBA steams them, which makes the bagel perfect for a sandwich. There's a large seating area in a separate room that has a great chill vibe. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Exterior - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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PSA: ORDER AHEAD. We placed our order before we even left the house (around ~40 minutes before we arrived to the shop), and I'm so glad we did! The wait would have otherwise been 40 minutes or more. The Belmont had been hyped up to me, so that's what I ordered. The nice thing of ordering online is you can easily modify your order. Although you cannot remove ingredients, you can add and choose your preferred bagel flavor. I am a fan of sweet and savory, so I opted for a cinnamon raisin bagel. It was SO decadent, so steamy and flavorful, the perfect antidote to the rainy day we were having in Chicago. Who said the only good bagels are in NYC? read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - The Belmont on everything bagel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yessssssss. Long wait on weekends, I recommend putting in your order beforehand. SO MANY OPTIONS, I was a little overwhelmed lol. They have vegan options, in case you're into that. I will be back. This is now my go-to bagel sandwich spot. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - a view of the ocean - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wow! The lox sneer is some of the best I've ever had! Can tell it's homemade. Also very fun that the bagels were green for St.Patrick's Day. Bagels are SO fresh! The chicken chili was also wonderful and perfect spice. I would suggest ordering ahead as this place gets crowded. read more

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Glad you are so close to me CBA, cause you are perfect for when I am hurting after a night of turning up and need some greasy food in my system. They have such a wide variety of bagel sammies here that there's basically a flavor for everyone here. I don't think I've personally ever been inside this place, but when we are lazy we either have someone deliver it, or someone else has picked it up for me. I think I just haven't found the right bagel yet because although they've all been fairly tasty, I'm waiting for the one to blow my mind. I could spend years trying to find my favorite one since I order from this place maybe every 4 or 5 months, and their menu is so expansive lol. Solid bagel sandwich shop. give this place a try for sure! read more

In town visiting family and they were super excited to take me for bagels. I like bagels, can say I love bagels and lox, but had just had some recently and honestly wasn't that excited about the trip. Upon arrival, I liked the vibe of the decor. I was directed toward the corned beef as a favorite, and went with a pretty classic Reuben recipe from my favorite LA deli. When the sandwich arrived I understood the magic of CBA. It was piping hot - too hot to hold. The steaming process shrinks and binds the sandwich to perfection. That's the magic. I'd go back in a second and I'd eat any sandwich on the menu. I can't wait to try more of them. read more

Truly cannot go wrong with any item on the menu. The staff is always friendly and great at recommending new items to try out. Only reason my review is a 4/5 is on weekends you basically have to order ahead of time and fairly early. I had a couple occasions where my order took around 30 minutes for one sandwich. Now that i know i plan ahead and haven't experienced anything negative since. read more

Wow! If you want your taste buds to sing! Go here for a timeless breakfast! A bacon, egg and cheese bagel! It comes on a egg bagel! And I asked for scrambled eggs not the hard boiled ones. The ambiance is laid back and there's plenty of street parking. Also, the staff was very kind! read more

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Although I'm not the biggest breakfast guy, I know an amazing breakfast sandwich when I eat it and that's exactly what the Chicago Bagel Authority served me on Monday. I stopped in on Monday with a friend for a quick bite and immediately fell in love with the place. They offer so many different types of breakfast sandwiches that it's almost a tad overwhelming to try and pick just one. Although it was a difficult choice, I ended up ordering "The Puck" which had scrambled egg, American cheese, and Canadian bacon making it the perfect breakfast sandwich. It took a few minutes to come out but it was worth every second. This sandwich was so, so, so, so good that it almost guaranteed that I would have to come back in the future to try something else. The staff was super cool, the restaurant itself was massive, well decorated, and full of cool rings, and the food was absolutely delicious. If you need a place to grab a quick breakfast in Lincoln Park, look no further then this place! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Yummy Puck. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really sloppily made sandwiches, quality has gone downhill in my opinion. Service was friendly though!

Best damn breakfast sammiches in the city. I really like how they steam them, it adds a unique touch. Staff is always friendly and their COVID protocols are top notch. Never had a bad sandwich. And pro tip: if you have a hangover, call CBA to the rescue. read more

My sandwich was amazing. They offered gluten free bread and plenty of veggie/vegan options (including vegan cream cheese) I got the Weir's the Beef and it was spicy & so good! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The atmosphere is very trendy and this place is definitely popular with waits that can go 25+ mins. The bagels were fresh and I loved the combos they had to offer. If you love a bagel sandwich this place is definitely worth it. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My daughter was at Illinois Masonic, was looking for a breakfast bagel place, tried out CBA. Great menu, lots of breakfast and dinner options. Chose the huevos rancheros breakfast bagel. The bagels are steamed, but that was fine, actually made them moist. It is not cheap, with coffee was about 15 bucks, however they pile on the ham and the bagels are great. I thought it was great I would come back. read more

You cannot order off this site or place an order over the phone - you have to go through their website. Knowing that ahead of time, would have saved us some frustration. I ordered Marsha's Salad and was impressed with the freshness and quality of the salad and veggies - my only suggestion would be for extra dressing (this said by someone who uses very little dressing on salads). Hubby had the Ben's Best sandwich and though the ingredients were fresh and it had a good flavor, the bagel was so soggy, it couldn't be eaten. Seems like there should be a better way to package a sandwich for pickup that maintains the sandwich's integrity. Keep in mind, we picked it up on time and were eating it within 5 minutes, so that doesn't seem to be the problem. read more

Gutterpunk vibe, wholesome staff, outrageously delicious sloppy bagel sammies for anyone and everyone under the sun. Had the Eternal Sunshine sans bacon and the only thing it was missing was nothing. read more

I've been here multiple times and Chicago Bagel Authority is my go-to crowd pleaser for breakfast. The employees here are lively from the time you step foot into the place. Service is very good and your food is prepared quickly (even when they're busy). Another pro is they have an extensive menu! Last time I visited I was pleased because even my vegetarian friend was able to find something she liked. I love the Super Deluxe because of how filling it is, but then again I haven't been with someone who hasn't liked their order. Adding cream cheese to this makes it even better! CBA is the best bagel shop in the area! We really missed them while they were closed! Happy to see they're open again :) read more

Had the Belmont and the super deluxe one weekend. And after the first bite, we decided this will be our place next weekend as well

CBA is overwhelming! They have a million and two sandwich options scribbled along a huge chalkboard on the wall. There is certainly something to please anyone's taste buds! I ordered the Clayboy, which came with turkey, muenster, honey mustard, avocado, sprouts and tomatoes. For $8 in the heart of Lakeview, it's pretty cheap, and the toppings were all DELICIOUS! With a little bit of steaming however, I felt like the bagel came out chewy, almost like raw dough. Even though I know it wasn't raw, I didn't like that feeling, and it made the sammie a big fat mess. Service was a little slow, and it seemed like you order, then move down the line to pay, and finally go back to the first place to grab your sammie? I'm really not sure because it was slightly disorganized. I'll definitely give them a second try and update accordingly! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - The Clayboy. Even though it doesn't look like a 5 star sandwich, it is tastier than it looks. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Visited from San Diego with my boyfriend and our friends took us here. The breakfast sandwiches are so yummy! I would pass on the regular cream cheese bagels though. Coffee was good too. read more

It was the best bagel sandwich I have had!! I order the honey badger it was 10/10. I loved the kick the jalapeño added!! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Honey Badger - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Haven't been here in years, but it was just a good as I remember. I ordered online and did curbside pickup. You get an alert when your order is ready, then you call them and they bring the order to your car. Very convenient! I orders the lox spread bagel sandwich with an egg everything bagel. It was nice and warm and the spread smooth, creamy, and delicious. They have so many options to choose and create your own, you will never run out of different options. Can't wait to return when I get bagel cravings again. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Lox Spread Bagel Sandwich Breakfast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Bagel sandwiches are solid, but the pickup system is so flawed. Service was slow and you have to wait in a long line even if your food is ready. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Disappointed because I like the vibes here a lot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

easily the best turkey bagel sandwich I've had by far, wait time was long but very worth it! read more

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Been coming here for many yrs a few weeks ago I spent 33.00 on bagels and rice krispy treats. The cinnamon raison bagels( I bought 6) were as hard as a rock completely stale and inedible . I called the store they offered nothing. I threw them out immediately. I thought I would give them one more chance to do the right thing so I told them in person. It's obvious that they put profit and poor quality product before their customers which is kinda shocking. read more

Came in 30 min before closing one day (I know...not the best time to eat a bagel), really great service!

I knew these were steamed bagels going in, and this experience taught me that I'm not a fan of steamed bagels, at least not as steamed sandwiches. Way too gummy for me taste. I had a breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel. The bagel had flavor, but nothing else about the sandwich did. I also took two bagels home. At home I sliced and toasted them, and enjoyed them with cream cheese. If I come back, it will be for bagels to take home and toast, not for sandwiches. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wasn't a fan of the sausage and the wheat bagel was soggy. It was smothered in Gouda cheese. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Outside - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Experience: Chicago Bagel Authority is located within the prime area of Lakeview. The place has a cafe ambience with a huge selection of sandwiches! Note, that this place did tend to get crowded especially in the morning and lunch hours. With that said, take that into consideration when visiting. Chicago Bagel Authority is also in the center of great bars, restaurants, and businesses. So it's great to walk around and explore! Parking: Paid street parking is available around the area. Due to being Lakeview, parking may be difficult to find. Another suggestion would be taking public transportation, since the Belmont stop is right there! Worth: I honestly love this place. Sandwiches are amazing and the staff is super nice. I usually get the Dank and Eggs (As pictured below). The place also provides WiFi and I do see people with laptops, getting work done. Overall, definitely worth the visit especially for the food and the area it is in! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here on the Sunday morning after Halloween weekend so I was prepared for a wait. With that being said, the line was quite long. With this being my first time here, I had no idea what to expect. I got in line behind a ton of other people behind some cash registers. Okay, cool. This makes sense. I wait about ten minutes and order my food. The woman behind the cash register asks if I'm ordering. Is this not ordering? I look confused and apparently you're supposed to go to another line and order your bagel before going to the cash register. Talk about a supply chain nightmare. The restaurant was confusing. There should be signs or something that tell you where to go. So know that before you go. After all of that confusion, the bagel was delicious! I got the Belmont- jalapeño, Gouda, chives cream cheese, sausage and egg. A delicious and spicy party in my mouth ensued. I would give it 5 stars if it weren't for the oddly set up place. I'd definitely recommend the food, though! read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came in to this place to get a bagel and decided to try their chicken chili. It was fantastic! It was Almost closing time and I would have taken something to go but I will definitely be back! read more

Overall: The CBA stop at Belmont is a staple for any lover of bagels and any combination of ingredients between them. The good: Not many places in Chi offer bagels, and CBA delivers the steamy, ooey, gooey, cheesy goodness. The sandwiches are hearty, hot, and delicious, and there are seemingly a hundred different combos to choose from. Service is friendly and perky, and the Belmont stop has a good bit of character to it (and space). The not-so-good: The long lines at Belmont can be ATROCIOUS. Also, the making of the sandwiches takes an unfortunately longer time than I would think it should. Atmosphere: 9/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 9/10 read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - The clayboy - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I haven't visited CBA since COVID practices have been implemented, but they have a great set up! I ordered online through their website to come in and pick it up. I received a text when it was ready and when you walk in, they have orders organized by last name. I highly recommend ordering and it's just as good as eating it there! I always get the urban gardener and it was delicious and warm. read more

Chicago Bagel Authority - Urban Gardener Sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ordered for brunch and they were dropped of fast! Delivery was smooth and immediate. Thanks