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    Emma's Bagel Cafe

    3.4 (180 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Emma's Bagel Cafe Photos

    EMMA'S BAGEL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Emma's Bagel Cafe

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    Missi R.

    Visiting from out of town, what a great discovery! We were just expecting a bagel shop but this place has an extensive menu. Besides bagels of all kinds the menu includes pancakes, waffles, omelettes, Mexican food, salads, sides, baked potatoes, pizzas, egg specialities, soups, fish, and so much more. Service is friendly and the dining room is clean, with large comfortable tables. The cookies and baked good are wonderful.

    Burnt chips

    I'm from NJ and this is the number one place I anticipate every time I visit Chicago. I've never had bad food or experience. However, today seemed like a major miss for me. It took about 45 minutes for our food to come out. When food finally started coming out, it was 1 at a time, at a slow pace. While 2 people in our group were still waiting for their food, and our fries and nachos, the waitress asked us what we were still waiting for, as if they forgot to make it! Another 15 minutes and we had our food. The chocolate chip pancakes were burnt and dense, not fluffy. The nacho chips were burnt. We didn't choose to go up and demand new food or a refund because it's not in our nature. I wrote this review in hopes that the restaurant will see this and rectify this for their future patrons.

    Sweet potatoes soup
    Dalia F.

    I visited from out of town and was very impressed with this cafe. I ordered soup to eat while I worked and a Caesar salad & blueberry muffin to go. I especially enjoyed the Caesar salad and blueberry muffin- they were delicious!! The cafe is huge so I had no problem finding a table next to an outlet to work during the day mid-week. The staff were very nice and I would happily come back again. Very fair pricing too!

    Everything Bagel with Nova Spread

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    2 months ago

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Shockingly bad bagel & eggs. The food had no flavor and everything tasted like cardboard. Coffee was terrible too.

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    5 months ago

    The best around no one compares to this. Service, quality and reliability. Ambiance

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    9 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    Very good bagels and lox sandwich. Sometimes it is hard to get a seat during the busy times.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Very good bagels, lox and cream cheese. Many varieties and quick service. Closed on Shabbat.

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Bad customer service. The cashier was rude, and the wait was long after we placed our order.

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Food is fantastic & the staff are great. They manage to provide both healthy alternatives & comfort food in the same restaurant

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is good but very slow. Restaurant is not even full, and took almost 40 minutes for a basic breakfast to arrive.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    CB makes bagel selection fun! Try the Jerusalem bagel - baked with honey. You will devour the strawberry cream cheese. Joyful experience!

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    2 years ago

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    Page 1 of 5

    Ask the Community - Emma's Bagel Cafe

    Is this a Jewish owned restaurant ? Is the food kosher?

    Yes

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    Nuovo Chicago

    Nuovo Chicago

    4.3
    (60 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$$

    I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Nuovo restaurant in Lincolnwood for making our teacher…read more appreciation dinner a wonderful evening. The ambiance was warm and relaxing, creating the perfect setting .The food was absolutely delicious with a wonderful variety of choices that everyone enjoyed. What impressed me most was the outstanding service. The waiter and his assistants were friendly professional, attentive and incredibly well coordinated, they seemed to know exactly when to bring each course, ensuring that everything flowed seamlessly throughout the evening.Most important, they made our staff feel welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for helping make our teacher appreciation celebration so special. We look forward to returning again in the future. Felice Frand, Little Fox Dayschool

    Very very slow service where I counted 10 staff members in the open kitchen, almost half standing…read morearound doing nothing. Took 30 minutes to get our salads and the entries took another 20 minutes. Okay, the beet salad with balsamic dressing was very good. The Caesar was standard, it was fine. The pizza was tasty but the salmon, likely the same as we get at Costco, was completely over cooked and the veggies were overly charred. Not a bad looking place but trying to understand how they were out of two pasta dishes, the most interesting on the menu by 6:30pm, pretty early that night....wont likely be back.

    Photos
    Nuovo Chicago
    Cream chowder soup was amazing
    Cream chowder soup was amazing
    Nuovo Chicago

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    Taboun Grill

    Taboun Grill

    3.9
    (160 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Take it easy Mendel - You aren't in Crown Heights anymore and you sure as heck ain't in Kew Garden…read moreHills. I want to give Taboun Grill 5 Stars - But, I would be telling the truth and that just isn't right for this Tzadik/Mensch. We enjoyed our meal and particularly enjoyed the appetizers. My Goyish friend - who considers himself Israeli commented that the Hummus was watery. I have to agree with him! ;-) - Service - from our Wonderful/Beautiful Romanian Waitress was on point; - Our water was always kept topped off and the Kitchen ran efficiently and expeditiously to deliver the food to the tables in a timely fashion; - Restaurant was busy - not mobbed; - which is a good thing. Interesting take on the Laffa - I enjoyed my meal and left with a full belly. Highlight of the Restaurant was the incredibly Judaica artwork that adorns the walls. I hope they are selling these pieces - because they were gorgeous - just lovely. You definitely felt like you were in an Israeli/Middle Eastern Restaurant - Tables were comfortable and you didn't feel crammed inside - like you would at Grill Point; But - this wasn't Grill Point (Kew Garden Hills, Queens) - Lots of Yentahs and Mitzvah boys. Enjoyed it and would definitely recommend. Enjoyable meal with great food! Price was reasonable for a Kosher Restaurant.

    Usually get sandwiches and like them all. Falafel, shwarma... lunch special is nice. Excellent pita…read moreand lafas that don't fall apart. Friendly service.

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    Taboun Grill
    Taboun Grill
    Falafel

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    Falafel
    Ken's Diner & Grill

    Ken's Diner & Grill

    4.3
    (156 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    I spoke with 4Prime Gates And Garage because we were having issues with both our gate and garage…read moredoor in Wilmette. The gate sensors were not working properly, and the garage door was noisy and not operating as smoothly as it should. The technician quickly diagnosed both problems, repaired the gate, and completed a garage door tune-up with roller replacement. Everything is working good now, and the garage door is much quieter than before. Professional service, fair pricing, and excellent communication throughout the entire process. We had a great experience working with them and highly recommend them for both gate repair and garage door services.

    I was excited to try this diner. walking in you are thrown back decades with the old booth type…read moreseating and counter with old soda machines. Unfortunately the service seems dated as well. No one to tell you what todo. So we followed folks to the counter and after asking got a menu and sat down. Lots of regulars at this place. Seemed like they aged in place. The food is just okay. I had the burger baby a half lb. of beef. A huge sandwich with everything but flavor. hunh the texture of the beef was a little off. The onion rings were crispy but also missing the onion flavor. Wife had the jumbo dog with curly fries. A huge dog again just okay. Hermes would have been a better choice. A huge disappointment. Staff weren't unfriendly just unengaged. They all seemed bored. The prices were high. $40+ for the food and drink.

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    Swag
    Swag
    Yelp review for Ken's Diner & Grill! https://yelp.to/rha9WfndxB
    Yelp review for Ken's Diner & Grill! https://yelp.to/rha9WfndxB
    Jumbo vegan hot dog

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    Jumbo vegan hot dog
    Sarah's Brick Oven

    Sarah's Brick Oven

    4.2
    (38 reviews)
    1.9 mi

    Following my experience with Ken's Diner & Grill, I discovered Sarah's Brick Oven listed within the…read more'People also viewed' section of its yelp page. Out of several other restaurants listed, Sarah's was the only one that captured my interest, plus it was a restaurant that I had not visited before in Skokie. Sarah's Brick Oven itself is linked to Sarah's Tent, a market for kosher products that is located where Oakton St connects with N Crawford Ave in Skokie. And in spite of it being linked to Sarah's Tent, there is an acceptable number of parking spots available. After entering and having plenty of time to look at the menu above the counter, and even on the laminated menu, I was acknowledged shortly after the customer ahead of me had finished ordering. I took an interest in the impossible burger after contemplating between the truffle mac & pizza, and the norma jean burger after I noticed that the impossible burger came with barbecue, onion rings, and served on a pretzel bun! And it was completed within a reasonable timeframe. I opted out of dine-in, choosing to take my order to go because I had errands I needed to complete, plus I did not want to be in the area long. Moreover, the restaurant appeared clean, and the atmosphere gave off a very relaxed vibe. There were a number of tables with seats inside of the dining area, and I must say that I adored the interior, and the ceiling decoration which gave off sukkot vibes. As for the food, other than my jaw popping because I had to open my mouth wide to take a bite of that stacked impossible burger, I enjoyed the satisfying taste of it once I had gotten settled in for the evening. It was delicious! And I most definitely recommend it if you are having trouble identifying something to try on the menu at Sarah's. Being that I had a good experience, I would gladly re-visit Sarah's Brick Oven again whenever in the Skokie area. Or maybe I will just make a visit solely for it, tehehe. Service: 4 | Atmosphere: 4 | Food: 5 Recommendations: truffle mac & pizza, norma jean burger, impossible burger, pestorella, spinach almondina, black forest, eggplant shakshuka pizza, truffle alfredo, koh panghan pasta, eggplant lasagna, sicilian panini, avocado sandwich, omelette sandwich, sarah's acai bowl, tropical bowl, or crispy sweet potato salad. ~ To live well is to eat well. ~ Thomas G

    On a Sunday afternoon, starting to shop for Passover, we decided to go to the Hungarian Market (now…read morecalled Hungarian By Sarah's Tent). We were hungry and opted to try Sarah's Brick Oven. It's in the same parking lot. If you aren't familiar with Kosher Restaurants, since you cannot mix milk and meat, there are dairy restaurants and meat restaurants. So, no meat here. They have a cute dining room and the orthodox or Chasidim are behind the counter and in the kitchen to ensure the laws of Kashrut are being done correctly. You order at the counter, pay, and pick your meal up at the counter when it's ready. My wife had an Italian Panini and I ordered Eggplant Shakshuka. The presentation of both dishes was fabulous. And, they were really delicious. Pricing is a bit high because, well, Kosher food costs more. I have to admit that the food was well worth the few extra dollars. Definitely a must try for anyone curious. It's very good.

    Photos
    Sarah's Brick Oven
    Shakshuka !
    Shakshuka !
    Sarah's Brick Oven

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    New York Bagel & Bialy

    New York Bagel & Bialy

    4.3
    (766 reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $

    I'm extremely thankful to have a friend who introduced me to this bagel spot. Definitely a top 2…read morefavorite of mine. I haven't been to the location but have had these bagels consistently for over 10 years. The texture and flavor of the bagel is everything a NY bagel is and should be. Fluffy on the inside, somewhat crispy on the outside, and oh so thiccccccccck! Their cream cheese?! Ugh! Don't skip on it, seriously everything about this place is perfect. My go to selection is the egg bagel with chive cream cheese. It's chef's kiss and hits the spot. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME!!!!

    If you're expecting this to be interchangeable with the franchised bagel places that have spread…read moreacross the country, recalibrate now. This is not that. I've been going to New York Bagel & Bialy for over 50 years, and places like this operate on a different clock, a different standard, and frankly, a different philosophy of what a bagel is supposed to be. Timing matters. If you show up after about 8:00 AM, your odds of getting bagels at their absolute peak--still warm, properly textured, with that slight resistance on the outside and softness inside--go up significantly. Earlier can be hit or miss depending on the batch cycle, but once they're in stride, this place delivers. The essentials are all here and worth your time: poppy seed, sesame, everything, and especially the bialys. The bialys alone are reason enough to make the trip--properly done, with the right chew and depth of flavor that you simply won't find in mass-produced versions. Don't overcomplicate it. Grab a dozen. On your way home, stop and pick up a couple packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese and some smoked salmon a jar of capers, a Bermuda onion--whether here or even from Walmart--and you've got a meal that outperforms most brunch menus at a fraction of the cost. This isn't trendy. It's not trying to be. It's something better: consistent, old-world, and still doing it the right way. If you're going to call something a bagel, the standard is not branding--it's process. That's why New York Bagel & Bialy on Touhy stands apart. They actually do it right: kettle-boiled first, then baked in rotating ovens. That single decision--boiling--changes the entire structure. It gelatinizes the outer starch layer, locks in density, and produces that thin, glossy crust with real chew. Without it, you don't have a bagel--you have bread with a hole. The rotating ovens matter too. They deliver even heat, which means you get the correct balance: a slight exterior crisp with a dense, elastic interior. No puffiness. No sponge. No collapse under toppings. That's the difference here. Most chains optimize for speed and shelf life, so they steam or shortcut the process. Many local shops land in the middle. This place doesn't compromise. If you care about what a bagel is supposed to be--not just what it's called--this is the benchmark in Chicago.

    Photos
    New York Bagel & Bialy
    Ruben @ New York Bagel & Bialy.(Touhy Ave.Lincolnwood IL)Breakfast Bakery NY Bagels Bialy Sandwiches Salads Soups etc.OldFashion Deli.Cool!
    Ruben @ New York Bagel & Bialy.(Touhy Ave.Lincolnwood IL)Breakfast Bakery NY Bagels Bialy Sandwiches Salads Soups etc.OldFashion Deli.Cool!
    New York Bagel & Bialy

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    Emma's Bagel Cafe - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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