Ess-a-Bagel
Bagel Shop and American Restaurant$$$$
Turtle Bay, New York
Has a stamp of approval from Eater and The Corcoran Group
"Keep your order simple and enjoy some of the best bagels in NYC."(10 Tips)
"Best lox & bagel I have ever tasted!"(31 Tips)
"If that’s your style, this is the best everything bagel in the city."(38 Tips)
"The white fish salad is delicious."(4 Tips)
343 Tips and reviewsFilter:
- bagels
- lox
- lively
- casual
- breakfast food
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Nathan WrightFebruary 20, 2016Ess-a-Bagel's Everything Bagel is truly everything. Get it with veggie cream cheese. You will wait in line. Sometimes for 45 minutes.
AhmedJanuary 12, 2014Their bagels are one of the best! Classic lox and cream cheese is still box office hit. Come early if u don't wanna be in a long standing queue
Julian ModestoJanuary 8, 2015Here's what you get: a pumpernickel bagel, toasted, with nova lox and scallion cream cheese
The smell of the place alone lets you know that you've found the real deal
GregNovember 4, 2011Take your hot bagel & schmear around the corner to the cafe tables in Greenacre Park & score a free cup of coffee at Jack's with first check-in. Enjoy the waterfall! 217 E 51st St
Sarah DavidsonMay 22, 2015Everything bagel w/ scallion cc, onion, tomato, capers was delicious, as was the cinnamon raisin w/ raisin walnut
Liz CargillOctober 18, 2015You can taste EVERYTHING in the everything bagel. If you order hot fillings like eggs, it will take a while..
Dean McBrydeApril 6, 2019The signature bagel was excellent. Be prepared for a queue on a Saturday, took around 45 minutes to get served.
Jole PJune 18, 2017The classic lox sandwich is always a go too, but in general all their bagels are amazing!
Emilio MoralesMarch 4, 2019Ordered our bagels online to take away because the queues were massive. The kosher beef is delicious!
Jina AnneFebruary 19, 2020Tons of cream cheese. Cream cheese heaven. But don't come here if you're in a hurry.
Ren RennDecember 28, 2013Delicious without anything on it. That's how you know it's good. Don't ask them to toast it :) they won't. It's already fresh and hot
РашельJuly 10, 2016bagel was nice but I'd say staying that kind of queue (and even more inside the place - to photo) for that kind of bagel, sadly, didn't make much sense to me.
Kelsey KotzebueSeptember 13, 2016Hand downs, best bagel of my life. Chocolate chip bagel is a little sweet but can't pass up the opportunity.
Hunter MandelFebruary 17, 2016Have to get the whole wheat everything bagel with sliced lox and scallion cream cheese. The ice coffee is legit also.
Mike FriedlichMay 31, 2016Their bagels are among the best, and bagels with lox and cream cheese is also very good there.
Keith KerrJanuary 7, 2018Good, a bit over-hyped. You could get as good of a bagel at any other well-rated bagel shop. The lox is $15.
Matt LowreyNovember 3, 2013First off you made a great choice! Second know your order(s) Third say it with confidence! The man behind the counter will respect you!
Unlike their 21st St/1st Av location, when you get to the front of the main line, they will not tell you what their hottest bagels are. To do so, you must first go to where their bagel window is.
Robert CangerMay 30, 2015Pastrami and regular cream cheese on toasted everything bagel. Expensive but screams NY.
- The Tastes that Make the CityJanuary 28, 2015The everything bagel is the best bagel in NYC, making our list of "The Tastes That Make the City: NYC Edition." Read more
Alice HehmanJune 24, 2019The everything bagel - they don’t skimp on the seasoning! And the tofu cream cheeses are amazing.
Patrick BaskinOctober 2, 2016Bagels are solid and tasty, but don't bother with getting a bagel sandwich or crazy cream cheese, stick with the simple bagel and simple cream cheese...a bit touristy though
Alec DaCodecJuly 3, 2013Best Bagels in NYC - old school. Try the scotia with cream cheese on everything.
Raymond PeckApril 20, 2016Very solid, bagel was good with lox. Not sure it's that definitively good for the wait but definitely worth trying.
AditiFebruary 1, 2016Skip the line if you plan on just getting a bagel & cream cheese (which is all you need to appreciate Ess-a)
Louis BaltimoreApril 21, 2017Maybe the best bagels. But they don't toast! Get take out so you can toast at home.
Kasey WolfgangFebruary 9, 2013Everything bagel with Lox cream cheese is so good. Especially when a random stranger pays for you :)
Sara 🌈⚔🍾July 19, 2015A New York institution. Can miss with their huge menu of bagels and cream cheeses.
Melea AdriannaMay 26, 2012Best bagels in Manhattan. If you want to buy bagel in bulk, swing around to the other register on the far right to save some serious time.
CompassMay 16, 2014Take a bite out of one of these fluffy bagels and douse it with one of the many different flavors of cream cheese.
Daniel PorterOctober 9, 2014Can't go past the smoked salmon and cream cheese but if you do the chicken salad is outstanding as well.
𝙶𝚘𝚗𝚣𝚊𝚕𝚘 𝙰𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚊𝚜October 9, 2015Bagel heaven!! The coffee taste like battery acid, but its what you need sometimes to get you going in the big city.
Best bagels in manhattan without a doubt. Everything bagel with vegetable cream cheese, nova and tomato.
Aaron WilliamsMarch 8, 2013Get the supreme, everything bagel, capers, lettuce, tomato, nova, cucumber, and creme cheese...it just doesn't get any better than this.
Bacon, egg, and cheese, for the win. Great fresh bagels make it all great, though.
RamSeptember 18, 2015Bagles are great but lines are insanely long. Be sure to pop in early to avoid the wait
Paige CJune 1, 2012Really good poppy seed bagels! And if you are only getting bagels, you can cut the long line on the weekends!
Anya CheskinMarch 4, 20139-grain bagel is amazing... having it toasted with butter and a tea. Best bagels in nyc, maybe the world.- Noreen HWJuly 1, 2023Good bagel- but not our favorite, especially for the wait. Order ahead online, it will save you some time
Leigh QuindaraMay 14, 2015Best bagels in the entire universe. Get them straight out of the oven and you will die.
DaneAugust 16, 2015Don't be an asshat and claim a table for 6 when there is a line out the door and none of your party has ordered yet. You're not special.
Harumi UAugust 23, 2014Their bagels are big and chewy. I personally had better bagels though. Also the employees are not very attentive and friendly. I guess the fate of service when people buy things anyway
The food is awesome but they do move very slowly. So I’m going to ask if we can call in our order next time.
1,112 Photos
Foursquare © 2025 Lovingly made in NYC, CHI, SEA & LA
Ess-A-Bagel offers fresh bagels, pastries, coffee and more in New York City. Much of our food is kosher. At Ess-A-Bagel, we do “Everything on a Bagel!"
Open until 5:00 PM (Show more)
- Mon–Fri
- 6:00 AM–9:00 PM
- Sat–Sun
- 6:00 AM–5:00 PM
(212) 980-1010
Features
Reservations
No
Credit Cards
Yes (incl. American Express)
Outdoor Seating
No
Food & Drink
Menus
Breakfast, Lunch
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