Why Long Island Has The Best Bagels In America

Long Island definitely has a lot going for it: the best beaches on the East Coast, some of the biggest musical acts in the world from Billy Joel to Mariah Carey, The Hamptons. But there's one delicacy that's decidedly its hometown glory: the bagel.

Dix Hills Hot Bagels has been an institution on this particular part of Long Island for quite some time, with a sister location right in the heart of New York City on 27th and Lexington. These bagels are hand-rolled and seem to always be fresh out of the oven. If you like smoked salmon, the nova bagel sandwich is the way to go.

When your bagels are so popular that they garner attention from major New York radio and TV outlets, you know you are doing something right. A&S Bagels, located about 15 minutes outside of New York City, has been named "Best Bagel on Long Island" by Z100 and has also been featured nationally on The Howard Stern Show and CBS Morning News. The bagel shop really goes above and beyond with its topping options, too; you can top your bagel with everything from Nutella to bacon butter syrup.

With no shortage of stiff competition in the Northport area, this 25-year-old Fort Salonga legend boasts some of the freshest and tastiest bagels around, no matter what time you stop by. Ask for a hot cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese and thank us later.

Massapequa is primarily known as the birthplace of Alec Baldwin and Steve Guttenberg (the former more than the latter), but this Nassau County town is also home to a wide assortment of bagel shops right off the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway. Broadway Bagels is our pick of the litter. If you're looking for something on the sweet side, go with the French toast bagel with walnut raisin cream cheese, and for something a bit more savory try the egg everything with jalapeño Cheddar cream cheese.  Yummy indeed.

When the description on your website reads, "You'll walk into the store and breathe in the delicious aroma of bagels baking in the oven and crisp bacon on the grill," you better live up to expectations, and thankfully Bagel Chalet does. It claims that the secret to its success is all-natural dough,  and with a 20-year history in a bagel-heavy town like Commack, it must be doing something right. Stick with a classic, egg salad on a plain bagel. Nothing too fancy can go a long way sometimes, and this combination proves it.

This "bagelatessen" gets extra credit for its name alone! The somewhat-new kid on the block, being around for only 16 years, has made great waves in this beautiful area of Long Island with its fresh-baked bagels and treats. Slightly classier than its blue-collar brethren, Gabby's offers a wide variety of bagels, spreads, and sandwich options. Watching your calories? Try the Whole Wheat bagel with Low-Fat Egg White Spinach spread. 

Signature Bagels is a must visit for those heading to the end of the Long Island Expressway. It's making some of the tastiest bagels on the East End, with great spreads including our personal favorite, bacon herb cream cheese. Order some atop an egg bagel, and you'll be all set for the last leg (or the beginning) of your drive.

The friendly staff at Bagelport, an East Northport institution, goes above and beyond in making their customers feel welcome, and their bagels are fresh, hand-rolled, and have a perfect texture. Order a bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel and get ready to go to breakfast sandwich heaven. 

Voted one of the three best bagel shops on Long Island by The Long Island Press two years running must mean you're doing the right thing. Blvd Bagels, located a short distance from Smithaven Mall, boasts fresh bagels made on premise throughout the day with the highest quality of ingredients. Variations including bialys, twists, and mini bagels are also available, and one bite of these just-chewy enough, just-crunchy enough bagels will tell you that a lot of care goes into making them.   

The original. The legend. The original Bagel Boss has been an iconic bagel shop for more than 40 years, and due to its popularity it's spawned 10 more Long Island locations and one in Manhattan.  Owner Jerry Rosner has been making bagels 24 hours a day since first opening in 1975, and not only does his company sell a huge variety of bagels in flavors including chocolate chip, egg everything, whole wheat sunflower, French toast, and onion, there's also a lengthy selection of spreads, appetizing, salads made on-premises, baked goods, and sandwiches. A fully kosher shop, it's also Long Island's premier kosher caterer. There's nothing like Bagel Boss, and on Long Island, it reigns supreme.