Chicago's bagel scene continues to rise
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Cinnamon raisin, mango pepita and red mole bagels from Rosca. Photo: Carrie Shepherd/Axios
If you're one of the haters who's found Chicago's bagel scene inferior to New York's, you may soon be eating your words ... words smothered in a tasty schmear!
The big picture: Bagel shops that had previously only sold goods at pop-ups or online have established brick-and-mortar roots in Chicago.
State of play: Here are a few new(ish) spots I tried recently:
Zeitlin's Delicatessen: Owner Sam Zeitlin and crew had been slinging his chewy bagels at farmers markets and From Here On food hall at the Old Post Office, but they officially opened in Lincoln Park earlier this month.
- Pro tip: Giardiniera cream cheese! Yes, most places have it now, but this is a great balance of spiciness and isn't globbed on so heavily that it overwhelms the bagel.
Tilly Bagel Shop: With two locations in Fulton Market and South Loop, Tilly gets creative with cream cheese flavors like caramelized onion, honey vanilla and chive and bacon.
- The Bagel of the Week is usually a big draw — so much so you may miss it if you go in the afternoon. Recent BOTW flavors include Thai curry, peach cobbler and cheesy garlic bread.
- The Chicago bagel is heavily coated in poppyseeds, mustard seed, celery salt and giardiniera seasoning. Yes, like a Chicago dog. I topped that with hot giardiniera cream cheese. This is the way to go if you can handle the heat.
- Pro-tip: Ask the helpful employees for their recommended mash-ups.
Rosca: The newest of the bunch — it just opened last week in Pilsen — Rosca infuses Mexican flavors into its offerings and all the cream cheese is vegan, but still tastes so creamy you wouldn't know it was any different!
- I tried red mole, mango and pepita, and cinnamon raisin topped with cinnamon sugar.
- These are a doughier bunch than Zeitlin's and Tilly, but I like that, especially when the inside is still moist.
What's next: Lettuce Entertain You's traveling bagel booth Decker's Sourdough Bagels is rolling into Wildfire River North at 9am Saturday.
- Online pre-ordering is recommended!