Wait — what does that even mean? hole?
New Yorkers, get ready for a twist. Apparently, the best bagels aren’t being crafted in the city anymore—they’re coming from Texas.
This unexpected blow to New York’s reputation as the bagel capital was revealed at the 2025 Bagel Fest at Citi Field in Queens. Here, Fort Worth’s Starship Bagels outperformed numerous local contenders to claim the top prize.
To add salt to the wound, the People’s Choice award went to Baltic’s Bagels in Richmond, Virginia, which is, well, quite a distance from any of the five boroughs.
Sam Silverman, a Brooklyn local and the festival’s founder, expressed his support for this surprising outcome. He mentioned it’s time for New York’s bagel shops, which might be a bit too comfortable, to step up their game and show what they can really do.
“I think we need to be more competitive,” said Silverman, reflecting on how some local businesses seem to think they don’t even need to show up to defend their name. “Bagel shops across New York, Long Island, and even New Jersey should really be testing their products out there. Let’s see how we stack up!”
He elaborated, saying many bagel makers might feel like they have more to lose by competing. “If you’re a New York shop and win, that’s great—but if you don’t? What went wrong?”
He did remember that one of last year’s favorites, Utopia Bagels from Whitestone, had taken home the top award previously.
The surprising shift in recognition coincides with new trends in New York where fresh shops like Apollo Bagels are attracting crowds for their light sourdough offerings, which have recently become popular in other cities.
The Bagelfest started in 2019 as a modest gathering in Bushwick, but Silverman originally came up with the idea back in 2017, realizing New York didn’t have a suitable festival for bagel lovers.
That first year, nearly 300 fans came together to celebrate their love for bagels, thanks in part to Silverman, his then-fiancée, and friends.
Fast forward to this year, and the event has transformed into a large trade show, attracting about 2,000 attendees eager to create, judge, and enjoy a variety of bagels.
At the festival, attendees got to explore everything from traditional recipes to innovative twists on the classics. There were also bagel-making classes and insightful panel discussions involving industry experts.
Silverman pointed out that the gathering is designed to support both established and new bagel shops, recognizing their contributions each year with various awards.
Back in 2021, the best bagel contest had its debut, and to everyone’s surprise, a small startup from Westport, Conn.—Pop-Up Bagel—swept aside the big names to win.
Pop-Up is another example of a shop redefining the bagel experience, developing a dedicated following and expanding nationwide.
Mike Burley, a long-time judge of the contest, shared that the inclusion of non-local bagels at the festival is beneficial for the New York bagel scene.
Varley noted, “I’m not trying to be the New York bagel. I want to contribute to the conversation.” He expressed optimism, saying that this could be a great opportunity for New York, as diverse styles could coexist, enhancing the local bagel landscape.
5 traditional bagel shops in New York worth checking out
But you certainly don’t have to travel all the way to Texas for a good bagel. Here are five fantastic bagel shops in New York that you should consider visiting.
1) Bose Bagel – A newcomer that has managed to outshine some classic spots.
2) Utopia Bagel – Once just a Whitestone favorite, this past winner now boasts locations in Manhattan and Long Island City.
3) Tompkins Square Bagel – A staple in downtown that honors traditional methods and has been around long before the recent bagel excitement.
4) Broadnosh – A newer addition with a classic vibe, bustling with locals and tourists alike at their four Manhattan spots.
5) Ess-A-Bagel – A Midtown indispensable that can be hit or miss but historically holds a strong presence across multiple locations.
For those still yearning for top-quality bagels right here in New York, these shops are sure to hit the spot.
