The Best Bagels In Chicago - Chicago - The Infatuation

"Beans & Bagels is the epitome of a neighborhood coffee shop—it’s on a quiet corner in a residential area of Lincoln Square. While you can’t sit inside, you can stare longingly through the walk-up window at the variety of baked goods on display. The bagels here are comparatively small, but (besides their size) the dough has a delicate underlying sweetness that sets them apart. The flavor is a nice counterpoint to their more savory housemade cream cheeses, like the red dragon (English mustard cheddar) or jalapeno. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention their everything bagel croissant—a (you guessed it) flaky croissant covered in everything seasoning, and stuffed with cheddar and chive cream cheese. We’ll excuse the fact that it’s only technically bagel-adjacent because it’s that good." - veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen