Empire Bagels

"Any New Yorker who regularly swallows gluten in this city already has their own opinion about who makes the best bagels. That’s fine. But how many of the city’s excellent bagels are sold through a tiny window next to the above-ground 6 train? The answer is just one. Empire Bagels on Westchester Avenue in Pelham Bay makes massive, buoyant bagels with a shiny caramelized exterior and an extra fluffy inside. These things are puffier than the average New York City bagel, and we like to eat them with a slather of light scallion cream cheese for around $2.25 a pop. Empire Bagels is open from 5am to noon every day, and they only serve bagels, cream cheese, lox, coffee, juice, and a few pastries. Come early - if you show up later than 11am, they might be out of everything bagels (the superior variety, of course)." - hannah albertine

"Let the record show that Empire Bagels in Pelham Bay deserves to be on several guides in addition to the Best Bagels in NYC. Including but not limited to: The Lightest Cream Cheese In NYC, The Best Takeout Window Parallel To The Above-Ground 6 Train, and The NYC Spot You’ll Want To Visit At 6am. If you grew up eating massive, buoyant bagels in Jersey, you’ll feel at home at this bagel place in the Bronx. Their versions are puffier than the average New York City bagel, with a shiny caramelized exterior and an extra fluffy inside. Empire Bagels is open from 5am to noon every day, and they only serve bagels, cream cheese, coffee, juice, and a few pastries. Come early. If you show up later than 11am, they might be out of your favorite bagel varieties." - willa moore, neha talreja, hannah albertine, will hartman

"You can pick up some perfectly chewy bagels from this little window on Westchester Avenue in Pelham Bay. And according to the long, socially distanced lines we’ve seen outside the shop via Instagram, Empire Bagels is just as popular as always. So come early - if you show up later than 11am, they might be out of your favorite bagel." - nikko duren

"This is a little window parallel to the above-ground 6 train on Westchester Avenue in Pelham Bay, and you’re here for some fantastic, chewy bagels with light and airy cream cheese. Empire Bagels is open from 5am to noon every day, and they only serve bagels, coffee, juice, and a few pastries. Come early - if you show up later than 11am, they might be out of your favorite bagel varieties." - Hannah Albertine