Essen Bakery

"We go to this Jewish bakery in East Passyunk to inhale chocolate rugelach, zaatar croissant sandwiches, and dark-blonde bagels covered in mini bubbles from a speedy boil at high heat. Both the salty and sweet options are reliable. So order a sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese, or fill a box with seasonal donuts, salted chocolate chip cookies, and a slice of slightly toasty basque cheesecake." - candis mclean, alison kessler

"Everything owner Tova du Plessis creates at Essen, her Jewish bakery on East Passyunk Avenue, is impressive, from the famous chocolate babka laced with halva to the black-and-white cookies tinted with just the right bit of orange zest." - Ernest Owens, Eater Staff

"Soft like a pillow, but bold like a half moon — Essen Bakery has brought the popular New York black-and-white cookie to Philly in style. Their frosted vanilla and rich chocolate icing is the ideal combo in one, the best of both worlds for cookie lovers." - George Banks-Weston

"Of course Essen Bakery makes great bagels—the Passyunk Square Jewish pastry shop makes some of the best apple cake, babka, and chocolate rugelach in town. The bagels here are dark blonde on the outside, tender on the inside, and are covered in mini bubbles from their speedy boil at high heat. Plus, the neighborhood bakery gets bonus points for covering their poppy bagel with so much seasoning that you have to squint just to make out the crust underneath. Get them topped with tomato, lox, and onions, but we also love them simple, with nothing but a bit of their house-made veggie cream cheese. " - candis mclean, alison kessler

"This is a one-stop shop for all things sweet and savory for Rosh Hashanah. Come here for their impressive honey cake made with beer and apples, traditional challah, and glazed honey cookies that you might want to buy more than a dozen to ensure everyone will have at least one (because it’s hard not to eat several on the way home)." - Ernest Owens