Kismet Bagels - Rittenhouse Square

This is essentially a place to get your order of a bagel and a coffee, not a place to stay. The space inside is quite small (“cozy”) yet people wait inside and are rather polite. I grew up in a place where bagels were made authentically at a Jewish bakery, and these bagels were just like those. Yes, the bagels are smaller than what we expect these days but bagels aren’t supposed to be gigantic. Plenty of cream cheese, and the coffee was good (fruity vs. Dunkin’ style). The service was friendly and quick.

Tiny bagel spot located in Rittenhouse! Stopped in for a breakfast sandwich. The service was friendly but the store is so tiny, it’s hard to stand in there for 5 minutes without feeling like you’re in everyone’s way. I got the BEC on a sesame bagel. It was good, not great. First, the bagel is small. They also put what looked like 2 pieces of bacon on it. The eggs and cooper sharp cheese were delicious though. I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars. I’m not running to come back here, but if I needed breakfast I would consider stopping in again.

This gem of a place is across from where we are staying in Philadelphia. It’s perfect in every sense. The staff is amazing. The food is delicious and the bagels are absolutely some of the best we’ve ever had. We had the fish which had a marinated cucumber and onion, along with salmon. I highly recommend that! We also ordered bacon egg and cheese. Spot on. I think the real star of the show was the sea salt, caramel chocolate chip cookie, and the coffee.

Got cinnamon raisin bagel and a coffee. Was very good. Bagel was nice and chewy. No place to sit, all to go. Place is busy.

I've always thought of Kismet Bagels as perfectly serviceable. You can't get truly great bagels in this city, so I score based on a Philly adjusted scale where five stars are the highest quality you could feasibly get *here*. Kismet bagels are fine. They are not my favorite bagel in the city, and I'd go elsewhere to buy bagels for myself, but I have had them bought for me by a friend as well as picked them up via apps like Too Good to Go for a discounted price. They are decent. The folks inside are always friendly and the vibes are good so I'd call the business generally about four stars. However today I had an experience that has very solidly driven my review downwards. I was given the unfortunate curse of a Kismet poppyseed bagel. This bagel has been a plague upon my self and my household. This bagel was made with more seed than flour. It was utterly encrusted in poppyseeds to the point that it appeared black, which is fine, but those seeds didn't stay on the bagel. If I get a poppyseed bagel I expect I'll get some poppyseeds on my hands and that I'll need to brush off my lap and wipe seeds from the table. I expect my plate or napkin to catch most of the fallout and to perhaps be slightly annoyed later to find a few seeds I missed. THIS bagel was like a poppyseed land mine. I am covered. The counter is covered. The floor is covered. The toddler is covered and she didn't even eat any. Every bite caused a shower of poppyseeds. This is NOT an enjoyable experience. I should not need a broom in order to eat a bagel. I should not REGRET having TOUCHED the bagel. Whoever made the choice to turn their bagels into the poppyseed equivalent of one of those glitter bomb cards you send to your worst enemies needs a strict talking to. I sincerely hope someone gives them one of their own bagels so they, too, can experience having to clean their entire kitchen in the middle of the day. Anyways, the bagels are otherwise serviceable.

Shop was walking distance of our hotel, we ordered online for pickup and they prepared the order fast. We got the BEC and a blueberry matcha which was very yummy.

My favorite breakfast in the city. Everybody here is so kind and the bagels are amazing. Always busy with customers because the food is 10/10 . The everything bagel seasoning is awesome They should sell this in stores everywhere tbh

Phenomenal bagels! Came to this new store today, had the rosemary salt bagel with scallions spread for around $4.50. Was super tasty and filling! Really nice staff and shop is very cute. Also got a cookie which was great too. Will be back many more times in the future for sure.

These bagels are SO GOOD! The shop is small but the service is quick and the workers are friendly. I love a place with a strong aesthetic and Kismet is super cute! I ordered their egg sandwich (amazing flavor) and my partner got a lox bagel on everything (which was loaded with all the seeds and toppings). I got a rosemary bagel that I saw and knew I had to try right away. It was SO GOOD and my partner agreed, wishing he got it too! I also ordered a blueberry matcha that was super tasty! I ordered it even after having a coffee because I saw someone else get it and I had to try it! It's only take away, there's no seating, but there's a great park nearby with plenty of benches to enjoy outside on a nice day!

Traveling while gluten free can be a little tough when it comes to breakfast especially -- sorry, no pastries for me! I was lucky to find Kismet on a recent trip. I guess you could say it was kismet that we were staying right across the street and they had gluten free bagel options. Was it the best GF bagel I've ever had? No but it was pretty good. Good enough that I ordered it twice while I was on my trip. The first time, I got an everything bagel with the spicy schmear. The second time, I got a bacon, egg, and cheese on a plain bagel and added the spicy schmear. It was yummy and the schmear kind of tasted like queso but in a good way. I'd recommend this spot especially if you're gluten free and in need of a filling breakfast.

Crowded on a weekday morning but line and service moves very fast. No seating so strictly to go. Got the Veg on everything - 3/5 bagel was small and ingredients kept wanting to spill out, hard to eat.

Really tiny location so be ready to order and eat somewhere else. I was staying at the hotel next door and wanted a quick breakfast. The bagels were soooo good. Iced coffee was also great, no additives needed.

The fish bagel is delicious! The freshness and flavor of the everything bagel made it easy to bite into and chew, and i could really taste the seeds on top. The fish they put on it is a pastrami lox, which not only tastes wonderfully fresh but also adds a new flavor to the bagel sandwich. The toppings as well were perfectly fresh and crunchy with the cream cheese, and my favorite twist and part was the pickle chips inside, and dill as an extra herb. this was different than any bagel i had thus far and it was delicious.

This was in walking distance from the Palomar so I hopped over for a quick bite. Did not disappoint. Quick, nice service. I ordered the everything bagel toasted with garlic herb schmear. Crispy and tasty but a little on the salty side. Over all go there again. They offered vegan options which is great. Priced appropriately and they took a card. It was busy inside but quick. Normal vibe for a breakfast stop.

I'm not an aficionada, but I've eaten a lot of chicken salad, preferably on bagels. Great bagels. This being my first sandwich from them, I'll say it wasn't bad, but the flavor profile was centered around Old Bay. I like Old Bay, but here the flavors were blending into just one salty thing that left more to be desired. One thing they excelled at here was attention to texture. Chickens salad is dependent on the knife work on display in things like the onion, celery, etc. If there is no evidence that the texture experience is a considerable factor, the sandwich can't be all that. Overall it was comfortable in its being a good thing.

My friend was really excited to get a bagel here as this is a location outside of Reading terminal market. It was so busy here on a Saturday which makes sense since it was a nice day, and it's a weekend. The staff here is super friendly, and the line actually moved pretty quickly. It smells delicious in here and at this location, they only sell bagels not bialys. My friend got a lox and bagel, the bagel was way too dense. I got to taste a bite, but the filling was delicious. She was let down, which is why I'm giving it a three stars because I also got to taste it. You can place online orders and it's much faster but honestly, the line moves really quickly. Kismet bagels is really expanding. They also had a stand at the farmers market in Rittenhouse.

Solid bagel spot. Got the jalapeño cheese bagel with spicy everything cream cheese. The jalapeño cheese bagel can't be toasted. Overall solid bagel. Not too spicy for me. I would come back to try their other bagels and sandwiches. The cashier was nice explaining to me what the cream cheese was. It does get packed inside though.

Lox on Everything Bagel This place always hits the spot! Impressive bagels, love them lightly toasted. Fresh ingredients, I'm a sucker for a good lox Bagel!

Saturday morning, super long line. Order ahead online for pick up! Got an onion bagel with spicy everything schmear. The onion bagel was a tad bit dry during this visit. And the onions after toasting tasted slightly burnt. Really enjoyed the spicy everything schmear. It had a little kick to the cream cheese.

I stopped into Kismet on a rainy day and got a cinnamon raisin bagel with raisin walnut schmear. As far as bagels go, it's pretty good - fluffy, dense and chewy just like a bagel should be. I am honestly leaving this review because the staff were so friendly and kind - they chit chatted with me and they gave me samples of all the specialty schmears (golden milk turmeric tastes exactly like a turmeric latte). The raisin walnut schmear had whole chunks of walnut in it and whole raisins too - a bit sweet for my tastes but made fresh for sure. A bagel with schmear is about $5 and their sandwiches are ~$10. This location has no seating.

This small bagel shop rocks! We got a bacon egg and cheese with cream cheese on and everything bagel and it was soooo good. I genuinely think it was one of the best bagels I've ever had. I wish it was toasted just a bit more, but I digress. If you've never put cream cheese on a BEC I think you need to really consider it. I also got an iced black coffee and if I'm being honest it was really bad. But I'm not letting it ruin my experience. It's a bagel shop not a coffee shop. I'll be back

I was too hangry to remember photos before digging in, but the bagels were quite good. The everything bagel was very tasty and well seasoned. The flavored cream cheese (scallion and veggie) were both good, but the consistency was a bit thin for my taste. The latkes were ok. I know this is a bagel shop, but please up your coffee game. The coffee was thin, watery, and lacking flavor. I would come back for the bagels, but that's it.

Yum! Staying at a nearby hotel and was in the mood for a bagel breakfast sammy. Appreciate a tailored menu with not too many choices and the ability to order online for pickup. My BAC on toasted onion and my husband's veggie on toasted sesame hit the spot! Price point was on par for the size and quality of bagel and ingredients. Perfect to enjoy back in the comfort of our room. Friendly service as well. Thank you for a great start to our day!

I'm a big fan of Kismet Bialys in Reading Terminal Market, so I was so excited when my friend and I just happened upon Kismet Bagels a couple of weeks ago when we were in Philly for the weekend. The line to order was short (and the staff were all really friendly), but the wait for my bagel was 10-15 minutes (not bad, not complaining at all)! The shop is tight, so you will be shuffling around as you wait for your order! But all in all, the shop is charming, and the service was very good. I ordered their "The Fish" - pastrami lox, tomato, red onion, pickle chips, dill, plain cream cheese, and extra virgin olive oil - on a sesame bagel. The toppings were traditional but with a twist, and I thought the combination was great. My issue was with the bagel, which I thought was way too bready, just didn't have the classic bagel texture. I'll probably stick to their bialy shop in the future, since their bialys are fantastic!

First meal in Philadelphia. My coworkers were looking for a bagel and the Californian in me was like oh no carbs, I'm going to get fat! Just kidding. Half kidding. There was a line out the door when we arrived so we knew it was a good decision. The space was cramped inside prior to ordering and waiting for your order. Service was straightforward. When you arrive at the front, they take your phone number. I wondered why since it wasn't explained but they send you a text when your order is ready. My coworkers got The Egg ($8) and The Spicy ($11). I also ordered The Spicy ($11) on an Everything Bagel. It had farm fresh eggs, bacon, house pickled jalapenos, a spicy everything schmear. It wasn't too spicy, but it was too big. I ate less than half of the bagel and tried to finish the insides. My coworker and I both looked back like dang we should have shared. Lessons Learned for the next spots. A pretty strong meal to start the day. The wait was worth it.

Wow, the veg bagel was DELICIOUS! I highly recommend that bagel! Service was smooth, quick, and fast. The staff are kind and helpful with your order. Do note that there is limited space to stand in the eatery, so you have to take your order to go and there is bench like spaces across the street.

Decent bagels. Not the best, but fantastic for a hungover bacon egg and cheese! They also carry Natalie's orange juice which is my absolute fav.

I have seen Kismet Bagels for sale in the farmers market for a long time and I'm happy to have finally made it to their store. The bagels are chewy and definitely have a harder heartier texture than some other places. Ironically, it was not the bagel that stole the show but the zhug sauce on the egg sandwich. It was basically a spicy version of pesto and it was so good! This is a cute small takeout only location. Definitely think I will order ahead next time since there was a little bit of a wait, but looking forward to returning.

Kismet Bagels is everything you want in a local bagel spot. The bagels are top-notch--NYC-caliber in the heart of Center City--and the schmears are just as delicious. Their egg sandwich with Zhug sauce stands out, and the coffee and other drinks never disappoint. You can tell this place was built with love by a discerning Philly couple, and it shows in the welcoming vibe and excellent service. It's dog-friendly, a huge plus, and the prices are fair. Pro tip: Get there early, especially on weekends, because they sell out fast! I'm also a big fan of their Kismet Luncheonette location in the suburbs--it's worth the trip. The Fishtown location is excellent, too. Philly was missing a quality, no-frills bagel spot like this, and I couldn't recommend it more.

Got some bagels to go. Blueberry Maple got a thumbs up from my kids. They were a little smaller than one might expect. Cute little spot and really nice people working. I'll try it again and report back

As a frequent traveler to Philadelphia, breakfast choices are no longer a problem. Kizmet Bagels every time. I know these folks say they only started this business in 2020, but the flavors, quality and complexity of their products have a depth that seems to have been developed over generations. Our family of 5 each has specific preferences but whether sesame with lox schmear, everything with plain schmear, or everything with zhug sausage and egg, each one is out of this world. What a way to start a morning!!!! Oh and don't forget a cup of coffee! Sorry we ate it all so fast... no photos available!

It's a decent bagel spot for Phila but much denser than H&H in NY and along the lines of Ess-A-Bagel. Definitely a local spot that gets busy in the mornings with app orders. Worth a stop if you're in the area and have a bagel craving. Try the sea salt rosemary.

I was in town for some meetings and have Kismet deliver a huge spread for our client lunch at their office. It was a total hit. Not only was the food perfect for a high quality business lunch, the service was phenomenal, with super helpful team to help me decide and then deliver and finish the order.

Really just a shame. The bagels are so unbelievably salty and way too small for the price. Doughy consistency. Will not return, will not ever recommend.

Good bagel but I ordered it toasted with butter and there was so little butter I couldn't even taste it. My husband's breakfast sandwich was good though.

I stopped in for a lightly toasted breakfast sandwich on an everything bagel. First of all... excellent customer service. The front counter guy was standing outside and saw me coming a mile away. He tilted his head in acknowledgment and stepped into his bagel shop anticipating my arrival! I asked how he knew and he said, "0h I know!" Haha The scent of freshly baked bagels was enticing. The actual sandwich did not disappoint. I'm already dreaming of the next bagel. I also had a large coffee and it was super tasty with a nice bold flavor. I just wish they had a small seating area so I could've enjoyed my sandwich warm. Instead, I walked the 2 miles to work and had a lukewarm sandwich. It was still fantastic! Thanks, Kismet Bagels. You made my day.

Visited Philly for a few days and this place was right by my hotel. I went here because they had gluten free bagels and I was so happy I did. I ordered a GF everything bagel with veggie schmear and it exceeded my expectations. The staff were friendly and the store was welcoming with bright, fun colors. I chatted with the cashier while waiting and Pink Pony Club was playing so no notes. I went back the next morning for the bacon, egg, and cheese on my same GF everything bagel and it was just as good. Worth noting that this is takeout only.

Excellent takeout-only place. High-quality bagels in a variety of flavors. Sea-salt rosemary is a combination that works really well. (But why no whole-wheat bagel? This omission needs to be fixed.) A well organized prep and counter team get you your fresh-prepared order fast

Kismet Bagels is a small bagel shop in Rittenhouse. This place is pretty popular with people coming in and out. The line moves pretty fast and your order comes out in a timely manner. There isn't seating inside so you'll have to take your bagel to go. I ordered "The Fish" on a sea salt rosemary bagel. They messed up my order at first and gave me a bagel with plain cream cheese, so make sure you double check your order before leaving! They gave me the right order when I came back. The bagel itself was slightly dry compared to other bagels I've tried, but the flavor of the sea salt rosemary was unique! The pickles in The Fish are so good! They add a nice sourness to the sandwich which balances well with the cream cheese. I loved how thick the tomato slice was too! Everything in the sandwich worked so well together. Overall, a pretty decent bagel shop but probably wouldn't be my first choice of places to grab a bagel in the city.

Excellent bagel, delicious bacon in my B.E.C on a sesame bagel with the most sesame seeds I've ever seen on a bagel. Friendly, prompt service.

I grabbed The Egg on an everything bagel and a jalapeño cheese bagel to go on a Sunday morning. The inside was small and a little busy with people waiting to pick up their orders (not really any places to sit and eat there). Unfortunately even 2 hours after opening they were sold out of the latkes which I wanted to try. It took a little less than 10 min for my sandwich to be ready. I liked the flavor of the egg sandwich, and it was pretty large so I was full for a while after! The everything bagel was also covered with seasoning which I liked

I first tried Kismet Bagels at the Collingswood farmer's market, and I finally got to get a bagel on my way to work today. I got an everything bagel with plain cream cheese. Service was quick and I was in and out of the store in just a few minutes. At first glance, the bagel seemed kind of small, but I was able to eat the whole thing and not get the itis after, so in fact it was the perfect size. I low key want to go back again for lunch but that might be a carb overload. Hands down the best bagel I've had in Philly.

Fantastic bagels. The lox bagel is fantastic. A must try for anyone that enjoys a proper bagel.

We have gotten the Plain Peaunt Butter Bagel and the Veggie Schemer Bagel (Both Toasted). The Peaunt Butter Bagel melts in your mouth,it's crispy and the peanut butter can be greasy. Only Does Takeout (no where to sit inside) The Veggie Schemer is very tasty! The service is nice and quick! Overall we will come back here!

Very good bagels for Philly. Not NY level but amazing for the area Small storefront with limited but tasty selection and fast service. Great breakfast stop

Fresh and warm homemade bagel sandwiches! Here are my thoughts about what I tried: I ordered the egg, cheese and zhoug sandwich. I can be sensitive to spice so I was worried about the zhoug, but the zhoug was not overpowering in this sandwich and provided a nice kick (that wasn't too spicy)! Cheese was yummy and melted perfectly. 2. The fish- the pastrami lox on this is to die for! I only got to try this from my dad, but wish I had ordered this myself. They were out of the latkes when I came (I would have loved to order one in a sandwich), and the chocolate chip cookies here looked divine, so I'll have to come back so I can try both of those!

I love this place it's my favorite bagel in the city the thing I love about this place is that they listen to the customers

Please do yourself a favor and order The Egg on the Rosemary sea salt bagel with bacon. It's simply one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth.

Had the spicy bagel, was alright. Service was good, but their preorder system isn't the best. Showed ETA as 40 min but mine was ready in 5'.

I consider myself a bit of a bagel connoisseur, and this bagel was easily one of the best I've ever had. Although Kismet may not look like much from the outside: just a small shop with a counter, their bagel sandwiches are absolutely bursting with flavor. I got The Egg on a rosemary sea salt bagel, which had eggs, sharp cheese, and zhug. The zhug was the best part: delightfully flavorful and acidic, it cut through the sandwich and added a bit of freshness. I also added a latke, which adding an amazing layer of crunchiness. The bagel itself was a game changer: crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, and super unique in flavor. The rosemary was a great herbal addition without being overpowering. Overall, I would highly recommend Kismet for a morning bite!

Top notch bagels in a hurry. Stop by and check these guys out if ya haven't yet. The Everything and Sea Salt Rosemary are perfection. The Fish is amaze lox Bagel classic with delish dilly pickle slices add a squeeze of their zhug sauce, (an herbally infused dream), to kick it up and you won't be sorry.

Rushing to grab a late breakfast as I passed by Philly and I'm so glad I opted to walk in this little shop. Service was great, I came a bit later in the day, so there was not as many bagels left, but I took a chance on a new flavor and I am so glad that I did. They also sell juices, coffees, and merch and spices. Will definitely be stopping by again to try some more of their menu options

The breakfast sandwiches were delicious. The everything bagels are very tasty especially with the onion & chives cream cheese.

I was in Philly for the weekend and on the hunt for a proper latke. When I found kismet, with both bagels AND latkes, I knew I'd found a gem. You can even get your bagel sandwich with a latke on top! In high school, I worked at a Jewish deli and bagel shop so I know a good bagel, and this was a good bagel. Crispy and chewy on the outside and soft and doughy on the inside. They weren't shy with the cream cheese, either. The latkes weren't my favorites, though, a little chewy and peppery. I love the logo design of the come-hither-potato on the bag. There was also no room to sit there, so we had to grab our bagels to go and eat them at the hotel. All in all, a good stop for a bagel to go, but I'm still looking for an amazing latke.

First thing is first - Kismet has solid bagels at a good price. Their egg stand which was really intriguingly good with the Zhoug. Why the three stars? Well, I was waiting in line for about 10 mins and right when the person in front of me was done with their order a guy shouted from the back "I need one egg bagel". There was a runner who took the last two egg bagels and threw them in a basket for online orders. I love egg bagels and had my hopes on one the entire time I was in line. I politely asked the cashier if I could snag that last one that was siting in the basket in the back visibly to me. She said no.... It would have been super easy of her to be hospitable and grab it for me, but she chose not to. I spent another 10 minutes waiting for the egg sandwich watching the egg bagel sit in the basket in the back. So sad :(

I ordered the lox bagel. It was on a well seasoned everything bagel, but dry and perhaps day-old. Overall very average. Have had more satisfying lox bagels at places both within and outside of NYC.

Really yummy vegan breakfast sandwiches. Good coffee. Very friendly staff. We will be back.