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 bitchen. I visit regularly from San Diego and hit this place. I find myself in awe of the staff every time. They hustle hard. They are moving fast and making a ton of orders. They must collapse after a shift. The breakfast bagels are amazing and the sauce puts it over the top. Great vegan options!! If anyone who works there sees this...Thank you!

I know I've tried them before at other location but this stands out. Got half a dozen 4 everything, 1 sesame, 1 rosemary. New Year's Day bagels at about 11 am. I'm assuming they are fresh bagels. But upon arrival home to start making breakfast sandwiches these bagels are rock hard. My partner said "they can't be fresh look-Knock knock knock". He tried to slice them in half and we ended up having to microwave them to get them soft enough to slice through. Sooooo disappointed spending $13 bucks on these!! I had to rush over to whole food to get another half a dozen :(

I wish this lasted long enough for me to take a pic of the bagel! It's a cute hole in the wall bagel place. There's no place to eat inside but the workers are kind and quick! My favorite drink is the blueberry matcha. It is definitely on the sweeter side but I love you can taste blueberry! My favorite bagels are the jalapeño cheddar and rosemary sea salt! Sometimes the rosemary sea salt is saltier than other times but I like salt so... :) My favorite schmear is the scallion but tried my husbands spicy everything and that was good too! Probably my favorite place for bagels in Philly! It is worth the wait! I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes even in busy days... but if you want to skip the line you can always order online!

Please excuse my insanely outgrown nails -- this was the most seeded everything bagel I've had in my entire life. Not only did it taste like I was eating straight bird food, but it was also incredibly salty. That said, the foundation of the bagel itself was solid, so I'd definitely go back and try a different type. This one was just ridiculous with the amount of seeds. It made a huge mess and completely overpowered the flavor of both the bagel and the cream cheese would recommend just warning about all the seeds !!! Also the bags are super cute

Cute bagel shop - I loved the inside and the merch. There's a decent variety of bagel options. I got the egg which comes with egg and cheese, zhung sauce , and I picked an everything bagel. It was about $9-10 for that! The bagel was chewy and fluffy, and I loved the sauce. My only complaint was the bagel was a bit salty and they didn't have much of a cheese variety.

Bagels are flat dry and so small. Just dry and don't get me started on if you want more then a plain bagel once you start adding things like a BEC or lox your at almost $14 they can only get away with the sub par bagels and astronomical pricing is because it's near rittenhouse. Schmear is so much better and a great price not in rittenhouse but worth the trip.

OMG the sandwiches here!!! I love a bagel sandwich, but usually frequent spread and schmear it in ucity rather than coming all the way to Rittenhouse. Kismet might make me visit more often though... The bagels themselves are good - not life changing, but I will never complain about a warm rosemary and salt bagel. But the fish sandwich took it to a whole different level! They were generous with the lox, had the most beautiful tomato I've ever seen with a bagel, and overall created the most delicious on-the-go brunch I could've hoped for. Plus at $14, the price isn't that steep for a bagel with lox! Will absolutely be back here - it can be crowded and overstimulating on the weekends, but it's worth it!

When bagels in Philly hit different...! The Egg bagel sandwich with zhug sauce lives rent free in my head. On my last trip to Philly, I visited Kismet Bialys, which has recently closed (please bring back the bialys someday!). I was so impressed by their food that I had to check out their bagel shop this time. They've got the cutest branding (a bagel mascot!) and sell their own housemade schmear and zhug sauce on the side. ＊The Egg on Rosemary & Sea Salt Bagel $9 I seriously regret not smuggling more rosemary & salt bagels in my backpack...it was DELICIOUS. Their housemade zhug sauce (a herby, slightly spicy sauce) took the bagel sandwich to a whole new level. Whatever you order here, ADD THE ZHUG SAUCE. ＊Iced Blueberry Matcha $7 The matcha flavor wasn't too strong, but it wasn't grassy either. Nicely balanced overall, Tbh it felt a bit pricey for what it was, but the blueberry syrup made it pleasant to get my matcha fix.

I have one word to describe the spicy bagel... wow. It may have been one of the best tasting schmear's I've have. That said the eggs were kinda jell-oy so I'm assuming they weren't freshly cooked. Also, very messy in a good way. Make sure to grab more napkins.

Quick service, delish as advertised, set up as a conveniently quick grab and go. Cool tshirts!

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.

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!

Decent bagel, it was not very chewy too bready in my opinion. I don't see the hyped ratings, could have been that batch as well I'll have to try another time. Schmears were good.

My egg bagel has no chew and all the taste and texture of a Lenders bagel. Even the cream cheese was inadequate: sweet scallion cream cheese and a light schmear despite paying an extra $2 for them to go heavy. Very disappointing.

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.

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.

We doordashed from here over the weekend, and I was pretty disappointed. I live in the DC area, and we don't get pork roll down there so when I'm up north I always want to get my fix. The bagel was average, the egg was microwaved, and although I asked for double pork roll, the four slices were so paper thin, it was barely there. I also wanted to try the latkes and they were also clearly microwaved or put in a toaster or something. The iced coffee was pretty terrible too. If I order from here again, I would only get bagels and cream cheese, the basics were better.

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.

Bagel texture didn't compare to nyc/nj bagels but I was impressed at the flavors of the bagels and the schmears

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.

Great service, and great bagels. A casual place for breakfast that won't break the bank. As a New Yorker I am picky about bagels and these were really good

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.

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 love it here!!! I got their fish bagel for $14 and the workers were very nice and Playlist was so good. This bagel was delicious! The freshness and flavor of the everything made it easy to bite into and chew, and i could really taste the seasonings 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 sandwhich. The toppings as well were perfectly fresh and crunchy with the cream cheese, and my favorite twist was the pickle chips inside, and dill as an extra herb. Love it!

Excellent bagel, good service, and clearly interested in their customers. Wish it was local for me!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 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.

Delicious bagels! Their schmear is heaven sent: easily the best bagels in Philadelphia!

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.

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.

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

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 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.

Amazing bagels and schmear. Lots of available bagel flavors, schmear flavors, zhug available, BEG sandwiches, tasty drinks, customizable orders. No seating, usually a line out the door because the bagels are so good. I got a toasted jalapeño cheese bagel with vegetable schmear and it was delicious. I'll try to stop in every time I'm in Philly

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.

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!

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 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.

Food was good and so was the service but the wait time was too much. Waited over 40 mins for 2 bagel sandwiches. Not sure if it's because it was a Friday morning or just unorganized but the food was good and a decent price

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.

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.