The Chewish Deli

My experience at Chewish Deli was absolutely incredible! I ordered the steak egg and cheese bagel and it was a total flavor bomb. I was so glad I requested the extra fried onions because they were definitely needed and took the sandwich to the next level. The steak I had was exceptionally fresh, the cheese was perfectly cheesy, and the bagel was so easy to bite into, not tough at all. Overall, this deli sandwich was incredibly flavorful and satisfying. I will absolutely be ordering this exact meal again very soon!

Quite literally the best bagels I've ever eaten. I'm a Florida native, visited over 15 States, and had quite a few bagels in my time. If these are how bagels taste in New York City, I see why they're so popular. - The toppings are inexpensive, getting a good bagel can cost only $6?? With any real expense coming from adding double protein and the like. They have a good selection of sodas and drinks, one of the only places I've been able to find Birch beer being sold which I like. They also have some damn good sandwiches, although I've never bought any personally, I have had a friend or two buy them and I had a bite. - You see the owner often, which I'm really glad for as usually a lot of owners just kind of set up shop then leave to do other things, but I consistently see the guy here interacting with customers, taking orders, even in the being in the back cooking. If you want to support local businesses, THIS IS ONE OF THEM. - Overall just a great place to spend a brunch with a small group of friends, albeit there's very few seating, so either walk to the park nearby, or bring some folding chairs lol. - My only complaint is that review video by that one random lady, you know the one. It's like watching a desperate aunt trying to get attention from a toddler that wants nothing to do with her. Like, just eat the damn bagel, lady this ain't Disneyland 😭😭 - Great place, highly recommend.

They have the best Bagel in this area, I fall in love with Bagel because of their Bagel. I go to get my half dozen of bagels every weekend~ People there are very nice too!

Best NY bagels if you don’t mind a little NY attitude. These fresh made bagels and schmears bring me back to our time living in New England and close to New York. Definitely delicious and worth the trip. The lox and bagel was excellent as well. The atmosphere isn’t much too look at (and honestly I wasn’t expecting a New York style bagel spot to be). Think hole in the wall with nice outdoor seating but very much so worth a stop for a bite. My only complaint was the lady at the register just looked like she was having a bad day…. Maybe that was normal or maybe an off day but service could have been quite a bit warmer and welcoming.

You won't find a better bagel in this area. Honestly, hard to find a better one in NYC. All bagels are covered with toppings, chewy, and freshly made. The cream cheese is amazing! I also regularly get the vegan egg and sausage sandwich - its so tasty. Always busy but worth the wait.

This small and inviting deli has excellent bagels! I stopped by for a double lox & everything bagel and was blown away by the quality and speed of service as well as the great atmosphere in this little neighborhood. The food itself matched and even exceeded my expectations and I will be returning as soon as I get the chance! Soft, chewy bagels, cold and smooth salmon, and a wonderful iced chai absolutely made my morning.

Picked up a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich on a rainy day and it was really good. There's no seating inside so I didn't get coffee but it looks like they might have seating in the future.

Amazing bagels - some of the best I have had in the area. I would only recommend they use a little less cream cheese because the bagels are so good and don't need it. I would also recommend they not play death metal. :) great find!

Great little spot - especially considering the alternatives in Alexandria. Great quality bagels - good crunch with soft interior - good ratio of flavor and seasoning kn everything bagels. Grilled cheese is a hit. Cream cheese bagel - also great. Only qualm is the BEC could use a bit more bacon, but the BEC is still far above average in the DC area. Service wise it's fantastic, small business and great to support them - dog friendly and friendly staff. Highly recommend!

The food is solid. A tad expensive, maybe, but solid. I had a coffee, egg & bacon breakfast sandwich, and bagel with capers. The first two were pretty good, but the bagel was the best of the options. But it's really the ambiance of this chic little place that puts it over the top for me. The Chewish Deli is almost the definition of a hole-in-the-wall joint. No inside seating, lots of to-go orders. Yet there's often a line of people waiting to get in. I first visited on a Sunday morning but left because I didn't want to wait in line (and they don't do same-day orders on weekends). Yet even on a Thursday morning they seemed to be doing brisk business. I ate my breakfast on the hood of my car (PS - this is a residential neighborhood so good luck finding ANY parking) and the meal left me quite full.

As I had been on a pastrami kick lately, I knew that Chewish needed to be next on my list of Deli spots I had to try. I figured if anyone could give me a great-tasting bagel sandwich, it would be the shop with traditional New York-style bagels and a Jewish-style deli. I wanted to place an order online, but their online ordering system seems to always be offline. This makes it harder to view the menu, especially if you want to create your own sandwich, as their website only lists the option to do so, but not any of the meats or toppings you can add.  I decided to create my own bagel sandwich with an everything bagel, pastrami, corned beef, Swiss cheese, mayo, mustard, and sauerkraut on the side. To my dismay, the sandwich was overall a bit of a disappointment. The flavor in general for everything was pretty muted. I ordered an everything bagel but could barely taste the bagel seasoning and the bagel lacked that crispy outside and chewy inside texture. I ordered both pastrami and corned beef and was disappointed in the serving size. I also didn't receive my sauerkraut which was disappointing, but negligible. All in all, for a ~$12 bagel sandwich, I wanted and expected a lot more.

I ordered an Asiago, egg, cheese and turkey bagel for breakfast and it was good. It was my first time and I can see why the good reviews. It's a small local deli so expect to wait in line it's worth it.

Stopped at Chewish while visiting Alexandria. Love the name. We ordered Everything toasted with CC and Everything toasted with BEC. Great bagel, plenty of topping perfect chew. Will be back when in the area.

Two items to review: 1 star for everything with lox cream cheese 3.5 for cinnamon with plain cream cheese Maybe my expectations were too high going in, but I'm writing this while trying to finish up a terrible bagel. I ordered an everything bagel with lox cream cheese. The cream cheese is so salty, I had to scrape it off completely in order to eat any of this bagel. And I mean salty. I grew up in the South where we salt everything, so I'm not an anti-sodium advocate, but whoever prepared this batch of lox cream cheese...woo-weee, big-time fail. The bagel itself was okay. Honestly, it tasted a little stale, as it was hard. The other item we ordered was a cinnamon bagel with plain cream cheese. The flavor was great. The bagel also tasted stale though, which is especially disappointing for a stale $5 bagel. Overall, Bagel Uprising or Hot Bagel are much better options.

A long awaited try for me! Stopped in on my way to DC. The line moves fast, the food is good. The everything bagels shine! People are helpful and nice. We had some egg bacon and cheese sandwiches, and some bagels with cream cheese. Asiago bagel was disappointing, would have loved more cheese on the top so the Asiago flavor would be more prominent.

Just after not having such a pleasant breakfast/brunch experience nearby, we had decided to stop by Chewish Deli to check out their bagels. Their menu offers hand-rolled bagels (plain, everything, sesame, poppy, asiago, salt, and cinnamon+sugar), schmears, sides (such as cheeses, oven roasted turkey, etc.), breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and coffee. Be sure to be on the lookout on their menu for seasonal schmears. I had the Whitefish Salad on an everything bagel - the smoked whitefish salad is made by Ivy City Smokehouse, and the bagel sandwich came with tomatoes, capers, and red onions. I thought it was a generous filling, and while the sliced tomato seemed to have been heavily salted, it was still all pretty tasty! I also loved that the everything bagel was topped with tons of seasoning - yum! Staff was super friendly and welcoming; there is a sign that says that hot sandwiches will take about 10-15 minutes; mine was a cold version, so it took just a few minutes of a wait. The space is small and well-decorated; I absolutely loved the little photos of local patrons' fur babies on display! Most seem to order online, and there was a line outside. I'd love to come back and try their pastrami! Limited street parking is available around the area. +tasty everything bagel +Whitefish Salad +friendly service +street parking available

Tiny bagel shop with a bunch of bagel and cream cheese offerings Also have a few bagel sandwhich and drink options You are not allowed to eat inside I got a bagel and cream cheese and an iced vanilla latte. It was all solid

The lox bagel is delicious. A little heavy on the cream cheese and light on the salmon but the bagel itself is the best I've had around here. Even during Saturday morning rush, service was quick and I didn't have to wait long.

Not much to review to be honest. Quick in and out deli. Very small with limited parking on the street but people go in and out so fast parking wasn't a issue. Got a everything bagel with lox. Decent bagel nothing to brag about. Try it if you want something quick but $13 for a bagel and juice, you can find better.

I ordered a bacon egg and cheese bagel. The egg was unseasoned and there was a half of a piece of very thin bacon on it. Very disappointing.

Tried for first time today, pulled up to a long line, but an open spot right in front to park. Line moved amazingly fast due to the hustle of super efficient & friendly crew. Loved our choices, plenty of schmear on a tasty bagel that is pretty close to our all time favorites in NY, NY which is high praise. We had the Everything Bagel 1) as a breakfast sandwich 2) Lox Schmear - both were really good. Granddaughter had the Cinnamon Sugar with plain schmear which she enjoyed. We had a coffee (good) and a hot chocolate which received a thumbs up. We will definitely be back !!!

By far my favorite bagel place in DC. My only complaint is that they aren't closer to my house (can you move into my kitchen plz? Kthx) I've had basically everything on their menu at this point but my go to is always a classic everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. It's impossible to beat! 10/10 worth the drive out to Alexandria

Great bagels, coffee, and service! Had the everything bagel with lox and a cold brew. Was fairly busy on a weekday morning but the line moved quickly and we got out food in a few minutes. Love that they use local products and have a sign on the wall showing where items come from. There is no seating inside but there is a bench down the block if you want to sit and eat right away.

A small and very classic place, this is definitely a deli. I waited for my bagel while frowning at the Red Sox memorabilia, which is not welcome in this town. Their menu options didn't entirely hit what I wanted, with not a ton of veggie options to top a bagel or build a sandwich with (though their online ordering system wouldn't let me do much so maybe that's the issue?). But just getting an everything bagel with butter to tide me over yielded a sour, chewy creation that lived up to what you'd hope for from the name. Not cheap, but were I in the area more getting a half dozen to go would seem a wise decision.

Great bagel place with crazy good lox bagels. We are from Virginia Beach and was recommended this place from family. We came in here after hot yoga and got our bagels quick despite the Saturday morning rush. They have a wide variety of bagels, coffee, etc. Probably one of the best lox bagels I've tried. The cinnamon sugar bagel with the fig and honey spread was the perfect dessert to wash down the savory flavors of the lox. They even have books to read and while we were waiting for our food, I read a few pages of a bagel book that was quite intriguing! Definitely coming back when we are in the area.

Very nice people here and excellent bagels. Can't say much else as that's been my only experience so far but I do love everything bagels with cream cheese and lox.

You really have to look hard to find the Chewish Deli in Alexandria. There aren't big signs or someone in a bagel costume directing you there. Stay the course on your map because wonderful bagels are waiting for you. The Chewish Deli has a great staff, and excellent service. They have fantastic bagels too!

Ate there today and had an everything bagel with jalapeno cheese shmear. One of the best bagels Ive ever had. Loved it!

Best bagels in the DMV. Love their sesame seed bagels The line wasn't too bad for being a Saturday morning, and we received our food fairly quickly. Just wish they had place to sit inside, but the park nearby is perfect on a sunny day.

Solid bagels and sandwiches. Good people. Online ordering is reliable. Great neighborhood spot.

I often struggle with do I want breakfast or a Rueben. Really I have this internal dilemma more than you'd think. The answer is always, I want both. And Chewish Deli nailed it, I give you The Sunrise Rueben. Did I just find the perfect breakfast sandwich? Yes. I've had many other items here, the bagels are wonderful. A perfect delivery method for so many thing.

As a person from NY, I'm very picky with bagels. Chewish does a decent job with theirs. I've been to Chewish a handful of times as I stop on my way home from the food shopping nearby. When you arrive, you may see a large crowd outside. Don't be discouraged because they move very quickly in getting food out to customers. My two favorite items were the excellent white fish salad as well as the superb salted caramel coffee. Prices are also very fair. I'd recommend Chewish if you were in the neighborhood and interested in a good breakfast sandwich on a bagel or a tasty coffee, but I maybe wouldn't venture far out of my way for it.

Best bagel world! Super fast service and friendly attendees. Cutely decorated wonderful spot!

Enjoyed Their Food,,,,,,!!!!!!! Quality was Very Fresh . Great Prices. . The Penachio's from Boston

This place balls hard. In a sleepy part of old town, great bagels, lox, breakfast sandwiches, nice vibe (I pad order, self serve coffee, etc). Right next to Captain MAs. Pick up your fish for Sunday dinner at home!

I ordered here recently for the company I work for. The food was great and everyone enjoyed what was ordered. When I first submitted the order I messed up and texted them for a few changes. They made this so easy and they were so helpful. Everyone working was very friendly as well. Thank you so much!

Great bagels in the Alexandria area. Love the lox sandwich My only negative is all the Red Sox memorabilia. I'm a Yankee fan.

Excellent bagels. The place is hoping on the weekends but service is speedy. Worth a trip if in the area.

Ever since I moved here from jersey, I haven't found a good bagel spot. Been meaning to visit as I heard great things and now I'm hooked and mad it took me long enough to visit. Great bagels and already planning on coming back to buy dozens for my house. The customer service was also great as the young man brought my order to me outside when I took my two year old to the car. Highly recommended!

Perfect bagels. There's really no more to say fam, but I will so that you can get an idea of how good these bagels are. The area is in dire need of great bagels and Chewish Deli is where it's at. Chewish Deli bagels are not too big, with a crisp exterior and chewy interior, which is how bagels are supposed to be. I ordered my usual--sesame bagel with butter and lox and it was great. I took a few bagels home (another sesame and asiago) and had those over the next few days and they were also great after a day or two. Chewish Deli is small and your best bet is to order ahead. I pulled up just before opening on a Thursday, and there were a few people in line. I ordered inside and then waited outside for roughly about five minutes, which wasn't bad. Staff was extremely friendly and helpful and they bring the bagels out to you when ready. This review doesn't truly convey how excited I am about these bagels but they are definitely the best bagels in the D.C. metro area. All others pale in comparison and you'd be doing yourself a favor to visit Chewish Deli ASAP.

Lox on an Everything bagel was EVERYTHING I didn't know that I needed this day. Holy Shyt this was good- the Cream cheese was buttery. Then you had those poppy seeds, sesame & garlic crisps consumed with every bit of salmon. Combine all 3 & Oh my! @chewishdeli is relatively new(er) to Old Town. They went from being a food truck to having their own shop. All during the pandemic, believe it or not! I must say that I was thoroughly impressed. Big Thanks to the person that helped me, for the recommendation!

The bagels are delicious! I especially liked the Asiago bagel. The bagel breakfast sandwiches were tasty. We also got veggie cream cheese which- fair warning- was very chunky but I liked it. Did not try the coffee but will probably try some next time because it looked good. I also liked that they had seasonal menu items such as jalapeño cream cheese

The food is great and the place is super cute. Very affordable and the merch is really cute. They aren't open very consistently however, unfortunately.

Great crispy but soft and chewy bagels! A great local shop to have around the area. It can get quite busy but the service is quick. Their coffee is also very good as well.

Delicious bagels! Pros: Bagels are very fresh. They are soft, they have several different types and they are a good size. Their cream cheese is also excellent and it was great to be able to buy other toppings like lox on the side for groups (as opposed to just on sandwiches). Cons: The only real con to this place is that it's small and you have to do a lot of waiting outside--you wait to get in and then wait for your order. You also can't do same day online orders on the weekend. So, if you have young kids in particular it can be a little bit of a hassle. However, if you plan ahead and place your order the day before you can avoid having to deal with the wait/outside time.

It's the second time I ordered from there by now. Pros: Their bagels are just as good as the ones I had in NYC when freshly house-made. Cream cheese is smooth. Service was superb. They perfectly executed the latte how I specifically requested to be done. They didn't skimp on the salmon meat in their lox cream cheese. I rarely tip on pickups but these guys were the exception. Minor cons: Although I was able to order adding sausage to their basic egg+cheese bagel sandwich in person, only bacon is the available addition online. They're close Mondays and Tuesdays.

good but small bagels for the price... but i get it, rents high. would come back though. i really do like the pastrami one

I've been to Chewish twice now as well as several other bagelries in the area and have to say they nail it here. Both times I had lox on toasted everything with the works. The bagels have that amazing textural contrast, the lox is flavorful and fresh, and they aren't skimpy on the onions, capers and tomatoes. Both times I visited were Sundays and they were extremely busy but the orders came out very quickly. Definitely recommend for a solid experience and am looking forward to trying the rest of the menu if I can break away from the lox!! As a bonus they have Dr. Brown's Celray!

Their bagel sandwiches are delicious! Always fresh, perfectly chewy and the everything and Asiago bagels are my favorite - great seasoning blend and adds a nice crunch. All the house made schmears are DELICIOUS too - jalapeño cheddar and the garlic are my top picks. Quick service, a little less busy in early mornings but if you go after 10 expect to wait 15ish min. Worth it though!

They finally got it together and it's now a much smoother ordering process. Food quality has increased as well. Took away a star after seeing the owner flick a burning cigarette butt into the alley then run back inside. This isn't NYC. my man.

Absolutely the best bagels in Northern Virginia or Washington DC area. The bagels are better than probably New York. Fantastic consistent service general good vibes -,the Reuben sandwich is nothing like I've ever had before and fantastic. I usually order lox with an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese. Fabulous darling.

Chewy fresh bagels with homemade lox. Best around our area. Everything Bagel Toasted

$9 for a bacon egg and cheese sandwich? Where is the meat!!! Feel like I got ripped off.

First time in and had an outstanding bagel breakfast sandwich. Bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel definitely hit the spot! Very excited that have great bagels and deli in our new neighborhood!!! Will be back soon to try the lunch offerings.

I recently learned that Call Your Mother ditched their plans to open an Old Town location. As a semi-regular patron at Chewish Deli, my heart sunk. I was so excited to not have to eat at Chewish any more, but alas...for the foreseeable future I'll continue to have no choice. Look, their bagels are good. For now, at least they're the best in the area. I can't deny that. The problem is they know it. There's no other explanation for how poorly and inconsiderately run this place is. In the food world, there's nothing worse than a business owner who doesn't need the money, and whether or not that is the case for this owner that's exactly how it feels. They don't open until 8:00 or 8:30 . They aren't open half the week. Every few months it seems they close for more than a week at a time. And when they are open, their systems are absurd. It takes forever to get your order, and the only reason I can fathom is because they're swamped with online orders. But I've literally never gone on their website and found their online system to be active - it's always turned off! A phone call could be a good option, except they never once answer their phone. Again, I do like their product, I just wish they'd do better.

Chewish Deli is a great spot for bagel lovers, with a variety of delicious options that are otherwise hard to find in the area. The bagels are fresh, chewy, and satisfying, with a great selection of toppings and spreads to choose from. The service is friendly and attentive, making it a pleasant experience overall. However, parking can be a bit challenging depending on when you visit, as there are limited street parking spaces available. Additionally, it's important to keep in mind that the store hours are limited, so plan accordingly. Overall, Chewish Deli is a must-visit spot for anyone looking for a great bagel in the area, with friendly service and delicious options to choose from.

Bagels were delicious. Service was friendly and inviting. Ambiance: dog photos! What more could I ask for?!

Thank goodness I have discovered this place. I live so close to it, I've had it more times than I'd like to admit. As everyone else has said, they are sooo nice and chewy on the inside. The schmears are to die for. I've tried all of them. I've also ordered salmon lox on the side a few times so I could make my own lox bagels. So good. I think this next time I'm going to try a breakfast sandwich and some pizza bagels. I've done the online ordering each time and it's always been ready around 8:30am. I've never waited in line. Some days it's looked busy and other days the line hasn't been an issue! I love this place and can't wait to get another order!