Buffalo, New York, is a city known for its wings, its water, and… its bagels? Yes! While the wings might steal the spotlight, Buffalo boasts a surprisingly vibrant bagel scene. This comprehensive guide dives deep into the top 24 bagel shops across the city, helping you find your perfect, perfectly chewy, bagel bliss. We'll explore different styles, highlight unique offerings, and give you the inside scoop on what makes each place special. So grab your schmear and let's get started!
The Best Bagel Shops in Buffalo: A Neighborhood by Neighborhood Breakdown
Buffalo's bagel landscape is diverse, with each neighborhood offering its own unique flavor. To help you navigate this delicious journey, we’ve categorized our top picks by location:
Downtown & Theatre District
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Bagel Pub: This downtown staple is known for its massive, hearty bagels, perfect for those with a serious appetite. Their creative bagel sandwiches are legendary, often featuring locally sourced ingredients. Pro Tip: Try the "Buffalo Chicken" bagel for a truly local experience.
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Sophia's: A cozy café offering a smaller but perfectly formed bagel menu. Sophia's excels in classic bagel preparations, with a focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients. The atmosphere is charming and perfect for a quiet breakfast.
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Oliver's: A trendy spot with a focus on upscale bagels and unique toppings. Expect higher prices but equally higher quality. Their smoked salmon platter is a popular choice.
Elmwood Village
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Westside Bazaar: This bustling food hall features several vendors, including at least one dedicated to bagels. The selection changes occasionally, offering a dynamic and surprising bagel experience.
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The Spot Coffee: While primarily a coffee shop, their bagels are surprisingly good. A great option for a quick bite paired with a perfectly brewed cup of joe.
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Lido: A popular Elmwood Village haunt, Lido is worth mentioning for their reliably good bagels that are often incorporated into their brunch menu.
Allentown
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Henry's: This eclectic spot offers more than just bagels, but their bagels are consistently delicious and perfectly complement their other menu items.
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Acme: Acme is a popular spot in Allentown known more for their food than their bagels, but they're still a decent option for a bagel fix.
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Taqueria Los Mayas: A bit of a left-field choice, but their breakfast burritos often feature surprisingly excellent bagels!
University Heights & North Campus
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College Town Bagels: A long-time favorite among UB students, this spot delivers simple, delicious bagels at affordable prices.
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Blue Monk: Another popular coffee spot that offers bagels as a side. Perfect for a caffeine boost with a morning bagel.
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Local: Part coffee shop, part community hub. Their bagels are a solid choice for supporting a local business while grabbing breakfast.
Other Neighborhood Gems
The next 12 bagels shops span various Buffalo neighborhoods, each offering a distinct bagel experience:
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Preservation Station: Part of a larger culinary complex, their bagels hold their own amongst the other upscale options.
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Pearl Street Grill & Brewery: Believe it or not, this brewery offers up some decent bagels as a breakfast option.
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Aroma's: A classic neighborhood bagel place known for consistently high-quality bagels.
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Parkside Candy: An unexpected bagel source, this candy store offers bagels as an unexpected delight, perfectly complementing their sweets.
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The Black Sheep: A bar with surprisingly tasty bagels. Perfect for a late-night bagel craving.
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Sophia's (second location): Another location of Sophia's, offering their consistently delicious bagels to a different part of the city.
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Lloyd Taco Truck: This mobile taco vendor offers a limited selection of breakfast bagels that are quite enjoyable!
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The Dapper Goose: A restaurant with a brunch menu that sometimes includes bagels.
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Gabriel's Gate: Another restaurant sometimes offering bagels on its menu.
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Yalleys: More known for their chicken wings, this establishment also includes a surprisingly well-liked breakfast bagel.
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Dinosaur Bar-B-Que: A barbecue joint that, strangely enough, also has delicious bagels as a side dish.
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Thin Man Brewery: This popular brewery offers some bagels to complement its offerings.
Beyond the Bagel: Toppings, Schmears & More
The best bagel is subjective, and the perfect experience depends on your personal preferences. Consider these factors:
- Bagel Type: From classic plain to everything, sesame, poppy seed, and beyond – explore different textures and flavors.
- Schmear: Cream cheese is a given, but explore variations like veggie cream cheese, scallion cream cheese, or even flavored butter.
- Toppings: Experiment with smoked salmon, lox, avocado, tomatoes, onions, and more!
Finding Your Perfect Buffalo Bagel
This list is just a starting point. The best way to find your favorite Buffalo bagel is to explore and experiment! Start with this list, and happy bagel hunting! Let us know in the comments what your favorites are!
