Philadelphia Bagel Shop Ranked Among Nation's Best

PITTSBURGH, PA — A Philadelphia bagel shop has been rated as one of the nation's best bagel shops by BonAppetit.

BonAppetit published "The Very Best Bagels in the US (Yes, Outside New York)" in late June.

"As a trickle of buzzy new bagel shops turns into a full-on bagel boom, bakers aren’t looking to mimic New York quite the way they might have 10 years ago," the publication's staff wrote. "The New York bagel is as revered as ever, but new approaches are taking shape from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. Bakers are blending influences and regional styles, getting creative with toppings, and treating bagels like a special event."

Korshak bagels in Philadelphia that made the list.

Here's what BonAppetit said about Korshak:

There’s always a line outside South Philly’s Korshak Bagels—and for good reason. A Korshak breakfast sandwich is so crisp and chewy, one bite will leave you feeling like Liz Lemon on Sandwich Day—a result of owner Phil Korshak’s 20 years of bagel expertise.

Korshak’s bagels are made with a natural wild yeast-fermented starter named Helen Mirren and go through a 48-hour slow-rise process before being boiled and baked to crisp and chewy perfection. You’re made to feel comfortable by the warm staff, who are excited to talk you through the bagel-making process and recommend an order. It’s a no-pressure environment to make the important decision between a sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese and an “egg-rything” bagel with whitefish salad. Sure, this sounds hard when there are approximately 50 people waiting behind you, but at Korshak you’re among people who understand the importance of the perfect bagel order.

There are options if you want something traditional, but I like to take the sweet path, with the Banana Foster Wallace. It features marshmallow fluff and warm banana tahini jam on a cinnamon raisin bagel, and it’s the kind of sandwich I think about long after that last bite.

The publication recommends following Korshak on Instagram to stay up to date on special offerings, and to arrive early — about 20 to 30 minutes — to avoid the lines.

Another Pennsylvania spot to make the list is Pigeon Bagels is Pittsburgh.

Check out the full list from BonAppetit online here.