Many New Jersey and New York natives may argue that the best bagels in the world can be found in their hometowns. While this may be true, DC has a few spots where you can find classic NY-style bagels, one of the most popular being Bethesda Bagels. With four locations in the DMV area, Bethesda Bagels has been serving a variety of handmade bagels for over 25 years. From the sweetest to the most savory, here are my top 10 favorite bagels on the menu at Bethesda Bagels.
1. Cinnamon Chip
Bethesda Bagels' more-cinnamon-less-raisin take on a classic bagel flavor is the perfect choice for a breakfast treat! The cinnamon chip bagel is even better when heated up, which melts the cinnamon chips for a gooey texture. Paired with cinnamon butter on top, the cinnamon chip bagel is one of the sweetest choices on the menu.
2. Rainbow
Although they may look to be a different flavor, rainbow bagels are actually just plain bagels with the perfect balance of food coloring. Bethesda Bagels' rainbow bagels are especially popular among younger kids who are fans of the bright rainbow swirl. The colorful bagel can be served with the same toppings that you would put on any other bagel, so why order a plain bagel when you can have such a vibrant and eye-catching alternative with the same taste?
3. Egg Everything
Bethesda Bagels has three variations of everything bagels- plain, wheat, and egg- but their egg everything bagels stand out from the rest. This bagel is the perfect balance of flavors with sesame, poppy, salt, garlic and onion on top. Plus, the egg in the bagel provides a boost of protein that will keep you satisfied throughout the day.
4. Banana Nut
If you are as big a fan of classic homemade banana bread as I am, the banana nut bagel is for you. Made with fresh bananas and walnuts, this bagel resembles the taste of banana bread in a completely different form. I highly recommend trying the honey raisin walnut cream cheese with this bagel for a savory morning treat or an afternoon snack.
5. Orange Cranberry
Another option for fruity-bagel-fans fans is the orange cranberry bagel. The zesty orange flavor mixed in with dried cranberries makes for a tangy treat. For an enhanced fruity taste, try pairing the strawberry or blueberry cream cheese with this bagel.
6. Chocolate Chip
As a fan of anything with chocolate involved, the chocolate chip bagel at Bethesda Bagels is my personal favorite. With chocolate chips added to a cocoa powder infused bagel, this flavor is a chocolate lover’s dream. I recommend trying it toasted to allow the chocolate chips to melt and adding plain cream cheese to top it off.
7. Blueberry
The sweet blueberry bagel has fresh blueberries mixed into a blueberry-infused bagel. My all-time favorite combination of any bagel and cream cheese is this one with strawberry cream cheese. The blueberry and strawberry flavors enhance each other, and the purple bagel with bright pink cream cheese is almost too pretty to eat (almost!).
8. Sun-dried Tomato
I really liked this bagel more than I expected to. The tomato flavor is very strong and pairs well with a variety of toppings. I tried it as the base of an avocado BLT and found it to be a perfect combination. If this bagel alone isn't enough tomato for you, try it with the sun-dried tomato cream cheese on top.
9. Asiago Cheese
Asiago bagels are popular everywhere (since we just can’t seem to get enough cheese), and I found this to be no exception at Bethesda Bagels. The cheesy flavor is strong, and can be enhanced by using the Asiago bagel as the base of a plain or pepperoni pizza bagel.
10. Jalapeño Cheddar
Another option for cheese lovers is the jalapeño cheddar flavored bagel. Be warned - it is spicier than you may think, and has a bold flavor that adds a little kick to your morning sandwich. However, if you can bear the spice, this is the perfect flavor for you. The jalapeño cheddar bagel can go with a variety of cream cheese flavors, including veggie, olive, roasted red pepper, cracked pepper & caramelized onion, or, for those with the strongest taste buds, jalapeño cheddar cream cheese.
Be sure to check out one of Bethesda Bagels' four locations in Bethesda, Dupont Circle, Navy Yard, or Rosslyn!