Vegan-friendly
Lacto
American
Delivery
Take-out
Catering
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Bagel and sandwich restaurant that offers around seven tofu cream cheese options. Open Mon-Sun 6:00am-5:00pm.
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831 3rd Ave (at Manhattan), New York City, New York, USA, 10022
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Last update on 22 Aug 2022 by Guest
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Added by ·X· on 11 Sep 2011
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44 Reviews
First Review by ·X·
DEdoc
Points +324
Long line! - Edit
We waited nearly 40 minutes on a Saturday morning but enjoyed the variety of bagels and tofu spreads. Veggies was crunchy and delicious. We had to repeat our order for 4 bagels/toasted/tofu spread 3 times but they got it right. They are so busy I would simplify your order as much as possible so they get it right. Note that later in the afternoon of course there was no line at all.
Read moreGuest
Marianmm
Points +36
Many options to choose from. - Edit
It's fun to have a variety of choices. Thanks!
Read moreGuest
andyjng
Points +5348
Gave Wrong Order... - Edit
July 2024 Update //
Read moreTLDR; challenging order for a vegan bagel, returned home and they gave me the completely wrong sandwich and I didn't realize until a few bites in that I ate salmon and cream cheese... went back and they made a new one
Came back after a year and have to drop down my ratings sadly after a pretty poor experience.
I came back for a bagel a year after first trying them. The only difference was me ordering it for myself this time, and realizing the staff are not as well informed or seemed annoyed when asked about what was vegan.
I first asked if all the tofu spreads were vegan just to make sure. After confirming, I asked if I could build a bagel sandwich with veggies and was received with a very odd look. A few more moments of back and forth questions and he went on to call me confused (which at that point I definitely was) but settled for what I thought was their Mr. Nova Lova Bagel minus the lox obviously.
I got rung up for their Signature Bagel ($18) ultimately and left feeling like a little kid that didn't know how to properly order. When I finally got home to eat the bagel, I initially thought they used the wrong bagel (I asked for an everything) and no avocado, despite them saying they'd add it since there was no sliced nova which arguably makes up most of the cost.
...few bites in I realized they gave me the completely wrong bagel with lox and actual cream cheese. I went back and they were able to make me a brand new one but this def soured my experience.
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OMG, I am writing this review and missing that toasty bagel I had from Ess-a-Bagel. My most recent trip to NY had us staying at a nearby hotel, and seeing that they had vegan tofu spreads, I was ready to try.
I had their everything (sesame) bagel with a scallion tofu spread and wow... this was everything. The bagel was chewy and toasty, and spread was delicious and tasted like a lighter cream cheese, and the combination of tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, and added avocado made this one loaded NY bagel.
I was only able to eat half since they were so filling but definitely saved the other half for another time. Next time I'm in the city, I'll def be back to try another bagel sandwich with another plant-based spread.
Updated from previous review on 2024-07-08
Guest
AirValen
Points +820
Great vegan bagels - Edit
Loved them! Great vegan spreads full of taste! Definitely will be back
Read moreGuest
guitargabe
Points +529
Great bagel and tofu herb spread - Edit
It took ages to get (be smarter than me, order online in advance and just pick it up when it’s ready), but this was a great bagel.
Read moreGuest
SaraRamelb
Points +92
Love these bagels! - Edit
So happy that they have a few high quality vegan cream cheeses !
Read morePros: Selection of options, Lots of fresh veggies to add, It’s an NYC institution everyone wants to go to
Guest
Notstevie
Points +1518
Lots of vegan options - Edit
Got a multi grain bagel with veggie tofu cream cheese and it was very good! Like 90% sure the tofu spread is Tofutti
Read moreGuest
Mariana95
Points +201
Great bagel - Edit
Had a great bagel with lettuce, tomatoes and plant based cream cheese (derived from tofu). Staff was a bit uninformed, but in the end they managed to get our order straight. They didn’t mark the plant based options on the menu, so you need to ask for it.
Read moreGuest
blua
Points +149
Uninformed staff - Edit
Two employees told me that the bagels were not vegan; they explicitly said that "we have some vegan spreads but the bagels themselves are not vegan". I now see that the same happened to another reviewer below, and that the restaurant's FAQ clarifies those employees were wrong. I wish I had known about the FAQ at the time, as I ended up leaving without eating anything and was very disappointed.
Read moreGuest
Emiliu
Points +214
Favorite NYC Bagel Spot (so far) - Edit
I've been to this bagel shop on two different trips to NYC, I love how generous they are with the tofu cream cheese (plain, veggie, or scallion). All their bagels were vegan and both times I've gone the bagels were fresh- still warm from the oven! Price is a little high, but typical for NYC ($5.75 for a bagel with tofu schmear, though it was less than $4 in 2019😒)
Read moreIt can get pretty busy, and I've always had to wait in line; there is , it's an in-and-out type of place, but I get a little smiley face on my bagel wrapper, so that's all I need.
Pros: Fresh!, Service with a smiley
Cons: Not a place to sit and chill
Guest
EsztellaKaskoto
Points +18
Great beagle - Edit
I have had an amazing beagle with tofu cream but unfortunately I have got the wrong coffee. I have asked 3x about oat milk from 2 different people and I have ended up with a normal milk 😞
Read moreGuest
Emmame
Points +18
No vegan options. - Edit
They did not have vegan bagels.
Read moreSharonR
The bagels themselves are vegan. Maybe they were out of vegan cream cheese?
Read moreEmmame
To me the staff told that the bagels are not vegan. Why aren't they aware of what they are selling then?
Read moreSharonR
Not sure, I just checked their website FAQ while standing in line and this is what it says "Are your bagels made with nuts, eggs & milk?
Read moreNo! Our bagels do not contain ANY animal products (no milk or eggs) and are nut-free. "
Emmame
Okay 🤔 I don't know why they were not able to make me a vegan bagel then but just said no when I asked. I tried to find out with another customer whether the bagels themselves are vegan and the answer was still no. The similar situation happened couple of times in NY. The staff was not aware whether the product they are selling contains animal products. I guess I then had a bad customer service experience. I even said "but u are on happycow" 🤷♀️
Read moreSharonR
Sorry that happened 😞
Read moreGuest
amkb
Points +153
Even the wrong order was delicious - Edit
Tofu cream cheese is fantastic. The line was very long but moved quickly. Unfortunately they made a mistake with my order so I ended up with a cinnamon raisin bagel and herb tofu spread. I couldn’t be bothered to go back and address it. Even with the odd combination of flavors, it wasn’t bad. The bagel and tofu were both delicious, though I wouldn’t necessarily order them together!
Read morePros: Tofu spreads , Multiple vegan bagel flavors
Cons: Long line
Guest
iloveveganicecream
Points +968
Delicious bagels with tofu cream cheese - Edit
We LOVE these bagels and LOVE that we can get tofu cream cheese right at the shop!!!! The plain, herb, and raisin walnut are all great. Be aware for the non-Jews here that fish is pareve, so if you order the lox tofutti it has real fish.
Read moreAlso, highly recommend taking your bagel to-go from the Third Ave location and walking a block to eat it in Greenacre Park.
Updated from previous review on 2022-06-18
Guest
emsher
Points +768
Fantastic Bagels & Tofu Cream Cheese - Edit
Tofu cream cheese tastes almost like the real thing. Absolutely delicious and many different varieties/flavors too!
Read moreGuest
DesertCard
Points +61
Good variety - Edit
Bit of a queue but it moves fast and is well worth it! We had bagel each for breakfast and it filled us up til lunch! There were a lot of tofu spread flavours, I particularly loved the sundried tomato on an everything bagel!
Read morePros: Great variety of options
Guest
FrauBausFamM
Points +636
A must every time I’m in NYC - Edit
Ess A Bagel is my number 1 breakfast spot whenever I am in town. Great variety of bagels, reasonable priced, amazing tofu spreads. I recommend the sundried tomato tofu spread on a whole wheat everything - but everything else I tried so far was great as well. Beware of the queue, though - if you are in a hurry, online order works fine and you can skip the line.
Read morePros: Many vegan spreads
Cons: Crowded during peak times
Guest
marvel_jen
Points +47
Yummy vegan cream cheese - Edit
A lot of vegan spreads! I tried the sun dried tomato and it was really delicious. Soy latte was really good too!
Read morePros: So many vegan cream cheese options!
Cons: Long wait! Order ahead!
Guest
AmyVCaroline
Points +2733
Tofu cream cheese bagels - Edit
Great choice of tofu cream cheese. Queue is always long but be prepared to know what you want when you get to the front! A must have, try and go on a weekday outside of meal times. We got ours to go
Read moreGuest
delicateillusion
Points +130
Best Bagels Ever - Edit
Amazing bagels and tofu cream cheeses of so many flavours! Honestly going to Ess-a is an experience all 'round. From the line, to the staff, to the most fantastic bagels and tofu cream cheese. It's our first stop in the city no matter what time we arrive and we always get a dozen to fly home. It's a must go!
Read morePros: Best bagel experience , Tofu cream cheese , Close to Grand Central
Cons: Get there early, line can be long but worth it
Guest
martint
Points +8323
Very good tofu spread - Edit
Very good bagels and tofu spreads (only few, though) but not sure if worth a queue of 1,5 hour... Cheap
Read morePros: Tofu spreads
Cons: Queue!!!!, Few vegan options
Guest
Poundie
Points +15256
Great bagels with tofu - Edit
This place has truly great bagels, among the best in NYC, and a bunch of options for tofu cream cheese. The tofu cream cheeses taste surprisingly good! On a weekend morning, there can be a huge line--this place is very popular. Bagels with tofu cream cheese taste good, but are not particularly healthy--but this place is great if you have a yen for bagels.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2019-10-29
Pros: Delicious bagels
Cons: Not particularly healthy
Guest
alig406
Points +441
So Good!!! - Edit
The cream cheese was light, fluffy and delicious. The bagel delicious! Totally hit the spot.
Read moreGuest
Debbo254
Points +44
Bagels are awesome! - Edit
Hhe Bagels are good, but i am not entirely sure they are vegan..
Read morethere are 3-4 vegan spreads which are good.. but honestly the place could be better organized.. you come inside and you do not learn about the vegan options on the screen. the line is every das crazy long, so be ready to wait at least 15 minutes to eat a bagel.
Pros: Good food, Bagels are mostly still warm
Cons: not many vegan options, not well discribed
SharonR
Just in case anyone else is worried after this comment: yes, the bagels are vegan. I checked their FAQ
Read moreGuest
LinVegan
Points +100
(Unorganized) Deliciously Pricey Bagels - Edit
Amazing texture and they even had 3 flavors of vegan cream cheese! However, expect to wait even with a ton of staff hanging around. Ended up paying $52 for a to-go of 3 signature sandwiches and a juice all while waiting 30 minutes (6:50-7:20am) on a not so busy day. It’s a “walk up” and we left the shop starved (since it was a to go).
Read moreGreat food but unless I order my sandwiches the day before, won’t be returning.
Pros: Vegan cream cheese, Delicious
Cons: VERY expensive , Slow service
Guest
DerHerrDanGer
Points +81
WTF.. - Edit
I had Bagels before. Not that many, but some. But those bagels blew my mind. Srsly! We stayed 5 nights in NYC and on 3 mornings we went to E-A-B. I would have dined in every day, but, we had to try some more stuff. Awesome. I wish they would open a franchise in some big cities in germany with the same concept, i guess the lines would be even larger than those beyond 7am in NYC. (simply bc NYC has a lot more bagel-selling stores around).
Read morePros: 10 types of Bagels, 7 types of vegan cream cheese, cheap and good
Cons: crowded sometimes
Guest
happycec
Points +29
Vegan cream cheese convert?? - Edit
Before having this bagel, I was a hard cut anti-vegan cream cheese vegan. I had tried others and thought they were all gross!
Read moreThis was amazing though! They had so so many sweet and savory options of tofu spreads. I went with veggie. All their bagels are vegan (one has honey though). I settled on an everything whole wheat. Some toppings (lettuce onion etc) are free, too.
Great fruit and coffee too😄staff are very friendly. I recommend ordering before hand online to beat the crowds!
Pros: Friendly staff, So many vegan options and vegan milk, Huge bagel sandwich was under 10$
Cons: Can be a bit busy—order online
Guest
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