It's on 2 of my lists. Each entry below is what I wrote about it there, with my verdict on that list, the fullest first.
- Address367 Grand Street
- From my guide, updated March 2026.
367 Grand Street. Take the F to East Broadway.
Technically Kossar’s is famous for their bialys (a bagel’s flatter, un-boiled cousin with caramelized onions in the center) and you should absolutely try one. But their bagels are also excellent. They’ve been open since 1936 and walking in feels like stepping into a different era. The everything bialy with cream cheese is one of the best breakfasts on the Lower East Side.
Kossar’s is also one of the few bagel shops where I think the bialy is actually better than the bagel. If you’ve never had a bialy, this is where to try your first one. Toasted, with butter. Trust me.
At Kossar’s the line wrapping the block says it all. These popular New York City bagels are consistently hot and fresh, the ideal canvas for the tons of spreads on offer. My friend, a lifelong local, considers Kossar’s the best bagel in the city.
Kossar’s flagship on the Lower East Side dates back to 1936, claiming to be the oldest operating Bialy shop in the country. Not keen to rest on their laurels, the shop still cranks out an absolutely delicious bagel worth traveling for.