Tompkins Square Bagels (East Village)
Now before I go any further, let me just say that before coming here I was not a fan of bagels at all. Maybe it’s because I grew up in California and the bagels aren’t as great here (sorry Boichik), or I always had them on road trips where I wouldn’t be as hungry. But this place, this place changed my mind on all that.
Tompkins Square Bagels is a pretty well-known spot for local New Yorkers to grab bagels on the go, especially in the morning. While some may claim to know better bagel spots in Manhattan, this seemed to be a pretty unanimous vote on taste and quality from nearby locals. Tompkins has three branches in Manhattan, but this review will be from the East Village location on 165 Avenue A.
My friend and I showed up around 1:30 PM on a Saturday for a very late “breakfast” (don’t judge), and we were surprised to see it still bustling with customers. The ordering line stretched to the back and customers were filtering in and out constantly.
There are a crazy amount of options to choose from, ranging from normal breakfast and lunch sandwiches to even sweet bagels with dessert-like fillings. However, I was told the bacon, egg, and cheese is the classic to go for and so I did. While the wait for our orders was only about five to ten minutes, finding seating is a bit trickier. With limited tables and benches, you may or may not have to eat at one of the tables outside the shop.
The bagels came out steaming hot and super “fluffy”, for a lack of better words as a Californian. The everything bagel itself (you can get it on other types of bagels) is incredibly soft and pliable, and smells heavenly. As the sandwich comes split in half, you are greeted by an oozing assemblage of bacon, egg, and cheese all melted and fused together in perfection. The first bite is where things get crazy.
While the ingredients are nothing special nor luxurious, the preparation is the key to Tompkins’ fame. The cheese is excellently melted without spilling onto your hands, and the egg is perfectly cooked without feeling rubbery or dense. Lastly, the bacon is plentiful and yet not overdone as to take away the texture from the other ingredients. It is so simple, and yet so delicious; truly one of the best examples that food can be amazing without a crazy price tag, especially in New York.
I was immediately sold on New York style bagels after this and I completely get the hype. And like I said before, sure there may be other places that you like better than Tompkins, and that’s totally fine. We’d love to hear about it for our next adventure and hope to try it too. But whether you’re a seasoned East Village vet or even a novice bagel eater like myself, Tompkins Square Bagels is sure to start your day right and have you coming back for more.
