What's a Chicago Bagel, Anyway?

Bagels are a breakfast staple, a cultural icon and a comforting food that sparks endless debate over what constitutes the perfect one.

Across the United States, bagels have evolved to reflect regional tastes and traditions, offering a delicious glimpse into local cultures and cuisines. In Chicago, the bagel has taken on its own unique identity, shaped by the city’s vibrant culinary scene and diverse history. 

Exploring Chicago’s many bagels and other regional varieties reveals not only how this humble bread has been adapted from earlier forms, but also how it connects communities across the nation!

Does Chicago have a regional bagel?

A brief history of bagels in Chicago

The story of bagels begins centuries ago in Eastern Europe, where Jewish communities developed the recipe as a practical, portable bread. A difficult period of ostracization within Christian-controlled Poland prompted Jewish bakers to create pretzel-like breads that were boiled rather than baked, thus allowing them to be sold alongside “allowed” breads. It’s a pretty messy history, honestly, but the bagel has come out on top. 

Immigrants brought the bagel to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly to urban centers like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago that were growing rapidly during the Industrial Revolution. 

In Chicago, Jewish immigrants found a welcoming home and soon were contributing to the city’s industrial growth and vibrant cultural landscape. Neighborhoods like Lawndale became hubs for Jewish life, with bakeries and delis serving as community centers. The bagel quickly became a symbol of tradition and adaptation, evolving to meet local tastes while maintaining its roots. 

What makes Chicago bagels special?

While New York bagels are celebrated for their minimalism, Chicago embraces innovation, often using bagels as a base for hearty sandwiches loaded with meats, cheeses and plenty of fresh vegetables. The evolution of the bagel here mirrors that of the Chicago hot dog — a portable, convenient bread-based meal that’s topped with whatever is being sold on the street in the area! You’ll often find steamed bagels here in Chicago, which is often what distinguishes them from other regional bagel styles. 

The influence of Chicago’s food culture is evident in whatever kinds of bagel you find. The city’s love for bold flavors and comfort foods extends to its bagel scene, where you might find options like jalapeño-cheddar, sun-dried tomato or chocolate-chip-sourdough. Local Chicago bagel shops like New York Bagel & Bialy in Lincolnwood, Tilly’s Bagel Shop in the South Loop and Steingold’s in Wrigleyville offer an impressive array of tried-and-true favorites as well as innovative new creations!

Other regional bagels in the U.S.

While Chicago bagels hold their own, they are only a single part of a larger tapestry of regional bagel styles across the United States. 

In New York, the signature chewy bagels are made with malt and are cold-fermented before being boiled in heavily-salted water. Montreal offers bagels that are smaller, denser and sweeter than New York’s, since they’re boiled in honey-sweetened water and baked in wood-fired ovens that give them a smoky aroma and a slightly crisp exterior. 

St. Louis, Missouri, has its own technique of bagel preparation, too — though to say it’s controversial is an understatement. Here, bagels are sliced vertically from the top into at least 8 slices, allowing for “a greater ratio of cream-cheese to bagel.” Yeah, we’ll stick to our Chicago bagels, thank you very much. 

Each region’s bagels are, of course, shaped by local ingredients, cultural influences and customer preferences. This regional diversity highlights the adaptability of the bagel while still preserving its essence as a symbol of community and comfort (despite how some cities decide to slice their breads). 

In the U.S., the bagel’s transformation from a humble bread to a beloved national staple reflects the country’s diverse culinary landscape — from Chicago to New York to Montreal, St. Louis and beyond. In cities like Chicago, bagels are only a small part of a broader story of immigration, resilience and adaptation. 

Chicago’s bagels offer local twists on a classic food, embodying the city’s bold flavors and creative spirit. Whether you prefer a dense and hearty Chicago bagel, a chewy New York classic, or a sweet and smoky Montreal version, there’s a bagel for every taste.

So, next time you bite into a bagel, take a moment to appreciate the story behind it — a story that spans continents, cultures and countless breakfasts!

Enjoy!

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Featured photo by Caroline Ross on Unsplash