The Original Bagel

2914 W Chester Pike
Broomall, PA 19008
(610) 353-9600

In the ever-expanding quest for the best bagels in the Philadelphia area, I was tipped off to The Original Bagel, located in Broomall. It is the type of place you would never think twice about, as it is a minimalist storefront in a nondescript strip mall.

They have bagels here. And along with cookies, and bialys, that is about it. Which is perfect.

The variety is all there, including half and half, jalapeno, french toast, and egg poppy.

They are also no slouch on the cream cheeses. I love the lox, and the garlic herb.

And just when you thought I was not going to talk about whitefish, they also have a DELICIOUS whitefish salad that is loaded with cracked pepper.

An everything bagel with whitefish and a slice of tomato makes for quite the breakfast. Smokey whitefish, a crispy, chewy bagel, and some crisp tomato also known as Jewish Wheaties.

The doughy center of the bagel is just perfect for holding in all of the soft whitefish salad, and the salty, poppy laden exterior gives you something to grip onto.

My personal favorite, however, is just any one of their bagels (untoasted!) with the cream cheese spread of your choice. About $2.50. Plenty of food, and packed with flavor.

I wish bagels weren't so bad for me so that I could wake up to this every day. Until then, I will just eat them once (or twice) a week.

New York Bagels

7555 Haverford Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19151
(215) 878-8080

Well, let it be known - Philly Phoodie has officially moved out of the city. That's right, welcome to suburban life. This doesn't mean that my search for the best food is winding down, on the contrary, I am casting an even wider net.

Keeping busy with a new house and the move has been arduous (hence the shortage in posts) but all of the long days full of monotonous tasks facilitate an extraordinary need for a filling breakfast. First catch in my official suburban net happened to be an authentic kosher bagelry. New York Bagels is located in a very non-descript strip mall on Haverford Ave just off of City Ave/Rte 1 - you can't miss it though because it's right behind a very obnoxious McDonald's.

When you find it, you'll be so glad that you did. There is a lot to see inside and the overwhelming smell of fresh baked & seasoned bagels will have your mouth watering right off the bat.

On top of the standard bagel case are a few additional offerings (including the above pictured bagel sticks) and one item, in particular, was calling to me.

Just look at the coverage on these everything bagel flats. They're so thin with such a dense coating of salt, garlic, seeds and deliciousness, I couldn't wait to place my order.

When I finally got to the register, I was greeted by the man himself - owner Nick Abdoul. He is very kind, helpful and he definitely knows his bagels. For about 15 years, he's been boiling and baking the best bagels in Philadelphia. Full disclosure, don't even try to go on a Saturday - they're closed to keep Shabbos. This shouldn't come as a surprise, after all it is an Orthodox operation!

There's a "serve yourself" coffee station, so don't be shy - pour your cup as soon as you walk in.

Being the whitefish salad lover that I am, I couldn't not order it here.

Even with those amazing bagel thins on my mind, I had to try the classic everything.

Crusty outside, chewy inside, these bagels don't need toasting. Not even for a second. They are perfect.

The whitefish got a little sloppy, as to be expected, but the flavor was right on. Creamy texture with that punch of smoky fish in every bite. My only critical comment here is that I would have liked some other accoutrements like tomato, red onion and/or cucumber to add some crisp, vegetable variety.

Next up was that gorgeous everything flat with a smear of house-made veggie cream cheese.

Amazing. Thin, but not so thin as to lose that perfectly chewy inside. So flavorful. The vegetable cream cheese had larger than usual chunks of red pepper and cucumber that added just the right amount of crisp freshness that I was looking for.

We got 4 bagel thins to go and ate them over the next 2 days. Day 2 was probably pushing it, they were a little rough on the jaw by then, but my god, these things are good. Don't even think about getting your bagels anywhere else.

Custom Bagels

15 South Olive St.
Media PA, 19063
(610) 891-6761
Website

Bagels are a point of contention in the Philadelphia area. There are lovers, haters, and a load of non-believers. I am no bagel purist, but I do enjoy a good boiled-n-baked breakfast bread.

Custom Bagels is located out in Media, and on a recent trip out that way, I decided that they were worth a shot.

The inside is set up like just about every generic bagel shop I have been in. I mean, its a bagel shop, after all.

I heard they baked their own bread too, and seeing a Boars Head logo, I felt a hoagie was in order with my standard whitefish bagel.

The Italian grinder was okay. I wouldn't get it again, but it was fine in a pinch. The bread was pretty good, but it's hard to compete with the seeded rolls most delis use.

The whitefish salad itself was okay, not mind blowing, but it served its purpose. The bagel itself, however, was delicious. Chewy, yeasty, and well coated with "everything" seasoning, I should have grabbed a half dozen for the road.

Asking for anything more than a delicious bagel and cream cheese from a bagel shop is a bit drastic. For that reason, I appoint a 3 cheesesteak ranking, and urge you to get some breakfast with a hole in it during your next sojourn to the 'burbs.

Famous 4th Street Delicatessen

38 South 19th Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 568-3271
Website

The Famous 4th Street Deli is one of the landmarks of South(ish) Philadelphia. Politicians, locals, and anyone searching for Philly's answer to the famous delis that are so so overplayed by our pretentious neighbor to the north, seek it out for the over-sized sandwiches and comfort food. I usually hit the South Philly original, but they opened a shop in Center City, and I felt that it was worth a trip to see how it stacked up.

They maintain the same white and black subway tile aesthetic, and the same level of attentive service.

They also provide one of my favorite free starters of all time, a mixed bowl of pickles and vinegar slaw.

The offer a variety of half sour, and sour pickles, the full sour being absolutely delicious. This is a tart, salty treat that will set you up for the gigantic meal you are about to receive.

The whitefish salad is perhaps the best I have ever encountered. At $17, it probably should be, but it will serve two for breakfast. Even I can't eat three pounds of whitefish in one sitting, so it is probably a good idea to split, or be prepared for a significant amount of leftovers. Served with your choice of bagel (everything all day), choice of side (potato latkes), cream cheese, cukes, olives, red onion, tomatoes, and capers, its a serious meal. The whitefish itself is a smokey, chunky, creamy blend that really showcases the quality of their fish. I can't recommend it highly enough. Also, if you have never had whitefish salad, you need to go try it as soon as you can. If you like tuna, be certain you'll love whitefish.

I actually had the rest of mine for dinner the next night. Not too bad at all.

But perhaps more importantly, the pastrami needs to be addressed. The pastrami Reuben is built from the stuff dreams are made of.

Many people love corned beef, as do I, however, pastrami is the end-all in my opinion. Mostly because it IS corned beef, just with an additional step - it's smoked. Famous 4th Street is not stingy with the meat. However, they don't expect you to be stingy with your wallet, as this sandwich will set you back $16. That being said, there are about two pounds of meat on this beefcake, and you can upgrade to the double (zaftig) for another $3. Pastrami, rye, Swiss, kraut, and Russian dressing, make for an amazing sandwich.

Peppery, fatty, salty, smokey, and rich, the pastrami melts in your mouth. It's just perfect. Did I mention, there is a ridiculous amount of smoked meat on this one?

The tangy dressing and sour kraut are two of the best additions that could be made. Swiss adds some creaminess and a bit of nutty flavor, but plays second fiddle.

The macaroni salad is creamy and delicious, and another rich addition to this gut busting, calorie-laden food fest.

I "accidentally" let some of the pastrami fall out to the side of one-half of the sandwich, still leaving a much more than reasonable amount in there, and took it home with me.

I took said pastrami and made some pastrami hash for breakfast. It was delicious.

Overall, Famous 4th Street's is probably my favorite pastrami in the city, and the whitefish is among the best anywhere. Anyone disagree?