PopUp Bagels

Pooja Patel 2 months ago

Stopped by PopUp Bagels for the first time and was really impressed. The bagels come out hot and fresh, which makes such a difference. The outside had the perfect crispness while the inside was soft and chewy. My favorites were the everything bagel, sesame bagel, and especially the scallion cream cheese. I also loved the unique concept of ripping the bagel and dipping it into the schmear instead of slicing it. It felt unusual at first but quickly made sense and added to the experience. The quality of the bagels and spreads was excellent, and everything tasted fresh. I’ll definitely be back for the hot bagels and scallion cream cheese.

Jaison J 4 months ago

Had a great time checking out PopUp Bagels. Despite the name, it’s not a temporary pop up shop it’s a permanent spot serving some seriously good bagels. They keep things simple with five bagel options: plain, everything, poppy seed, salt, and sesame. The bagels are served fresh and warm, and you can definitely taste the difference. One thing that makes them unique is their rotating selection of schmears. There’s a minimum order of three bagels, but it includes a schmear. On my visit, I tried the elote and scallion schmears, and both were excellent. It seems like they switch up the flavors regularly, which gives you a reason to come back and try something new. The line was pretty long, but it moved quickly and was absolutely worth the wait. The atmosphere inside is lively and energetic, although seating is limited to just a couple of high top seats, so most people grab their bagels and go. Overall, I really enjoyed the experience and would definitely make another trip out to try some of the other schmear flavors.

Rolo 4 months ago

This import from NYC has all the hallmarks of the classic NYC bagel. I wonder if they import their water for the bagel mix! But these are great bagels with an awesome exterior snap and soft interior. Eat this fresh and hot and just rip it and dip it in their schmear!! Went with traditional scallion but will need to try again with a unique schmear (eg chimichurri schmear).

Owen Porter 5 months ago

I’m giving this place 5 stars because the bagels rocked, but I also didn’t have to wait in line for them. Allegedly the line is around the block at all times so that probably would’ve knocked my score on these things. It’s a great bagel but probably not worth an hour wait. Get the salt bagel, they’re tasty.

Jonathan Lee 5 months ago

Quite possibly the best bagels I’ve eaten in my entire life. This famous East Coast staple has finally arrived in Chicago. I checked it out opening weekend and was not surprised to see a line down the block. Just the smell alone was irresistible. The total wait time for me was about an hour on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Many would say waiting an hour for bagels is outrageous, and perhaps they’re right, but sometimes you can’t help but give into following trends. The staff was so friendly and patient despite all the opening craze. Their enthusiasm and constant declarations of “HOT BAGELS” kept everyone cheerful and lively. I got a three pack with one salt, one sesame, and one everything, which came with one schmear of your choosing. Not sure why, but there was an extra everything bagel at the bottom of my bag, which just made my day! Fresh batches of bagels are constantly being baked and immediately served, so make sure to try the bagels right when you get them. The model here is grip, rip, and dip, and they encourage you to tear apart your steaming hot bagel and dip it directly into your tub of schmear. Every bagel was so amazing. Crunchy on the outside, the perfect chewiness, and