When I’m hungry for breakfast, I can really only think of 3 things: Pop-Tarts, cereal, and a nice warm bagel. The first two are boring (and a little unhealthy), so despite being last on the list, bagels are probably my favorite breakfast food — and over the year and a half I’ve been in Hoboken, I’ve made it my mission to find the best one you can get your hands on. Back home, you could call me the bagel connoisseur, having tried basically every shop in Arlington, VA, so I came to Hoboken with high hopes. Turns out bagels can’t ride the train on their own, so Hoboken’s don’t always live up to the NYC standard just a PATH ride away.
Here’s how I’m ranking: At every shop, I order a bacon, egg, and cheese (BEC) on an everything bagel, since it’s my go-to and the fairest way to compare across the board. From there, I’m judging on bagel quality, price, the quality of the BEC itself, and—just as important —how I feel walking into the place.
With all of that out of the way, let us begin with the rankings:
SSS Tier: Bagels on the Hudson (802 Washington St A)
Bagels on the Hudson is good, and it’s worth the price. The bagels are firm and crunchy outside, soft and chewy inside — exactly what you want in the morning. Inside, this shop is as close as you’ll get to a traditional NYC bagel spot, with a no-nonsense ordering method. Their BEC comes piled high with crispy bacon and freshly scrambled eggs. Best of all, it’s open 24 hours — I can grab a bagel at 2:15 a.m. after a long night out. Incredible.
A Tier: Apollo Bagels (324 Washington St)
This New York City chain, known for its sourdough, recently opened a location further down Washington Street, and the bagels live up to the hype — crispy outside, wonderfully soft inside. Where it falls short is variety and pricing. This is the only shop on this list without a BEC, an immediate turnoff, though their smoked salmon (lox) bagel was a solid substitute. The catch: At the time of writing, a lox bagel runs $15 before tax. I get the economy is tough, but that felt disrespectful for the amount of salmon involved. Good bagel, but more of a treat than an everyday one.
B-C Tiers: Anything I didn’t have strong opinions on!
I’ve tried a lot of bagels in Hoboken, and anything I didn’t have a strong opinion on gets lumped in here. If I forgot your favorite spot, let me know — I’ll go get more bagels to try. (Also definitely a tax write-off.)
D Tier: Hoboken Hot Bagels (634 Washington St)
I first tried this place during last Stute Weekend and wasn’t a fan. I gave it another shot recently, and it’s still mediocre. Prices and atmosphere are great, and the BEC was flavorful, but the bagel itself is the problem — hard in some spots, soft nowhere. It tastes fine, but the texture throws the whole thing off. Fine in a pinch, but you can do better for the price.
Super F Tier: O’Bagel (600 Washington St)
Freshman year, I would’ve called this the best bagel near campus and cursed you off for suggesting otherwise. Older and wiser now, I’ve come to my senses: O’Bagel is expensive and not worth the hype. In my year and a half at Stevens, a BEC here has gone from $7.95 to $13.95 while getting worse. The bagel itself is entirely adequate — a little bready and soft, but satisfying enough. In a vacuum, that’s a B-tier. This isn’t a vacuum. Prices climbed while quality dropped, and no amount of new locations, a new mascot, or overpriced coffee makes up for that.
Overall, if you’re in the mood for a bagel, Hoboken has you covered — just watch your prices (and your carbs). Everything here is rated in good fun; enjoy whatever bagel makes you happy, and don’t let my whining get in the way. And if you’re a business owner reading this, why not send me a free bagel to review and maybe move up in the rankings? (For legal reasons, this is a joke.)
