In putting together our list for Chicago's best bagels, one of our East coast-born staffers said the best ones to find are the dozen she flies back with from New York. Which is typical New York navel gazing bullshit. Chicago used to be home to the largest Jewish population in the country outside of New York City. Do you think they simply dumped bagels in favor of Italian beef and Chicago-style hot dogs? Border suburbs like Skokie, Lincolnwood and Evanston, and the North Shore, all have sizable Jewish populations.
Chicago doesn't have the breadth of bagel options to which New York may lay claim, which only makes the gems we feel are the best in the area further stand out. New York may have more bagel places; Chicago is more discerning.
We now present to you our choices for Chicago's best bagels. If there's a place we left out you feel passionately about, please chime in the comments with the locations. We're always looking for more.
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