Murray's Bagels
242 8th Avenue
(between 22nd St & 23rd St)
New York, NY 10011 (646) 638-1336
- Nearest Transit:
23rd St-8th Ave (C, E)
23rd St-7th Ave (1)
23rd Street (PATH)
- Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
56 Reviews for Murray's Bagels
Really good bagels. No toaster. But as long as they're fresh, they don't really need to be toasted.
They have regular, light and tofu cream cheeses.
If you're getting a large order, do yourself a favor and place it in advance so you don't have to wait for them to prep.
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These bagels are hella wicked sound cool awesome sweet sick amazing great rad good tight excellent nice gnarly awsome fantastic radical crazy hot phat badass mad super brilliant ill insane killer fun nang bad safe dope ace sexy fresh very hip mint pimp fly swicked wow best fab heavy evil chill dude groovy bomb.
Yeah, you heard me.
My crutch is the garlic bagel with maple-raisin-walnut cream cheese. I could do without the raisins, but THE COMBINATION IS SO DELICIOUS I DON'T CARE ABOUT THE CREEPY LITTLE RAISINS IN MY CREAM CHEESE.
Have lots of fixins, other sandwiches, pastries and so on. They seat maybe 20 people if you are all sitting like you're an Irish family in steerage on the Titanic. Expected businesslike/gruff guys behind the counter and those little tri-fold white napkins make the experience of my bagel and cream cheese the perfect capper to a running errands-birthday present shopping-wearing sunglasses while wandering the sunny city kind of day.
It's homey.
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I LOVE bagels, and I mean REAL bagels, not the crap that you get in the supermarket, wrapped in plastic that taste more like a loaf of bread than a hearty round slice of heaven. Too bad that more people across the country can't experience the same joy, as us New Yorkers can on a regular basis.
Anyhow, I stopped in Murray's for the first time last week, knowing that I had to try these bagels which I had read about. I went in, ordered my customary garlic bagel, with one of the "high end" salmon offerings on veggie cream cheese and red onion. They bagged up and I brought it to my office to enjoy.
I opened the bag, unwrapped the bagel and -- DAMN -- this bagel was gi-normous. A nice size bagel that apparently does not need toasting (it is my understanding that they don't toast them anyhow). I was disappointed though that the bagel had all of like six pieces (no kidding), of garlic flecked onto the flesh of the bagel -- when I order a garlic bagel (or any other type of bagel), I want to see it COVERED in the goodness that I have ordered -- on at least one side of the bagel! Maybe I got one that was just an orphan and did not get the proper treatment it deserved upon making it. Who knows -- only time will tell.
My only other observations are that while the veggie cream cheese was good and plentiful, it was just "ok" as far as having veggies embedded within it. And the Wild Pacific Salmon was good, but not quite as fresh as I had hoped -- maybe I got the last of a fish that was waiting to be finished off -- again, I am not certain.
This place does deserve the four of five stars I am giving it, because the bagel itself -- less the garlic -- was wonderfully large, chewy and crusty, and of course worth another visit.
Now, thinking about it, maybe I will go back tomorrow morning.
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"Okay, let's make a bet. How many seeds do you think I have in my teeth?"
"Definitely one. What about me?"
"Gonna go with four. At least."
On your mark, get set, smile.
These were the most delicious and seediest, if that's even a word, everything bagels I've ever had. Seeds on both sides, both sides now! Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Behold the whole wheat everything bagel.
And Murray, I loved every minute and every seed. I know Zagat loves you too but please understand I must remain 5 star loyal to my local village bagel shop, David's.
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I came here twice during a recent trip to NYC, since the hostel I stayed at was nearby... the first time, we got a bagel with spinach-dill tofu spread, and the second time, we got sun-dried tomato shmear. Both times, the bagels had a nice mouth-feel - chewy, but not at all difficult to eat. The spreads were great! I especially liked the sun-dried tomato cream cheese, which they are very generous with. Very smooth and creamy with nice bits of sun-dried tomato to chew on. If you come on a Sunday morning, as we did the second time, be prepared to wait (though the line moves fairly quickly) and don't expect you'll easily find a seat. As an aside, I recently saw that tofutti spread has transfat!!! It made me wonder whether all tofu spreads have this - ironic given that I'm sure a fair number of people would consider tofu spreads for health reasons.
I tried this place out while visiting NYC March 2008. These bagels were good, but they weren't New York City good. They tasted like they could've been made in Ohio. It was tasty, but I left disappointed. This one has been over-yelped. If you are looking for a damn good NYC bagel, don't believe the yipe.
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I am convinced these are everything a New York bagel should be--crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and in no way leaden or mealy. No, you can't be wishy-washy when you're ordering, but at least here the food is worth the momentary sense of panic. Try the kalamata olive cream cheese.
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Good stuff here...have a hard time eating bagels that aren't toasted. Even without the toasting, they were dee-lish!
Now if they could only teach 'em how in SF...
Cool ambiance (good music playing, not too crowded, cool metal ceiling finishing) and lots of stuff on the menu I wanted. A little overhyped though. My pumpernickel bagel w/ scallion cream cheese was great, but not the best. The nova was tasty, but did not rise to the level of Barney Greengrass.
i take away a star b/c they don't have blueberry bagels but *shrug* whaddaygonnado
i can smell the bagels from a block away - my sister loves the smoked salmon cream cheese.... i prefer the veggie. the bagels are as big as your face: crusty exterior soft & chewy interior. the poppy seed bagels are COVERED in the little buggers that are inevitably going to get stuck in your teeth.
i recommend the fesh squeezed orange or grapefruit juice.
I had my maiden new york "toughen up kid" experience here. One of many during the last two years, but certainly one of the more memorable.
The week before I started working, I waltzed into Murray's thinking a bagel and coffee would be an enjoyable morning repast and a classic New York experience. Sauntering up to the counter, I asked the Murray's man to reccomend something to me. I was quickly prompted to order or move on, and so I did. In a panic, my mind seized on the nearest bagel and topping: An everything bagel, with scallion cream cheese. My stars must have been aligned correctly that day because this turned out to be a delectable combo. One star off b/c of the supremely rude treatment on day 1, but it might have just been Toronto emigre adjustment blues. I go back and order the same thing again and again. I'm carbolicious (you need to mentally hear a fergie inspired backdrop to that statement to get the true hilarity therein).
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Murray's Bagels are tasty and excellent, especially the everything bagel; too bad thats all the restaurant has going for it. I have never witnessed such incompetence by a group of people as I did when I looked behind the Murray's counter. Staff members frantically running back and forth without purpose (obviously illustrated by our ridiculously long 7 minute wait for 2 bagels with cream cheese and lox). This was compounded by a surly cashier who rudely scoffed at my girlfriend when she asked for a chai tea with low fat mlk. Her replacement at the task was unable to perform basic arithmatic. Worst of all, the bill for two bagels (lox and cream cheese), an orange juice,small coffee, and a small cup of fruit came to $35. Ridiculous prices, horrible staff, save the grief and go somewhere else.
Okay, I have a ritual when I come to visit. On my last day, my last morning, I go here to pick up a dozen to carry on the plane with me so that I can have some back home in San Francisco for a week or two.
Delicious!
If you eat here, you'll get a ton of spread on your bagel so it's a messy endeavor. Not for first dates!
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i just finished my whole wheat everything bagel with egg n cheese.....yummmm. its hard to find a good bagel place in the city. Murray's has every bagel & every spread you can think of! & the coffee is pretty good too. yayyy!
ps-long lines
ooook its now like 2 weeks later, and Murray's isnt as good as I thought. The bagels are pretty hard! Definitely not how I like mine. Bringing Murray's down to 3 stars...sorry lol
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Ok, so they are really good bagels.
It's also nice that this place is close to Penn Station, so it's convenient when you're buying bagels for the family before you take the train out of NYC.
Their cream cheese (I had strawberry) is the best I've had in New York. Almost buttery in flavor.
I still think that Absolute Bagels beats them out, so Absolute remains my only five star bagel location.
Reasonable prices--I remember it being around $10 for a dozen bagels.
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This review is for their corporate accounts/catering service:
Every Friday my company gets a huge platter o' bagels and fruit basket from Murray's delivered to each floor of our building. Overall the quality of the bagels is pretty high - the outsides are definitely crisp and the insides are fluffy. I bet they would taste scrumptious hot out of the oven at the store, but for now I've only eaten the room temp freebies from the office.
Highlights: great onion, pumpernickel and poppy seed bagels, amazing scallion cream cheese, and richly decadent maple raisin cream cheese!
The major problem, however, comes from their lack of consistency. At times I've had bagels literally hard as my wood desk. Sometimes they seem suspiciously like the leftovers from the night before... and they are even worse when it comes to the fruit baskets. Some weeks we get a great variety of fresh picked fruit, other times its completely green bananas, apples covered in bruises and mushy, sour grapes. So points for taste and cream cheese flavors, but they need to improve consistency to be as good as Ess-a-bagel or Daniel's.
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I've had bagels all over the country but murrays chewy and flavorful rounds top em all. what i like about the place is you dont have to do anything fancy with your bagel--they dont even bake any of those "gourmet" styles like asiago or pesto, with the outlier being spinach (havent tried it). while i am a fan of these flavors at other bagel shops, there is true satisfaction to be found in murray's version of the classics, poppyseed, onion, salt, wheat, pumpernickel, etc. the major variety is in the cream cheese, which features mixes from fresh sundried tomato/garlic to nova scotia, but the quality is everywhere. you can for sure tell that these bagels are made the old fashioned way; first boiled, then baked. also, extra points in my book for its ny deli style set up which also offers white fish right off the bone, assorted salads, pasteries and bread. last time i was there i had an everything bagel sandwich with kalamata olive cream cheese for under $4
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Here is another Best Of NY: I've tried a lot of bagels, and the ones here are....you guessed it...the best. They wont toast them for you ... try the maple cream cheese and also try the everything bagel. its hard deciding what to get there are too many wonderful options.
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Much like pizza, there is nothing like a New York bagel. Nothing compares, really. I heard that Murray's doesn't toast their bagels because they are just that good-- well, they are. Crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and delicious. Fresh, and both times I went, my bagels were still warm. I've only had the lox cream cheese spread and it was AMAZING. They have a pretty big selection of wacky cream cheeses-- I'll be back to try more.
Minus one star for the extremely rude employee that took my order the first time I went. She was slow, rude, and literally threw my bagel at me-- not even exaggerating-- it almost fell off the counter onto the floor. She really seemed like she did not want to be there. Hopefully she no longer is.
The closest to crack a bagel has ever become for me.
I love Murray's. I love the cream cheeses. I love the tofu salads. I realize they're a bit pricey, but I actually (for once) think these bagels are worth it. Soft on the inside, chewy on the outside, and packed with flavor.
Mmmmmmmmmm...
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When I'm in New York, one of my favorite things to do is tell people that I prefer Montreal Bagels. This line is simple, yet it works every time. It's kind of like telling a Bostonian that consumer reports, in a blind taste test, found that MacDonalds coffee is preferred 2/1 over Dunkin' Donuts. People just don't appreciate that kind of information.
Anyway, like it or not, bagels in Montreal are the best I've ever had. Check it: http://www.fairmountba...
But Murray's bagels are very very good.
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Just after lunch, i suddenly wanted to try bagel.. oh, yeah~ i have big belly... =(
actually, I love Bagel a lot.. it's cheap and tender... toasted bagel w/ butter on it... what a perfect match! but not this time.. whole wheat everything w/ cream cheeeeese.. ah~ I love garlic and onion smell.. don't close to me people!! it's mine!
I'd better to take a seat before ordering... no seating available.. oooops... they need more tables and seating area... at least chairs please.. some guys w/ laptop.. very unusual.. (didn't know there's free wifi)
well, couldn't have bagel at that time... brought home and ate it..
OK... it's good.. but better eat at that moment.. have to go back, take a seat, and eat it!!
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Very good bagels, although they are no H & H in my opinion. I do support the whole no toasting thing as NYer's should eat them they way they were meant to be eaten (out of the oven, but not toasted). I enjoyed the spreads equally as much as the bagels and appreciated that they were very generous in putting it on. My only request is that they attempt to be a bit friendlier (maybe it was just the guy I had).
This place is the best place to have freshly made bagels compare to any other place ( Bklyn, Queens, Bronx, Etc...) that I know.
They have a great selection of cream cheese. My favorite is the sun dry tomatos.....yummy.
There is no need to ask for a toasted bagel, the bagels are still warm and soft when you bite into the bagel.
Be prepare to wait in line for these fresh bagels made on premise.
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I was shocked that they didn't have the means to toast my bagel here. What's a bagel if it doesn't have that perfect crunchy/soft consistency? They claimed their bagels were still warm, but I wasn't that impressed. The environment was really chill, but I need my bagel toasted!
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The Uptown crowd has their H&H (which I do love), and us Downtowners have Murray's. If you just said, "who?" -- shame on you! :) Murray's Bagels, with it's W. Village and Chelsea locations (6th Ave/teens & 8th Ave/20s), is a bagel-lovers dream and a must try.
Schmear scallion cream cheese on your everything, peanut butter on your cinnamon, or yummy tuna on your poppy. With a wide selection of freshly made bagels in metal baskets, and a glass counter replete with toppings, you'll be munching on a winning combination in no time (yes, they're fast)!
Watching a regular, I learned about "scooping". No, not "spooning" -- "scooping". That's where you have some of your bagel's guts -- i.e. bread-ness -- scooped out to give more room for your topping. It has the ancillary (primary?) benefit of being more Atkins-friendly, I guess. Makes me feel cool to say, "I'd like a sesame bagel scooped with Tuna." Try it.
Grab yourself a half dozen bagels on your way out -- you never know when the craving will hit for a nice round one. And you must must must try the chocolate rugalach.
5 Yelp stars. Make your Jewish mother happy. I'm going to Murray's...
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Okay I believe it now.
I was once in an 30 minute argument over whether New York bagels are any better than bagels anywhere else.
Me: Bagels are bagels are bagels. Toast em up, and they are a great way to eat some cream cheese.
Him: You must not have had a New York bagel.
Me: I've had bagels in New York. Same crap I got back in the bakery of my grocery store in Texas.
Him: You have not had a New York bagel.
Me: Whatever.
I take it all back. These bagels WERE different. And BETTER!
They didn't need toasting...and were so yummy and soft inside. OH, and I Love Love Love the olive cream cheese!
When my girlfriends were in town, their delivery made great hangover food.
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Awesome bagels. We got a few to go, big fluffy bagels the way they ought to be. However, my inner Jew (as opposed to my outer Jew, I suppose) is confused. How can there be kosher bagels in a place that makes bacon and ham sandwiches? And shrimp salad (ah ha, see, I know my laws of kashrut...whether I follow them is a TOTALLY different ballgame). So this means either they hired a crooked rabbi, or the bagels get cooked elsewhere and brought here. Either way means one star off, but the bagels are quite yummy. The cream cheese selection is quite enormous too, always nice to have a choice!
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This is a cute place for a coffee and a bagel - it just the guy behind the counter was a little grumpy. Oh, and for some reason, I've always had fun reading the fliers that people post in places like this. Ya know, the ones that offer piano lessons, French lessons, housecleaning services, escorts (j/k) and the like.
When I go, I usually get the raisin bagel with strawberry cream cheese - mmm. magically delicious!
The atmosphere is great. Clean, marble counter tops, marble caf tables, and a big window looking towards 8th Avenue. Oh, and this place ALWAYS has a Village Voice rack. A great place to chill out - and its walking distance from where I work!
I'm always impressed with line management. Efficiency. That "Can Do" New York 'tude.
Faced every weekend with an intimidating morning rush of bagel-crazed New Yorkers, the staff at Murray's always steps it up, making sure everyone on the rapidly moving line gets exactly what they want. No easy task, especially since the combinations are endless --- poppyseed with lox, whole wheat with low-fat veggie spread, raisin with strawberry cream cheese, and on and on. Big-time kudos to Murray's dedicated pros. And big-time props for a delicious lineup of treats, including my personal favorite: tomato, basil and mozzarella on a sesame seed bad boy.
Snag a table and browse the Times. You'll be in a New York state of mind in no time.
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This is my favorite bagel place in NYC. They've got a variety of dairy and non dairy toppings, as well as doughy goodness bagels. The only drawback (for some) is that they don't toast bagels. In addition, the have many meats, cheese and pasteries from local merchants. The service is friendly and helpful. Oh, and you can get a top notch cup of joe as well.
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I love Murray's bagels. It's hectic and noisy but they make some of the best bagels in the city.
However, I refuse to give in to their almost religious offense to bagel toasting. Besides the time it takes, what's so wrong with a little heat on some sliced bagel? I've heard all of the arguments, but I don't buy it. Warm and fresh or not, a toasted bagel is a toasted bagel, and until they change their minds, I'll suck it up, buy their bagels, and eat them at home (toasted, of course).
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A friend of mine told me this would be the best bagel I ever had. And they were right. Now, like everyone said, they won't toast their bagels, and for me, "my bagel" is sesame, toasted, with butter. So they threw me a curveball. But they're so fresh and warm and fantastic that you won't miss it. I wish I were down in the area more often, but I'm not, which is unfortunate. Just wish they'd put in one or two more tables!
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when i used to work in chelsea, i used to hate walking from 8th ave to 10th (yeah yeah it's only 2 crosstown blocks but i had just moved here from a town where i drove everywhere). but after i discovered murray's bagels just off the 8th ave CE stop, i was no longer angry little asian girl.
whole wheat bagels with strawberry cream cheese was my thrice-weekly treat, sometimes i'd get multi-grain but my teeth just couldn't handle that sometimes. i didn't even mind that they don't toast the bagels. sometimes if you get in at the right time, you can get the bagels right when they pull them out of the oven and they're nice and warm. mm!
yes, the lines can be long but as long as the people in line are regulars and not tourists, it moves fairly quickly. ALSO - make sure you treat yourself to a POM tea (peach flavor) once in awhile.. yes, they are about $4 but they're delicious. YUM!
after i moved, i started taking the bus up and down 9th & 10th aves and didn't really have an excuse to go to 8th.. until i got my intern hooked and she voluntarily did bagel runs 2-3 times a week! :D
oh murray's, how i miss thee.
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I had breakfast here one morning witnessed a catfight in the making at the table seated next to us. The two girls were raising their voices in another language (hot) and then began pointing fingers at each other. and standing up out of their chairs. It became so loud they droned out the store's conversations. My friend moved to the opposite end of our table. A worker behind the counter had to SHUSH them to be quiet.
I don't think they understood. All I wanted was to enjoy my everything bagel in peace.
Large selection of bagels. Even larger selection of cream cheese -- you can get tofu lox spread if you wanted to! The bagels are chewy and tasty, but they put WAY too much cream cheese on the bagels, and don't even think of asking for the bagels toasted. Regardless, a great place to get a perfect NY bagel.
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Really good bagels and I think they do the best sandwiches. For my money Ess-a and H & H have better bagels but you won't go wrong at Murray's.
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This is why I moved here. It's impossible to get a decent bagel on the West Coast. (The way you can't get a decent burrito in the East!) This is a damn good bagel shop -- good coffee, quick lines, just enough tables for a short wait, gobs of cream cheese. I even forgive the "no toasted" rule. As the only real bagel joint in Chelsea, they don't have to be this good. Oy, I'm kvelling, is this delish!
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Mmmmmm. Pretty classic when it comes to the standard bagel/deli fare. And I'm a tough judge, being a Jew from Miami Beach - where Delis and Bagels are a religion with followers in numbers only second to New York. But this place certainly gets the job done. My lox was fresh, my wheat everything bagel (!), was delish, and don't even get me started on the Rugelah. Would love to go back and try their bagel sandwiches.
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I have been eating here weekday mornings for about a month straight. You know it must be good if someone can do that. If you can't get to Ess-A bagel, hit Murray's. They know what they are doing.
You might even catch a glance of the man himself like I did this morning!
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