Bangkok’s roll-with-a-hole scene is suddenly booming. Looking for a fully loaded sandwich or a sesame seed bagel with a schmear? Here are six bagelries – and what makes them unique.
BKK Bagels
BKK Bagels has been serving hand-rolled, New York-style bagels to hungry office workers and downtown residents since 2011. They come in a range of flavors and toppings – sea salt, poppy seed, cinnamon raisin and more – and are made to be paired with homemade cream cheese. Bagel sandwiches like the pastrami (THB250) or lox, stock and bagel (THB240) are must-haves, but there are about a dozen to choose from on the menu. There’s now a second shop in Phrom Phong serving mid- and upper-Sukhumvit, too.
518/3 Maneeya Center, Phloen Chit Road, 02-254-8157. 7am-6pm daily.
Breaking Bread BKK
This new kid on the block whips up made-to-order, Montreal-style bagels with a variety of classic toppings such as onion, black or white sesame seeds, sea salt and poppy seeds (THB30 each; THB420 for 13). They also sell a cinnamon version made with real cinnamon bark. Beyond bagels, they make a wide variety of fresh-baked goods for delivery, from English muffins (THB240/13 pieces) to brownies (THB85 / 5 pieces; THB260 / 16 pieces; THB580 / 36 pieces) and cheesecakes. Minimum 24-hour notice for all orders.
Order via Facebook or breakingbreadbkk@gmail.com.
Lat Prao Soi 109, 065-815-4481.
J Cafe Sukhumvit 20
Phrom Phong’s kosher restaurant and deli serves a variety of baked Israeli goods, including the distinct Jerusalem bagel. Apart from their oval shape, they’re totally unlike New York- or Montreal-style bagels. They’re flat, a little sweet, and crispy – but absolutely delicious, too. Try the Israeli emek cheese bagel toast (THB199), filled with yellow cheese and olive tapenade, or Balkan bagel toast (THB229), stuffed with briny white cheese and roasted red pepper pesto, to see what they’re all about.
3/F, Unit 302, Mille Malle, 66/4 Sukhumvit Soi 20, 02-106-4930. Open Mon-Thu 10am-8pm, Fri 8am-5pm, Sun 10am-8pm.
Monty’s
Earlier this year, the folks behind Roots and Roast launched this kitchen selling Montreal-style bagels, the denser, sweeter counterparts to those associated with New York. The bagels are poached in honey water, giving them a blondish gaze with a hint of sweetness. There are four kinds to choose from — classic, onion, sesame, or everything (THB60 each) — plus open-faced sandwiches like The Monty’s (THB250), filled with smoked salmon and cream cheese, and the bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast bagel (THB220). Monty’s is available for delivery only from the Thonglor branch.
The Commons (Thonglor), Thonglor Soi 17. Open 9am-4pm.
Sarnies
The Singapore-born coffee chain recently branched out with New York-style sourdough bagels. Theirs are left to rise over three days – the only way to do it – which yields great texture and depth of flavor. Try them with a smoked salmon bagel sandwich (THB320), filled with generous portions of cream cheese and lychee wood-smoked lox. You can also get bundles of bagels for home (THB250 / 6 pieces). Wash it down with a single-origin coffee from northern Thailand (from THB299 / bag). Available online.
101-103 Charoenkrung Soi 44. Open 6am-3pm daily.
Volks
Siblings Sherry and Volk Jensiriwanch’s affinity for New York-style bagels led them on a mission to recreate them here. The classic boiled-and-baked technique leaves their bagels with the sought-after chewy crust and bite. They come in a range of flavors or toppings, including asiago cheese (from THB60). Pair them with drool-worthy add-ons like garlicky cream cheese, opt for one of their new twists, like the peanut butter and jelly bagel (Ari branch only), or grab a bagel sandwich, like the Caprese (THB220), avocado and egg (THB220), or bacon, egg, and cheddar (THB240).
40/12 Pradiphat Soi 13, 080-102-7190. Open 9am-2pm, Tue-Sun.
