Breakfast is a serious pastime for my family. As the most important meal of the day, we love to spend our weekend mornings checking out a new breakfast spot or hitting up an all time favorite. I would be remiss not to pay homage to one of our favorite breakfast foods on its celebratory day – the bagel.
The bagel, in all its glory, can be dressed up or dressed down and served anyway you like it. Whether open face, or sandwich style, plain, or everything, it has a style for anyone. I’m not ashamed to admit that I personally just discovered the world of smoked salmon on a bagel – thanks to the show ‘I Love LA’ – and it was life changing. However adventurous I choose to be with my bagel, I know I can always come back to a comfort food classic – an egg and cheese bagel sandwich. The versatility of the bread makes it worth celebrating at least once a year.
On this National Bagel Day, I’m not only celebrating the supreme breakfast staple, but I decided to also highlight a not-widely-known innovation in bagels – the tzitzel bagel. The tzitzel bagel has stolen my heart in recent years, being my go-to choice base for an egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. However, on a recent trip to New York City, I learned that the tzitzel bagel only exists in St. Louis. This was a shocking revelation. Mostly because I was really craving the savory, crunchy taste of tzitzel, but also because that meant St. Louis invented my favorite bagel. Pretty cool!
While the bagel traces its history back to 1600s Eastern Europe, the tzitzel bagel is believed to have originated in the early 1900s, right here in St. Louis. The Pratzel Bakery, which was started by the Pratzel family in 1913, created the concept of ‘tzitzel’. What makes this bagel special is that it is coated in cornmeal before it is baked, creating a thick, savory, crunchy outer layer. It’s delectable.
We’ve looked for the delicious variation in New York, Montreal, you name it, but we haven’t found tzitzel outside of St. Louis. This National Bagel Day, we wanted to highlight a few local spots that make their own version of the STL specialty. Whether you’re already a tried-and-true fan of Tztizel or have never even heard of it, give it a try on your next bagel outing!
Lefty’s Bagels
13359 Olive Blvd, Chesterfield
8 Millstone Campus Dr., Creve Coeur
A cozy café, with a bustling weekend scene, Lefty’s Bagels has become a favorite neighborhood spot in Chesterfield, and recently in my corner of STL, Creve Coeur. The hand-rolled, kettle-boiled, New York-style bagels pair nicely with the homemade shmears. And if you’re in the mood for a sandwich, there is a wide array of choices from a simple egg and cheese to a hearty, meaty special.
Bagel Union
Location: 8705 Big Bend, Webster Groves.
From the creators of Union Loafers, a delicious bakery and sandwich heaven in Botanical Heights, comes Bagel Union in Webster Groves. They know bread and decided to venture into the world of bagels and it has quickly become a neighborhood gem. The selection of boiled bagels, deli options, and breakfast sandwiches are all masterfully done and you can’t go wrong with any choice you make.
Bagels and Bliss
Location: 8151 Delmar, University City
Bagels and Bliss opened in March 2025 and has found its home as a welcomed addition to the U-City neighborhood. Their offerings are similar to New York-style water bagels, with a firm crust and a warm, soft inside. Aside from the bagel selection of tzitzel, sesame, garlic, and more, the kosher-certified shop also offers tuna, lox, whitefish salad, and egg salad. They can load up your bagel with cream cheese, tomato and onion or you can take a dozen to go. There are plenty of tasty options for an early breakfast run.
Baked & Boiled
Baked & Boiled, a former favorite at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market, operates a brick-and-mortar shop in Soulard selling small batch, hand rolled water bagels. The white brick countertop display showcases a variety of bagels from tzitzel to rosemary sea salt, and several flavors of cream cheese, including vegan! You can have your bagel with cream cheese or make it a bacon-egg-cheddar sandwich – among many other sandwich options.
