This post was fact-checked and updated in October 2025.
Few things light up our office Slack channel like the subject of bagels. People have opinions—strong ones!—about the breakfast staple. So we decided to hold a taste test, in which 19 staffers tasted and ranked everything bagels from ten local shops, without knowing where each was from. Here, our results, with sample comments. Let the arguing begin.
The Winner: Bethesda Bagels
Bethesda, Cabin John, Rockville, Rosslyn, Navy Yard
“Golden-brown, chewy crust, perfect amount of seasoning on both sides.”
Second Place: Bagel Uprising
2307-A Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria
“Excellent spice and salt—crucial in an everything bagel. Very good snap on the crust.”
Third Place: Bullfrog Bagels
Eastern Market, Union Station, H Street, Tenleytown, Brookland, and Foggy Bottom
“A perfect balance of chewy and soft. It almost tastes like caramelized onions are involved—a winner for onion or garlic lovers.”
Fourth Place: Brooklyn Bagel
2055 Wilson Blvd., Arlington
“Chewy exterior, soft interior, and great seasoning and color.”
Fifth Place: Chewish Deli
807 Pendleton St., Alexandria
“Golden-brown deliciousness—insert the song ‘Brown Eyed Girl.’ ”
Sixth Place: Pearl’s Bagels
1017 Seventh St., NW
“The bagels have a nice softness to them—I imagine they make a great sandwich.”
Seventh Place: Goldberg’s New York Bagels
4824 Boiling Brook Pkwy., Rockville; 9328 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring
“No seasoning, poor look, but good for bread.”
Eighth Place: Call Your Mother
Park View, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, Forest Hills, Logan Circle, West End, Riverdale Park, North Bethesda, McLean, Vienna, Old Town, Reston, and Crystal City
“Why is it so sweet? Maybe this would be good in a sandwich with lox, bacon, or salty ingredients, but it’s a sugar bomb on its own.”
Ninth Place: Buffalo & Bergen
1309 Fifth St., NE; 240 Massachusetts Ave., NE; 3501 Connecticut Ave., NW
“These were like softballs—too much dough, not enough seasoning.”
Tenth Place: Georgetown Bagelry
5227 River Rd., Bethesda
“Too much seasoning even for an everything bagel—and seems kinda stale.”
