Kossar's Bialys

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

The bagel's close cousin stars at this New York classic.. The Scene
On the far eastern edge of Grand Street lies Kossar's Bialystoker Kuchen Bakery--or Kossar's as it's commonly known--a legendary operation that dates back to 1927. Kossar's is strictly a to-go operation, but don't be surprised if you wind up lingering to watch the flour-covered bakers go about the endless work of shuttling giant wooden trays of dough in and out of the oven.


The Food
The bialys at Kossar's are nothing short of a baking marvel. The warm bialy experience is one of those quintessential culinary experiences that every New Yorker should enjoy at least once. The first taste sensations are textural--of lightness, softness and an airy center--and eventually give way to a stronger current of dark and charry taste. Impossibly sweet bits of onion sprinkled on top linger to the finish.

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shelleyre

Joined 10 years ago

I want ONE NOW!. Tasty, soft, Garlicky, oniony, Warm & oh so delightful. A real treat. Keep them in your freezer .

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blatantdream

Joined 11 years ago

A Lower Manhattan Gem. I come all the way here from Brooklyn, taking 2 trains just to come here to get the bagels and bialys this place has. I usually buy a dozen at a time and finish them in 3 or 4 days (and I'm a tiny person, weighing only 95lbs). I've been buying from Kossar's since I was a little girl. My favorite is their plain bialys. I take them home and when I am ready to eat them, I pop them in the microwave for 20 seconds and I indulge in their heavenly goodness. The bagels are a perfect texture and softness and stays soft for days. I take all my friends here and they all love it too.

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JSEBAY

Joined 11 years ago

Excellent, but traffic is down. They make the best bialys, hand made as always. Its a shame though, traffic and tourism have been down since 9/11 and I fear it may force changes. Go there.

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hsgold

Joined 11 years ago

Real NY Bagel. These are positively the best bagels I have ever had. Texture, taste, size are the way bagels are supposed to be. It's a nuisance to get the lower east side bakery, though the bagels are a great value.

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jessicabranch_citysearch

Joined 11 years ago

Max Bialys. My mother tells me that Kossar's has the most authentic bialy still made, and though they may have changed hands, the baked goods -- bialys, sesame sticks, bagels and nameless rounds of dough covered in poppyseeds -- are delectable enough for me. Traipsing out east, and east, and further east is a small price to pay for these delicious morsels, and speaking of small prices, you won't believe how economical getting your bialy fix can be. I've found the service uniformly helpful, though I admit one server did laugh when I justified buying 3 dozen by telling her twelve were for mom.