Survey reveals NJ's favorite bagels and toppings. Is your order in the results?

Kara VanDooijeweert, NorthJersey.com
·4 min read

Are bagels New Jersey's favorite food?

They just might be — because, according to a survey by Betway (a Jersey casino app, weird, I know), Google searches for "bagels near me" in the Garden State have surged 41% in the past three months.

From poppyseed with lox to cinnamon raisin with honey walnut cream cheese, it seems everyone in the area is looking to up their breakfast carb fix.

And, while I can't tell you why residents of the USA's best state are suddenly recognizing the fact that our bagels totally slap, I can tell you how they like to eat them when they choose to indulge.

Because, in a place where bagels are pretty much a religion? I bet you're curious if your go-to Sunday order is as good as you think it is.

Here is how the residents of New Jersey prefer to eat their bagels. Do your favorites line up with the findings? VOTE in our own poll at the end of this story.

A bagel sandwich from Top Bagels in Fair Lawn.
A bagel sandwich from Top Bagels in Fair Lawn.

How many bagels do NJ residents eat per year?

In the aforementioned study, Betway surveyed various individuals across America to figure out how many — and what types — of bagels people consume each year.

In New Jersey, they found, the average resident devours 82; or approximately just under 2 per week.

Sound like a lot? Turns out we're not eating as many Taylor Ham, Egg and Cheeses as we thought (unless everyone's been getting them on Kaiser rolls), because that's not even close to the highest state average, which is 142 per person.

And no, that record doesn't belong to New York — it's Hawaii's.

The rest of the top ten bagel consuming states include Utah, Kansas, Maryland, Maine, New York, New Hampshire, Michigan, Connecticut and Texas, respectively.

Bins of bagels are shown at BEC Bagel in Hackensack.
Bins of bagels are shown at BEC Bagel in Hackensack.

But, just because we don't eat as many bagels per quantity as the residents of other states, doesn't mean we don't eat as high of quality per bagel as other states. While consumers may be suffering through hard Panera plains in Georgia and soggy Lenders multi-grains in Iowa, Garden State residents enjoy hand-rolled, top-tier versions of the dish.

In fact, I'd guess that the sheer size and decadence of a Jersey bagel (in comparison to a fast food or freezer one) is what keeps locals from eating more of them per week.

The "Elvis Overload" bagel at The Bagel Nook is particularly decadent, with peanut butter cream cheese, bacon and banana.
The "Elvis Overload" bagel at The Bagel Nook is particularly decadent, with peanut butter cream cheese, bacon and banana.

For the two they do consume, however, this is how they do it:

New Jersey's bagel preferences:

44% of New Jersey residents say plain is their favorite bagel type, followed by everything (41%), cinnamon raisin (27%; which is surprising considering these are always left in the bottom of the brown bag at parties), blueberry (17%) and onion (15%).

When it comes to toppings, 63% prefer cream cheese; 31% sausage, egg and cheese; 29% bacon, egg and cheese; 19% Taylor ham/pork roll, egg, and cheese (ayyy, we knew that was coming) and the remaining 17% enjoy pizza bagels (niche, but I'm here for it).

And as for cream cheese proclivities? 54% get plain, 25% like garlic and herb and 24% go for strawberry.

A plain bagel with scallion cream cheese at Hot Bagels on Maple Ave. in Fair Lawn.
A plain bagel with scallion cream cheese at Hot Bagels on Maple Ave. in Fair Lawn.

AKA, the 5% of people who are ordering double protein and melty cheese on a hot, fresh-cooked onion banger are right.

And the 34% who are getting plain cream cheese on a plain bagel? Are probably ordering for their kids.

Or are reverse-retired from Florida.

Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich on a French Toast Bagel at Brooklyn Bagel.
Bacon, Egg and Cheese Sandwich on a French Toast Bagel at Brooklyn Bagel.

Where to get bagels in North Jersey

Does all that bagel talk have you hungry for a crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside Jersey bagel?

Good news! I have one more statistic for you (and no, it's not from a shady casino).

According to various local food and dining awards, here's where to get the most delicious bagels in North Jersey:

  • Best of Essex: Ike’s Bagel Cafe. 277 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston; 973-369-7528, ikesbagelcafe.net

  • Best of Bergen: Goldberg's Famous Bagels. 90 Westwood Ave., Westwood; 201-666-9896, facebook.com/goldbergswestwood69.

  • Sussex County Community Choice Awards: Hamburg Hot Bagels. 90 Route 23, Hamburg; 973-827-2700, hamburgbagels.com.

  • My personal tastebuds: Hot Bagels Abroad. 1129 Broad St., Bloomfield; 973-338-9616, bagelsabroad.com.

Happy bagel-crushing, foodies.

Here's hoping — like the $2.58 average a New Jersey resident is willing to pay for one — your doughy ring of choice costs less than five dollars.

VOTE:

Kara VanDooijeweert is a food writer for NorthJersey.com and The Record. If you can't find her in Jersey's best restaurants, she's probably off running a race course in the mountains. Catch her on Instagram: @karanicolev & @northjerseyeats, and sign up for her North Jersey Eats newsletter.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ bagels are a local favorite. Here's how residents eat them