The history of the bagel goes back at least 400 years, so Manhattan Bread & Bagel’s tenure going back to 1992 isn’t particularly long. MB&B does make them the old-fashioned way, boiling rather than steaming them before baking, so the crust has the chewy texture beloved in the old country. All the popular varieties are here: plain, egg, garlic, whole wheat, and newer varieties with blueberries, cranberries, and the like. Our readers taste the tradition and have once again voted them tops. — RF
1812 N Sepulveda Blvd, MB, manhattanbread.com, (310) 545-7553
Runner-up: Noah’s
