There aren’t many better ways to start your day than with a toasted bagel and cream cheese.
Whether you’re a fan of poppy seed, all bagel, sesame seed or plain, bagels are like toast – on steroids.
Just make sure you don’t pronounce “baggel”.
As a Montrealer, I take my bagel consumption very seriously. I’m not implying that the fast food chains can make bagels better than any of the big name places in Montreal, but sometimes when you’re craving a bagel you just need something quick, you know?
According to a 2012 study by canadian bread company, six in ten Canadians regularly eat bagels, with almost a quarter eating them daily or several times a week.
Granted, I’ve devoured enough bagels in my day to tide me over for the next life. And as much as I hate to admit it (sorry St-Viateur Bagel), that means I got a lot of bagels from the fast food chain.
That said, here is a ranking, from worst to best, of Canadian fast food bagels.
And we’re not talking about croissants or English muffins either, just the good stuff.
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme
Krispy Kreme is a North Carolina chain that serves a variety of sweet donuts, coffee, and frozen drinks.
They also have raisin bagels, poppy seed, plain bagels, and sesame seed, but they are all very mushy and bland. You can skip them and stick with Krispy Kreme donuts.
McDonald’s
McDonald’s
McDonald’s breakfast game is pretty great (what’s up, hash browns?). The coffee is good, the McGriddle can almost single-handedly rid a hangover, and anything on a McMuffin will do.
But the bagels are not good. They’re simple and don’t add much to the breakfast table. Might as well call them McCardboard.
Second Cup
Second Cup
Second Cup bagels are pretty good. The chain originated in Toronto, so at least they’re geographically close to Montreal, the bagel capital of North America (sorry, New York.)
The coffee chain has a good variety of bagel choices and their sesame seed shape holds up quite well compared to Montreal style bagels.
Coat those bad boys in cream cheese and you’ll be fine.
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons can serve great bagels. Their tout bagel is full of flavor and has a good ratio of dough. Your bagels can’t get too mushy, you need the right density for a chewy balance and Tim Hortons delivers.
Good work.
egg show
Eggspectation is widespread across Canada and has recently popped up in the United States. Hailing from Montreal, the chain specializes in a smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser style of bagel, perfectly baked in wood-fired ovens,
If you’re looking for some really good fast food bagels, make sure Eggspectation is on your radar.
Are you listening, McDonald’s? Keep it lean, keep it crispy, and don’t call it a baggel.
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