Tilly Bagel Shop — Restaurant in Chicago

Looking for a classic bagel spot (and one close by), we turned to Tilly’s to satisfy that craving and they did not disappoint. We got there right at opening and were first in line; by the time they opened there were about 5-6 other people waiting behind. As with any downtown spot be aware of parking being spotty but this is well worth a trip. We were let inside the exact minute the store opened and the inside was sleek and clean. We ordered a plain bagel with plain cream cheese and a caccio e pepe bagel with carmelized onion cream cheese and a coffee. Ordering was smooth and the staff were very friendly, seeming to actually enjoy working there quite a bit.

They put milk and syrups on the side for any coffees so be advised, if you make a bad cup of coffee then that’s on you. They also have a water cooler out for you to grab a cup if you just want that. We got our bagels pretty quick and were so excited to dive into them. Both bagels were crisp and soft like a bagel should be. The plain bagel and plain cream cheese combo is a classic that they got down right. The cacio e pepe bagel with the caramelized onion spread was a unique taste, extremely savory with the cheesy flavor of the bagel coming through well. We ate our bagels pretty quick and were happy with what we ate, but will admit we weren’t blown away.

The verdict? Tilly’s definitely makes a good bagel. Good enough where if you’re in the area you should come out to it and see what it’s about. In comparison to other bagels we’ve had it stacks up decently, but again doesn’t stand out amongst the best. We would be interested to see what other flavor combos tasted like here so if we’re ever in the area again we would definitely give it...

After eating Tilly bagel the last two days in a row it hit me that I hadn't yet left a 5 star review, which is a shame since although this place already has over 500 reviews (unreal for being only open a year!) they deserve 10x that.

As a longtime South Loop resident, I can't tell you how thrilled I am that Tilly opened in the South Loop. I swear the South Loop is more 'on the map' and known around the city now purely because of the Tilly! I love to see this place packed every damn day with lines out the door, with people coming from all over the city to the South Loop just for their Tilly hit.

Beyond that, though, there are two other reasons that I love Tilly. As someone who is plant based, it's incredibly difficult to find plant based breakfast options in Chicago beyond a lackluster avocado toast. But now that I have Tilly, my favorite go-to breakfast item is making my own vegan sandwich at Tilly with their vegan cream cheese, tomato, avocado, capers, hash browns, crispy onions, and an Impossible sausage patty. I've been encouraging everyone I know who is plant based in the city to check it out.

Lastly, while I know the main draw for Tilly is the incredible food and drinks, I also love that they are female-founded and run by fellow South Loop resident Hannah Tillett. Knowing that they opened only a year ago and that they are already working on opening their second location in Fulton Market is downright inspiring. I love knowing that my favorite, beloved breakfast sandwich is not only delicious but it also means I'm supporting a small,...

I’ll give this place credit for one thing—the bagels taste good. But that’s where it ends. Everything else is just fake, highly processed, and nutritionally empty. The “cheese” and “cream cheese” aren’t real dairy, just imitation products. The eggs come from a carton and taste nothing like actual eggs, and the sausage feels just as artificial.

The whole meal is engineered to trick your taste buds, not to actually nourish your body. If you care at all about what you’re putting into yourself, I’d avoid this spot. It’s flavor over substance, and not in a good way.

Responese to owners post:

Hello,

Your response doesn’t actually demonstrate that you’re using quality ingredients—it only relies on broad claims. Simply saying the sausage is from a “local farm” doesn’t automatically prove nutritional value; it’s a buzzword that sounds appealing but doesn’t address concerns. Likewise, just asserting that your cheese and cream cheese are “real dairy” doesn’t provide any real clarity.

If you truly stand behind the quality of your food, then show transparency. Post the full ingredient lists for all products you use on your website, and include photos of the actual containers and packaging your kitchen relies on. That way, customers can see exactly what’s going into their food and decide for themselves whether it’s what they want to eat.

Even your shop’s name feels carefully crafted to sound like “Philly bagel,” which adds to the impression of branding over substance. If your products are as good as you claim, then transparency should be the easiest way...