Tilly Bagel Shop — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

If you haven’t been to Tilly Bagel, stop what you’re doing and go. Right now.

As a long-time New Yorker, I’ve been looking for this bagel for 15 years since I first moved to Chicago. Don’t get me wrong — NY Bagel and Bialy is the OG, but Tilly makes an exceptional bagel and Chicago-fies it in the way I’ve always wanted.

Don’t sleep on the Chicago Bagel, which is their Chicago version of the everything bagel. Chicago hot dog flavors (poppy seeds, celery salt, relish, pickle) + bagel … I mean, what more does one need in life?

Maybe it’s the Tilly Crisp, which is their chili crisp take on an everything: zesty with a little lingering heat. It was especially great with their elote cream cheese.

There seemed to be a line out the door when we arrived around 11 am on a Saturday of a holiday weekend, but we were at the register to place our order within 10 minutes. Shout-out to Saige for stellar recs: including the above Tilly Crisp+elote cc and the Chicago as a lox sandwich.

Go. Go now. Go often. I’m already thinking about...

I just want to start by saying I don't know what is wrong with all these people posting pictures of the food. As soon as I unwrapped the first bagel I ever had it was gone! These bagels are so damn good I would encourage you to run, not walk here. So the first time I went I got a bagel and a spread just to check it out and I was BLOWN away after the first bite. The second time I went there I was getting food for myself and one other person - I got the breakfast sandwich with sausage and two different bagels with two different spreads and after that meal I have had a total of 4 different bagels and 4 different spreads and I was amazed by how good everything was. I also had an espresso one time while I waited and whatever beans they use are top notch. The staff is always happy and they make you feel welcome and on my second time in there I asked for some recommendations and they took care of me. The Fulton market space is bad ass too. Get up and go there now, you...

Been a big fan of the south loop location for a long time now. Went there last week and was craving some bagels again this weekend. I decided to check out the west loop location. I placed an online order the night before for 11 am pick up. I had plans later in the day and didn’t want to wait in line. I arrived 10 minutes early just to be ready to grab and go. 15 minutes after 11 I still didn’t get the bagel. I asked an employee and was told it would be another 15 minutes. Falling for the sunk cost fallacy I waited the 15 minutes. After the time passed I asked again and was told it would be another half hour wait. Thankfully the staff was kind enough to cancel my order, but the whole experience was disappointing. The south loop location (no matter how busy it gets) has a flawless pick up from ordering online. What’s the point of placing a time, if people who ordered in person got their...