I’m not a big breakfast person. Most mornings I skip it without thinking twice. But the day my cousin showed up with a bag from Budd Lake Bagel & Deli, everything changed. I wasn’t expecting much, but one bite had me thinking, okay… maybe I actually like breakfast now. And here we are.
These Bagels Don’t Miss
The French toast bagel is the reason this place hooked me. It’s their best seller, and once I tried it, I understood why. My cousin handed it to me one morning, and that was it for me. This place was added to my morning routine.
It’s warm and cozy with a dusting of powdered sugar. I get mine grilled with butter and syrup on the side. It tastes like fall, almost like an elevated honey bun, and it pairs insanely well with vanilla ice cream. And yes, having ice cream for breakfast is okay and not against the rules! It’s an easy 9 out of 10.
My Sandwich Ratings
So instead of just saying ‘they’re good,’ here’s how I rated everything I tried:
- Taylor ham, egg and cheese on an everything bagel: 8.2/10
- Bacon, egg and cheese on a plain bagel: 8.7/10
- Everything bagel with cream cheese: 8.5/10
The bagels are warm and pillowy, not too stiff, not too chewy. The actual flavor in the dough is what makes every sandwich. They told me they go through about 3,000 pounds of dough a week, and I can see why.
I also tried the lox and cream cheese on a plain bagel with tomatoes and onions once. The salmon and cream cheese ratio balance each other really well. 8.3 out of 10, and I know that if I had added a little dill seasoning at home (since they don’t carry it), my rating would have been even higher.
When You Walk In
The shop is small, usually packed early mornings, but especially on the weekends. It has that familiar, homey feeling. It’s busy in a way that makes sense for a good bagel shop. People stop in before work, families come in for lunch and regulars chat with the staff while they wait. The walls are covered with photo collages of workers, family, friends and long-time customers. The staff is so friendly, and the owners Eyad and Lupana are awesome. They love what they do and it shows. After a few visits, they remember your order by heart, and little things like that are so comforting.
Worth the Stop
If you’re anywhere near Route 46, Budd Lake Bagel & Deli is absolutely worth trying. The bagels are really yummy, the sandwiches are consistently solid and the French toast bagel seals the deal for me. They open at 4 a.m., which makes it perfect for early birds and early commuters. Once you try it, you might just become a regular too. You can find their website here.
Alondra Cabrera is the Editorial Assistant at New Jersey Digest. She recently graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. During her time at school, she discovered her passion for journalism and content creation. In her free time, she loves to create and edit videos for her corgis, Rafi and Toffe, and indulge in culinary adventures with her friends. Alondra also enjoys traveling, cooking, and working out. She is excited to embark on her professional journey in media and looks forward to contributing her skill and creativity to her role here at New Jersey Digest.
