Each bagel was judged on looks and taste, and I tried all of them with butter.
So, who really makes the best bagels?
Read on to see the final verdict.
Photo: Shutterstock. Design: Eat This, Not That!
Biting in, this bagel was very sugary but unfortunately very dry tasting.
With its streusel topping, it was a bit more visually appealing than Panera’s version.
While I would never normally order this pop in of bagel, Einstein’s rendition was moist and chewy.
Panera Cinnamon Crunch Bagel (left) and Einstein Bros. Apple Cinnamon Bagel (right)Photo: Ronnie Koenig/Eat This, Not That!
It was still too sweet for my taste though.
The dough was light and fluffy, and surprisingly, I found myself going back for a second bite.
Einstein: This bagel is topped with asiago, parmesan, and romano cheeses.
Panera Asiago Bagel (left) and Einstein Bros. Asiago Cheese Bagel (right)Photo: Ronnie Koenig/Eat This, Not That!
Biting in, I could hardly taste any cheese in this bagel.
Instead, it seemed a little bland and stale with no discernible flavor at all.
It wasn’t a regular bagel and it wasn’t a really cheesy bagel, either.
Panera Everything Bagel (left) and Einstein Bros. Everything Bagel (right)Photo: Ronnie Koenig/Eat This, Not That!
It was just meh.
The verdict:Panera won this bagel round, hands down.
Disappointingly, this everything bagel looked more like a grocery-store variety than because it was a perfect circle.
Panera Plain Bagel (left) and Einstein Bros. Plain Bagel (right)Photo: Ronnie Koenig/Eat This, Not That!
Einstein’s everything bagel had a doughy appearance and looked homemade compared to Panera’s.
The seasoning was plentiful and I was excited to bite in.
While the bagel itself was nice and chewy, the onion seasoning overwhelmed all the other spices.
Panera Bread Cinnamon Swirl & Raisin Bagel (left) and Einstein Bros. Cinnamon Raisin Bagel (right)Photo: Ronnie Koenig/Eat This, Not That!
The verdict:Einstein Bros. won this round handily.
Panera’s is lightly sweetened with brown sugar.
This bagel had such a golden hue to it that it almost looked like an egg bagel.
Panera Bread Multigrain Bagel Flat (left) and Einstein Bros. Ancient Grain Bagel (right)Photo: Ronnie Koenig/Eat This, Not That!
It was bigger on one side which gave it a handmade appearance.
Biting in, I was disappointed in how tough and bland this bagel tasted.
Not even a pound of butter or cream cheese could make this edible.
Courtesy of Einstein Bros Bagels
It was not overwhelmingly doughy, which I liked.
If you want a plain bagel, Einstein Bros. is your place.
Panera’s version is made with sourdough, which sounded strange.
The bagel is swirled with cinnamon and cinnamon-flavored chips, brown sugar, and raisins.
Biting in, I could not taste or see any real raisins.
Perhaps it was just raisin-flavored, but either way, it’s a flop.
Einstein:This bagel had a dark hue with big, visible raisins poking out of it.
Slightly sweet but not overly so, Einstein Bros. found the right balance of flavors with this bagel.
The verdict:If you’re in the mood for cinnamon raisin, Einstein Bros. is your spot.
While its bagel looks skinnier than Panera’s, it’s much bigger on taste.
Panera’s multigrain bagel flat features whole wheat, rye, and seeds.
It also comes topped with oats.
Biting in, this bagel was grainy andslightly tough, but tasted fine with butter.
It would be even better as an egg sandwich or with peanut butter and jelly.
Einstein: This bagel appeared to be coated in every conceivable grain or seed.
It almost looked like it was dipped in birdseed, which was not the most appealing look.
Biting in, this bagel was grainy and malty.
The verdict:This was a close one.
On that count, Einstein’s should be your go-to for your next bagel fix.
