Bronx Bagels
5291 E. 2nd St.
Long Beach, CA
Glendora Avenue
562-856-4449

The Bronx Bagels way is as simple as the recipe for the crusty round bread. The menus are quick and uncomplicated, and the service is tight and clean. This itsy-bitsy bagel shop means business. After all, they got da Bronx attitude and the bagels to match.

Bronx bins, bulging with bagels, speak for themselves. Flavors range from blueberry to fiery jalapeño to the good ol' plain kind. And a bagel wouldn't be a bagel without the creamy stuff -- Bronx makes its own tangy veggie (lots of yummy chunks), chive and regular whipped cream cheeses. We heard the Bronx lox is mighty tasty, too. Try it on one of their colossal bagel sandwiches.

The folks at Bronx also serve up fresh, hot bagels made from scratch right there on the premises. Hot tip: Show up after noon for a side of food for your ears. A tattoo-flecked girl usually pilots the counter around midday, spinning trip hop, and (what we think is) trance techno, and whistling while she works. Bring a pocketful of quarters for street parking and just a couple of dollars for a bagel. The price is right for good coffee, too, so pack that commuter mug.

Hours: Daily, 5 a.m.-2 p.m.