From New York to Pyeongtaek

753 Bagel Bistro Brings a Taste of the Big Apple to South Korea

By Melissa Whittington 

For many years, bagels in Korea were typically considered more of a desert food. These bagels often were not made with the traditional methods of boiling with water in order to achieve the crisp crust with the chewy interior.  Also, Korean bakeries like to combine traditional Korean ingredients infusing this well-known bread with inventive flavors like sweet potato, red bean paste, and green tea. This often leaves those searching for authentic New York bagels a bit disappointed.

While working at a bagel shop, Kim Jin Tae learned about authentic New York style bagels and decided he wanted to open a shop in Pyeongtaek. He knew that the foreigners who were familiar with the taste of New York bagels were missing out on this while living here. He also wanted to be able to serve food that he would proudly serve his children. 

In addition to trying to connect with the real flavors of New York bagels, they also developed their own homemade recipe for an American-style breakfast sausage. The pastrami is also homemade as well. The time dedicated to crafting the fresh flavorful ingredients makes their bagel sandwiches craveable. 

In the future, they plan to introduce seasonal sandwiches and cream cheese menu items and expand offerings with side dishes like french fries or desserts to provide more experiences for customers. 

Finally, Kim says, “Authenticity and integrity are key. If you're confident in delivering genuine flavors and can proudly stand by your food, even newcomers will appreciate it. Creating food that truly represents its origin and conducting business with integrity will yield positive results.”