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Owner story · Washington Square West, Philadelphia

“A modern interpretation of the traditional bagel shop.”

Adam Willner · Chef and co-founder, Knead Bagels

Tubs of Knead’s house spreads stacked under the logo inside the shop
A pile of Knead’s seeded bagels

From a Rittenhouse brunch to Walnut Street

A chef couple’s modern take on the bagel shop.

Adam Willner’s kitchens include Sidecar Bar, Jones, the Continental and Matyson on Rittenhouse Square, where he and his wife, Cheri, were in charge of brunch. That is where the bagels began. In November 2014 the couple opened Knead at 725 Walnut Street, just off Washington Square, and found a line of customers waiting on the first day. From day one, Knead boiled its bagels the old-fashioned way and gave the flavors a chef’s treatment, from togarashi to fennel seed and sea salt. A year later, Philadelphia magazine named it the city’s best new bagel shop.

“We thought about what we like to eat, and bagels popped up.”Cheri Willner, co-founder, to the Philadelphia Daily News, 2014
A Knead Bagels mug on a sidewalk table outside the shop

The menu

A bagel for every spread, and a spread for every bagel.

Plain and everything sit beside togarashi, za’atar, black sesame, fennel seed and sea salt, and vegan superfood and flax, with a special bagel every day and a classic flavor every month. Each spread names the bagel it pairs with, from scallion lime cream cheese on togarashi to fig and caramelized honey on za’atar, and each sandwich comes with a recommended bagel. Togarashi with scallion lime, a pairing Adam asked people to try when Knead opened, is still on the menu, and the coffee is Elixr, roasted in Philadelphia.

Scallion lime, fig and caramelized honey, charred long hot and more

Spreads

Bagel and spreadScallion lime, fig and caramelized honey, charred long hot and more
Bacon, eggs, Cooper American and Knead aioli

Hot bagel sandwiches

Bacon, Egg & CheeseBacon, eggs, Cooper American and Knead aioli
Sesame tofu, smoked turkey or avocado, pickled carrot and daikon, hoisin BBQ

On togarashi

Banh MiSesame tofu, smoked turkey or avocado, pickled carrot and daikon, hoisin BBQ
Samaki smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber and onion

On everything

LoxSamaki smoked salmon, cream cheese, cucumber and onion
Samaki smoked whitefish salad, cucumber and onion

On black sesame

Smoked Whitefish SaladSamaki smoked whitefish salad, cucumber and onion
Swiss, pickled cabbage and Russian dressing

On everything

House Made Corned BeefSwiss, pickled cabbage and Russian dressing

From opening day on Walnut Street to delivering with Pinkbot.

  1. Nov 2014Adam and Cheri Willner open Knead at 725 Walnut St, with a line of customers waiting on day one.
  2. 2015Philadelphia magazine’s Best of Philly names Knead the best new bagel shop.
  3. 2019Inquirer critic Craig LaBan praises Knead’s “cheffy takes on the craft.”
  4. Jun 2024FOX 29 visits for the za’atar and togarashi bagels and their cream cheese pairings.
  5. May 2026Pinkbot starts delivering Knead’s bagels from Walnut St.
“We bake in small batches throughout the day, because we want to keep everything fresh.”

Adam Willner · “Everything is made to order.”

Visit Knead Bagels

Fresh bagels, just off Washington Square.

725 Walnut StPhiladelphia, PA 19106
Order onlinekneadbagels.com@kneadbagels
Seeded bagels around a tub of Knead cream cheese on a sheet tray
One of The Infatuation’s 11 best bagels in Philly.Open 7 to 2 on weekdays and 8 to 2 on Saturdays, with catering for big orders.

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Keep more of every order.