I love Essen Bakery! They used to just serve out of a small window, but they recently opened a small indoor dining space with a counter with seating and a small cafe table, so you walk inside to order now. The baked goods are always fresh. My favorites are the homemade pop tarts, black and white cookies, bagel and lox, and caramelized onion focaccia. Try to get there earlier in the day, as they generally run out of most things in the afternoon. I would also recommend ordering online in advance if you know you can't make it there in the morning.
Stan Hoffman
Love all of the baked goods here.
Xtian Gunther
4.5 for the food, actually, for one reason.First, this place is a rare little gem unlike any found in most US cities! Small but mighty. NY-style Jewish traditions with French patisserie exactitude! EVERYTHING I tried here was either next level great (black x white cookies $4 ea.), best-ever fantastic (the 'pop tart') or perfect and authentic abricotine (think: poached apricot croissant).EVERYTHING...EXCEPT. for. the. babka.I tried the much-lauded babka (chocolate) twice. Both times it was rather dry (for a good babka) and lacked flavor. I was a bit taken aback. Everything else is so great but this babka wasn't even as good as Trader Joe's (which is decent enough), let alone the gooey, oozing ones you will find in Brooklyn or Montréal.Nonetheless, I find great black & whites harder to come by than a good babka in my hometown Seattle and most other places. And, all the rest here is rather brilliant!There is even a frequent customer discount club, as if one and one's tastebuds (and diet!) needed the coaxing, to boot.Owner/Pâtissière Tova du Plessis has done a wonderful and remarkable thing in offering her talents to Philly through Essen. Bravo!Vegetarian options: Plenty of wonderful vegetarian pastry (both sweet and savory), bagels, schmears, coffe/tea, etc.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Jewish Apple Cake, Black and White Cookie, Pear Pop Tart, Cookies, Blueberry Pop-Tart
Amber Y.
Love this cute little spot! The service was really friendly and I love the quaint feeling of the place. I got the Bagel & Lox on a sesame seed bagel and it was delicious. I heard a lot of people either ordering the bagel & Lox or the Babka. Sounds like ai need to come back to try the Babka!
Kara
Double toasted sesame bagel w veggie shmear for the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bulk Bagels
Breanna Pletnick
Essen dishes out great pastries and treats, as well as a high quality lox sandwich. Inside is small and it’s a popular spot, so recommend getting there early (especially on weekends) ahead of sell outs!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Bulk Bagels, Rugelach
Thomas Demarco
Music was too loud, I couldn't hear myself think inside. The food is not
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Charles Markus
Not very nice staff. Apple pie makes up for
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Lauren M.
C'mon, really? This is considered a jam filled sufganiyot? It could barely cover the tip of my pinky finger. For $5.50 this is shameful. However, I'll give credit where it's due and that belongs to their bagels! But if you want fresh filled donuts, go to Frangelli's on 8th
James H.
By fare the best pastries and baked goods in South Philly! Super kind and helpful staff!
The bagels are delicious! However, to charge me $5.50 for this sufganiyot is absurd. This is jam-filled? So disappointed :0(
Noel Solomon
Purchased a jewish apple cake ordered it for my mother as she had been craving it. She really likes them. So I buy it for 22 dollars and place the order online for pickup the following day. It seems dry old and not good. She said it is bland and bad and she was expecting it to be fresh as we had to order it. We are really disappointed.
Food: 2
Service: 3
Greg
Wonderful local spot for traditionally Jewish baked goods. I have had their challah and rugelach and would recommend both!Vegetarian options: No vegan options but most of the food here is vegetarian
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Rugelach, Rugelach
Eugene Brusilovskiy
OMG. The Chocolate Babka. O.M.G.O.M.G.Go there right away and get yourself some of that NOW.OMG
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michele Alison
Such a cute spot and everything I had was amazing. The apple cake was one of the best I’ve ever had! The bagels were fresh and super tasty and the cinnamon buns were phenomenal! I’ll def be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jewish Apple Cake, Bagels, Cinnamon Bun with Cream Cheese Frosting
I love Essen Bakery! They used to just serve out of a small window, but they recently opened a small indoor dining space with a counter with seating and a small cafe table, so you walk inside to order now. The baked goods are always fresh. My favorites are the homemade pop tarts, black and white cookies, bagel and lox, and caramelized onion focaccia. Try to get there earlier in the day, as they generally run out of most things in the afternoon. I would also recommend ordering online in advance if you know you can't make it there in the morning.
Love all of the baked goods here.
4.5 for the food, actually, for one reason.First, this place is a rare little gem unlike any found in most US cities! Small but mighty. NY-style Jewish traditions with French patisserie exactitude! EVERYTHING I tried here was either next level great (black x white cookies $4 ea.), best-ever fantastic (the 'pop tart') or perfect and authentic abricotine (think: poached apricot croissant).EVERYTHING...EXCEPT. for. the. babka.I tried the much-lauded babka (chocolate) twice. Both times it was rather dry (for a good babka) and lacked flavor. I was a bit taken aback. Everything else is so great but this babka wasn't even as good as Trader Joe's (which is decent enough), let alone the gooey, oozing ones you will find in Brooklyn or Montréal.Nonetheless, I find great black & whites harder to come by than a good babka in my hometown Seattle and most other places. And, all the rest here is rather brilliant!There is even a frequent customer discount club, as if one and one's tastebuds (and diet!) needed the coaxing, to boot.Owner/Pâtissière Tova du Plessis has done a wonderful and remarkable thing in offering her talents to Philly through Essen. Bravo!Vegetarian options: Plenty of wonderful vegetarian pastry (both sweet and savory), bagels, schmears, coffe/tea, etc.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Jewish Apple Cake, Black and White Cookie, Pear Pop Tart, Cookies, Blueberry Pop-Tart
Love this cute little spot! The service was really friendly and I love the quaint feeling of the place. I got the Bagel & Lox on a sesame seed bagel and it was delicious. I heard a lot of people either ordering the bagel & Lox or the Babka. Sounds like ai need to come back to try the Babka!
Double toasted sesame bagel w veggie shmear for the
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bulk Bagels
Essen dishes out great pastries and treats, as well as a high quality lox sandwich. Inside is small and it’s a popular spot, so recommend getting there early (especially on weekends) ahead of sell outs!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Bulk Bagels, Rugelach
Music was too loud, I couldn't hear myself think inside. The food is not
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Not very nice staff. Apple pie makes up for
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
C'mon, really? This is considered a jam filled sufganiyot? It could barely cover the tip of my pinky finger. For $5.50 this is shameful. However, I'll give credit where it's due and that belongs to their bagels! But if you want fresh filled donuts, go to Frangelli's on 8th
By fare the best pastries and baked goods in South Philly! Super kind and helpful staff!
Restaurantji Recommends
The bagels are delicious! However, to charge me $5.50 for this sufganiyot is absurd. This is jam-filled? So disappointed :0(
Purchased a jewish apple cake ordered it for my mother as she had been craving it. She really likes them. So I buy it for 22 dollars and place the order online for pickup the following day. It seems dry old and not good. She said it is bland and bad and she was expecting it to be fresh as we had to order it. We are really disappointed.
Food: 2
Service: 3
Wonderful local spot for traditionally Jewish baked goods. I have had their challah and rugelach and would recommend both!Vegetarian options: No vegan options but most of the food here is vegetarian
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chocolate Rugelach, Rugelach
OMG. The Chocolate Babka. O.M.G.O.M.G.Go there right away and get yourself some of that NOW.OMG
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Such a cute spot and everything I had was amazing. The apple cake was one of the best I’ve ever had! The bagels were fresh and super tasty and the cinnamon buns were phenomenal! I’ll def be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Jewish Apple Cake, Bagels, Cinnamon Bun with Cream Cheese Frosting