Sorry Montreal, sorry New York, and sincere apologies to my favorite Boston bagel haunts: the best bagels in the world come from Cleveland, specifically The Cleveland Bagel Co. I am in Cleveland for a mere two days and had a respectable little list of places to try for breakfast. But I started with bagels from CBC and honestly, I couldn't imagine anything better so I went back for more on the second day!
You know from the little bubbles on the bagels' exteriors that these are going to be the real deal. The big doughy gaps inside scream, "I was made with spectacular super yeasty magical starter!" It's got a nice bite, and when you first dive in, you'll be delighted by the contrast between the chewy interior and crispy exterior - but only a thin layer of crisp, not so much as to detract from the overall bagel experience. It's pure heaven. It is everything a bagel could be, and more.
Pro tip: you can also get these bagels at local coffee shops, including Phoenix downtown!