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YONAH SHIMMEL'S KNISH BAKERY

Updated

Phone: (212) 477-2858

Address: 137 EAST HOUSTON STREET 10002

TLDR

Historic East Village landmark famous for authentic, hand-crafted Jewish knishes. A century-old institution serving classic Eastern European comfort food.

Reddit Sentiment for YONAH SHIMMEL'S KNISH BAKERY(based on 8 Reddit opinions)

75% Positive25% Neutral

Tags

jewish 4knish 5View All

Neighborhoods

Lower East Side

Instagram Posts References

Yonah Schimmel's Knish Bakery, often referred to as Yonah Schimmel, is an iconic Jewish eatery located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Established in 1910, it has been a cornerstone of New York City's immigrant food culture for over a century, remaining family-owned throughout its operation. The establishment is lauded as the best place in NYC for Jewish knishes, which are described as classic Eastern European comfort food consisting of a dough pastry stuffed with various fillings. The bakery offers a wide range of knish varieties, including savory options like potato, spinach, mushroom, kasha, broccoli, red cabbage, and sweet potato, as well as sweet choices such as chocolate cheese, cherry cheese, apple cheese, blueberry cheese, cheese pretzel, and apple strudel. The venue also offers typical deli accompaniments like mustard and Dr. Brown's soda. The interior and exterior feature unique, humorous signage, adding to its charm. It has consistently maintained high sanitary standards, as indicated by an 'A' grade from the NYC Department of Health.

Other Article Mentions

Lists, round-ups, and guides where this restaurant is featured.

Mentioned In
Three Perfect Days of Food Tours, Hotspots, and Global Dining in New York City
positive

Taste a piece of culinary history at Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery, which has been serving 18 varieties of knishes, including traditional potato and an NYC-centric pizza flavor, since 1910.

Not specifiedApr 29, 2026

Details

Established in 1910, this iconic Lower East Side institution is a cornerstone of New York City's immigrant food history, specializing in authentic, hand-crafted knishes [1]. The bakery serves as a quintessential destination for Eastern European comfort food, offering a massive variety of both savory and sweet pastries [1]. It remains a top recommendation for those seeking a true taste of local culinary heritage while exploring the neighborhood [2], [3].

Food Overview

This bakery is lauded as the definitive spot in New York for Jewish knishes, offering 18 different varieties ranging from traditional potato, kasha, and mushroom to sweet options like cherry cheese and apple strudel [1], [5]. While the mushroom knish is highly recommended for its flavor, customer feedback indicates that the broccoli and mixed vegetable varieties can sometimes be somewhat flavorless [3].

Highlights / Recommended

Mentioned Dishes:

  • knish(4)

Customer Sentiment

Visitors consistently praise the authenticity of the knishes, frequently citing them as the best in the city [1], [4]. While the mushroom flavor is a standout favorite, some find certain vegetable options to be lacking in overall flavor [3].

Reddit Opinions & Reviews

Top Reddit Posts About YONAH SHIMMEL'S KNISH BAKERY

This post features a detailed review comparing different knish flavors, highlighting the mushroom knish as a standout while noting others were less impressive.
A suggestion is made to pair a meal from Katz's with a classic knish from this historic bakery.

Recent Reddit Mentions

From post: Bangbang Recommendations For Parents Night Out

"Suggested as part of an LES itinerary."

Neutral
Jul 29, 2026View Comment →

From post: Bagels And Jewish Deli Bakery Food

"The original poster expressed love for the recommendations and thanked the commenter."

Positive
Jun 23, 2026View Comment →

From post: Bagels And Jewish Deli Bakery Food

"This commenter listed Yonah Schimmel as a recommendation."

Positive
Jun 23, 2026View Comment →

From post: Restaurant Review Other Half Beer And Yonah

"The user found the knishes to be great, with the mushroom flavor being the best. They are also looking for recipes to make them at home."

Positive
May 26, 2026View Comment →

From post: Restaurant Review Other Half Beer And Yonah

"This commenter stated that Yonah's makes the 'real thing' when referring to knishes, differentiating them from 'genetic square ones'."

Positive
May 26, 2026View Comment →

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