Updated in 2021! For a fleeting few months, the biggest bagel chain in the U.S. offered dairy-free cream cheese. First, Einstein Bros quietly and briefly added Kite Hill cream cheese to their menu in select areas. Then, they officially launched Daiya cream cheeze style spread as a limited time schmear option. Einstein Bros hasn’t closed the door on dairy alternatives, but the vegan cream cheese wasn’t popular enough at the time to make it permanent. So for now, the spreads listed below in our dairy-free menu guide (with vegan options and allergen menu notes) will have to do!
Einstein Bros Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Vegan & Allergen Options
Einstein Bros makes several types of dairy-free bagels. However, you do have to get more creative with the schmears. We recommend getting them to go, and slathering with your favorite dairy-free spread, or ordering a spread option below. In the past, they’ve also offered hummus, but it isn’t currently available. The guide below also has vegan menu items noted.
More Allergen Notes: All of the items listed below are also egg-free, except for the Egg, Chicken Salad Sandwich, Mayonnaise, and Chicken Noodle Soup. All of the items listed below are also peanut-free and tree nut-free, except for the Peanut Butter and the Power Protein Bagels (contains walnuts). Most of their bagels are made without soy protein, but all of their bagels contain soybean oil.
Classic Bagels
- Plain (vegan)
- Ancient Grain
- Cinnamon Raisin (vegan)
- Cranberry (vegan)
- Everything (vegan)
- Garlic (vegan)
- Honey Whole Wheat
- Onion (vegan)
- Poppy Seed (vegan)
- Pumpernickel (vegan)
- Sesame Seed (vegan)
Signature Bagels
- Blueberry (vegan)
- Chocolate Chip (vegan)
- French Toast (vegan)
- Pretzel (vegan)
Heads Up! In addition to any cheesy varieties, the Cinnamon Sugar also contains milk.
Thintastic Bagels
- Plain (vegan)
- Ancient Grain
- Everything (vegan)
- Honey Whole Wheat
Gourmet Bagels
- Apple Cinnamon (vegan)
- Power Protein
Heads Up! The other varieties are loaded with cheese.
Bagel Spreads
- Honey
- Natural Peanut Butter (vegan)
- Natural Strawberry Jelly (vegan)
Heads Up! The Butter Blend is made with dairy.
Bagel Sandwiches
- Avocado Toast (vegan)
- Chicken Salad (select locations)
- Avocado Veg Out (no cheese; vegan)
- Ham (no cheese)
- Nova Lox Bagel (no cheese; request mayo or avocado sub)
- Turkey (no cheese, dairy-free bagel)
- Turkey, Bacon & Avocado (no tomato spread)
Breakfast
- Fried Egg Patty
Heads Up! The Twice Baked Hash Browns at Einstein Bros do contain milk. Their Fresh Cracked Eggs and Egg Whites are cooked with butter. You might be able to request no butter, though they do use butter on the grill. You can request the fried egg patty, substitute a dairy-free bagel, and order no cheese to make some of their Breakfast Bagels dairy-free.
Meats
- Bacon
- Chorizo Sausage Patty
- Ham
- Lox (smoked salmon)
- Pepperoni
- Seasoned Pulled Beef Brisket (limited time)
- Turkey
- Turkey Sausage Patty
Vegan Options: Einstein Bros has test marketed a Beyond Sausage, but at the time of our review, it was no longer available.
Veggies
- Avocado (vegan)
- Capers (vegan)
- Cucumber (vegan)
- Leaf Lettuce (vegan)
- Pickle Spear (vegan)
- Red Onion (vegan)
- Spinach (vegan)
- Tomato (vegan)
Other Specialty Breads
- Ciabatta (select locations; vegan)
- Potato Roll (also available parbaked; vegan)
- Tortilla (vegan)
Other Condiments
- Chipotle Salsa (vegan)
- Double Egg Mayo
- Salsa Verde (vegan)
- Smashed Avocado (vegan)
- Spicy Brown Mustard (vegan)
Heads Up! The Roasted Tomato Spread is made with dairy. The Exceptonal Chocolaty Chocolate Buttercreme Icing and Flat Icing used on their party bagel donuts might be dairy-free (the donuts are not). Their Smoky Chipotle and Jalapeno Garlic Mayos / Aiolis prepared for some sandwiches might also be dairy-free. They each appear to be made without any milk ingredients, but we couldn’t verify the “natural flavor” sources. Check in store to verify allergens on the packaging and availability to order, if interested.
Soups
- Chicken Noodle
- Vegetarian Chile (vegan)
Sides
- Sea Salt Potato Chips (vegan)
Sweets
Discontinued: Einstein Bros used to offer Cinnamon Twists and Cinnamon Twist Poppers that were dairy-free and vegan, but those appear to be discontinued.
Coffee Drinks
Milk Beverage: They offer almond milk on their fixed menu for coffee drinks. Select locations might have other options.
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, and restaurants are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure that they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Where to Find Einstein Bros Bagels
Einstein Bros Bagels has more than 700 locations in 40 states across the U.S. See their website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.einsteinbros.com
8 Comments
FYI – the Einstein Bagels colocated with Caribou do NOT have Daiya shmear. ☹️
What a bummer! Thanks for sharing this Heather.
We asked at the restaurant and a lot of the items on this list were wrong, always ask the employees just to be safe
Hi Eren, can you be specific on what items from their allergen menu are incorrect. We can contact Einstein Bagels on this issue.
Also, they should have a binder in store with the ingredients. In several cases, I’ve had employees misquote what has dairy and what doesn’t unless they consult the binder.
Thank you, I love the bagels!!!
It is there BUT you have to scroll clear down to the bottom. its an entensive list of what allergens are or are not in their items. VERY cool. Iove that companies like Einsteins and Chick-fil-A are able to pull whole ingredients lists sometimes right at the registers. it makes shopping for meals for those with allergies much easier than those who reply to the question with an unprofessional “mmmm I dunno know, i guess dont order it” answer that some places still give. Thank you again!!
Hmm…I don’t see any ingredients listed there. Just nutrition.