Imagine a pushcart laden with potato and kasha dumplings. That’s how the Yonah Schimmel Knish Bakery story begins. We are standing in front of Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery on East Houston Street. This isn’t just a bakery. It is a time capsule of New York’s Lower East Side.
Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery has been serving knishes since 1910. Yonah Schimmel, a Romanian rabbi, and his wife started it all. They sold knishes from a pushcart in Coney Island in 1890. Their potato and kasha knishes were a hit. The “K” in knish is pronounced.
In 1910, Yonah partnered with his cousin Joseph Berger. Together, they opened the store that still stands today. This location is on East Houston Street. Yonah Schimmel’s is the oldest family-owned knishery in America. It is currently run by Yonah’s great-nephew. His name is Alex Wolfman.
Over the years, Yonah Schimmel’s became a Lower East Side institution. Many famous faces have enjoyed these knishes. Eleanor Roosevelt, Barbara Streisand, and Woody Allen are among them. Woody Allen even filmed a scene here with Larry David for “Whatever Works”.
Once, Yonah Schimmel operated multiple knish bakeries. These locations included Allen St., Rivington, and Ave. B. The Houston Street store moved across the street in the 1930s. This was due to subway construction.
The Lower East Side has changed a lot. Many Jewish residents have moved away. Yonah Schimmel’s is one of the few Jewish businesses that remain. It is a fixture of a largely departed culture.
Politicians know the power of a Yonah Schimmel’s knish. “No New York politician has been elected without a photo of them eating a knish here” says The Underground Gourmet.
What exactly is a knish? It’s an Eastern European snack made popular by Jewish immigrants. The classic knish has potato, onion, and seasonings. All of this is wrapped in thin dough and baked, never fried.
Yonah Schimmel’s offers many knish varieties. Traditional potato and kasha are still popular. There are also cabbage and spinach options. Modern fillings include sweet potato and jalapenos. They even have sweet cheese knishes with fruit.
The knishes here are round and never square. You can even order cocktail-sized knishes. Yonah Schimmel’s ships knishes anywhere in the US.
Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery is more than just a place to eat. It is a landmark. It’s been the subject of art. A portrait of the bakery hangs in the Museum of the City of New York. Jewish-Irish painter Harry Kernoff painted the bakery in 1939.
So, step inside Yonah Schimmel’s Knish Bakery. Taste a piece of New York history. Experience the warmth and comfort that has drawn people here for generations. It is a true taste of the Lower East Side.