As a native New Yorker now living in the South, I find it very difficult to get good bagels anywhere outside the NYC area. By "good" I primarily mean chewy, with (optional) strong-flavored, plentiful toppings such as garlic, onion, or salt. Every bagel I've had here in Richmond has the consistency of white bread or a kaiser roll with a hole in it.

I've been to 48 states in my lifetime but have only found two bagel bakers in the entire country, not including NY/NJ/CT, that make true New York-style bagels.

The two places on my list with good NY-style bagels outside NY are:

Bodo's Bagels, Charlottesville, Virginia - all boiled the old-fashioned way, fresh in store, with a good variety of toppings/flavors

Marty's New York Bagel Deli, Anchorage, Alaska - yes, Alaska of all places. Found this gem in an Alaska visitor's guide and checked it out just this past week while in Anchorage. Bagels are a bit on the small side, but have the correct consistency and are also boiled in store. Brought a baker's dozen home to Virginia to eat.

There are bound to be others, and that's where your input comes in! Let us know where you get your bagel fix outside NYC.