A Century of Jewish Tradition
Orwashers flagship location at 308 East 78th Street
As the irresistible scent of freshly baked challah fills the air, we at Orwashers find ourselves reflecting on a journey that began over a century ago. Since 1916, our bakery has stood as a symbol of Jewish heritage and tradition in the heart of New York’s Upper East Side. Founded by an immigrant family from Hungary, our humble storefront quickly became a gathering place for the community, offering a taste of home with every loaf that emerged from our ovens.
May is Jewish Heritage Month, and we’re grateful for the many generations of customers who have made our bakery a cherished part of their lives. Whether you’re a loyal customer or just learning about us from one of our Instagram reels, we’re proud to continue serving our community with the same dedication to quality and craft that our founders brought with them from Hungary all those years ago. To have served and continue to serve families that have spanned multiple generations is a great honor and privilege that we cherish every day. We hope to continue this legacy for the next century and more!
Our bakery is more than just a place to buy bread and pastries; it’s a piece of New York history, a symbol of perseverance, and a testament to the enduring power of Jewish tradition. In 2025, our bakeries' menu honors our Jewish heritage while adding a few modern twists.
Our challah: available every Friday, this braided bread of deliciousness is the centerpiece of any great shabbat dinner and the base for wonderful french toast. Get the recipe here! When you think of Jewish traditions, challah is one of the first foods that come to mind. And for good reason. It’s undeniable! So is having just one bite of our challah. When presented with the option, always order another Orwashers challah as it goes fast!
Then there is our rye and pumpernickel breads which are as classic as it comes. The perfect base for scrumptious sandwiches but also delicious with slabs of salted butter. Our sourdough bagels are just perfect with a generous schmear of cream cheese and our caramelized onion bialys are synonymous with Jewish food tradition and are beloved by customers young and old.
Our time-tested Jewish comfort food like our rugelach comes in a variety of flavors like raspberry, apricot and chocolate. Packed with pecans, raisins, and sunflower seeds. And last but certainly not least, our babkas! For starters, Bubbe’s Chocolate Babka. We’ve been told it’s “better than Bubbe used to make,” but we’ll let you be the judge of that. We also have a Cinnamon Babka that is oh-so-delicious.
From our family to yours, we thank you for your patronage. We hope to see you in one of our bakeries soon.
L’Chaim!