Pizza Vs. Bagels: Which Iconic New York Treat Do You Prefer?

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- It's a double treat today for two New York culinary staples -- not only is it National Bagel Day -- it's also National Pizza Day.

So which one of these iconic New York City foods reigns supreme among locals? CBS2's Emily Smith took to the streets to find out.

In honor of National Bagel Day, Smith stopped off at Bagel Boss -- one of the oldest bagel chains to open on Long Island.

Benny LoPiccolo, of Bagel Boss in Roslyn Heights, says It costs about 30 cents to make it homemade, and they sell it for $1.25.

According to LoPiccolo, plain bagels are their top seller.

"We can't keep up with them," LoPiccolo said.

MORE: NYC's 10 Best Pizza Slices | 6 Best Bagel Shops In NYC

But it's far from the only option.

"Lox, tomato cream, cheese -- toasted," Gabriel Leviav said.

"I don't toast it -- I like it the way it is," Joe Cino, of Cino's Hot Bagels in Bethpage, said.

So if it's National Bagel Day and National Pizza Day in the same day, doesn't that make it 'National Pizza Bagel Day' too?

Joseph Pappalardo, of Pappalardo's Pizza Cove in Massapequa, has been in the pizza business for 43 years. On Tuesday, he shared some of his tips:

"It starts out with making your pizza dough fresh every day," Pappalardo said. "You've got to buy the top  ingredients -- tomatoes from Italy,  pizza cheese from Wisconsin."

Pappalardo says it costs about 95 cents to make a slice and it sells for $2.25.

The long-time pizzeria owner also shared his love for Lombardi's, on Spring Street. The Manhattan pizzeria was the first in America, established in the early 1900s.

"They had a great calzone and slice of pizza," Pappalardo said. "And they really are the original and the first."

Brooklyn's Spumoni Gardens opened in 1939. Fourth-generation owner Louis Barbati says people travel from all around the world to have one of their famous squares.

"We put the cheese on then the sauce it's a different style," Barbati said.

But which is better -- pizza, or bagels?

"I did both for a long time, and I think bagels is the king of New York," LoPiccolo said.

"I like the pizza, I like the pizza," said Dan Cheshire of Shirley.

However you slice it, bite it or top it, there's clearly room for both here in this big city.