Most newcomers who come from the East Coast like two things about Los Angeles: the weather and absolutely dragging our bagel quality. But with more and more New Yorkers gravitating towards L.A., bringing their bagel know-how, and setting up shops, our city has more options than ever before. While “I’m craving an L.A.-style bagel” is something you will probably never hear, we believe you can still get a tasty bagel out West (and hey, the New York Times agrees). From Montreal-style to new takes on a classic, here are our picks for the best bagels Los Angeles has to offer. (Listed in alphabetical order.)
The 10 Best Bagel Shops in Los Angeles
•
Published Apr 9, 2021
Courtesy of The Bagel Broker
1. The Bagel Broker
This Fairfax staple has been serving up bagels since the 80s and not for nothing. The family-owned and operated shop boasts a menu of 18 different bagel flavors to suit everyone’s tastes. No matter what flavor you choose, you are in for a delicious, dense, doughy experience. We’re partial to their everything bagel with their chive cream cheese made on site. Available for takeout and delivery.
7825 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036; bagelbroker.com
Courtesy of Belle’s Bagels
2. Belle’s Bagels
Any given morning you can see hungry fans lining up on York Blvd. in Highland Park, waiting to sink their teeth into a Belle’s bagel. The double fermentation process they go through gives them a nice crust and a soft inside. It’s no wonder why they’re the belle of the bagel ball (sorry, we had to.) Try their BEC on onion. It comes with cage-free local eggs, cheddar and thick-cut double-smoked bacon. Walk up or order online.
5022 York Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90042; bellesbagels.com
3. Courage Bagels
Meet the Northern cousin of the NYC bagel, the Montreal-style bagel. These Canadian creations are smaller, thinner, sweeter and denser, with a larger hole than their counterparts and baked in a wood-fired oven. You can find them at Courage Bagels in Virgil Village. We recommend their burnt everything bagel for those of us that like their bagels a little more well-done.
777 N Virgil Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029; couragebagels.com
Courtesy of Hank’s
4. Hank’s
Sandwiches are sort of Hank’s “thing.” The slightly dense bagel lays a perfect foundation for all their fix-in’s including their in-house cured lox served with tomatoes, pickled onions and cucumbers. Our pick is the BEC that comes with maple-glazed bacon, sharp cheddar and aioli. Available for takeout or delivery.
4315 W Riverside Dr, Burbank, Ca 91505; hanksbagels.com
5. Maury’s
If Goldilocks came to Maury’s she would agree that the bagels aren’t too big, not too small, but just right. Their menu is filled with superb sandwich concoctions on chewy bagels. But you can’t go wrong with their lox bagel that comes with a healthy portion of salty salmon, red onions, capers and cream cheese that’s—you guessed it—just right. Order in-store or online.
2829 Bellevue Ave., Los Angeles, Ca 90026; maurysbagels.com
Courtesy of Pop’s Bagels
6. Pop’s Bagels
This Culver City spot opts to make bagels in small batches of six as opposed to large scale batches like you’ll find in other bagel shops. The results are a light and slightly chewy dough. They also keep it simple by offering only three bagel flavors (plain, everything and cinnamon raisin) which serves as a blank canvas for their premium toppings and homemade cream cheese. We’re suckers for their tangy pickled jalapeño cream cheese and their bagel sandwich with bacon and avocado. Available for takeout and delivery.
8850 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232; popsbagelsla.com
Courtesy of Unity Bagels
7. Unity Bagels
Bagel purists prepare to clutch your pearls. Newcomer to the bagel scene, Unity Bagels, is putting their own spin on the beloved breakfast bread with sandwiches like The Cali that comes with guacamole, cucumbers, lime, chile arbol and sprouts on a sesame seed bagel. You can find Unity Bagel owner David Long selling his made-that-day bagels at farmers markets across L.A.
Multiple locations; unitybagels.com
Courtesy of Western Bagel
8. Western Bagel
The crafty veteran of this list is Western Bagel who has been in the game since 1947. This legend started in Van Nuys and has since opened locations across Southern California. With the multiple locations, you would think the quality would suffer. But not for Western Bagel. Their shops have a cozy neighborhood feel where they serve up perfectly chewy bagels in an array of flavors with some of the best flavored cream cheeses made in-house. Order in-store or online.
Multiple locations; westernbagel.com
Courtesy of Wexler’s
9. Wexler’s
Wexler’s bagels are doughy, dense and the perfect vehicle for their lox. We could write a poem about this smoked fish that bursts with flavor and melts in your mouth. The fine people at Wexler’s make their lox in-house where the fish is seasoned with salt, sugar, spices and herbs before it goes through a smoking process that we think is code for magic. However it happens, we’re just glad it exists. Available for takeout and delivery.
Multiple locations; wexlersdeli.com
10. Yeastie Boys
Like the rap group that inspired their name, the Yeastie Boys got their start in NYC. In their move out West, they brought with them their expertise in the art of bagel making. We suggest picking up the Cheddy Wap, their take on the bodega classic bacon, egg and cheese. Walk up or order online.
3900 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, Ca 90029 and 12103 Ventura Place, Los Angeles, Ca 91604; yeastieboysbagels.com
Want to discover more good eats in LA? Sign up to our newsletter here.