The bagel: a perfect combination of crispy and chewy, flaky and fluffy. No matter how you prefer to eat them — toasted with velvety soft butter, sliced and topped with savory lox or a classic “rip-and-dip” into silky smooth cream cheese, there’s nothing better than a fresh bagel on a Sunday morning.
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite bagel spots Los Angeles has to offer (with some honorable mentions at the end). I know bagels can be a divisive topic, so even if you don’t see your personal favorite place on this list, I encourage you to give these options a try. Who knows — you might find a new “holey” grail.
Belle’s Bagels, Delicatessen & Bar
Beginning as a pop-up stand in 2012, run by longtime friends Nick Schreiber and J.D. Rocchio, Belle’s Bagels quickly gained popularity and later expanded to the patio of a shut-down bistro in 2020. Their bagels are just the right amount of chewy, with a soft inside and a crispy exterior.
The two owners said their bagel recipe is forever a work in progress, always improving and evolving to create the best bagels they can. First boiled in malt, the dish has a classic bagel flavor, yet it still stands out among its competitors. The inside is dense and fluffy while the chewy outside doesn’t skimp: both the top and bottom are packed with your flavor of choice. Whether it’s covered in saltor sesame, every bite you take leaves you wanting more.
Belle’s opened up its first pair of real doors Aug. 1 of this year, expanding from just a bagel shop into a full Jewish deli and cocktail bar with sit-down dining. While I have yet to try their newest additions, I can assure you that the bagels remain a 10/10.
Courage Bagels
Characterized by a waiting line peeling down the street, Courage Bagels puts a unique twist on the classic bagel. Their signature burnt Everything is crunchy and flaky, leaving a toasty finish.
Courage serves up what it calls a Montreal-style bagel with California influence, with each of its open-face bagel sandwiches covered in fresh California produce. Even with its bright and flavorful toppings, the bagel’s unique flavor and crackly crust remain the star of the show. Whether you’re eating a tasty “Run it Thru the Garden,” covered in cream cheese, tomato, cucumber, onion and more, or a classic “Simply Delicious,” topped with cream cheese, capers and salmon, Courage is effortlessly scrumptious.
As mentioned above, Courage has quite a long line. Expect about a 45-minute wait just to get up to the ordering window and, depending on how full the business is, another 15 to 20 minute wait to actually get your bagels. However, just one bite into their soft and crisp bagels renders it obsolete. The slightly charred crunch of a handmade Courage bagel never gets old.
Calic Bagel
Nestled in Koreatown, Calic Bagel’s iconic stuffed bagels have been viral on TikTok for a while. The shop’s namesake bagel, the Calic, is a combination of the words “California” and “garlic” and pure deliciousness. Dipped in garlic butter and filled with garlic cream cheese, Calic’s mouthwatering star is so much more than just a TikTok video.
If you prefer the classics, Calic excels in those too; the Everything bagel is crunchy, chewy and never disappoints. Even a simple plain bagel is flavourful and delicious. The dish’s fluffy inside is sweeter than your average bagel, creating the perfect balance of savory and sweet.
The process of creating Calic’s unique bagels is a fusion of Asian baking techniques and the traditional methods of Jewish and New York bagel makers. The shop also encourages its guests to “rip-and-dip” their soft bagels into house-made schmears. From its recipe to its flavors to the restaurant culture, Calic is leading the charge in the unique and authentically L.A. bagel scene.
Honorable mentions
Layla Bagels are cushiony and crunchy, decorated with everything from eggs to avocados, and of course, the classic lox. The store’s open-face bagel sandwiches range from classic, like cream cheese and tomato, to experimental, like aioli and jalapeno. While the bagel itself isn’t the biggest standout, the unique sandwiches and flavor combinations are more than enough to keep the crowds coming. Layla Bagels is located at 1614 Ocean Park and is open every day from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
While many of the options on this list are pretty expensive, New York Bagel and Deli provides a tasty and budget-friendly bagel. The classic bagels taste as if they’re straight from New York, and there are many crispy and airy types to choose from. With a smorgasbord of amazing schmears, New York Bagel and Deli is simply delicious. The shop is located at 11700 National Blvd and is open every day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Founded in 1987, The Bagel Broker is a classic Los Angeles bagel institution. With one of the largest menus on this list, a fresh bagel from Bagel Broker is guaranteed to be a delicious start to your day. The joint’s bagels are always served up with a side of nostalgia for me, as they have been a family favorite for as long as I can remember. The Bagel Broker is located at 7825 Beverly Blvd. and is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.