The Brief

What's your favorite way to rip and dip a soft, artisanal pretzel?

Do you prefer to dunk into a drippy, cheesy jalapeño sauce? Or a bracing brown mustard? Maybe you prefer to slather on some whipped honey butter or garlic butter? Or do you go off script, and opt for a creamy cool dressing, like a herbaceous ranch?

There is really only one correct answer: All of the above.

Here are some of our favorite places in and around L.A. to get a soft, handmade pretzel. Some are take out or pick up only, while others can be enjoyed hot from the oven alongside a dark lager, bock or marzen.

Shappy Pretzel Co. in Los Angeles

Yo! You gotta move quick if you want to snap up a Shappy in person. These pretzels are the brainchild of actor and prezelpreneur Adam Shapiro (Never Have I Ever, Mank). He's aka the Philly-born Shappy, who was looking for something to do during COVID and started making pretzels that reminded him of home. The pretzels are now sold at rotating pop-ups across the city, including Studio City on Saturdays, Smorgasburg on Sundays, so watch his IG. They're sold daily at Diamond Bakery on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles. But they sell out quick, so order ahead before heading out only to have your heart twisted into a pretzel shape and broken if the shelves are empty. Shappy's also ships via Goldbelly.

The menu stays focused, and at last check included a classic pretzel, an everything seasoning pretzel, a cinnamon and sugar pretzel (all three for $10), pretzel bites, $6, and The OreYo! — think Oreo stuffed inside a pretzel, $5. Also, they sell perhaps the greatest invention known to pretzeldom: The two-sized mustard packet, half classic yellow, half brown, because why should you have to choose? They also make pretzel wedding favors.

Pro tip from Shappy: If you buy pretzels in bulk (and why wouldn't you?) they freeze well. Just freeze immediately, when still fresh: "Once you know you’re ready for em, take em out, thaw, brush some butter or water on top, sprinkle a lil' more pretzel salt and pop in the oven until they’re good as new!"

Rasselbock in Long Beach

A place known for hearty, German fare like schnitzel and bratwurst and goulash is going to do a pretty good pretzel, right? The Bavarian Pretzel served up here doesn't disappoint. It will set you back $7.75, and is served with homemade sweet mustard. You can add the sausage platter for $16, which includes a bratwurst, a kasekrainer pork and cheese sausage and a spicy chicken and mango sausage served with a trio of homemade mustards, and that's dinner. They also carry over 35 German and Belgian beers.

Congregation Brewery & Cocina in Pasadena

This freshly baked pub pretzel is served piping hot from the pizza oven, with an equally hot cheddar and beer dipping sauce. Seriously. Don't burn the roof of your mouth. It's the second most liked item on the menu, second only to the ribeye burger, according to Doordash reviews. And we know from, ahem, personal experience that they'll bring you some butter too if you ask nicely. Pretzel with queso, $11.

Red Lion Tavern in Silver Lake

They serve up traditional German food at this Silver Lake pub, and a wide selection of German beer. So you know there's a pretzel on the menu: Their German pretzel is doughy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and served with sweet or yellow mustard (of course, ask for both). Large is $11. Add the obazda on the menu for an extra $1.50, a buttery, Bavarian cheese spread with onions and paprika. "This pretzel got me like.......woah. Fr!" said one person who took the time to submit this review on the restaurant website. Nuff said. Well, actually there is something else to say: There is also a pretzel platter on the menu, featuring sliced ham, cheese, pickles, mustard, obazda, salami, landjager beef sausage, and bierknacker, a smoked pork snack stick ... and a 14" pretzel, all for $20.25.

Highland Park Brewery in Los Angeles

You know a pretzel is legit when the menu brags about a "full lye bath" — an extra step that pretzel connoisseurs crave. (It helps gives pretzels their distinctive chocolate hue and that tight outer layer.) Well, Highland Park Brewery does it. Their pretzel is also hand rolled and hand formed. At $14.50, it's a hefty pretzel, served with chipotle crema and mustard for dipping. For an extra $2, add a side of queso.