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By Elizabeth Held
Los Angeles is full of ex-pats from New York, Chicago and other east-of-L.A. cities who appreciate a good bagel. And while some might think that a proper bagel can’t be found this far west, the truth is that plenty of authentic and delicious options can be had in Los Angeles. From no-frills shops to take-out windows and food trucks, the city’s top bagels are found in a variety of locations. We’ve rounded up some of the best rings in the city for your noshing pleasure.
Bagel Factory. (Via Facebook)
BAGEL FACTORY
For an authentic New York-style kosher bagel, look no further than Bagel Factory. Boiled and baked for a perfectly chewy consistency, these bagels will satisfy bagel snobs across the city. The Bagel Factory has been a family-owned-and-operated shop for more than 40 years and has stayed true to its authentic roots. Pick up a baker’s dozen with classic flavors like everything and pumpernickel, or mix it up with offerings like jalapeno or cranberry bagels. This no-frills shop feeds a plethora of customers daily but its efficient service will get you on your way quickly.
Bagel Factory is located at 8986 Cadillac Ave., Los Angeles, 310-837-6046; 3004 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A., 310-477-8460; 21221 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, 310-540-2077.
Belle's Bagels. (Via Facebook)
BELLE’S BAGELS
Among the relative newcomers on this list, Belle’s Bagels began as an underground operation that has since moved to a takeout window located in Highland Park’s Hi Hat music venue. This neighborhood bagel shop limits their offerings to old-school toppings like sesame, everything and salt, and all bagels are properly served untoasted, a testament to a good bagel’s freshness and consistency. Belle’s Bagels uses organic and local ingredients whenever possible, such as Sierra Nevada cream cheese and Central Milling flour, and slings bagels Thursday through Sunday mornings until they run out.
Belle’s Bagels is located at 5043 York Blvd., Highland Park, 323-208-9408.
Milo & Olive (Via Facebook)
MILO & OLIVE
Milo & Olive might be known more for their excellent pizzas, but in the mornings, they serve some of the best bagels and baked goods on the Westside. With renowned pastry chef Zoe Nathan at the helm, this should come as no surprise. Nathan’s bagels are delicious in their simplicity, boiled and baked and crafted with care using organic ingredients, including a hint of honey. These bagels offer a bit more heft than some of the others on this list, and you can really sink your teeth into these delightful creations. Grab a cup of locally roasted Luxxe coffee to go along with your bagel for an extra scrumptious morning.
Milo & Olive is located at 2723 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310-453-6776.
The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel (Via Facebook)
THE ORIGINAL BROOKLYN WATER BAGEL
The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel’s gimmick is a proprietary water treatment system - on full display to guests at the Beverly Hills location - designed to mimic water from New York for a truly authentic bagel. Whatever’s in the water, it works. Boiled in their “Brooklynized” water and baked fresh daily, the bagels have a satisfying crusty exterior and a chewy interior. The service is more efficient at the Westchester location but both shops offer the same tasty selection. A number of solid bagel sandwiches are on the menu, too, alongside single bagels and schmears.
The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel is located at 262 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, 310-786-7400; and 8732 S. Sepulveda, Westchester, 310-645-2243.
Bagel Broker (Via Facebook)
BAGEL BROKER
Family-owned and operated for 30 years, this tiny, no-frills strip-mall joint offers all the classics including everything, poppy seed, blueberry and cinnamon raisin, fluffy whipped cream cheese, and a small selection of sandwiches and other pastries. Bagels here are made right, with hi-gluten unbleached wheat flour, a touch of sugar and salt, yeast and water. If you like your baked goods with a mild kick, try the cheddar jalapeño bagel. If you’re truly lucky, you’ll catch them right as they’re coming out of the oven while it’s still steaming hot. Bagel Broker cranks out 2,500 bagels daily, ready at 6:00 a.m., for its loyal rush of patrons, and moves through its steady line of customers at an efficient clip.
Bagel Broker is located at 7825 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, 323-931-1258.
Manhattan Bread & Bagel (Via Facebook)
MANHATTAN BREAD & BAGEL
Manhattan Bread & Bagel has been making the South Bay’s best bagels since they opened in 1992. Traditionally boiled and baked, the bagels offered here are mostly classic flavors, like rye, sesame and egg. Try the cranberry flax, chocolate chip or jalapeño varietals if you’re looking for something different. Bagels are fresh enough that they don’t require toasting, and seasonal specials frequently pop up on the menu, like pumpkin bagels in the fall. Pick up a tub of whipped cream cheese to spread on top or choose from the shop’s other deli selections to round out your breakfast.
Manhattan Bread & Bagel is located at 1812 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 310-545-7553.
Wexler’s Deli (Via Facebook)
WEXLER’S DELI
Wexler’s Deli offers the soul of an old-school Jewish deli with a fresh, modern style, and the bagels are one of the reasons to check them out. Exactly three bagels are offered at this L.A. shop: everything, plain and sesame seed. Top them with cream cheese or choose from a variety of bagel sandwiches, like the “Big Poppa,” which layers cheese, house-made pastrami and egg for a rich and hearty meal. Wexler’s Deli is also known for their incredible smoked meats and fish, all of which are smoked in-house daily. Their silky smooth lox and whitefish salad are on point and rival the best delis on the East Coast.
Wexler’s Deli is located at Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Downtown, 213-620-0633; 616 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, 424-744-8671.
Yeastie Boys (Via Twitter)
YEASTIE BOYS BAGELS
Yeastie Boys Bagels, Los Angeles’ first bagel truck, was established in 2014 and roams the city in search of carb-loving customers. Choose from five varietals—plain, poppy, sesame, cheddar and everything—and top them with a schmear, like the matcha cream cheese. A handful of sandwiches are also available. Try "The Mishka" with vegan sun-dried tomato spread, sliced red onion and alfalfa sprouts on an everything bagel, or "The MILF," a plain bagel topped with cream cheese, sliced banana and Nutella. The truck also offers catering to fulfill all your bagel party needs, and it might even show up at your favorite festival, like Coachella.
Yeastie Boys Bagels moves around Los Angeles. Check the website and social channels for location updates.
New York Bagel & Deli (Photo by Meghan D. via Yelp)
NEW YORK BAGEL & DELI
Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, the bagels at New York Bagel & Deli offer a pleasant crunch with no toasting required. This no-frills shop offers a variety of plump, classic bagels like egg, sesame, blueberry and everything. A solid lox sandwich is reminiscent of East Coast bagel shops, and an excellent whitefish salad is available, too. In the mood for more than just a bagel and schmear? Try one of the shop’s egg sandwiches, or order from the deli case’s side salads and exceptional pickles. Both locations open early to satisfy early risers in need of a doughy treat.
New York Bagel & Deli is located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, 310-828-3228; and 11700 National Blvd., Mar Vista, 310-391-6226.
New York Bagel Company (Photo by Matt H. via Yelp)
NEW YORK BAGEL COMPANY
Step inside New York Bagel Company, located in the corner of an unassuming strip mall in Brentwood, and you might feel briefly transported to New York City. While there’s a full-service sit-down restaurant section of the shop, a quick-moving to-go line is another option for those on the run. As the name suggests, the bagels are the star on the menu here. From a well-seasoned everything to an herbaceous rosemary, each bagel has good flavor and a superb texture with a proper crunchy exterior. A deli counter of salads and schmears is available to accompany your bagel, and a substantial egg-and-cheese sandwich is available for bigger appetites.
New York Bagel Company is located at 11640 San Vicente Blvd., Ste 111, Brentwood, 310-820-1050.
Elizabeth Held is a Los Angeles-based writer who will never grow tired of exploring this city's great food and restaurant scene. She's also an avid home cook and will travel anywhere for the promise of a great meal.
