California used to get teased for its bagels, and honestly, some of that teasing was fair. Things have changed.
Across the state, small shops are now turning out chewy, crusty, properly boiled bagels that even transplanted New Yorkers admit they line up for. This list covers seven spots from Sacramento down to San Diego, each with its own reason to be here.
You will find sourdough bagels in Santa Barbara, pastrami lox in Berkeley, serrano pepper bagels by the San Diego waterfront, and breakfast sandwiches in Sacramento that still cost less than a fancy latte. Some shops keep short hours and sell out, so timing matters.
Others are easy weekday stops with plenty of parking. Whether you want a classic schmear or something a little wild, these are the places people keep naming when the bagel conversation starts.
Save this one for your next weekend morning.
1. Courage Bagels, Los Angeles, CA
A half bagel for around seven dollars sounds wild until you see what shows up on the plate. Courage Bagels, on Virgil Avenue in East Hollywood, has built its name on bagels with a shattering, crispy skin, a chewy center, and a light sourdough tang.
The shop is small and counter-serve, with sidewalk seats out front. Toppings lean fresh and ingredient-driven, like smoked salmon with dill cream cheese, a cream cheese and heirloom tomato combo for vegetarians, and a showy wild Alaskan salmon roe option.
Plan on spending about $20 to $30 per person if you go all in. Even a simple sesame bagel with cream cheese makes the case for why this place gets mentioned alongside the best in New York.
Timing is the real trick. The shop is open Monday and Thursday through Sunday from 7 AM to 2 PM, closed Tuesday and Wednesday, and weekends draw the longest waits.
There is no restroom, so plan accordingly. Street parking is a mix of free and paid spots.
2. Schlok’s Bagels & Lox, San Francisco, CA
Brooklyn transplants in San Francisco have a hard time admitting a local bagel measures up. Schlok’s, on Fell Street near the Panhandle, tends to be the exception they name.
The bagels are New York-style, with a crusty outside and a chewy, doughy middle. Schmears are the other draw, including chive and a creative vegan cream cheese, and the smoked salmon is a natural pairing.
Prices sit in the friendly $10 to $20 range. Sandwiches and coffee round out a short, focused menu.
I like that it runs every day, 7:30 AM to 1:45 PM. Saturday and Sunday mornings are the busiest, while weekday mornings are much calmer if you want a quick visit.
The staff has a reputation for being warm and quick, and the shop is openly LGBTQ+ friendly. Delivery and pickup are both available if you would rather bring the bagels home.
3. Boichik Bagels College Ave, Berkeley, CA
Few bagel shops in the Bay Area come with this much buzz, and Boichik has the lines to show for it. The College Avenue location sits in a charming stretch of Berkeley’s Elmwood area.
The bagels are New York-style, kosher, and made with organic elements. The everything bagel is a standout, well seasoned and chewy with a hint of sweetness.
Here is the move for a full meal: stack lox, cream cheese, onion, and capers onto one bagel. The pastrami lox is a signature, and toppings like heirloom tomatoes and Kite Hill vegan cream cheese make it easy for plant-based eaters too.
Many regulars grab a dozen bagels plus schmear and smoked salmon for brunch at home. The salmon holds up well even on a toasted bagel.
Hours are daily from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM. Service is fast and no-frills, so treat it as a grab-and-go stop, especially on packed weekend mornings.
4. Spill the Beans Coffee and Bagels, San Diego, CA
Serrano pepper bagels. Habanero bagels.
White truffle cream cheese. Spill the Beans on Market Street is where California-style bagels get a little adventurous.
The cafe is modern and bright, with a breezy patio and Dark Horse coffee behind the counter. It is also dog-friendly inside, which fits the downtown San Diego crowd.
The French toast bagel is a sweet-and-savory favorite, with agave vanilla cream cheese, maple butter, eggs, cheese, and sausage. The house sandwich, simply called The San Diego, is a staple, and vegan fans can go for the Bagel-Cado or Cabo-Cado toast.
For heat seekers, pair a serrano bagel with garlic and red chili cream cheese, spinach, tomato, and thick peppered bacon. There is also a Roll Your Own Bagel option if you like to build from scratch.
Unlike most shops here, it stays open into the evening, until 6 PM most days and 7 PM on Friday and Saturday. Restrooms and Wi-Fi make it an easy place to linger.
5. River City Deli & Bagels, Sacramento, CA
A filling breakfast sandwich for under five dollars is getting rare in California. River City Deli & Bagels in Sacramento’s Curtis Park area still pulls it off.
This family-owned spot keeps prices in the $1 to $10 range. Bagels and croissants are made in house, with a texture that lands right between too thick and too thin.
The open-face bagel with cream cheese and lox is the one to know, and a closed-face version is available too. The ratio of cream cheese, lox, and toppings is well balanced.
The menu goes beyond bagels, with breakfast burritos, fruit smoothies, and salads. Food is made to order, and service moves quickly.
It is open weekdays 6:30 AM to 3:30 PM and Saturday 7 AM to 2 PM, closed Sunday. Midweek is busiest, so Monday mornings are a smart pick, and on-site plus free street parking keeps things easy.
6. Mother Dough Bagels, Santa Barbara, CA
Sourdough and Santa Barbara go together pretty naturally, and Mother Dough Bagels leans all the way in. The shop on Santa Barbara Street bakes organic sourdough bagels that come out crusty outside and fluffy and chewy inside.
The bagels themselves are vegan, and flavors go beyond the usual lineup. Pair one with a spread and a latte, then grab a cookie for later.
The shop is small and cute, with a friendly counter team. Dine-in, takeout, and pickup are all options, and there is a restroom.
I would save this one for a slow weekend morning downtown. Just watch the clock, because hours are Wednesday through Sunday from 8 AM to 1 PM, closed Monday and Tuesday.
Free street parking nearby keeps the stop simple. Prices run about $10 to $20 per person.
7. East Coast Bagel, Irvine, CA
Early birds in Orange County, this one opens at 6 AM every single day. East Coast Bagel on Culver Drive in Irvine is a relaxed neighborhood shop with serious variety.
Bagels are made fresh every morning and come out hefty, chewy outside and soft inside. Flavors include scored garlic, cheesy jalapeno, and spinach parmesan.
The cream cheese lineup is another big reason people return. For something heartier, the hot corned beef sandwich and turkey avocado melt both deliver generous portions at reasonable prices.
Lines can form, but the staff moves fast and stays patient. A short wait is common on busy mornings.
Hours run 6 AM to 2 PM on weekdays and until 3 PM on weekends. A free parking lot helps, though there is no restroom, so plan for a quick in-and-out visit.
That wraps up the list. From sourdough in Santa Barbara to serrano bagels in San Diego, California’s bagel scene has plenty of personality, so pick a morning and start working your way through it.
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