When I grew up in the New Jersey suburbs, bagels were a regular part of my family’s weekend food rotation. My Dad picked up bagels from the local shopping center bagel shop. At that point, I wasn’t thinking about what the best bagel would look or taste like. There were a bunch of bagel shops in the area, but my Dad just went with something convenient.

On teenage day-trips to New York City to watch movies or get some culture, I enjoyed bagels from places with bigger reputations like Zabar’s and H&H Bagels on the Upper West Side. H&H wasn’t even Jewish run, but still built a big following and now is attempting a national expansion with a financier owner and franchise model, but I digress.

In my 20s and 30s, I returned to New York City almost every year to enjoy good versions of iconic foods that weren’t easy to find in L.A. back then. Primarily pizza, bagels, and Italian sandwiches. I make several pilgrimages to Murray’s Bagels in Greenwich Village, which hand-rolled my favorite bagels and served my favorite schmears at that point.

Bagel culture seems to be thriving in New York City. I just visited Manhattan with my family and made bagel stops at four businesses that all had long line, including classic versions at Best Bagel & Coffee, Liberty Bagels, and Russ & Daughters. I also enjoyed nouveau Apollo Bagels, which reminded me more of a bagel style I’d more commonly find in California.

NYC has infinitely more bagel shops than L.A., and always will, since they’re woven into the city’s culinary and cultural fabric. In many cases, they don’t resemble the bagels I grew up on, but I prefer the more freewheeling L.A. bagels, which New Yorkers might dismiss. As with pizza, Los Angeles is more accepting of a wider variety of styles, more experimental and seasonal with toppings, and in a lot of cases, more flavorful and fun. Find my favorite Los Angeles bagels since 2022.

Belle’s Delicatessen & Bar Loxsmith Sandwich – Highland Park ↓

C&H Bagels Everything Bagel Salmon – Highland Park ↓

Calic Bagel Signature Calic – Westlake ↓

Carmel Jerusalem Bagel (Yes, I know Jerusalem bagels aren’t boiled) – Hollywood ↓

Courage Bagels Simply Delicious Roe – Virgil Village ↓

Daniel’s Bagels Rosemary Bagel Lox Spread – Palms ↓

Gjusta Everything Bagel Pastrami Gravlax – Venice ↓

Hank’s Bagels Number 3 – Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas + Sherman Oaks ↓

Hot Water Little Fish Whitefish Salad Bagel – Pop-Up ↓

Layla Bagels Scarlett Laika – Beverly Hills + Santa Monica ↓

Maury’s Bagels Smoked Trout Egg Salad Za’atar Bagel – Silver Lake ↓

Mish Delicatessen Wood-Fired Everything Bagel (With Harissa Kippered Salmon Special) – Los Angeles ↓

Mustard’s Bagels Kathy & Rick Deanna Michelle – Culver City ↓

Saint-Raf Bagels Bacon Egg Cheese Sandwich – Cypress Park ↓

Tommy & Atticus Works Heirloom Bagel Sandwiches – Redondo Beach ↓

Tomorrow Bagel Rockville Classic – Pop-Up ↓