I am a bagel connoisseur, and everything about this place has hit the mark for a perfect bagel…read morejoint. I had strictly been planning my visit to California around the best places to eat around the city and this place is my greatest discovery. The sunshine bagel with the vegan cream cheese rocked my world beyond any description. The cucumbers were sliced so thinly and so crisp. It was a dream come true upon my taste buds. My friend who enjoys lox bagels from time to time said it was probably one of the top bagels she had ever eaten across the country. The atmosphere is very Californian and transplant friendly. The service was quick simple and the food was spectacular. Everybody in that place loved their bagels. It felt like a bagel dream come true! I mean the various cream cheese options to the delicious deliciously made fresh bagels daily. My only complaint is that there wasn't a public restroom.

This is a different bagel from the one I reviewed two years ago, and time has not treated it well…read more Today, we ordered a half dozen and cream cheese. The interior crumb had a Goldilocks structure: it was open and light, yet it bounced back when pressed and twisted. The bagels will hold shape under a sandwich without becoming dense. Unfortunately, the bagels we received were very pale and had no crust to speak of. The bagels had a gentle tang of fermentation but it was so subtle you could miss it if you weren't looking out. Doubly unfortunate was that something must have burned in the oven because all of the bagels tasted distinctly of smoke. It was unpleasant enough that we could not finish the batch. I hope that quality control steps up soon!

This place is great, and their prices are reasonable compared to others located in surrounding…read moretrendy areas such as Temescal. They are consistently good, quick and efficient and always friendly. Plus, they deal with their food in a sanitary manner compared to some other bagel places...well done and delicious!

This is not the bagel that garnered national acclaim any longer. It is now a refrigerator aisle…read morebagel. We ordered a half dozen plain bagels and the pink label cream cheese. The bagels were pale with uneven color that edged into greenish brown in places. When you bit in, there was no crust to speak of. It gave way to an interior that was chewy but not in the classic bagel sense of low moisture dough. Rather, it was enriched with oil or some kind of conditioner like the kind used in grocery store bagels so they stay fresh for longer. The bagel's one virtue was its flavor: it had a strong malty taste like a classic NYC recipe. The "pink label" cream cheese, however, was delightful. It had a rich flavor -- like a spoonful of yogurt, as opposed to milk -- but the effect was subtle and not overly tangy. They were the best freezer bagels I've ever had, but in the future I'll put their schmear on a fresh dozen from somewhere else.

Trying out the New York-style bagels at Boichik Bagel! We ordered the Onion Bagel with Classic Nova…read moreLox and the Garlic Bagel with Egg Salad & Avocado. Everything was so good fresh, flavorful, and definitely a bagel spot I'd come back to!

Boichik Bagels and I got off on the wrong foot back when they opened their first location on…read moreCollege. I'm very happy to report that this location has completely changed my mind and now I'm a Boichik fan through and through! I love that the first thing you see when you walk in is a giant window that lets you look into their processing area! It's great to be able to see where and how your food is being made. They also designed their customer flow very well. You walk in, turn right, and order then you circle left to the tables and pickup counter. I got a tub of their Pesto & Sundried Tomato Cream Cheese, a variety of bagels, and also a lox bagel to go. The lox serving was generous, the cream cheese to bagel ratio was just right and the capers weren't too overwhelming. I cannot wait to try more!

drove 30 miles to pickup an online order for 18 bagels and 4 schmear's for family in from New York!…read more These were the BEST by far that I have ever had in the Bay Area. Just like NY. Had the 7:45 am pickup slot and goods were all ready and bagged up for me. Staff was awesome and super friendly! My car had the best smell on the ride back, I wanted to pull over and dig in. I ordered a mix of all flavors and the fam raved about all. I especially liked the Everything bagel with the Lemon Horseradish schmear!!! To die for! We also had Lox, Jalapeño Cilantro, Plain, and Scallion. All the flavors were SO GOOD! didn't get to stay but already full when I entered and noticed they had outdoor seating in the back so will be back soon and will bring the fam! WELL DONE Hella Bagels!!!

The platonic ideal of a New York bagel. When your East Coast family comes to town and wants a…read morebagel, bring them here. These bagels check all the boxes and make it look easy. The crust is crisp and crackles as you break into a fresh one. The flavor is deep and malty. The crumb is very chewy and provides enough structure to support a sandwich. One tasting note: the crust in today's batch was had caramel notes that started to recall pizza crust. Less time in the oven would dial that back -- but it gives the bagel character so maybe you want to keep it! But that's the level we're on here. I'm giving subtle tasting notes in a Yelp review. Hella has unlocked the New York bagel for us on the West Coast.

This is one of the very few proper bagel shops in the East Bay. It is not just a fancy sandwich…read moreshop on circular bread. Rather, it is part of an older generation of storefronts for specialized bakeries. Bagels are baked throughout the day and poured into bins, proudly located for the customer to view and choose. And it doesn't hurt that they make a respectable bagel. The bagels proclaim themselves as New York style, and they fall on the softer end of normal variation. We ordered poppy and onion bagels today. The dough in the poppy was malty and chewy, though it did not provide much structure. You can spread cream cheese over it and tear off pieces, but it won't support an open-faced sandwich. The crust was glossy and toothsome but not crisp. The onion bagel was similar in texture but notable because the bakers roll (rehydrated?) sautéed onion into the dough. The crumb is a bit softer as a result and the flavor is sweet and complex from the onion. It's definitely worth trying here. Berkeley Bagels has been around forever and feels like a real institution. It is not part of the SF bread scene, nor the new wave of modern sandwich-focused shops. It is a dependable, better-than-average bagel made by your neighbors. What's not to love?

Unfortunately we were disappointed. I remember loving this place a few years ago, but I think the…read morequality may have dipped a bit :( We ordered a mocha, Thai tea, a bagel, and a kebab plate. The coffee and tea were WAY too sweet, it felt like we were drinking liquid sugar. The bagel was alright, but the slices of tomato and cucumber were very thick and it wasn't appetizing as they kept falling out and making the bagel mushy. The kebab plate had a melted salad dressing container in it, and the melted plastic got on some of the chicken, which made it inedible. I'm not sure if they were just having a bad day or if staff was overwhelmed, but overall it was a bad experience.

The *best* chicken and waffle in Oakland. That sounds crazy, but it really is. The chicken is a…read morejuicy, crisp schnitzel that's seasoned with some sort of chili oil. The waffle is thick, crunchy on the outside but soft on the inside, and sweet! It pairs beautifully with the spicy chicken. It comes with a side salad that's bright and helps clear the palate. You can't go wrong with their house potatoes or latkes, but be sure to use the sauces given for each one because that's where all the amazing flavor comes from. I've started going every week after a hike. It's THAT good.

Better understood as a Jewish-deli-themed restaurant than a proper Jewish deli. That goes double…read morefor the bagels. We ordered a half dozen plain bagels and cream cheese. The bagels appeared to have a crispy crust but biting into it revealed the crust to be an illusion. It gave way to a dry interior with the flavor of white bread. This was the proverbial "roll with a hole" and a scratchy one at that. The cream cheese was, however, entirely successful. It is a rich, smooth spread with only the mildest tang. When you need a cream cheese that sticks to the middle of the road -- guaranteed to offend no one -- this is the ticket. Proper bagels can be found just a few blocks away, so you may wish to look elsewhere.

Poppy Bagels is a small, cozy bagel shop in Temescal. We came on a Sunday morning for a bagel run…read moreand shared the basic bagel sando ($9) and honey truffle bagel sando ($9.50). The basic bagel was SO GOOD. It genuinely might be one of the best bagels I've had. I loved the scallion cream cheese, and the tomato was super fresh and juicy without making the bagel soggy. The tomato and cream cheese also helped balance out the stronger flavor of the raw red onion. I'd definitely recommend this one if you're here! The honey truffle bagel had a really interesting sweet and salty combination. I loved the richness of the honey, while the earthy truffle flavor paired really nicely with it. The truffle cream cheese was a little too salty for my taste though. The shop itself is small and cozy, with limited indoor seating and an outdoor patio. They also have plain bagels, coffee, tea, and other options. Weekend lines can get a little long, but the wait is usually pretty reasonable. There's also plaza parking available across the street. Overall, I really enjoyed both bagels and would definitely come back for the basic bagel sando!

Modern bagel shop with delicious bagels on offer…read more The bagels here have the familiar features of some east coast ancestors. We ordered a half dozen plain bagels and cream cheese. The crust makes a noticeable crunch when you bite through and the taste of pretzels comes through clearly. (The shop must add a liberal splash of lye to the water bath.) The dough inside has a salty flavor which can be too much on its own -- but as a result it complements the slightly muted cream cheese to make a tasty pair. The one issue for the bagels is their structure. The crumb loses its shape under any tearing or bending, which makes it hard to support a sandwich. We also noticed that the cream cheese had a slightly grainy texture. All told these are great bagels. Pair them with a cream cheese you like and rip in.

I really wanted to like these bagels. I saw that Market Hall started carrying them instead of…read moreAuthentic Bagel. Organic, boiled, 48-hr fermented...they're talking my language! But unfortunately, these are dry, flavorless, overcooked, and just miss the mark. And I like big holes in my sourdough, but not my bagels. I'm a New Yorker, but I really don't care if these are "NY style" or "Montreal style", I just want a bagel that doesn't taste like cardboard or like it was baked a week ago. Perhaps the quality has degraded over time, since I see so many positive reviews. Hope the owners read this review and continue to iterate, because the Bay Area really could use more good bagel options.

I came by early early one weekend morning (before they actually opened) and awaited those special…read morebagels to be delivered to their deli, Saul's. $1.50 a bagel.. i bought 5 with my change purse.. that's $7.50 I had to dig up. On Tuesdays, Panera sells you 13 for about $7. Einstein Bagels a la Costco sells you like 12 for $5. Berkeley Bagels has a great chew on their bagels. Here you're absolutely paying for artisan. Imitating the NY style of baking and boiling, effectively resulting in a tough and drier outside, with a hearty chew on the inside. I love the seeds and spices on the everything bagel. Theirs are more pronounced, more pungent, sharper salt... difficult to explain. Definitely for the occasional splurge. Perhaps it's not fair to put a price on an art of a bagel. In the end, though, I felt, after eating one, that for the difference in texture, whatnot, it was not worth the steeeeep price. Weren't differentiated enough for me. And yep, I surely did read that NYT article as well.

There's nothing not to love about this place. I have been here a handful of times and have loved it…read moreevery time. Kaz is a Sunday only pop up in Gioia pizzeria! It's a cute set up and I love supporting local any chance I get!! The owner is amazing and makes these fresh for Sunday. Delish bagels I just pull apart and dip into my cream cheese. Definitely recommend next time you're craving some amazing bagels.

These are incredible authentic hand made bagels. Very flavorful and much chewier than even the best…read moremachine made bagels such as Boichik or Beauty's. Kaz Bagels is a Sunday morning only pop up run out of Gioia Pizzeria in North Berkeley. If you love bagels as much as I do, you need to try these!

The GOLD standard, BEAN there! Man, what a great selection,…read moreit's hard to decide from the varied menu items. Nice atmosphere, great vibe, and chill staff. I went for the famous egg and cheese sesame bagel and an iced Vietnamese coffee. Dee lush us! It hits the spot and then some. On my hit list and a new watering hole for me. The staff of young people are absolutely off the charts, brilliant, great service - B E S T around in any coffee shop I've EVER been to! Nice crowd as well. A real college kid hang out, but everybody's so polite and nice and kind. It's next-door to a cool bar called Beta lounge. BEANS in the morning, BEER at night......

Ordered Gold Bean a few times through delivery. Their egg sandwich apart from the actual egg ---…read morewhich is consistently cooked well and fluffy --- is just okay. I do appreciate the variety of drink selection they offer, although some of the specialty coffees are on the sweeter & milkier side but for some that is preferred. Definitely a nice place to grab a coffee and sandwich once in a while but not regularly for me.