My husband has been going to Courage Bagels for years, and I finally went with him on Good Friday, when he had the day off work and we suspected the line might be reasonable. We went at 9:30, and we were correct: we got parking right in front, and there was no wait to order. Courage is famously busy, and it wasn't exactly chill while we were there. The sidewalk patio was almost full when we sat down, and by the time we were done eating, there were people waiting, as well as the usual line stretching down Virgil. I don't like bagels enough to wait in line for them, but I kind of enjoyed the scene. A fun mix of Angelenos, trend chasers and bike dads (my Matt B.), and also like Korean church people in need of wholesome social outlets. I ran into a producer I know who was there with her cool dog, who (the dog) had on a Courage Bagels hat. Window service was friendly and efficient. I ordered a latte and a half size of the salmon roe bagel. This came with wild Alaskan salmon roe, cream cheese, dil, and red onion, and I got it on (half of) an everything bagel. I don't usually drink coffee or eat breakfast, but this was a nice treat. The bagel was great, Montreal-style with a bit of crisp to each bite, and I loved the briny roe and fresh dill. Like I said, I'm not really a bagel person, and you will never catch me waiting in a long line for this or any other bagel. If you're like my husband, though, you might be willing to suffer for your Courage. The bagels are delicious, and I believe the many bagel enthusiasts who name them among L.A.'s best. read more

OK, this is one of my favorite spots to stop off when I visit my daughter in LA. The bagels are absolutely delicious. Everything that they put on the bagel if you order whether it's salmon fish just plain veggies is so tasty so fresh the bagel itself is crunchy outside and soft inside. I ordered the garden bagel with a mint tea. My husband ordered a plain bagel with cream cheese. We're both very happy and our belly is content!! You have to try this bagel spot whenever in LA. There is always a line, but it does go fast. Yummy!!!!! read more

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I get the hype now. Courage Bagels is a standout bagel shop on the corner of Virgil and Monroe on the edge of East Hollywood that has been lauded by both food critics and food influencers alike. So I finally got the chance to try: 1. Loose bagels - the poppy and sesame seed ones are my absolute favorite. 2. Jamon beurre - this was probably a one-off limited edition flavor, which were given in exchange for a toy donation during their holiday toy drive. This particular bagel rendered me speechless. From the airy, perfectly chewy sesame bagel it was on, to the French butter, and the impeccable jamon - devouring this bagel was a whole experience and a half. 3. Hand-sliced salmon bagel - perfect proportions of everything; no notes. 4. Roe bagel - while the roe was spectacularly fresh and delicious, I'll be brutally honest here. The burnt everything bagel is not my favorite vessel for this delicious topping. A poppy seed bagel would be my personal preference, and bring the best out of this topping. Parking was fairly easy on a Saturday morning - we found street parking on a perpendicular block. Service is fast and courteous. Will absolutely be back for my bagel fix! read more

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This is my absolute favorite bagel place, the wait can be long but that's fine considering the bagels come fresh from the oven. The ingredients are quality and I've liked every flavour I've tried so far. Their hojicha latte is delicious and the staff is very friendly as well. I wish there was a bit more seating, but I also understand their limitations in that regard. Pricing is a bit high, but honestly for the quality it's absolutely worthwhile as an occasional treat. read more

Courage Bagels - Cave Cheddar half and Run it thru the garden half - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Hand sliced smoked salmon on a burnt everything bagel is one of my favorite things to eat in LA, followed closely by the Run it Through the Garden. LA has an up and coming bagel scene and Courage does stand out in its Montreal-inspired bagel- just a superb mix of chewy and crisp crust and fresh toppings. I think the dough is likely fermented overnight (hence the tangy taste) and something about the taste/crunch reminds me of proper toasted Italian style bread. This is a win on so many levels. As so many others have noted, the lines are terrible here, seating stinks, and the prices are more Gucci than Nordstrom Rack. But despite all this, Courage rises above the temporary insanity of waiting for, paying for and eating a bagel here. It's quite simply one of one and we look forward to coming here when we are in the area. read more

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Woke up early and was one of the first 5 customers of the day at their very charming location. While the reputation and smell seemed like indicators of something sublime, I spent $8 after tax and waited 20 minutes for a single everything bagel with plain shmear. While I can tell the bagel quality is excellent, I wish I got more of it. In LA fashion, it seems their bagels had been scooped, leaving me with a crusty shell jam packed with a (very sadly) unappetizing shmear. As you can see in the photos, it's practically 90% shmear, getting everywhere and completely eclipsing the craftsmanship, flavor, and texture of the bagel. I brought it home and gave the remainder to my roommate, and they fully agreed with me. TLDR - scooped bagel with way too much cream cheese for even more money. Would skip. read more

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Been here twice now, once on a weekday brunch time with a 15 minute wait and once on the weekend with a 35 min wait (and an hour until we got our order). The bagels are deliciously crispy, almost cracker like but I personally wouldn't go more crisp than what the usual is. I've tried a variety of bagels here with my favorite being the garden and and salmon roe. Personal taste, they could have more cream cheese on the bagels so will order more next time. I did order a rip+dip bagel but wasn't anything stand out so I think the speciality bagels are the way to go, but the price point is on the higher end with some getting to over $20 for a bagel, but it is good! read more

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Courage Bagels is located on a very busy street and in a very inconvenient location. There isn't parking directly in front of it so you have to either park within the narrow residential streets adjacent to it or a few blocks down on the same street. You order from a small window in the front and usually there is about a 20 minute wait just to order. After you order it's probably about another 25-30 minute wait for your food. The entire process of ordering before eating took almost an hour itself. There is no indoor seating, but they do provide a few tables and stools on the side of their shop. Seating is very limited however and turnover is very slow. If you do manage to get a seat be prepared to have eyes watching you from every corner. Seating is a premium here but worth enjoying if you are able to find them. As for the food I can see why Courage Bagel is an icon for locals and tourists alike. You can smell the bagels and fresh ingredients through the swinging doors as the employee's run out to give customers their orders. I ordered the hand sliced smoked salmon over an everything bagel and asked for it burnt. It was delicious, but was it the most life changing bagel? Absolutely not. But was it worth trying at least once? Sure. The flavor profile of this bagel was very light and very subtle. If you're asking for a punch this one might not be for you, but for me it was perfect. The only thing I may want to change is asking for the bagel itself to be toasted versus burnt but other than that the fixings were on point. Staff here all hustle and are very diligent. There are orders coming out almost every other minute and if you get a chance to go inside to use the restroom, you can see the entire production line from bagel creation to order assembly. It's quite a sight. At the end of the day I wish I could give this spot a higher review, but based on its accessibility I had to knock it down a few stars. It's not wheelchair friendly, you can't order online, no proper seating and parking was a pain. Was it worth trying? Sure if you have no other plans besides trying this place for yourself. Would I come back? Probably not. read more

Courage Bagels - Hand sliced smoked salmon over an everything bagel and asked for it burnt. - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here with my dad on Thanksgiving weekend in the hope of there being less of a line than usual. We came around 8 am on a Sunday and the line was about 10 mins and we waited an additional 25 mins to receive our order. Trying to find parking nearby is god awful; I'd suggest trying out the residential streets nearby AND coming here as early as you possibly came to try and avoid a massive line. So Delicious 4.5/5, I got this on the sea salt sesame bagel (recommend!) and like the name suggests, this bagel truly is so delicious™! It was a beautiful blend of crunch on the bottom for the sesame, warm and soft in the middle, and then soft, melts in your mouth salmon. This is a v savory bagel that is just under where I would rate it to be too salty but if you're sensitive to that, I would say change to another type of bread. Docked 0.5 for the pricing as these are $$$ Garden Veggie 4.5/5, my dad got this and was surprised by how much he enjoyed it. He's more of a sweet breakfast type of guy but liked the fresh veggies and the cream cheese and sea salt sesame bagel read more

Courage Bagels - So Delicious, Garden Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I decided to stop by at around 11 AM on a Monday to see if I could beat any sort of line. Boy was I wrong. There was a line when I arrived and it took me about 10 minutes to find parking. Thankfully the line moved quickly as people ordered at the window and I quickly ordered 2 half bagels and then a half dozen of assorted bagels. I didn't wait terribly long for my order and I have to say eating the 2 half bagels fresh was the best. I can highly recommend the through the garden. However, the assorted bagels that I took home did not taste nearly as good as when I was there. I recommend eating your bagels fresh there. read more

Courage Bagels - Through the garden - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This is my first visit to Courage Bagels. I had really high expectations due to various culinary and home cook influencers claiming that these LA bagels are better than NY bagels. I've had NY bagels so I was kind of skeptical, but after trying them fresh I have to say they're not wrong! These bagels are soft and fluffy, while maintain a bite in the crust. First of all, what an insane line if you go in the afternoon I waited 1.5 hours to order and get my food. It was definitely worth it, but I think I'd rather wake up earlier next time. Parking is atrocious of course, and seating is all outdoors. The staff are really kind and patient despite their business. Hand sliced salmon bagel - 10/5, lox is always my favorite. I love that they loaded this with the classic toppings and I put some of my roe on too. Every bite was chef's kiss! Roe bagel - 4.5/5, honestly really good but more one-dimensional in flavor. They are very generous with the roe! Tomato bagel - 5/5, underrated and must go crazy in the summer when the tomatoes are actually in season. Orange tomatoes are SUPER sweet! Sardinia bagel - 5/5, not for the faint of heart. The sardines are strong, but the flavors are well balanced by the lemon, capers, and dill. read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Courage bagels must be blowing up or something because the line here was going around the corner. It's in a difficult to navigate area with only street parking in residential neighborhoods, which took around15 minutes to find. Luckily, the line moves fast and we had someone get out of the car to order while we found parking. Lots of outdoor seating but in a cramped space and you're fighting for a table. Bagels were good! I love the dill on top of any lox bagel. In my opinion, there was way too much oil topped on the bagels and the bagels were rather toasty for my liking. Might not go back considering the inconvenience of the parking situation. read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Low key, I wanted to find these bagels average because the wait is always 30+ minutes with people wrapping around the building, and I'm just not about that life... but lo and behold, I guess you'll find me lined up 7 AM sharp because sometimes, a bagel strikes the most impeccable balance between crispy and chewy and convinces you that you ARE about that life. My first "Run It Through The Garden" sandwich, I actually hiked it up Griffith and ate, watching the sun rise over the city. I mean, I don't think any other experience will be more Los Angeles than that. No worries, though; hiking not required. It's just as good sitting in the car, idling at a red zone, and dropping capers all over the driver's seat. That's also as equally Los Angeles as it gets. The second time I visited, it was raining. (Like flood watch pouring rain.) I really thought I'd gone pretty mad for some holey bread. But listen. When the friendly bagel man handed me a bag of a dozen warm loosies, and I hugged it tight under the umbrella, all was well in the world. I'm not mad, you are because you haven't tried these bagels yet. read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Courage is worth all the hype. I've never had a bagel like this before- crunchy yet soft? It was incredibly delicious. I came on a Friday morning and there was no line, just a bunch of people waiting or eating. Be prepared to wait 15+ minutes for your order. They definitely take the time to perfect each bagel so the wait is well worth your time. I ordered two half bagels: run it through the garden and the smoked salmon. Both bagels were yummy, but I would definitely get the smoked salmon again. They have a good amount of seating outside and one thing to mention is that parking is absolutely terrible here; you have to cross your fingers to find a spot on one of the side streets, so plan accordingly. Overall, I would 100% be returning. read more

Courage Bagels - run it through the garden and smoked salmon - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The wait on Sunday at 1:30 pm just before closing time at 2 pm was 20 minutes. The reward was an amazing bagel sandwich. We ordered the hand sliced salmon and the simply delicious bagel without tomatoes, onion and dill. I would suggest sticking to the full version as it was an absolute favor dance in the mouth. Imagine a crispy everything bagel so fresh that it melted in the mouth with just a small crunch, topped with the best salmon, probably heirloom tomatoes, red onions sliced super thin, dill, cornichons and drizzled with lemon and olive oil. Heavenly! Worth every cent of the $ 21.5 Can't wait to come back!! read more

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TLDR; worth an unexpected 40m delay to our long drive home. Well worth a detour. FOOD Cream Cheese Tomato (Everything) 5/5 Crunchy California (Salt) 5/5 Rip & Dip (Onion) 5/5 Hojicha 5/5 Ice Coffee 4/5 Latte (order was wrong) 0/5 SERVICE Outdoor counter service, long long wait (40m). The latte order was incorrect. The actual interactions with staff were very engaging and pleasant. AMBIANCE Outdoor patio vibe on corner of commercial and residential streets. It was the day after Thanksgiving 2025 and my family had a 6 hour drive home from Echo Park to Berkeley. We were up earlier than usual and just wanted a quick breakfast and decided to just grab a bagel to go somewhere. I was NOT in foodie mode, I was in fast food mode. The first place we went to was closed (apparently it was a food truck) but the next closest one on the map was Courage Bagels. We got there and saw a line but figured better to just commit than search around. 40m later we were all anxious and hangry and were certain this had been a huge mistake. We were wrong. All 3 of us thought it was so delicious it actually merited the long delay on a drive home where we wanted maximum efficiency. I live 6 hours away but if I lived any closer I would go here often and pay the toll. read more

Courage Bagels - Order Counter - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This IS the Incredible Hulk of bagels! It'll KNOCK any hydrogenated glaze off your tongue and wake that azz UP! After the first few bites, it was sooo good it threw me into an introspective daze that made me contiplate the mundane areas of life and asked, "why can't the rest of life be this GOOD"! (Eyes over glasses look)Yeah it's like that. This all started with the "Kevin" on an Everything half which is their smoked salmon and salmon roe combo. Must say the cornichon pickles were a fantastic add with the subtle crunch and man oh man, I do NOT enjoy capers in the slightest bit buuttt, g0d dam these were the best capers I've ever experienced! If you're a chesse enthusiast, the Cheddar Cave was literally like being in a cheddar deprivation chamber that puts your soul deep in a creamy padded room of dairy wonder. The beautiful tomatoes atop the blackened bagel help break down the cheese and assist in emulsifying the thrilling combo while you transend into Nirvana (although that's a sick visional, no not the band)(but who would you be if you could choose is the real question ). Although there can be sticker shock, you get what you pay for here so make it special and treat a friend and yourself to a wittle sumpthin to eclipse the familiar parts of life we so forlornly need to clearly see the bright spots in life. read more

Courage Bagels - Close-up of the Kevin. - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Definitely a really great bagel!! I went when it was pouring rain on a weekend and there was still a line, the wait was probably 30 mins from ordering to receiving my bagel, which I imagine is better than the typical non rainy weekend wait time. Staff are really friendly, exterior is super cute, and they even had custom branded Courage umbrellas - such a nice touch! I took my bagel to go and when I was eating it about 15 mins later it was kind of chewy, instead of having that nice bagel crunch. I need to go back and eat the bagel there so I can make my final decision, because as of right now I don't think it's worth the wait. read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The bagels here is so tasty and good portion. Order at the window and sit down on the side tables outside. There can be a line but the provide little umbrellas to block the sun. Cute spot! read more

Courage Bagels - Hand slice smoke salmon on an everything bagel - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I'm actually in disbelief that I haven't written another review for Courage Bagels yet considering how many times I've come here since my first. Obviously, I'm a huge fan of their bagels to the point where I have tried their seasonal bagel that had radish (?) that I don't think is available anymore. I've pretty much tried every single bagel. They have to offer here and I always come back to the run it through the garden and the roe. The bagel is very crispy and light so it is very unlike the dense chewy bagels that you would normally get anywhere else. I would say the busiest times are the morning because many people are trying to get their bagels before they go to work. However, the kitchen is very limited how many bagels they can make per hour as well as the number of staff that can put together the bagels. I will say that in the past year, they've definitely sped up and improved their production line as well as their speed. So before, it would take somewhere between an hour and an hour and a half for a long line to get your bagel, now only takes about an hour from getting in line to receiving my bagel. There also is a limitation of availability for their bagels in the sense that most people will order in everything or a plain bagel. My recommendation is to order a sesame bagel or a poppy bagel because people tend to order them less and you're likely to get your order faster. The outside seated space is quite small so you might be standing or waiting around for a seat if you don't end up eating in your car. They do have a bathroom, but it is only one bathroom and you're not really allowed to be in the inside area to wait around. read more

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I'm gonna be honest, I was not a believer... Until I had the bagels! They were exceptional. And I am not a fan of waiting like that, and it was worth the wait. Salty and airy, and flavorful and crispy! My granddaughter had the plain bagel... And she said. "mmmm tasty." The bagels are pricey, and the toppings are plentiful. The inside is very cute, but small. You can see everyone working away and making the bagels fresh. I even had one of my leftover bagels the next day, and it was just as delicious! read more

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Courage Bagels did not disappoint at all. Hands down the best bagel I've ever had. I tried the Cream Cheese Tomato Bagel and the Simply Delicious Bagel. The bagels themselves were perfectly crisp while still having a fluffy interior. The ingredients were fresh and so well put together/ balanced. Service was amazing and orders were taken fast. Wait time was a little longer than expected; when you have a line that wraps around the block , what do you expect though? It is well worth the wait. Seating is somewhat limited. Their seating is outside and gets pretty packed so I recommend coming early. Overall , loved it so much. Miss it already. Need more. Will be back! read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Courage Bagels is an iconic LA institution known for its Montreal-style, handmade crisp bagels topped with fresh, high-quality ingredients. It's definitely on the pricier side, but in my opinion, it's worth the hype. I'd especially recommend Courage Bagels if you're visiting LA and want that quintessential "California twist" bagel experience. I arrived at 8:22 a.m. and there were about 15 people ahead of me. I ordered around 8:40 a.m., and my food came out at 9:10 a.m. It was roughly a 20-minute wait in line. One thing I love about Courage Bagels is that you don't have to commit to a full bagel. You can order halves. Staff were super friendly and even offered their recommendations when I was overwhelmed by the variety of bagels there were. I went with half Hand-Sliced Smoked Salmon and half Run It Through the Garden. Both were fresh and flavorful, but my favorite was hands down the smoked salmon. It was perfectly balanced and delicious. Seating is outdoors only, and tables fill up quickly. Parking is street only, so it can be tricky to find a spot. I parked in a nearby residential area, which was about an 8 minute walk away which wasn't too bad! read more

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In a word: PHENOMENAL! Incredibly smooth operation and a pleasure to watch how the bagels were made. The employees were cheerful, grooving to the music, and their attention to detail was terrific. Each person executed their assigned station with obvious pride. The love transmitted to the finished product. Amazing chew, super density without being heavy, and the exterior was crackling. There is no need to toast these puppies. Line can be long at times, but it goes quickly and the wait is worth every second. Gold standard for bagels from now on. read more

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Frankly I'm pretty judgmental about food in general. Especially about bagels because I am a New Yorker. I am proud to admit that I am in love with Courage Bagels. I've been in LA for 2 months and waited until the last week to try it and I went back a second time. The hand sliced lox bagel on a sesame bagel is fresh, crispy, well-balanced and salty in the best way. They clearly only use the freshest ingredients. I'm fully converted Also the line truly isn't bad at all. It is so worth it! read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Worth the hype, I really appreciate how the bagels were not super heavy (more thin than thick), but very chewy and yummy. I like how you can get halves of the bagels to try different toppings, but both bagels I got were very good. Had the whitefish bagel, and I'm a tuna salad person, but this was way better than expected - like a solid amount of protein and flavor. I don't even like capers, and I still ate them on this bagel. The California crunch was messy with the almond butter and jam, but I love PB&J so it was a perfect choice for me. I waited maybe 20 minutes in line and then another 15 minutes for the bagels and didn't really mind really, they are making a lot of half orders so it makes sense to wait that long. Seating is difficult, so you'll have to stalk a little around the tiny tables, but I was able to get seating while I waited. read more

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Last time I tried Courage Bagels, I wasn't really a fan. This time, however, I do get the hype! My friend and I got the lox and white fish, and I was really surprised by how good both were. We both commented on the bagel being too toasted to the point where it scraped the top/bottom of of the inside of our mouths, but the texture was great and you could tell it was a solid bagel. I thought the white fish would be really fishy, but it wasn't and I quite enjoyed that. The line wasn't too bad because we came on Good Friday, and we were even able to sit outside because the weather was so nice! read more

I've heard so much about Courage Bagels so I'm glad I finally got to try it! They really have premium bagels, at a premium price tag. I ordered the Alaskan salmon roe bagel because I've never seen salmon roe as an option on a bagel before. With tax, it was around $26 which is pretty hefty for a breakfast. However, the bagel itself was delightful! First, visually it was gorgeous with the bright orange salmon roe sprinkled all over the cream cheese, with purple onion and dill. They were also quite generous with the amount, which I appreciated given the price. I thought the salmon roe worked really well because of the salty, fishy flavor which took the place of the classic smoked salmon but accomplishes a similar flavor profile. The bagel itself was on the thinner, chewier side and was nicely toasted - no complaints there. Personally, I don't think it's worth waiting in a long line for but it is a nice treat if I want to splurge occasionally. read more

Courage Bagels - Wild Alaskan salmons roe - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Love the bagels been here many times but I didn't know they charged 3% for card transactions until i asked for a receipt and on top of that I felt pressured to tip at the checkout process but still giving 4 stars for the bagels read more

In the days following my first experience at Courage Bagels, I had what some may call "cravings" while I elect to call what I experienced, withdrawal symptoms. Just one more Run It Through The Garden on a burnt everything I thought to myself. My girlfriend doesn't even have to know I went without her! All jokes aside, the quality and consistency of the bagels across my 4 visits is astonishing. Every visit is the same as my initial experience. Knowing I don't have to worry about it being an off-day for them makes Courage Bagels an easy choice when I have friends or family in town that I want to impress. Despite all my ravings, I do think it's just the tiniest bit overpriced. I come here after hiking Griffith Observatory, so my post-hike appetite has a death grip on my CC. I need three half bagels to be full and the total comes out to $31 plus tax. Half Hand Slice Smoke Salmon ($13.25) 9.5/10 Half Run It Through The Garden ($10) 9.4/10 Half Crunchy California ($7.75) 8.5/10 Half Crean Cheese Tomato ($8.75) 9/10 Half Wild White Fish Salad ($12) 8/10 Do yourself a favor and believe the hype because the bagels sold here are some of the best in SoCal. read more

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this place completely changed that. I went in once just to try it, and it was so good that I ended up coming back three times within five days! The bagels are incredibly fresh -- perfectly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Everything tastes homemade and high quality. You can tell they really care about what they're serving. The staff is friendly, the service is quick, and the whole experience is consistently great. If a bagel shop can turn someone who "doesn't eat bagels" into a regular in less than a week, that says everything you need to know. Highly recommend -- clearly worth coming back for again and again! read more

unfortunately i was not wowed by this place :/ overall the service was nice and efficient, with some outside seating available. at 10am on a friday it had a line of about 10 people and had full seating, which was fine. we ordered a whole of the whitefish, half a smoked salmon, and half a garden bagel. we also got an orange juice and a vanilla paste latte, totaling $68. pretty pricey, so we had hoped itd be really good. overall the drinks were decent. the coffee was good but the juice was tiny. it didnt have ice at least, and tasted very good, but isnt worth more than $5 imo. the bagels however, were super disappointing to me. we asked which bagel would be recommended for the whitefish bagel and were told the everything bagel, so we agreed. however it was extremelyyyyyy salty! it worked a bit better with the salmon and garden, but the whitefish itself is a bit salty by itself. that with the everything seasoning was too much for us. i think i would be less annoyed if i wasnt advised to get the everything bagel and had chosen it myself, but i digress. otherwise, i felt the salmon and garden bagel were just okay. the bagels were mostly just a platform for the toppings, and were lowkey too toasted to be noteworthy. if you switched them out with a thick slice of seasoned crispy toast i probably wouldnt be able to tell the difference. overall, i think if the toppings of the menu speaks to you, go for it. i guess i just like an east coast type of bagel better or at least a place where i can actually taste the bread.. i get the hype, its a pretty bagel, but i def feel that i wasted a LOT of money for a crapton of stuff thrown onto a dry piece of toast read more

Courage Bagels - whole whitefish bagel (right) + smoked salmon bagel + garden something, all on an everything bagel! orange juice and vanilla paste latte - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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TLDR: The hype is worth the long lines. Best 'Montreal style' bagel in LA? In 90+ degrees heat on a Sunday, in a somewhat rough neighborhood, lies Courage bagels. Or a hole in the wall where you order, and sit outside on the sidewalk (they have some outdoor chairs and tables). There were misters connected to buckets of water to cool the outdoor. The line on a Sunday at 1.30 pm was short (5 mins wait), and the counter person was helpful in me making a choice. With 50 kinds of bagel combinations, you feel the pressure to make a selection. Luckily they allow for 'half' sandwiches that reduce your risk of a dud. I asked for the best and was recommended everything bagel that was slightly burnt (yes that is an option) with smoked salmon, onion, capers, dill and cream cheese. I decided to not go plant based and go with the flow. Half a bagel 'sandwich' was around $13/$14 with tip. It took 5 minutes and someone walks out, shouts out your name, and you claim your to-go container (that's the default). The bagel is fresh, warm and smells great. Unlike many bagels that are dense, this one is light, almost like some of the insides are scooped out. The outside is crispy, with the 'everything' seasoning slightly burnt, giving it a caramel'ish taste. The smoked fish is unusually fresh and complements the light spread of cream cheese. With the onion, capers, dill, pickle, you have a perfect combination of a crisp bagel and the gooeyness of the cream cheese. What's clear is they have not skimped on the quality of the ingredients. This bagel was fresh and light. If I can complain, perhaps a bit too light, as half is unlikely to satisfy your appetite. Luckily I was on a food tour, with plenty of food to follow, but you may want to order 2 halves, esp. the one I did not try but they are famous for the one with sardines. Many other guests had ordered drinks (coffee, hot chocolate) and most folks had ordered sandwiches, as opposed to just bagels with cream cheese. For the vegetarians, they have cashew cream cheese and veggie sandwich, along with veggie toppings to make your own creation. This is a scene. You pay a price, in time (long lines) and in $$, but like an experience, you get what you pay for. Since Sunday, I have only craved their bagel 4 times, so looks like I'll be back. Tip: Document coffee in Koreatown is 2 miles away and a great pit stop to get excellent coffee. Tip: Easy street parking, free on Sundays, metered on weekdays. read more

Courage Bagels - Exterior - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here early and I'm glad I did because a line definitely started forming right after. Timing seems to be everything with this spot. The bagel itself was really good, you can tell the ingredients are fresh and there's real attention to quality. Everything tasted clean and well put together, not overly heavy or sloppy. It's the kind of place where the simplicity works in its favor. That said, I don't know if I'd be willing to wait in a long line for it. It's very good, just not "stand around forever" good in my opinion. Also wasn't a huge fan of the seating situation. It's pretty cramped with low stools right on the street corner, and it felt a little crowded and awkward trying to eat comfortably. Overall, I enjoyed it and would come back; just strategically, and definitely earlier in the day. read more

Courage Bagels - Hand Sliced Smoked Salmon - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The hype is worth it. Seriously some of the best bagels I've had in my life! I got the 1/2 Cream Cheese and Tomato and 1/2 Hand Sliced Smoked Salmon with an everything bagel (burnt). I like how they let you do 1/2 of a bagel so you have the opportunity to try their other styles. The only complaint I would have about this place is that the wait to order can be long and the wait to receive your food can take awhile. I recommend going early to avoid the wait. read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I'll be honest--I've never been a bagel person. Most bagels, to me, are just dense, doughy, boring carb bombs. But Courage Bagels completely changed that for me. These bagels? Worth. The. Line. And yes--I'd absolutely wait again for them. My go-to orders are the hand sliced smoked salmon or the run it through the garden on a sea salt sesame bagel, and every single time it hits. The bagels are perfectly toasted--crispy on the outside, light and not overly bready on the inside. The toppings are generous but somehow never overpower the bagel itself. Everything is balanced in a way that just works. And they do not hold back on the fresh herbs, which takes it to another level. For drinks, I've tried their fresh iced mint tea and hot chocolate. The iced mint tea is a standout--it's refreshing and clears your palate perfectly between bites, especially with the richer bagels. It pairs so well. The hot chocolate, though... not really my thing. Now, let's talk logistics. Parking is rough. You'll probably have to circle around a bit and hope something opens up, so definitely plan ahead. They're also closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you want a more chill experience, Mondays are your best bet since the lines are more manageable. Weekends? Come early or be ready to wait. They open at 7, and lines usually start forming around 8. If you're committing to the line, do yourself a favor and swing by Good Friend first. It's a coffee shop a few blocks away with really fun, eclectic drinks--perfect for sipping while you wait. The setup is simple: you order at a window, then either grab one of the stools along the sidewalk or hang around and take it to-go. It's casual, a little chaotic, but part of the charm. All in all, this is a must-visit. Trust me--the wait, the parking struggle, the sidewalk seating... all of it is worth it for these bagels. read more

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Came here early in the morning and there was already a long line, definitely a popular spot. We tried a few items: * Queso crema + tomate (surprisingly really good, light and fresh) * Smoked salmon bagel (generous portion, solid choice) * Sea salt sesame bagel -- probably my favorite, great texture and flavor One thing to note: the onion bagel with cream cheese was a bit over-toasted. It tasted slightly burnt and had a bitter aftertaste, which was a little disappointing. Drinks were just okay -- nothing special. read more

Courage Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Why dont other people make montreal style bagels in CA? US? anywhere? WHY? Why can no one recreate courage bagels? how is it so good? if its so good, why dont others do this? I always get the tomato, sometimes add sardine. sometimes bring my own can of sardines. salmon and roe are also tasty but tomato is just simply and delicious enough. read more

Courage Bagels - worst photo ever taken of courage bagel, but continually the best bagel ive ever had in my life - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Honestly really good bagels! The bagel itself was super toasted and really crunchy. There wasn't an overwhelming amount of cream cheese and the smoked salmon was pretty thinly sliced. I think the best part of this bagel for me was the tomato! There was no line when we went on a Thursday around noon but the wait for the food to come out about 20 minutes. We also got their matcha. It was good, tasted like matcha, definitely needed some agave or honey. The service was great, would come back again! read more

Courage Bagels - Hand sliced smoked salmon - Bagels Near Me - Los Angeles, California

4.5! Finally made it up to Courage bagels in LA one weekend. Love that bagels are becoming more popular and accessible in California now and their version is delicious and comparable to New York's. I'm typically an everything bagel person, but I find theirs lacking (just a little bit) of flavor. But overall, very delicious. They have also have espresso based drinks and even matcha lattes. I just want to preface that ordering here means you're directly facing the sun (for whatever reason, the store is situated that way,) but it's so cute that they provide umbrellas and misters. read more

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