I haven't had Noah's in a long time so I decided to try this location. I thought their everything bagel with cream cheese was pretty good. The bagel was really fat and doughy. I liked the spread as well and it wasn't goopy. I used to eat way more bagels when I lived in the NYC area. I miss those and I felt like this was a good placeholder. read more

An adult woman walks into downtown San Mateo with her little boy. She gets herself a coffee from Starbucks and takes him next door for a bagel. I don't remember the first time it happened. I was probably five years old. My mom's dance school, Kirkpatrick's School of Dance, was nearby on B Street, and somewhere along the way Noah's became part of our routine. I've been coming to this Noah's for most of my life. There have been a lot of bagels between then and now. As I got older, I kept coming back on my own. Noah's became my standard for what a bagel should be: that slightly tough skin with just enough snap when you bite through it, followed by a soft, moist center that still has enough substance to feel like you're eating something. My favorite was always the egg bagel. I still haven't forgiven them for discontinuing it. Eventually I was coming here as an adult on my way to work. My brother and I stopped by so often that the woman behind the register came to know us. I almost always ordered the same sandwich, and then I'd get a coffee from the Starbucks next door. Some habits apparently survive childhood. My brother was less predictable. Different bagels, different spreads, usually a bottle of water. We became regulars. She'd help us with discounts when she could, we'd fill out surveys and leave positive feedback when possible, and what started as a friendly transaction slowly became one of those little relationships you don't realize are helping shape your daily routine in a positive and meaningful way. She knew us. Then one day, I stopped coming. My life had changed rather suddenly. I was injured, stopped working, and for a long time simply wasn't part of the morning crowd anymore. My brother still was. Eventually she asked him where I'd been. He explained that I'd gotten hurt and might not be returning to work. She sent her regards through him. It's a small thing -- but small things are often what make a place feel like yours. More time passed. Eventually I was living in San Mateo again, I am more mobile again, and found myself with a new morning companion. My youngest, my daughter. We had time together while Mom was working and her brothers were at school, so every once in a while we'd make our way back to my old Noah's. One morning, the woman behind the register saw me. She remembered me immediately. Before even taking my order, she spent probably a full minute asking where I'd been, how I was doing and what had happened. Then she noticed the little girl standing beside me. Raven was wearing a Tangled shirt. The woman asked her about it. They talked about princesses for a moment, and then this woman who had served me bagels for years started singing. Not jokingly. Not a couple of silly words to entertain a kid. She. Could. Sing. The room seemed to go quiet as this incredibly soft, beautiful voice came out from behind the counter. She sounded like a Disney princess. Even her normal speaking voice suddenly made sense to me -- the light, almost musical quality I'd heard a hundred times before. I'd somehow spent years buying breakfast from a Disney princess hiding behind a bagel counter in downtown San Mateo. My daughter was convinced. I was convinced. From that day forward, she had a name: The Bagel Princess. And whenever my daughter and I came back, she'd look for the Princess. That's the part of this Noah's that can't really be captured by whether somebody's order took five minutes or seven, whether a bagel was sliced perfectly, or whether everything went exactly right on a particular morning. I've had hundreds of transactions here. What I remember are the people. I remember being a little boy coming here with my mom. I remember becoming an adult and coming here with my best friend before work. I remember disappearing for a while and discovering that someone behind the counter had actually noticed. And I remember eventually returning with a little girl who got to discover that the woman who knew her dad's breakfast order was secretly a princess. I've since moved away from the Bay Area, and I know this part of my routine has probably come to an end. I'm sure I'll walk through these doors again. I'll order another bagel someday. But there is a difference between stopping somewhere for breakfast and having a place become part of your life. For me, this Noah's did. It was never just the bagel. It was finishing breakfast, sitting with my coffee, walking through downtown and Central Park, seeing familiar faces and having somewhere that felt unchanged even when everything else in my life wasn't. And somewhere along the way, without anyone planning it, the routine changed hands. An adult man walks into downtown San Mateo with his little girl. He gets himself a coffee from Starbucks and takes her next door for a bagel. She looks behind the counter to see if the Bagel Princess is there. read more

If I could give 0 stars, I would. I stopped by last week and ordered a toasted everything bagel with honey almond schmear. It was good, so I planned to come back for the same order today. Unfortunately, when I walked in, I saw a middle-aged older employee whom I immediately recognized from an experience I had about two years ago. At that time, there was a mistake with my online app order, and instead of helping resolve the issue, he became extremely upset and started yelling at me in front of other employees and customers, creating a very uncomfortable scene. He might be the manager at Noah's. Seeing him again today immediately brought back that experience, and I decided to take my business elsewhere. I believe customers should be treated with courtesy and respect, especially when trying to resolve a simple order issue. Because of that past interaction, I chose to support another business instead. read more

Read reviews saying to order online. I ordered online. Said my order could not be placed to I tried again. My card got charged twice. Went to the store and they said they are having problems when people checkout as guest with online orders where they don't even receive the order in store. The charges ended up getting refunded on my card but what a huge waste of time to not even get my order. read more

Food Quality: *** (Standard) Service: *** (Adequate) Ambiance: ** (Typical Chain) Value: *** (Expected) Noah's Bagels in San Mateo was an okay experience, pretty much what you'd expect from a chain bagel shop. I grabbed a bag of bagels, nothing bad, but nothing that particularly stood out either. The service was adequate, getting the order right and moving things along. The ambiance is that of a typical, no-frills bagel spot. It's a reliable option if you're in the area and need a quick bite, but nothing too crazy to write home about. I might go back if it's convenient. read more

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The Bagel was so stale and just not fresh. The workers were nice though. Don't recommend. Try your local bagel places.

I was really surprised to see how low the reviews are for Noah's. It definitely doesn't deserve a 1-2 star Yelp review. I came in on a Saturday with no line and ordered a Lox bagel. It was a solid salmon bagel with onion and tomato. The bagel came quickly and there are seats outside too. There were tons of sandwich options and it's next to a Starbucks too. I honestly thought it tasted better than some real NYC bagels I've had. read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

Ordered a lemonade for my son -- he couldn't drink it, it was so sweet. I checked the nutrition info: 46g of sugar in a single drink, roughly 10 teaspoons and nearly double the recommended daily intake for a child. Not just unhealthy -- genuinely undrinkable. When I politely flagged this to the manager, the response was ice cold -- no smile, no interest, no empathy. He offered a replacement drink, which I didn't need. When I explained my concern about the health impact and suggested he simply taste it himself, he told me he doesn't drink beverages here, has no interest in tasting his own products, and that it's been the same recipe for 20 years. A manager who openly doesn't care about what he's serving -- and shows zero warmth when a customer raises a genuine concern -- is a real problem. The food is OK otherwise, but this experience left a very bad taste. read more

This is one of the instances where you shouldn't judge a place by their Yelp reviews/ratings. I was surprised by the 2.1 ratings. I've been going here for 3 years, so this is a bit overdue. I've tried most of their bagels, several of their sandwiches, and their pastries. The bagels and pastries are soft and perfectly balanced with the flavors. The sandwiches are filling but not dense. The spreads they use are also delicious! Don't forget to grab a tub of spread for yourself. The service is quick and friendly. I love having a quaint bagel shop in the neighborhood. This is truly a gem! read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My one star review is for the manager, Javier. He is such a rude person. I go there every week and I experience the same Customer Service not only rude to his customers when it's busy, he cannot handle a rush. But I see him being so rude to his staff. This has been going on for years just so everyone knows he is not a good manager he should be fired.!! read more

Maybe I've forgotten what a really good NY/NJ bagel is like, but I thought Noah's was solid. A friend recently recommended a plain toasted bagel with cream cheese, sliced tomato, and cucumber so I ended up trying it at Noah's. I stopped by for a quick weekday lunch (it was pretty empty so service was quick), ordered it to-go, and it was ready in no time. As soon as I stepped outside, I took a bite, and it hit the spot -- the bagel was toasted well and the veggies were crisp and fresh. I can see myself craving this again soon so I'll be back! read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Plain toasted bagel with sliced tomato and cucumber with cream cheese - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

No surprise finish your year since I got bagels still the world's worst service in the world serving people would never survive in New York, but that's enough consistently bad. Wasn't surprised to read the other bed. read more

I give this place 3 stars because the bagels are the absolute best, but the service is... literally the worst! I always order ahead using their app, and they constantly find excuses for messing up. They've mixed up names, given me the wrong bagels, or just completely ignored my online order until I arrive and catch them by surprise. I really hope they improve their service so getting these delicious bagels can be a better experience. read more

Great and friendly service, especially Angie who works the counter week after week. I'm tech challenged and she took the time to walk me through how to use the Noah's Bagels App to order bagels in the future since all the chocolate chip bagels were always sold out every time I got there. What great service. Thank you, Angie for taking the time to help me during a busy time in your shop. I appreciate you, I really do. ! read more

I also have been coming here for years - the bagels and food are great. The only thing I can say that is surprisingly bad overall of this location is that the people that worked there don't seem very happy and it shows and how they treat the customers. read more

Now I'm not saying this Noah's NY Bagels location is amazing by any means, but it definitely is a bit overhated for what it is with this spot having an average of a 2.1 star rating. I thought the customer service was fine when I went especially considering my expectations weren't super high based on the negative reviews, but I was able to have a smooth transaction. The store has some outdoor seating although the inside of the store isn't the most inviting shop I have ever seen. I feel like my only gripe with this spot is mainly that the bagels are a bit overpriced for what you get. I ordered the Texas Brisket Egg Sandwich ($8.49) which honestly doesn't look anything like pictures you see online. I will say though that their bagels do hit. I just wish they didn't skimp out on the brisket because it actually is pretty tasty. The eggs were cooked well and the brisket had a lot of flavor, but it was so thin. Their smoky chipotle aioli is good too, but they put a really thin spread of it. I got someone else a bagel with the schmear, but they spread the cream cheese like they were rationing. For over $4 I thought wasn't ideal, but I can't deny that the bagels were good. I mainly don't love the value of this place, but on the brightside the flavor was there and the service was solid when I went recently. read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Texas Brisket Egg Sandwich ($8.49) - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

Well I've never bothered to check reviews on this chain, but now I see why the reviews are terrible. We order from here at least a couple times a month on doordash. This order from this morning (as usual) was missing the single bagel. This is the second time in a row and probably the 4th or 5th time recently. The asiago bagel dog was burned and not good. No point in ordering from here anymore. read more

My Bestie ordered 6 bagels along with their sour cream and chive cream cheese to go. Unfortunately, my bestie did not ask them to cut the bagels, nor were the bagels toasted, BUT considering the fact that the bagels were not warmed, they were still delish. Soft and fresh, with a generous smattering of the whipped cream cheese, it was a filling and tasty start to the day. read more

Noah's has the BEST bagels in the world. Hands down!! I've tried so many and always demand only noahs

The owner of this place is a real A-Hole. Went in with my dad, its his birthday and Noah's offers a free egg sandwhich on your birthday. We ordered two dozen bagels, but the owner outright refused and and said to come back later. Real piece of shit. read more

This past Sunday was my first trip to this Noah's NY Bagels location. I normally visit the one in Fremont but happen to be in the area and craving a good bagel. I arrived at approximately 10am. The restaurant was very, very busy. Even with a fair amount of staff, the line reached the door. That being said, the staff is pretty good at moving the line so I didn't wait very long. The reason I'm giving it a 3-Star is due to a few factors: 1. They were out of stock of many items. It seemed like everyone (including myself) had to choose an alternate item. It was still early in the day so I didn't understand why they were out of things already. 2. The seating is not adequate for the level of customers. There's 3 tables outside and some counters inside, but they were all occupied and the turnover was too slow for the amount of patrons. A few more tables and chairs outside would make a big difference. 3. The costs have really skyrocketed. I know due to inflation everything has gotten more expensive, but $30 for 2 bagels and 2 coffees seemed expensive. This is exuberated with the fact that the bagels are not all that big. The bagels themselves were good. They were fresh and tasty. The coffee was hot. Overall made for a quick snack. read more

Always loved Noah's bagels especially their blueberry bagel is well loved by my kids. I always wonder how is this location only getting a 2 stars and now I know why! I have been a frequent customer to this San Mateo location, however today's experience was just a straight up BS! I waited in line for 1/2 dozen bagels for approximately 10 mins. When it was finally my turn, I asked the cashier if any blueberry bagels were available, he said he had only 2 left, and they were not going to make it anymore (it was at around 11:15am-ish). So I said I will take the 2 and rest sesames, while the cashier was trying to get it ready, and I swiped my payment already, another girl (cashier) came to me and asked me to share 1 of my blueberry bagel to the customer she was helping with because he wanted blueberry bagel too! I kindly declined and said sorry I paid and waited a long time so I won't be able to share, and all the sudden this rude male manager or whatever if he was the owner came out asking that girl what happened, and I literally heard she told the manager "I asked her to share the blueberry bagel and she said no" and the manager came to me immediately, rudely saying "you are sharing that bagel and you can take 1 blueberry only!" WTF!? Seriously? Isn't it all first come first serve!? I PAID ALREADY! That customer came after me and did not even pay yet! I pretty much was very bumped off by that rude manager and how he was acting up to me, so I said fine I don't want my order anymore and asked for a refund. Then, guess what? He told me rudely to move away from the register to wait for my refund and allowed that customer to pay first. SERIOUSLY?! WTF!? I will never go back to this location! If you are in mood for a super slow and rude unprofessional service, this is the place to go! read more

The breakfast bagels are good! If only had the black coffee, which is pretty average. read more

Delicious. Now my favorite bagel place in the Peninsula. Been here 3-4 times. I order the Farmhouse breakfast bagel and the kids order the pizza bagels. Bagels are soft, chewy and delicious. If you are addicted to Starbucks, it's next door. I see complaints about service but don't know why that is a big deal. It's not a sit down restaurant. You order your food then they call your name and you get your food. Simple. read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Pizza bagel - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Rip off. Bagels are fine nothing amazing but price is way too high. If you go there, just buy your own cream cheese and get a half dozen box. Be much cheaper. read more

Wrong orders and very nonchalant attitude bugs me about this place. They are however the only Noah's bagels in this area and I am a creature of habits if I am around here in the morning. I like to stop here. They are always busy on weekends so you know what to expect. Also watch out for ppl that will cut you off the line and employees say nothing. They see it and that what I mean about nonchalant attitude. Lots of ppl and their families are all over this area by 9am. Worse parking and ppl around here drives like crap. A lot of illegal u-turn. read more

I placed on order the night before for pickup at 6:55am. I arrived around 7:00am. When I went up to the counter to pickup my order, I was told by the Manager/owner that they didn't have my order. I asked what? Why? He repeated that he didn't have that order and waved me off to have one of his staff members deal with me...I again showed my order receipt and waited while she tried to find the order in the system...minutes ticking by again no order calling someone to find out why they didn't have the order in the system...waiting, still waiting then I hear the person on the phone telling them to make my order and she would find out why my order wasn't in their system. Finally someone with some sense and customer service. No apologies, just bad attitude and it's not our fault from the Manager/Owner. It's not my fault and I understand that things like this can happen but how YOU handle it and YOUR attitude make a difference. Terrible customer service. No wonder only 2 Stars on Yelp! read more

Extremely rude women brown skin black hair a bit chubby. She never is nice or helpful. If your looking for a bagel and cream cheese, you may want to go elsewhere. Measured cream cheese, probably less then a tablespoon and you pay an extra dollar for that. Really? Manager/owner not sure also Extremely rude. Noah's should be ashamed about this location. read more

Bagel and creame cheese should not take 27 minutes. Especially when people who ordered after me get their order before me. There's a reason this place is rated so low. Avoid. read more

I don't really understand the horrible reviews, but then again I no longer live in the area so I don't visit nearly as often. I came back to get my all-time favorite, which is their jalapeño cheddar bagel (toasted with cream cheese). I think about this bagel all the time and wish Noah's had more locations near SD. It's an amazing bagel!! I did notice that it was a bit different, though. Still incredibly flavorful, but a bit thinner and less cream cheese. I do hope they are more consistent and return to the old bagel and don't skimp on cream cheese, but it didn't bother me too much. Service was pretty standard. They moved really quick which I appreciated. I can't wait to come back for my usual!! read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Jalapeño Cheddar Bagel - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

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No wonder the reviews are horrible. Unsure ever even seen a review at 2.1 stars lol. The reviews about a few of the employees / the service are right: customer service is horrible. There's this cashier (female, with a bun, Brown-tan skin tone, golden necklaces, larger side= spanish speaker) that's always MOODY and RUDE- like she doesn't even want to be there.... What a way to start the day. You don't have to even smile- that's fine- we get that- but to be the opposite and be so rude is just not ok. Literally her eyes look like she is so done- so unapproachable... YIKES. The workers also don't seem to all understand and speak English which makes it difficult to get help- only 1-2 workers on the floor seem to be useful in helping due to this language barrier...nothing wrong with that- but unfortunately- it's that moody female cashier above and the manager who seem to be the only ones that can be of any help- which is not pleasant nor helpful to be frank. Any time help is needed- the other Spanish speaking workers refer and go to them for help... The reviews are so right: this male middle-older age manager (Spanish-speaker) is also just as rude: Unwilling to help and speaks as if he's right- when he's not. Goes against the customer despite evidence and doesn't understand any aspect of customer service- to satisfy customers. Bad energy in the tone and way he speaks. Another YIKES. Customer/Food service is not easy- but Noah's not train their staff in being non-rude/ decent customer servicers? Isn't this the basis of businesses??? Basically, these 2... personalities make it a negative experience service wise. The other worker (white female with pony tail + cap) is so pleasant- the only positive in this place. It's too bad a crowded Noah's bagel with so much foot traffic has such negative reviews and such poor customer service skills/ main supervising employees unfit for customer service work... So much wasted potential in a business that can be thriving even more so in this wonderful neighborhood with the right management. If only there was a change in the employees there who aren't fit for working in the customer service industry.-- imagine the potential. read more

Nova lox bagel on a cheese bagel which ran a little under $9. This has to be the rudest Noah's Bagels in the Bay Area. The manager was yelling at people to wait outside before one person can enter....understandable but it's his time and the way he says it. Also, when I was there there were only 3 people inside and one person outside waiting. He would just open the door and yell out not to come in until someone leaves. Say please or be polite about it...no need to shout and no need to complain about it later...he mumbles under his breathe and complains about how stupid people are. Really?!?! Why don't you put a sign outside then? The sandwich had about two slices of lox, the employees don't seem like they care and the cucumber slices were so huge I had to throw them away...I don't want a salad...I want a sandwich. read more

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The six cheese bagel is amazing. I get it every time. There's something about Noah's, no other bagels can compare. Their plain, everything, cinnamon raisin, and sesame are delicious as well. I wish Noah's were in Arizona as I can only get them when I'm back in CA. read more

I went to this location to pick up half a dozen bagels. The selection is limited, which I attribute to the COVID pandemic, and that is fine. What surprised me is that the bagels all vary in size...by quite a bit. For example, the Everything bagel is twice as big as the Honey Wheat bagel. The amount of toppings also vary from bagel to bagel, even within the same type. Some bagels have very scant topping that they look almost like a plain bagel. Although the selection is limited, I would expect each bagel to be at least consistent in size (1 star off) and quality (1 star off). I ordered 4 Everything bagels and 2 Asiago bagels. When I opened the bag at home, I got one Onion bagel rather than the Asiago bagel. I don't understand how a simple order like mine can be messed up (1 star off), but after reading some of the other reviews, it is not uncommon here. read more

Terrible service. I haven't been to Noah's in a very long time, I was trying to find some place to grab a quick since I had my dog wit me. I walk in, the cashier says hi, waited... when I was ready I wasn't sure if she was ready or what cause she was leaning on the broom look in a different direction. After I ordered I wanted to see if I can change the bagel favor, so I asked the other girl... she gave me a look and then said if he already started the toasted bagel then your stuck with the plain... Okayyy... didn't even turn around to ask if he started or nothing, which he didn't. It was probably one of the most unwelcoming establishment I've been too. Thanks for the 10 dollar bagel that wasn't even worth it. read more

I used to love Noah's bagels but they have really changed. The store isn't inviting, service is very slow, less product in the cases than before. On top of all that the bagels themselves have changed. They're more like a bagel thin now. Definitely not a traditional NY Bagel as is in the name. Just a disappointing franchise store now. read more

Bought half dozen bagels and crème cheese on October 7 noon time. All bagels were very stale. Pathetic experience. Really stale food not like ok types. Update: Noah's Bagel responded to my review and refunded me for same. So I will give 5 stars for their Customer support. It won't change my time spent and experience, but I need to get recognize their customer service. read more

Not sure what happened to Noah's Bagels - the menu is a lot smaller than what I remembered and the portions are ridiculously small. The service was nice and quick but the food is just embarrassing. I ordered the farmhouse that had the thinnest slices of bacon, thinnest ham, and smallest egg I have ever seen. It's quite comical when you think about it! Probably start making my own bagel sandwiches at this point. read more

Noah's NY Bagels - Barely any meat, eggs, bacon in the farmhouse - Bagels Near Me - San Mateo, California

My first experience with Noah's Bagels catering was a delight. I picked up my order for a dozen guests during the Friday morning rush, 4-23-21 on East 4th in San Mateo. The Manager and staff person at the register were friendly, professional, and prompt. Even the customers were nice! So happy that Noah's was highly recommended for their catering prowess... no surprises was the best surprise of all! Great start to a busy day. Thank you! read more

I fully agree with what many have written. Food was very good, manager was not. I catered $120 in food and the manager didn't have a second to be sure that I was satisfied. I asked if xxx was in the order and without even checking looking he said everything was in there! Rushed and unfriendly. My car was parked right outside and I had a large order in quite a few separate bags -- I asked if someone could help, and he hurriedly said "we are too busy"........ unfortunate service experience. Again -- the food was very good as usual. read more