I've been to Tali's in Ward Centre...soon to be redeveloped. They serve authentic NYC bagels...and are award winning, in that regard. Initial visit to Tali's Bagels and Schmear in Kailua, on Hoolai Street. It's in a plaza with Anytime Fitness, L&L, and Kailua Town Pub and Grill. The layout is odd...I felt like I was visiting a pet salon, with the small stalls to the left. There are a couple of tables and a counter near the entrance. I got the Pesto Melt for takeaway. It offers an almond pesto, spinach, arugula, and three cheeses - Muenster, Swiss, and mozzarella. Added scrambled eggs for $2 taking it to $14. Very good if a bit salty. Hours are from 700a till 200p; closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. read more

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Geez, it has to be bad to get 1 star. First and last time here. I was excited to find a bagel spot.... Walking in and the place is sorta wasted space inside and weird cut outs where you can sit and stare at 3 walls. It was between 10-11am when we came. Multiple customers were upset that their orders were missing items or completely wrong. All before I could order. Get to the front to understand they only have two types of bagels and everything else was out. Also sold out of coffee. Horrible. The 3 teens working were exceptionally slow, had no idea what was going on, and it was sheer chaos. Even customers were talking amongst themselves saying there needs to be someone older there who has some leadership skills. The food sucked. One bite into the 20$ bagel and all the contents slid out because the bagel was a brick. What a horrible waste of money and time. Go somewhere else. It's clear the owners give no care about the success of their business running it this way. read more

I stopped by Tali's Bagels & Schmear and ordered The Fancy B on a garlic bagel. Overall, I enjoyed trying it, and it was definitely something different from your typical bagel sandwich. While it was tasty, it felt like a bit too much all at once, and the flavors competed rather than coming together perfectly. The garlic bagel was okay. The garlic pieces on top were quite burnt, which gave it a bitter flavor, while the bagel itself was fairly chewy. Unfortunately, there weren't any other bagel options available during my visit, so I didn't have much choice. The shop itself was spacious and had a few seating options available, though the atmosphere wasn't particularly memorable. Overall, I'm glad I tried it. It's always great to see a new bagel shop, and sometimes a good bagel just hits the spot when you're craving one. While The Fancy B wasn't quite for me, I appreciated the chance to try something different and would maybe be willing to come back and explore other menu options. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - The Fancy B - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

I have been on the hunt for an egg bagel which seems to be quite rare in Hawaii. I found Tali's Bagels and Schmear at the Ward farmers market but didn't realize their Kailua location made egg flavored bagels. Well I decided to do an early morning drive from town to Kailua to see how many I could get. I lucked out with getting 6 egg bagels! I am also a fan of everything bagels and decided to get an awe zhuga zhuga bagel sandwich and a bagel with the mesugah schmear. Then an egg bagel with bacon, egg and cheese. I was surprised at how dense and burnt the everything bagel was compared to the soft fluffy egg bagel. I am glad we didn't get too many of those everything bagels because the burnt edges really threw off the rest of the sandwiches and weren't as enjoyable to eat. The inside is spacious but not so many seats. The parking lot has very narrow stalls and is narrow for navigating with a car coming the opposite way. Thankfully I was there to just run in and pick up the bagels. Wish the town location had egg bagels! read more

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Finally woke up early enough to try this location for their breakfast bagels. Lots of free parking out front, with seating inside their spacious location. The cashier/order-taker was very patient, and kind. As it was our first time, thoughtfully went through the menu with us. We snagged the last B.E.C. and S.E.C. for the day and it did not disappoint. Your choice of protein, choice of bagel, also comes with scrambled eggs and cheese. Also decided to try their bialy which is like a bagel, but instead of the hole, it has a filling. To which I tried their seasonal special - pumpkin spice and cream cheese, so tasty!! As for the Israeli iced coffee, it has a slushy consistency with a dirty chai-like taste to it. Not my personal fave, but my other half loved it. Overall, the bagels are nice and chewy, not too hard. And the schmears are very tasty/complimentary as well. I can see why they have been voted the best bagels in Hawaii. Keep on doing what you're doing and I'm excited to come back to try the next seasonal flavor! read more

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We love Tali's and always try to add a visit if we have time when in Kailua. I've send a few east coast friends here, and they all seem to agree that their bagels are legit! My go to is the BEC. It's a thick sandwich but the cheese does a great job of holding it together and making it not-so-hard to eat. I also *have* to get the Israeli Iced coffee every time. Their mini bagels are also the perfect thing for kids! They haven't been too crowded the times that we have gone but they do make everything to order so be prepared to wait a few minutes. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - BEC on an everything bagel - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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Really good everything bagel! Their cream cheese schmears are tasty. Service can be a bit slow so just don't come in a rush. Staff is friendly! Good parking options out front! read more

A firm and tasty bagel. We experienced friendly service... and I always enjoy watching the locals doing their thing. While in line, we met a guy from Long Island, who recently, "pushed in all his chips" and moved his family to Hawaii. He's no more of an expert than I on how bagels are meant to be done, but I listened to what he had to say as he chatted up the young woman behind the counter as she worked feverishly. (*He actually probably is way-more knowledgeable than I about what a bagel should taste and feel like ) so...anyways, I overheard him sharing compliments about the bagels offered. He was mostly addressing the young lady behind the counter, who may have been the owner. As he waited for his "Jewish doughnuts" (I used to call them that when I was a kid) he overheard me thinking out-loud to myself about which cream cheese option I should select.I was not steered wrong when he nudged me in the direction of the lemony smear. Good eats fo shu'ah ! This cream cheese choice was refreshing and accompanied the firm bialys served here perfectly. My wife went with the spicier option of the spiced onion cream cheese and "pro-move style" asked for it on the side to go with her everything bagel. It was also yummy and the side cup allowed for breaking off a bit of the bagel and then dipping it in. We enjoyed our breakfast and I would recommend Tali's if you are Jonesing for a "solid" (the way kids talk today and mean, "good quality and well-prepared") bagel. read more

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I don't have expertise on what a bagel should be like, but I had a good meal here and would definitely come back! + Food: I got the OG NYC (Lox bagel) with Egg Everything (?) Bagel, it was super well-seasoned and I love all the ingredients inside. A bit pricey for a bagel ($16) but it was really filling. I think the bagel is a bit dense for my taste, 8/10. Their menu is very interesting, like an ube cream cheese, so I'd come back! + Space: Small spot with decent amount of seatings. In a plaza with plenty of parking spots. It's in an area in Kailua where you can walk around as well read more

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Traditional Jewish bagels with schmear. They have great flavor options, including vegan everything! Delicious! Staff are friendly and efficient. But this is a popular place so there is usually a wait to get your food. Atmosphere is casual and comfortable. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Garlic bagel with Vegan everything schmear. - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

A big clean bagel shop in Kailua! Sadly the bagel selection is just a few. Original, everything and poppy. The good - they have kids (mini) and large for the adults. Service is great, but the workers were not real friendly. Just got me a few everything bagel and the bagel chips which I love however, the sweet and spicy was a little too hot for me. read more

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These bagels are the real deal. Nice chew, soft inside, and a decent selection of flavors (but of course, everything is the goat). I've had from both the Kailua and Ward locations and they're consistently excellent at either one. I'm always team lox-tomato-caper, but the other sandwich options are good if that's more your bag. And the CHIPS? holy. I recommend preordering these because they run out FAST. Bonus for the Israeli ice coffee; it's like an ice slush mocha with tahini, how could that be bad? (It's amazing) read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - OG NYC on everything - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Great NYC style bagels. For my first visit I got a poppy seed bagel with cream cheese. Delicious! Bagel was perfection. Next visit I will be getting the flight to try more at one time. Unlike NYC bagel shops which have a ton of smears to choose from, Tali's has just a few signature ones. Enjoy the adventure. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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Tali's Bagels has become part of our weekly routine for good reason. I had the tuna melt, my daughter had the Fancy B, and both were outstanding. Bagels are warm soft and crusty all in the right places. It's got that real New York flavor that makes it stand out, and you can taste the difference. Easily one of our favorite spots. read more

Went to Tali's for the first time this weekend. It did not disappoint! I got the flight of mini bagels which was a great way to try different bagels with different schmears. I got the sesame bagel w lemon dill schmear, poppy bagel w ube schmear, everything bagel w meshuga schnear and a cold brew. My fave spread was meshuga but when I wanted achange, the lemon dill was perfect. It was bright and a perfect change from the jalapeños in the meshuga. And the ube schmear was fantastic. Sweet and creamy. Delish! Highly recommend Tali's! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Flight of Mini Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

This place takes way to long to get a bagel. We're not doing surgery over here. It took 15 minutes to get the order

This place has the best NYC bagel I've found in Hawaii. They serve bagels that are smaller than normal at uptown Manhattan prices, so be prepared to fork over some serious cash for your schmear! The kailua location has plenty of parking which is very convenient. The line ebbs and flows. There were points where the line snaked out to the door and other points when it was just a few people. We waited about 20-25 minutes for 2 bagels with schmear. The mashuga schmear (cream cheese) was better than the lemon dill flavor IMO. I like how they add on free tomato, lettuce, cucumber and red onions to make the bagel heartier. A single bagel and lox looms around $20 with tax and more if you tip. My advice is to grab some bagels to go with a side of schmear and assemble it yourself. Israeli coffee is served frappe (mixed ice) style with coconut and oat milk. It's very sweet! We didn't care for it. Bialy was legit! Best bialy I can remember... possibly ever! Staff are friendly and efficient. They were filling phone orders and walk ins as fast as possible. Bonus points for being able to learn some Yiddish as you nosh. read more

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The OG NYC sandwich is your classic lox bagel and it was tasty. Also tried the Bubbe sandwich (tahini dill egg salad), this was not as compelling as the lox. Very filling bagel sandwiches. The bagel itself was a bit chewy and tough. They offer 'free veggies' (tomato, lettuce, onion, cucumber) to add to your bagel sandwich. The Israel coffee (mac nut tahini cold brew slushie) was pretty sweet at first, but mellows out as it melts. The sandwiches were made to order and there is enough seating inside to leisurely enjoy your food. They also have some pre-made schmears you can buy for later. read more

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Got to try-- mini bagel flight is delicious love how the ube cream cheese spread had bits of ube and was thick! We also got bacon, egg, and cheese bagel sandwich and the aww zhuga zhuga. Bacon, egg and cheese was savory and delicious-- loved how fluffy the egg was also. Zhuga zhuga was surprisingly good, not too spicy-- I personally preferred the aww zhuga zhuga over the bacon, egg and cheese. There isn't much seating but good for to-go! Wait time was reasonable and would definitely come back for some fluffy, delicious bagels ! read more

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I finally got to try Tali's Bagels. We got the mini flight - 2 ube and 1 cream cheese with jalapeños and peppers, I forgot what it was called. The ube cream cheese was so good. It was not so sweet!! You can taste the purple potatoes in it. I love it. The bagel was crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Wish they have more drink options. I don't drink coffee so I wish there was icee tea or something. Definitely want to try the lux bagel next time!! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - The flight is $11 - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

This place is like a little piece of NYC in Kailua! They have amazing bagels and even have a vegan option. The food is so good. I go here a decent amount & recommend! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

Tali's is our go to for breakfast bagel sandwiches! They have great quality bacon and sausage and their bagels are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside - perfection! read more

if youre a plain gal you could def make at home but if youre feeling adventurous they got a nice variety of bagel and cream cheese flavor options read more

Not sure if a Jewish bagel is supposed to be tough to eat or cut but this is by far the worst bagel I've ever eaten. Tougher than the toughest piece of steak I've ever eaten. Filling is good but doesn't make up for the bagel and will not be returning read more

I tried this place back when it was just a stall at the farmers market and loved their bagel chips. I finally was in the area with time to kill and decided to try one of their bagel sandwiches. I got the NY style sandwich with lox, tomato, cucumbers instead of onion, capers and Schmear. It was sooo good! Maybe a tad bit salty and was looking for something to cut the salt a bit but overall it's something I will be back for! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - NY style lox bagel - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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A coworker picked them up on request. They are a true gem. Amazing flavors! Did not skimp on toppings, size, or cream cheese. The everything bagels were overflowing with flavor! I tried the lemon dill and original cream cheese and the were both winners! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Everything bagel with regular cream cheese! - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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Great bagels! Delicious schmear (cream cheeses), the bacon egg and cheese is the bees knees. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Types of Schmears they offer - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

An absolute gem! So glad they opened a location this side; I had the sesame bagel with ube (I'm a sucker for ube), and was not disappointed! Super quick service and let me just say, they did it right. The ube isn't just purple, altho that's pretty rad, it had the best flavor and was absolutely amazing! And of course, well apportioned for the bagel, def a delish and perfectly chewy bagel, the REAL way bagels should be! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Ube schmear - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

I'm not sure if I visited on a not good day. The cashier seemed to be new and they all seemed to have their work flow kinda jammed up. I ordered a BEC and the fancy B for my teenagers and they both didn't care for either. The bagel was way too chewy for their liking. It took over 45min for me to get my order and it seemed my ticket was some how dropped on the ground which is why my order wasn't made until I inquired after watching everyone else around me get theirs. read more

Congratulation on Tali's Bagels second location! Nestled in the heart of Kailua, you now can get authentic bagels and schmears. The shop is quaint with a handful of small tables and a few that are in "private" zones. Not like separate rooms but there are walls that divide each table. Bagels are made fresh daily and displayed on the far end wall to select from. Plain or classic, everything bagel and a couple of others were available today. Schmears or whipped cream cheese either plain or mixed with all kinds of yumminess. Prices will range if you're getting a standard or premium schmear. If you're feeling like you'd want more pizzaz to your bagel, you can opt for one of these bagel sandwiches. Classics like the OG lox n bagel to breakfast items. Can't go wrong with one of these. They serve a local coffee producer, Traditions Coffee here. Don't expect extravagant drinks, just the normal cold brew and cup of joe to go with your bagel. In the fridge display, there's an old school brand of pop. I've never heard of it before so of course I went with this to drink. Plus, I love me a good cream soda! Went with their everything bagel w/the meshuga schmear and I got me a cream soda. Bagel was perfectly toasted, soft on the inside and chewy exterior. How it should be. This schmear was life. Because there's some habanero peppers mixed in, it had a really nice kick to it. The cream cheese is nicely whipped so even though there's a lot on there, it's not dense and thick. This cream soda was delicious also. Even though it was a diet. Haha. Nice and vanilla-ey and perfect with my bagel. Lots of parking in the lot. They are located in the same structure as Domino's pizza and the diving shop. Congrats again to the team and will be back! read more

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I wholeheartedly agree with the other reviews. This place prepares real NY bagels. So fresh and just the right amount of chew. The schmears are yummy and the quality of the lox is really superb. They even add a little finely chopped dill and some delicious capers. It's those little touches that really send this over the top. The staff is super friendly and the restaurant is clean and spacious. Tons of easy free parking. And this is one of very few places that opens at 6AM. I appreciate they've only been open for like 10 seconds ;-) but they would do well to have an illuminated "Open" sign. We almost passed on it because they did not look like they were open given the tinted windows. But we are so glad we walked over to confirm. This is partly why I'm also posting a picture of their shop hours. :-) Enjoy! Oh yes. And we bought extra to give as gifts to friends on the other side of the island and to take home. read more

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These bagels have a good chew and are not supermarket-bready at all. Their toppings actually stick to the bagel! Recommend the everything and poppy seed. They do have a strange layout in the store, with cubicle-like walls between tables. I think they can do better for the ambiance for eat-in folks. But I just get my bagels to go. read more

I started out writing a whole entire thing about the food with all the photos and whatnot .. then deleted it all bc honestly, the bagels weren't anything to blow your hair back. Of note, an open faced classic bagel with 2 separate schmears - particularly ube and haupia tofu - is 1000% worth the $7. But for this brunch for my family of 4, I chucked out a hefty $67 which included a SIX PERCENT sales tax/service fee, AND a 15% tip. ... what service did I pay for? - I stood at the counter to order my food - I wiped all the sesame seeds and crumbs from my own table so that my family could sit on clean chairs and eat at a clean table - I had to retrieve my order from the counter when they called my name - There was no tray, there were no utensils - everything was in a paper sleeve or paper boat - I bussed my own table and wiped it down again before we left If I knew I'd be paying a service fee for doing all the service work myself, I would surely as the sun rises have kept that $8.75 tip For Myself. No where did I see anything posted in the shop (or online) that there would be any kind of Service Fee .. if that's my fault for not seeing the fine print it's okay because I won't return either way. 2 stars because it wasn't 1 star food and the young lady at the register was pleasant but unknowingly getting charged an extra fee for work I did myself has left a sour schmudge on me. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - 6% Hawaii Sales Tax and Service Fee? - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

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These are amazing bagels! I'm originally from New York, and these are the real thing!

When I first moved here I was really bummed I couldn't find any Jewish food near me and when Tali's opened in Kailua - I was so ecstatic! I usually get the OG NYC bagel, but my husband (who refuses to each fish in the morning) always goes for the Ah Zhuga Zhuga. The Israeli Iced Coffee is amazing, AND they have Dr. Brown's soda (iykyk). I recently took my father here (born in New York) and he literally raved about their bialis, he made me take him back a second day in a row. Best biali he's ever had. Tali is incredibly nice too, you know she loves what she does, and she's so good at it. 10/10 will always recommend read more

If you're from NYC you will know that these Bagels are nothing like a NYC Bagel. Nothing.

Now that was a real bagel! I had an everything Bagel with plain shmear and tomato. It was delicious and everything a bagel is supposed to be, crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. The staff were friendly and helpful. The lovely lady behind the counter let me taste the Meshuga shmear which was tasty but it had a kick. My sister got the Fancy B and loved it. Lots of tasty salmon. We will be back! Tali's Bagels is a reminder that what they sell at Costco is rolls with holes. read more

the sandwiches were so yummy! love that they offer free veggies. and the service was friendly and quick. tons of parking. absolutely will be back soon! read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - OG NYC (lox) - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii

I love their bagels at Tali's, first time to the Kailua location and it's a little different vibe but friendly staff, great bagels, and I'd come back again! Check them out! read more

I got a mini bagel flight for 11 dollars and a cold brew for 6 dollars. The flight was worth the money and great if you can't decide! There are only two people working so you do have to be a little patient but they were both sweet and worked quickly! I came by around 830am which was not super busy but yesterday I came around noon and they were sold out so come early! A bit small inside if you're trying to dine in but very clean. On the pricier side for breakfast after tip it was 21 dollars for one person but it's a nice treat if you have a bagel craving! I wish they stayed open later in the day. read more

Tali's Bagels and Schmear - Sesame bagel with everything, plain bagel with ube, everything bagel with lemon dill. - Bagels Near Me - Kailua, Hawaii