The Top-Rated Bagel Spot in Every State, According to Google User Reviews
Ah, bagels. A doughy piece of heaven that can be crafted in an infinite number of flavors and combinations. Do you like cream cheese and lox on sesame, perhaps bacon, egg and cheese on an everything bagel, or do you keep it classic with a plain bagel toasted with butter? No matter what combo your taste buds crave, there are plenty of bagel shops around the U.S. that bake up some delicious bagels.
With that in mind, the team at Trips to Discover wanted to find the top-rated bagel shop in every state based on Google Reviews. We searched Google Maps for over 2,600 bagel-related eateries in the U.S. We then ranked shops by weighing Google review scores, number of reviews and degree of bagel specialization to find each state’s most esteemed bagel shop.
Our Most Interesting Findings
- We found over 1,300 shops in the U.S. with “Bagel” in their name.
- Over 2,600 shops in the U.S. primarily or heavily feature bagels in their business.
- The average Google Review Score for the top bagel shops is 4.6.
- New York is home to 6.5% of all bagel shops in the U.S.
- There are ten states with over 100 bagel-related shops: New York, Rhode Island, Arizona, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, Utah and Florida.
Jump into our bagel shop round up »
Alabama: McClure’s NY Bagel & Sandwich Shoppe
A dream come to life for owners David and Melissa McClure, McClure’s NY Bagel & Sandwich Shoppe bakes up authentic New York bagels each day along with a variety of homemade cream cheese flavors. While you most certainly come for the bagels, McClure’s is WAY more than just bagels. Stick around for lunch and try one of their sandwiches, wraps or paninis made with top-quality Boar’s Head meat and cheeses.
Alaska: The Bagel Shop
Alaska might not come to mind when searching for the best bagels, but the town of Homer would disagree. Simply named, The Bagel Shop came to be when a bagel guy from NY and a schmear girl from WA joined forces to make some of the best homemade bagels Homer, AK has ever seen. With humble beginnings at the local farmers market, bagels were selling out within an hour and The Bagel Shop knew they needed a place of their own. In 2013 the doors were open and the rest is delicious history!
Arkansas: Ozark Mountain Bagel Co
Family-run Ozark Mountain Bagel Co proudly whips up made from scratch, authentic New York-style bagels for northwest Arkansas. Ozark Mountain Bagel Co clearly lives up to their motto “Spreading joy, love and cream cheese” snagging our top-rated spot for Arkansas
Arizona: Copper Star Coffee
Copper Star Coffee might not have the word bagel in its name, but don’t let that drive your doughy-loving taste buds away. Along with roasting up a great cup of a bagel’s best mate, Copper Star Coffee makes some top-notch hand-made bagels that one reviewer went so far to say it was “one of the best bagels” they’ve ever had!
California: Wise Sons Jewish Deli
Wise Sons Jewish Deli in San Francisco prides itself on making bagels the old-fashion way. From shaping the dough by hand to boiling in malt syrup to baking them in a rotating convection oven, every bite you take of their crispy yet doughy bagel was thoughtfully created to leave you wanting more. Not in California? No problem! You can get Wise Sons shipped right to your door!
Colorado: The Bagel Deli & Restaurant
If the Mayor of Flavortown, Guy Fieri, likes it, it has to be good. Featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives’ The Bagel Deli & Restaurant has been a local Denver institution since 1967. Specializing in deli sandwiches piled high, hot soups and of course handmade fresh bagels, if you find yourself in Denver run don’t walk to get yourself a hot meal.
Connecticut: Katz Deli Restaurant
Home to the a-maize-ing bagel, Brookside Bagels has some of the freshest and finest bagels in the state of Connecticut. Reviewers constantly praise Brookside for having some of the best, crispiest bagels around, so if you find yourself in the Simsbury area stop by and try it for yourself.
Washington, D.C.: Call Your Mother
Call your mother! Seriously, call her and tell her how amazing D.C.’s Call Your Mother deli is! With a mission to create extraordinary moments and having carbs at the center of it all, you know you’re about to bite into something great. With a variety of breakfast sandwiches that will satisfy all your tastebuds, this is a place where you come for the food and stay for a good time.
Delaware: Surf Bagel Lewes
Surfing and bagels might seem like an unusual partnership, but for the folks over at Surf Bagel in Lewes, DE it’s a match made in heaven. The combination of the love of surfing and passion for good food is apparent in every inch of this place and their patrons can’t get enough! One reviewer was bold enough to say Surf Bagels has the best bagel in the entire state of Delaware!
Florida: Uncle Nick’s Italian Deli and Bagels
With over 20 varieties of bagels made fresh daily and over 30 years of experience, it’s no wonder Uncle Nick’s is the highest-rated spot in Florida! This family-owned bagel shop prides itself on great food and even better customer service which shines through with patrons coming back daily for this award-winning breakfast spot.
Georgia: BB’s Bagels
BB’s Bagels didn’t expect to be the phenomenon that it turned out to be when opening its doors in 2007, but with a loyal customer base and simply put amazing hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels it’s no surprise that we’ve found them to be the top-rated bagel shop in Georgia. They’ve even nabbed the title as #1 Bagel in Atlanta and One of America’s Best Bagels, according to USA Today.
Hawaii: Lox of Bagels
Lox of Bagels in Honolulu knows how to serve up some fresh, tasty bagels with a dash of aloha. For over 20 years they have been the premier producer of fresh bagels in the state of Hawaii and apart from their two shops, you can find their tasty treats in a variety of Hawaii’s largest coffee shops and hotels.
Iowa: 5 Borough Bagels
When you think of the midwest, bagels aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. 5 Boroughs Bagels will have you thinking twice about the land of the corn baking up some fresh New York-style bagels. Making lists for the best bagel shop time and again, reviewers agree this spot is a must-visit on your next journey through the Des Moines area.
Idaho: Fifth Street Bagelry
Follow the smell of fresh bagels and you’ll inevitably find Fifth Street Bagelry. Using only the finest and freshest ingredients to make their signature Artisan bagels and roasting up great specialty coffee, no wonder visitors say Fifth Street Bagelry is worth a visit!
Illinois: Emma’s Bagel Cafe
There’s no shortage in the variety of bagels at Emma’s Bagel Cafe in Skokie. Even with a large menu selection, reviewers agree each item is made with care with one being so bold as saying it was the greatest meal of their life!
Indiana: Shapiro’s Delicatessen
Shapiro’s Delicatessen has a long history, more than 115 years to be exact. In that time they have truly perfected the ins and outs of their iconic deli. While you definitely want to make a visit for their corned beef sandwich, don’t sleep on the handcrafted New York-style bagels!
Kansas: Meshuggah Bagels
Perfection and passion, two things that Meshuggah Bagels prides itself on, and once you taste their craftful creations you’ll agree. This iconic bagel spot came to be after owners Pete and Janna tired of lugging dozens of bagels back and forth from the east coast, they wanted quality bagels right where they were. Thus, Meshuggah Bagels was born (and boy is Kansas glad it was!).
Kentucky: Payne Street BakeHouse
It’s a common sentiment among visitors that Payne Street Bakehouse has the BEST bagels in Louisville and from our data the entire state of Kentucky. Providing their community with authentic scratch-made bagels and delicious coffee roasts since its inception as Nancy’s Bagels in 1996 and later joining forces with a close friend to establish what we know today as Payne Street Bakehouse.
Louisiana: Creole Bagelry and Cafe
Creole Bagelry and Cafe is home to the Northshore’s only scratch-made, kettle-boiled bagels, which makes it no surprise that it topped our charts as the top-rated in all of Louisiana. Made in small batches to ensure quality and limit food waste, Creole Bagelry is, as one reviewer simply put, absolutely incredible.
Massachusetts: Bagelsaurus
It’s really no surprise that Boston’s Bagelsaurus made our list. They take bagel perfection to the next level specializing in handmade, slow-fermented bagels, meaning they use their decades-old sourdough culture and let it sit for 24 hours to provide a unique flavor to your favorite breakfast carb. As with many of their patrons, Bagelsaurus will bump your doughy desires to a whole new level.
Maryland: Goldberg’s New York Bagels
Crafted from a recipe kept secret for three generations, Goldberg’s New York Bagels is without a doubt Maryland’s (and some might even say the World’s) best bagels. Baked fresh every morning with the same consistent size, texture and crunch it’s no surprise this shop has been thriving for the last 60 years.
Maine: Bagel Central
Over 1,500 reviewers agree Bagel Central is THE spot in Bangor, if not the entire state of Maine, to get your bagel fix. You’ll be drawn in by the aroma of fresh-baked bagels and overwhelmed (in the best way possible) by the assortment of options to get your doughy fix.
Michigan: New York Bagel
For over 100 years New York Bagel has been providing the Detroit area with the finest, freshest, and best-tasting bagels. With all that experience it’s no wonder it’s topped our charts as the best bagel spot in Michigan. Not only can you enjoy one of their tasty creations, but your pup can too! New York Bagel Dogels are smaller, hardened versions of the original plain bagel that is safe and healthy for your pup!
Minnesota: Rise Bagel Co.
A modern take on an old-world craft is what Rise Bagel Co specializes in. A blend of both New York and Montreal style bagels and using the best organic ingredients, Rise Bagel Co is committed to not only bringing you a delicious morning treat but also cultivating community which is apparent once you step into their shop.
Missouri: Meshuggah Bagels
If this name looks familiar in our list that’s because Meshuggah Bagels is not only the top-rated bagel shop in Kansas but their flagship Kansas City location is the top-rated shop in Missouri! If you aren’t already convinced you need to try one of Meshuggah’s bagels, I don’t know what will! What we do know is they’ll continue to bring New York to Kansas City one bagel at a time.
Mississippi: SouthBound Bagel & Coffee Shop
Many reviews agree SouthBound Bagel & Coffee Shop in Hattiesburg is THE place for breakfast. A spot where everyone probably knows your name, SouthBound bakes their bagels and bread fresh every morning and is a must-try whenever you find yourself in the area.
Montana: Bagelworks
Not just a roll with a hole, Bagelworks has been serving Bozeman, MT the best bagels since 1991. A true treasure west of the Mississippi, it’s no wonder Bagelworks made a list with their deliciously soft bagels and variety of cream cheeses and sandwich creations to go with them!
North Carolina: The Original Bagel Dock Cafe of Calabash
When it comes to bagels many say it’s all about the water and that’s what makes The Original Bagel Dock Cafe of Calabash rank among the best in North Carolina. They start their hand-crafted bagels using water from their state-of-the-art water filtration system and that’s what makes all the difference. Don’t believe us? Try it for yourself!
North Dakota: BernBaum’s
Downtown Fargo’s BernBaum’s specializes in Scandinavian and Jewish foods, but you absolutely DON’T want to miss their amazing bagels. Sourcing ingredients from local farmers and ranchers, BernBaum’s bagel sandwiches had one reviewer driving 3+ hours just to get her hands on it!
Nebraska: Bagels & Joe
Locally owned and operated since 1993, Bagels & Joe believes a better bagel and a better cup of coffee leads to a better day and it’s no doubt their customers agree. You can find their 16 flavors of fresh bagels and 19 hand-blended cream cheese flavors at four locations throughout Lincoln. We suggest visiting their location at The Foundry where 10% of sales go directly to local nonprofits. Bagels with a purpose? Count us in!
New Hampshire: White Mountain Bagel Co
White Mountain Bagel Co is a locals and travels go-to bagel spot and for good reason. Not only can you indulge in a wide variety of fresh bagels, but you’ll also have plenty of cream cheese creations to choose from. As many reviews agree, the wait is well worth it for White Mountain Bagel Co.
New Jersey: Wonder Bagel
It’s no wonder, Wonder Bagel has made our list for top spot in New Jersey. Serving up handmade water bagels using only the finest ingredients for the past 30 years. With plenty of locations in Jersey to get your hands on these crunchy yet doughy creations, it’s no wonder publications keep naming this spot #1!
New Mexico: Alicea’s NY Bagels & Subs
If you thought you couldn’t get delicious New York-style bagels all the way in New Mexico…think again! Alicea’s NY Bagels & Subs not only serves top-notch bagels (why else would they be on this list) but they also create fabulous subs served with VERY generous proportions. While the food is no doubt delicious, reviewers agree it’s the customer service that keeps them coming back for more.
Nevada: The Bagel Cafe
A little taste of New York in the Heart of Las Vegas is exactly what you’ll find at The Bagel Cafe. Anyone on the hunt for a great-tasting bagel while visiting Sin City will be drawn in by the smell of freshly baked bagels made from scratch in a wide variety of flavors to be accompanied by their delectable assortment of smears. With the simple desire of creating good food and generous portions, it’s no wonder The Bagel Cafe is a favorite among Nevada residents and visitors.
New York: Best Bagel & Coffee
The moment has arrived to name the top-rated bagel spot in ALL of New York. A coveted spot earned by none other than Best Bagel & Coffee. The name says it all – best bagel and boy do we agree. With hand-rolled, kettle-boiled bagels baked on-site daily Best Bagel & Coffee focuses on a simple yet precise menu crafted with only the best ingredients. An absolute must-visit the next time you find yourself in New York.
Ohio: Cleveland Bagel Co.
Cleveland Bagel Co. has a simple mission: make something really great to eat and man do they deliver. Thinking outside the box and creating their own “Cleveland-Style bagel,” a mix of old-world and new, not too doughy or sweet, full of flavor and with a crisp exterior, Cleveland Bagel Co. is baking up the best bagels in Ohio.
Oklahoma: Old School Bagel Cafe
It’s no surprise that Old School Bagel Cafe topped our charts for Oklahoma. Opened in 2007 to fill Oklahoma’s need for a quality bagel shop, Old School Bagel Cafe prides itself on meticulously perfecting the water-boiling technique to produce the best old-school bagels in town.
Oregon: Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels
Quality products take time, hard work and the best locally-sourced ingredients possible, which is exactly how Henry Higgins Boiled Bagels operates. New York might be 2,500 miles away from the Portland spot, but transplants and visitors alike agree these are some of the best New York-style bagels on the west coast.
Pennsylvania: Grand Central Bagel
Reviews agree, you won’t regret stopping in at Grand Central Bagel for some breakfast and a great cup of coffee. The perfect spot for neighbors to meet and strangers become friends, Grand Central bagels are made daily with the finest and freshest ingredients.
Rhode Island: Cafe Tempo Coffee House
Cafe Tempo Coffee House was quite literally born from the ashes. A recreation of The Bagel Factory that was tragically burned down in 2013, owner Thomas Buontempo took it as an opportunity to rebuild and reinvent this bagel house into everything customers and staff wanted. Keeping the original Bagel Factory recipe, Cafe Tempo bagels bring in crowds from all over the New England area; it’s no wonder they made our list as top-rated in all of Rhode Island!
South Carolina: Sully’s Steamers
Sully’s Steamers is a favorite choice among locals and visitors alike in the Greenville area. Taking a unique and healthy twist on the regular ol’ bagel recipe, Sully’s sandwiches are made with nothing but water, in the form of steam. This all-natural process creates bagels that are crispy outside and chewy inside, everything you want from your favorite bagel spot!
South Dakota: Bagel Boy
Bagel Boy of Sioux Falls knows these carby creations are best when freshly baked, which is why they keep baking bagels all day long, so every customer’s order is as fresh as can be. Owner Mike Dinsmore went from show-biz to dough-biz when opening Bagel Boy’s doors in 1994 and strives to cultivate a place with great food and casual, chill-ax vibes.
Tennessee: Proper Bagel
Nashville is known for country music and thanks to Proper Bagel, bagels too! A modern, laid-back shop delivering old-school flavors with a new-school twist, Proper takes no shortcuts when creating their scratch-made bagels. As one reviewer put it, this is the type of restaurant you want in your hometown…and it’s easy to see why!
Texas: The Hot Bagel Shop
Family-owned and operated since its opening in 1984, The Hot Bagel Shop in Houston is well-deserving of a spot on our top-rated list! Simply delicious as one reviewer put it, delve into their wide variety of bagels accompanied by their creamy cream cheese selection.
Utah:
The Bagel Project was created when two New Jersey transplants found themselves searching for a local bagel shop in SLC. Luckily for us, they didn’t find one and instead decided to stop complaining and start baking. Observing old-world fermentation practices of dough made without preservatives or sugar, it’s no surprise that The Bagel Project is the highest-rated bagel shop in all of Utah.
Virginia: Bodo’s Bagels
Bodo’s Bagels has been rightfully titled the “best of” since opening in 1996, so it comes to no surprise that they have ranked the HIGHEST out of all the shops in the U.S. with our whopping lox score of 4.99. Near perfection comes from their scratch-made NY-style bagels baked fresh all day long, so no matter what time you pop in for a meal you’ll always get a hot, fresh bagel.
Vermont: Myer’s Bagel Bakery
Myer’s Bagel Bakery has been serving hungry crowds their delicious wood-fired Montreal-style bagels since 1996. Having been named the best bagel in Vermont by various publications, it’s no surprise we have found them to be top-rated among customers. Everyone agrees, if you’re looking for some great food while visiting Burlington, stop by Myer’s Bagel.
Washington: The Bagelry
The Bagelry of Bellingham knows there is nothing quite like a great bagel and a great bagel is exactly why they’re top-rated among locals and visitors alike. Mastering the traditional NY-style bagel with no preservatives or additives is hard to come by these days, but The Bagelry takes pride in providing the best products for their customers and has done so for over thirty years.
Wisconsin: Bagels Forever
In 1973 the college town of Madison was lacking a piece of heaven we come to know as NY-style bagels. Luckily, Bagels Forever swooped in to fill that void. Specializing in bagels made with all-natural ingredients that are boiled and then hearth-baked, Bagels Forever quickly topped the charts as the best bagels in this midwest state. If you’re drooling over the thought of these bagels and don’t live anywhere near this iconic establishment, don’t fret you can get them shipped directly to your door! Talk about heaven!
West Virginia: Royalicious
Royalicious is a family-run bakeshop in the heart of Charles Town serving up fresh New York-style bagels that will leave you wanting more. Not only can you grab a freshly baked bagel on your visit, but choose from a variety of Italian pastries that even Nonna would love.
Wyoming: Mort’s Bagels
At Mort’s Bagels, you’ll never find a day-old bagel. They believe fresh is best and that’s the way a bagel should be enjoyed! You may gravitate to your usual everything or sesame bagel, but at Mort’s Bagels, you’ll discover flavors you didn’t know were possible! Cheddar dill, orange poppy, the options are endless of these unique and one-of-a-kind bagel flavors.
Methodology
This article’s visualizations and analysis were created from a list of over 2600 bagel-related eateries in the U.S. using Octoparse to crawl Google Maps for “Bagels” in every state. All data was pulled between 12/22/21-1/4/22. Our original data pull contained nearly 5000 locations. To focus our analysis, we removed places that do not prominently feature bagels on their menus, and more specifically, do not bake their bagels in-house. For example, a coffee shop selling a single bagel item would be removed, but a coffee shop that bakes its bagels in-house and offers multiple varieties would stay.
To find the top-rated bagel shop in every state, we built an algorithm that weighs each shop’s Google Review Score with its number of reviews on Google, prioritizing review quantity; we affectionately call this the Lox Score. This algorithm allowed us to extract the shop in each state with the most five-star reviews with relatively high precision. We then picked the shop from our list with the highest Lox Score while also considering the store’s essential function, such as whether bagels are a prominent feature of the shop or just a side item.
Our algorithm is proprietary, but if you are looking to build a similar project, please don’t hesitate to contact [email protected], and we can walk you through the process. You can download our entire bagel database (.xlsx format) here or just the winners here. Please feel free to use or share this database with whoever may find this helpful — we ask that your purposes are noncommercial and that you link back to this page so its contributors can receive proper credit for their work.
Google Maps, Octoparse, Excel and Flourish are the tools used to analyze and create data visualizations for this article.
