The Ultimate List of the Best Bagels in Seattle, Ranked

It took me a while to find the best bagels in Seattle. I moved here from New Jersey about 15 years ago and one of the most painful discoveries was that the New York-style bagels I could find literally everywhere in Jersey were nowhere to be found in Seattle.

However, over the past couple of years more bagels shops have been opening in Seattle to bring east coast-style bagels to our lives. Obviously I needed to put them to the test and see if they stacked up.

So I ordered bagels from just about every bagel shops in Seattle and compared them. Here is how all of the best bagels in Seattle rank against each other.

Best Bagels in Seattle

If you’re curious how I determined the best bagels in Seattle, it started with making a list of all the bagel shops in Seattle. Many I’d been to, but to truly compare them I purchased bagels from all of the shops, took comparative photos, tasted, and jotted down tasting notes.

Great bagels are all about the texture. Authentic New York-style bagels have a very distinct chew thanks to the process of boiling cooled dough before baking. This method gives bagels a thin crust with little bubbles rather than completely smooth skin. When you bite into it, it should be chewy and taste yeasty, but not so much so that it’s difficult on your jaw. For example, you shouldn’t have to fight it like a baguette.

Another argument New York-style bagel die-hards will stand behind is whether or not you have to toast the bagel. It’s said that great bagels shouldn’t require toasting in order to be good. I agree with this in theory, but I always enjoy toasting mine if I’m not eating it day-of so that it warms my cream cheese. Purists will tell you the best way to toast bagels is to put them in the toaster directly from the freezer.

Below is a list of how all the best bagels in Seattle stack against each other.

15. Eltana

website | neighborhood: various | best for: Montreal-style bagels

Eltana Bagels is a mini chain with three locations in Capitol Hill, Stone Way, and Downtown. It focuses on Montreal-style bagels that are quite different from New York-style. Both types of bagels are boiled, but Montreal-style bagels are wood-fired afterwards instead of baked. It also typically includes sweeter ingredients like honey in the water used to boil. The result is a denser, sweeter bagel than a New York-style bagel.

You can also tell the difference in the size and shape. Eltana Bagels are the smallest, most misshapen bagels on this list. The dense consistency reminded me of that bite of raw dough you taste when making bread. It’s particularly pronounced in the Cinnamon raisin flavor, so if you want to avoid that texture I’d choose another flavor like sesame.

Overall I find Eltana Bagels best right out of the oven, which isn’t easy to come by in most cases. Because of this and the fact that I prefer New York-style bagels, these are my least favorite of the best bagels in Seattle.

14. Seattle Bagel Bakery

website | available at stores only | best for: grocery-store bagels

This bagel shop that used to be open to the public in Pike Place Market is prolific in local grocery stores, so it’s the bag I pick up when I don’t have time to order bagels from a specific bagel shop but I want to stock up on pantry staples from local businesses.

I find them to be the best of the store-bought versions I’ve tried. On that spectrum of texture I mentioned, it’s right around the middle with a good balance of chew and lightness. Despite being one of the largest bagel producers on this list, Seattle Bagel Bakery uses that traditional boil-than-bake technique, plus local sustainable grain from Shepherd’s Grain.

While I enjoy these bagels, you can’t really taste the pronounced yeast flavor indicative of a truly great bagel when eaten off the grocery shelf. So I recommend picking them up fresh from their Pike Place Market location if you go on a tour of Pike Place.

13. Howdy Bagels

website | neighborhood: Tacoma | 5421 S Tacoma Way | best for: rosemary bagel

Howdy Bagels used to be one of the best bagels in Seattle via delivery only. Partners Jake and Daniel are from Texas and always loved baking, so they decided to turn their love of it into a bagel shop during the pandemic. They moved to Tacoma and opened a brick & mortar, where Daniel runs the shop solo after Jake’s tragic death.

As soon as I opened the bag I knew these weren’t traditional New York-style bagels given they were harder and had an irregular shape more similar to Eltana. Texture wise they are more baguette-like with less yeasty flavors than other Seattle bagels, but I loved the rosemary sea salt bagel. It was really pronounced on the rosemary and gave it an interesting earthy flavor you don’t often get with bagels.

12. Grateful Bread

website | neighborhood: Wedgewood | 7001 35th Ave NE | best for: soft bagels, particularly cinnamon raisin

This full-service bakery makes way more than bagels, but you’d think by the quality of their bagels that those yeasty orbs would be their main focus. These bagels have that yeasty flavor and chew, but it’s softer than traditional New York-style bagels. Especially the cinnamon raisin…it’s so damn soft! The consistency and flavor are so satisfying it’s hard not to love them.

11. Old Salt

website | neighborhoods: Fremont (3621 Stone Way N) & Ballard (6309 24th Ave NW) | best for: New York-style bagels and homemade smoked fish

The late Manolin, once one of my favorite Seattle fish restaurants, pivoted to be a bagel shop during the pandemic. While their regular restaurant reopened, they’re still making bagels and smoked fish in house, which given their skills with gills (GET IT), is awesome.

As far as the bagels, I found them a bit too baguette-like compared to traditional New York-style bagels. However, with some of their schmear and interesting fish like smoked trout or black cod, it makes for one of the more interesting bagel sandwiches in Seattle.

10. Westman’s Bagels

website | neighborhoods: Capitol Hill & U-District | best for: schmears, including vegan

Westman’s Bagels was super buzzy when it opened. It’s located in Capitol Hill and is owned by Monica Dimas of Little Neon Taco and Sunset Fried Chicken fame. The bagels are a good size and have that chew you’re looking for in a New York-style bagel.

However, I found these bagels not as yeasty as I would have liked and ultimately a little light on flavor. Other bagels on this list hold up to schmear or sandwich ingredients, but these faded into the background. While this makes it a good vessel for toppings, it makes it lower on the list of the best bagels in Seattle.

That being said, Westman’s has excellent schmear with a cream cheese base from Willapa Creamery in southern Washington. I haven’t tried the vegan spreads, but those looking for vegan options in Seattle will be happy to know Westman’s has vegan “cream” cheese.

9. Bagel Oasis

website | neighborhood: Ravenna | 2112 NE 65th St | best for: affordable, New York-style bagels

This little bagel shop is near the late JuneBaby in Ravenna, once onee of the most beloved Seattle Black-owned restaurants. You can immediately see from the case that they look like a New York-style bagel. They’re the right size and height with the visual consistency of the bagels you’d find on the east coast. This shop has a fiercely loyal following…so much that I’m a bit nervous putting them this low on my list.

I found these bagels quite good, but they still aren’t as chewy or flavorful as others. Similar to Westman’s Bagels, these fade into the background with other ingredients, particularly after a few days.

8. Zylberschtein’s

website | neighborhood: Lake City | 11752 15th Ave NE | best for: bagel fixings

Zylberschtein’s looks exactly like the Jewish delis I’m accustomed to seeing all over the mid Atlantic area of the US. In addition to bagels you’ll find schmears, lox, pastrami, corned beef, and other Jewish-style delicacies. My absolute favorite item from this deli is the corned beef, which is extremely flavorful and perfect for a mid-week sandwich.

However, we’re here to talk about the bagels. Now we’re getting to the point in the best bagels in Seattle list where the consistency of the bagels are becoming very much like New York-style bagels. Zylberschtein’s are both chewy and soft, giving you that bounce back as you chew that’s customary in traditional bagels. However, I thought it was a bit too chewy and hurt my jaw a bit.

That being said, the bagel that surprised me the most was its everything bagel. It accidentally ended up in our order and I was so thankful it did. I’ve noticed a lot of everything bagels in Seattle are pretty subdued and don’t include garlic, but this bagel slaps you in the face with it.

I picked up a crumb and ate it while shooting these bagels and literally said, “Holy shit,”. It was a piece of garlic and was so intense, almost burnt, which reminded me of my dad because he has this magical way of breaking the rule of “don’t burn garlic” and making it taste unbelievable. By itself that garlic piece was unpleasant, but on the bagel it makes for an extremely flavorful everything bagel.

7. Blazing Bagels

website | neighborhood: various | best for: interesting flavors

This Seattle bagel shop is your best bet if you love wild-flavored bagels. It’s the only one I’ve found to have truly interesting options, and a lot of them. For example, in addition to your regulars like plain or poppy, you’ll find flavors like snickerdoodle, French toast, jalapeño, bacon, cheddar, and pizza. I am definitely more of a savory person than sweet, so imagine my surprise when I admitted to myself my favorite bagel was the snickerdoodle!

Let’s get down to details on how Blazing Bagels compares to the other best bagels in Seattle. These are by far the largest of the bunch. They’re chewy like you want in a bagel, but they’re denser than your traditional New York-style bagel and aren’t as yeasty in flavor.

In full disclosure, purists will rank them lower than Bagel Oasis on this list, and the east coaster in me wants to. However, the yummy flavors make up for it’s nontraditional texture because I miss the bagel shops in Jersey with similar offerings.

6. Loxsmith Bagels

website | neighborhood: Georgetown | 515 S Michigan St | best for: Taylor ham and lox

It took me a while to try Loxsmith because they started as a pop-up and stopped serving during the pandemic. However, they’re just about ready to open their own store front and, in the meantime, have set up shop inside Harry’s Fine Foods on the weekends. It’s the perfect way to start your day before going on a Georgetown self-guided food tour.

Owner Matthew Segal used to work at a sushi restaurant, and so it’s no wonder he’s obsessed with perfecting lox. His ability to make thinly-sliced, flavorful fish reminds me of the delis back east. Plus this is the only place I’ve found that serves my beloved Taylor ham, egg, and cheese sandwich that is prolific in New Jersey.

Bagel wise, these are quite good, truly New York-style bagels. However, the batch I received was a bit dense, almost like you’d get the next day. I have a feeling it was bad luck and if I’d gone as soon as they opened, I’d get the fresh version.

Still, even though the consistency lost it a few ranks on this list, the fact that they’re still in the top rankings is telling that they know what they’re doing when it comes to making bagels.

5. Toasted Bagels & Coffee

website | neighborhoods: U-District, South Lake Union, & Bellevue | best for: Sandwiches with Mediterranean flare

Toasted is a newcomer to the Seattle bagel scene and it’s grown prolifically only a few years since first opening. It was started by Jaafar Altameemi and Murat Akyuz, two friends who came up with the idea of a bagel shop while attending business school at the University of Washington. They wanted to reflect their Iraqi, Egyptian, and Turkish backgrounds in a more fast-casual, health-conscious menu. The result? Some of the best bagels in Seattle that do a little something different than the others on this list.

The bagels themselves are fat orbs reminiscent of New York style, but with a less pronounced yeast flavor and higher density. Toasted also doesn’t bat an eyelash at the idea of actually toasting the bagel. In fact, they encourage it on some of their options. Purists will balk, but since Toasted cares more about the bagel as a vessel for a sandwich, it works to hold the integrity of all the toppings.

You can get bagels served with traditional flavors like schmears and lox, but you should prioritize the Mediterranean toppings Toasted offers. They make it easy because you can order a flight of 4 open-faced sandwiches.

I thought the lox would be my favorite since that’s one of my go-to orders, but I found it overwhelmed by watery cucumbers, tomato, and way too many pickled red onions. My actual favorite savory option is the Smoked ‘Cado, a play on an avocado toast with feta and way less pickled onions. But what really surprised me is how much I loved the sweet options. Don’t skip the Date & Labneh option. It’s nutty, sweet, and tangy.

Pro tip: Toasted also makes a mean OG chai.

4. Mt. Bagel

website | neighborhood: Madison Valley | 801 26th Ave E | best for: NY-style flavor

Mt. Bagel opened in Seattle to a ton of fan fare, which made it impossible to snag their New York-style bagels. The owner left Seattle for a few years, devastating the masses when he closed up shop. However, he’s back with a brick and mortar and more inventory so his bagels are easier to get (though they still run out).

These bagels are similar to the other New York-style bagels on this list in that it’s spongey and yeasty. However, I’d say the flavor is more yeasty than others and lacks that quintessential NY-style chew. However, this is splitting hairs, as Mt. Bagel is making an exceptional version of these rounds.

3. Rachel’s Bagels & Burritos

website | neighborhood: Ballard | 5451 Leary Ave NW | best for: New York-style bagels

Rachel’s Bagels & Burritos (previously known as Porkchop & Co.) is known for having one of the best brunches in Seattle, but I’d say their bagels specifically are the star.

They are thick and chewy like a New York-style bagel should be. They also had great yeasty flavor. You’ll find mostly traditional flavors, but the za’atar one is an absolute revelation. Make sure to order this one.

2. Backyard Bagel

website | neighborhood: Fremont | 4310 Fremont Ave N | best for: New York-style bagels

I remember trying Backyard Bagel when they were still called Aaron’s Bagels and slinging out of the Ballard Farmers Market. So I’m happy to see they’ve grown to have a brick & mortar in Fremont so they can dole out their chewy, yeasty orbs of goodness.

Backyard Bagel makes their bagels fresh every morning, so they don’t even have a toaster. You can get all the classics like everything, poppy, plain, and sesame alongside a few alternative flavors like jalapeño cheddar. They also have creative schmears, including scallion, lox, caper dill, and even strawberry rhubarb. Or you can get your bagel as a sandwich with tuna, lox, and avo (though sadly no taylor ham, egg, and cheese).

Hailing from New Jersey originally, I seek out NY-style bagels that are the right balance of chewy, but not too soft or hard. Backyard’s bagels are right in the appropriate area of the spectrum and their schmears are good quality. If you’re craving a NY-style bagel, they’re making one of the top 5 in the city for sure.

1. Rubinstein Bagel

website | neighborhood: South Lake Union, Capitol Hill, Eastlake, Redmond (get directions) | best for: authentic New York-style bagels

Drum roll…Rubinstein has hands down the best bagels in Seattle. These are the classic, OG New York-style flavor and texture I’m accustomed to. Making the perfect bagel is a true art of being able to find that balance on the spectrum where you taste yeast, but it’s not so yeasty it tastes like raw dough. It should be chewy, but not so much your jaw hurts. While a few people have DMed me saying they find Rubinstein’s too chewy, I’d say they’re the closest I’ve seen in Seattle to an authentic New York-style bagel.

If you are looking for the best bagel in Seattle, Rubinstein is definitely it. They’ve become my go-to restaurant in Seattle for those addictive yeasty orbs. When you give them a try, I’m sure they’ll become your go-to as well.

Seattle bagel I still need to try

There are a few more bagel shop I know of that I haven’t had a chance to try.

• Hey Bagel – U-Village spot owned by ex-owner of Rubinstein’s
• Macrina Bakery – Known for sourdough bagels
• Alexandra Macarons – Sweets shop that I heard makes a good bagel
• Little Lago – Cafe Lago’s grocery store that makes bagels
• Oxbow – Montlake bagel shop from Sea Wolf Bakers

More ways to get your carb fix

If you like bagels, I’m going to take a gamble and assume you are like me and love the carb life. Here are some of my other favorite carbs.

• Where to Find the Best Pizza in Seattle
• The Best Pasta in Seattle
• Pasta with Romanesco Veggie Meatballs Recipe
• Stuffed Shells with Smoked Salmon
• Easy Oven Risotto With Corn Pesto