This is not the bagel that garnered national acclaim any longer. It is now a refrigerator aisle bagel. We ordered a half dozen plain bagels and the pink label cream cheese. The bagels were pale with uneven color that edged into greenish brown in places. When you bit in, there was no crust to speak of. It gave way to an interior that was chewy but not in the classic bagel sense of low moisture dough. Rather, it was enriched with oil or some kind of conditioner like the kind used in grocery store bagels so they stay fresh for longer. The bagel's one virtue was its flavor: it had a strong malty taste like a classic NYC recipe. The "pink label" cream cheese, however, was delightful. It had a rich flavor -- like a spoonful of yogurt, as opposed to milk -- but the effect was subtle and not overly tangy. They were the best freezer bagels I've ever had, but in the future I'll put their schmear on a fresh dozen from somewhere else. read more

If the NYT says this is one of the best bagels around, you gotta try it. The hubby and I visited Berkeley for a concert and picked up bagels before heading back home. My favorite bagel in NY is an egg everything with scallion so I ordered an eggything with chive. Glad I did because the egg and egg everything bagels were being discontinued the week after I left so the lady helping us encouraged us to buy in bulk. The bagel was delightful and chewy and the chive cream cheese was tangy and flavorful. We brought back half a dozen eggything bagels to freeze and savor on the weekends. If you're in Berkeley or the Bay Area, make a stop to check out the town and grab a bagel. read more

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Boichik Bagels makes a darn good bagel. I don't think it's perfect. I'm not sure if it's even the best one in the area. Poppy's is nearby and I haven't yet endured the line there. The lines here aren't as bad as they used to be so I was able to drop in around 10 AM on a Friday morning with no wait. Today I had a sesame seed bagel toasted with plain cream cheese. It was delicious, with a nice texture and not crazy expensive at $6.25. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's not a ton of seating, but there are four stools inside and two tables out front.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, I can highly recommend this place. Boichik Bagels, they're consistently satisfying. read more

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Fluffy chewy bagels, fresh crunchy veggies, and vegan chive cream cheese, what's not to like? Glad I finally got to try Boichik and had no complaints. Busy on a weekend but efficient / worth the wait! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not a whole lot of seating inside or outside so would recommend grab and go.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Boichik Bagels - Vegan bagel sandwich (make your own) with onion bagel - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I came close to close on a Sunday! No wait and there was still a good amount of variety available. I was greeted with super friendly staff and was in and out within 5 minutes. Perfect amount of spread, very satisfied with my bagel. read more

Boichik Bagels - Salt Bagel w/ Chive Cream Cheese - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Loved the classic bagel w lox n cream cheese. It was loaded with so much more. I had to save half for later until my mom wanted it. Now I gotta go back. read more

Boichik Bagels - Delicious loaded classic lox n cream cheese bagel - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am such a big fan of lox bagels, and Boichik gets it right. Thick slices of salmon, crunchy red onions, juicy tomato slices, and lots of schmear made for a perfect classic sandwich. I work around the area so I frequent here often, and sometimes I can't get a near $20 sandwich all the time, so I just get a bagel with lox spread and add red onions and cucumber and it still is so good. (That runs for less, like $10-12 I think.) Great spot for some solid bagel sandwiches and good spreads, I haven't tried the coffee here but I bet it's just as good. Great people working inside too! read more

Boichik Bagels - The Classic - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

The service was quick and delicious! I got a choco malt coffee as well as an eggything (egg bagel with everything seasoning) bagel with cream cheese! read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagel, Choco Malt Coffee - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

I happily paid $17 for the Classic: an everything bagel with lox, capers, cream cheese, red onion and heirloom tomatoes. Outstanding!

I really wanted to love this place. After all the hype I'd heard, I was excited to finally try the bagels. I ordered The Mensch, and... it was super salty. Like, had-to-stop-halfway salty. The bagel itself was solid, but the sandwich was overwhelming. My partner went with a vegan option, which was better, but still didn't leave much of an impression. That said, the service was great: friendly, quick, and helpful. But it's definitely on the pricey side, and honestly, the quality didn't quite match the cost. I might be back to try a plain bagel or something simpler, but next time I'll lower the expectations a bit. read more

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GET HERE EARLY. It gets busy, and they sell out of some popular bagels pretty quickly! That's a testament to this stalwart of a bagel establishment, of course! I have never talked about the "eatability" of a bagel sandwich, but I think usually, it's harder to bite through both halves of a bagel for a sandwich. This? It's not the same. It's a tender bagel, and it's absolutely delicious. I got one with lox, cream cheese, and onions (amongst other things), and I was reveling in the taste. The bagel was nothing but tasty and the ratios were on point. I'm not a bagel expert, but this was up there with the best places I've ever had. Simple, delicious food deserves high praise. If you can make little taste like a LOT, then you've done some magic! Come to Boichik and get literally anything that looks good. I promise, you won't be disappointed. read more

Boichik Bagels on College Ave near Rockridge has become my go-to spot for real New York-style bagels in the Bay Area. The bagels are exactly what you'd hope for--crisp on the outside, chewy on the inside, and always fresh. I've tried both the plain and everything bagels, and both were excellent. What really stood out for me, though, was the strawberry cream cheese. It's seasonal, so not always available, but if you see it, definitely order it. It's so light and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness--by far my favorite. I also tried the salmon lox sandwich, and it was just as impressive. The salmon was fresh and paired perfectly with cream cheese, capers, and red onions. Simple but balanced and satisfying. That said, the service wasn't great. There was an older lady taking my order, and honestly, she didn't seem happy to be there. She wasn't rude exactly, but she came across as unfriendly and condescending, like she didn't want to be helping customers. It took away a bit from the overall experience, which was disappointing. The coffee was also a miss. It was very acidic and just not enjoyable at all. Definitely not something I'd order again. Despite the service and the coffee, the quality of the bagels themselves makes this place worth visiting. Boichik nails the classic NY bagel texture and flavor. I'll keep coming back for the bagels--especially when that seasonal strawberry cream cheese is available. read more

Boichik Bagels - Inside - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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One of the best bagel shops in the Bay Area! Nice selection of flavors, including pumpernickel choices. Always chewy insides and lovely outside texture. Buy a dozen and you get one free! These freeze well, and toasting brings back the great texture. read more

Got the lox bagel and it was so yummy, only note is that it can be kind of messy but overall so yummy read more

Boichik Bagels - Classic - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Quite good! Not life-changing, but I thought it was worth the price. I ordered online and good an everything bagel with hatch cream cheese, lox, cucumber, red onion, and avocado. If you think about it, most deli sandwiches are $10-15, and if you count an upgrade with avo, the bagel sandwich was worth the almost-$20 price. I'd order again. read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Looking for a bagel spot, although Noah's bagel was closer to me, I was looking around and came across Boichik Bagels. I have bought them at grocery stores in frozen dept, but going to a brick and mortar, it has to be a must for me to check out. Got a lox & cream cheese on an everything bagel and a whitefish & cream cheese on an everything eggy bagel. The place does get busy and the staff were pretty efficient. The bagels are very good flavorful and you can taste the quality. For me I wouldn't make it go all time, but if I'm looking a quality bagel then Boichik is the place. read more

Excellent fresh, chewy, perfect bagels. Efficient and polite service. Highly recommended!

Wow~ This place has the best bagels I have ever had and it does not disappoint. We got the garlic bagel with garlic and herb spread and it's delectably soft and scrumptious read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Great spot to quickly grab a bagel. I do prefer the Palo Alto location, but this is still a solid option. I ordered the smoked salmon bagel--while good overall, the bagel was a bit firm and the salmon quality was slightly inconsistent, with some tougher pieces. They're very generous with the cream cheese (worth noting if you're picky about ratios). [[HIGHLIGHT]]Best for a quick grab-and-go rather than sitting and staying awhile--adding more seating would really elevate the space.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Finally had the chance to stop by here after hearing about it for a few years. By far the best bagel I've had in the Bay Area so far. My girlfriend and I stopped by here for breakfast to eat away our feelings after yesterday's election. We arrived around 9:15 at the College Ave location. The shop itself is a takeout operation. Your order is taken by an employee up front and then you wait outside for your items. For breakfast today, my girlfriend and I both got a garlic bagel, with Hatch Chili Spread, Onions and Cucumbers. We waited about 10 minutes for our food to come out which gave us enough time to go the Peet's across the street to get coffee. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There are no tables at this restaurant so it's definitely more of a grab and go situation.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We decided to enjoy our bagels back in the comfort of our home. Now , let's talk about what this place is really about - the bagels. The garlic bagel was perfection - the bagel itself was airy but also had the right amount of chew. The exterior was also perfectly crispy which was a nice contrast for the soft interior. The garlic on the bagel had a perfect roast toasty flavor that I thoroughly enjoyed. On top of the bagel being spectacular - the hatch chili spread was delightful. It was creamy and had whipped in texture it worked really well in the overall eating experience. All in all, I definitely get the hype behind Boichik bagels now. Given the quality of the bagels, and the price that they are at, I would highly recommend anyone stopping by here. Next time, I'll surely be getting a few to go. read more

Boichik Bagels - Garlic Bagel with Hatch Chili Spreas , cucumber and onions - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

A Berkeley staple! Delish bagel sandwiches. Come early before they run out of egg and everything bagels. The best NorCal bagel I've had but doesn't come close to east coast bagels. A tad bit pricey for a bagel, but worth the splurge once in a while. Lox is great and so are all the fresh veggies! read more

Boichik Bagels - Everything with tomato, cream cheese, capers - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

This place is great, and their prices are reasonable compared to others located in surrounding trendy areas such as Temescal. They are consistently good, quick and efficient and always friendly. Plus, they deal with their food in a sanitary manner compared to some other bagel places...well done and delicious! read more

Good bagel, not sure if it's worth the hype, but it was good. Dense but not hard. I got tomato and cream cheese on an everything. You can now order off of doordash and not have to wait in line. read more

First I'm from Massachusetts and love Emily's story and appreciate that it is an authentic bagel. I moved here 3 years ago and I chuckle when I see the signs stating " New York Bagels" uhmmm no they're not because of the water. Anyway Boichik fixed my problem and the smears are also delicious. Are the sandwiches a bit pricey yup they are but please don't complain to me about this with a $7.00 plus tax and tip coffee in your hand which they may have used Kirkland brand (Costco for those who don't know) cream/milk etc and described it as something extraordinary because Boichik is extraordinary. Bonus women owned, great staff and real bagels. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The store is clean and bright too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

My favorite bagel place by far. Unfortunately, the line and wait can get really long, but it's worth it. I ordered ahead of time my first time and got the smoked salmon bagel sandwich aka the Lox bagel. You can never go wrong with that. It was so filling and flavorful! Went here again another time to take my sister and she loved it! She got the lox bagel where there was a spicy addition to it. This will be a spot I will come again in the future to take others! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The Ambiance was great where it felt homie, but modern like![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Having gone to NYC during the summer, I was craving a good bagel. I've heard a lot about Boichik bagels and thrilled to know there's a few around the bay. The one we visited was on College Ave which is a great walkable area around Berkeley. The line was about 10 people long, but it went by fast. There was a lovely elderly lady who was working in the front who was happy to answer any questions and was super helpful, who took the order via an iPad. We ordered three bagels and they were delicious with a crunch and softness at the same time. Had the plain on plain, plain with lox spread (wish there was more lox though) then one with cucumber and sun dried tomato spread. About $18 for all three. It met my craving for a bagel, but I still miss a good ole NYC bagel. read more

Boichik Bagels - Plain bagel lightly toasted with lox spread - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I appreciate a truly exceptional bagel, and I feel like there's only a few non-East coast spots here in the East Bay that truly nail it..one of those being Boichik Bagels on College Ave. ~ with their bagel factory also located in Berkeley (a fun treat to see if you're a fan), they're expanding throughout the Bay Area & beyond. A winner of many bagel accolades already, Boichik is uniquely special and a must if on a Bay Area bagel tour or just searching for that perfect morning crunch. With flavor highlights like the Pumpernickel, Poppy, Garlic, Eggything (Egg - Everything), Salt & Pepper, and more, you will be transcended back to the West Coast. Cream cheese wise, the Hatch Chile, Lox Spread, and Horseradish Cheddar Scallion are among favorites. They also offer whitefish/egg/tuna salad and build your own bagel sandwich options with all the veggie/lox combinations you can dream of. I have to say it's hard for me not to waiver from my Chive cream cheese and onion bagel combo, but always looking forward to my next Boichik experience. Service at any location is always on point and to note, they offer amazing local coffee from Mother Tongue and for funsies, Chocolate Malt Coffees. They offer Kite Hill vegan cream cheese/gluten free grab n go options & Lox you can purchase and take with you (not sure about all locations other than College Ave.) All in all you can beat the freshness, the quality of ingredients, and the speciality of Boichik in itself. This is the kind of place that makes you do a little happy dance after the first bite, enjoy your first (or millionth) time! read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Let me start by saying that I have a batch of Boichik bagels in my freezer. But I was on College Ave, enjoying the day and thought I'd grab a fresh out of the oven bagel. What a disappointment. No longer are they nice and firm/crisp on the outside and dense on the inside. They are now the equivalent of a Safeway bagel and have lost all the appeal that shot this bagel to the top of my charts over the past couple of years. I will savor the remaining Boichik's in my freezer and hope ownership looks at their expansion to see if MAYBE they expanded too far, too fast. IMO, their product has changed for the worse. Whether its because of their expansion has no relevance to me since I can't eat this version of a Boichik baegl. I will try them again and hope they revert back to the original version. read more

I purchased $50 worth of assorted bagels and cream cheese today. I specifically asked that the onion bagels be separated from the rest, and I saw the cashier note my request and prepare a separate bag. However, when my order was called, the onion bagels were not separated. I politely asked if they could be placed in a separate bag, but the preparer looked visibly unhappy with my request. I then asked for a bag, and again, the response did not feel welcoming. When I got home and inspected the order, I noticed that the onion bagels had been placed in a separate bag but it wasn't tied properly--the tie was just loosely placed. For a $50 purchase, I expected better care and service. Very disappointing experience. I'd much rather go to Poppy Bagels, where simple requests are met with good service and no attitude. read more

Pretty busy spot, but service is very quick! It's popular for a reason, bagels are amazing there and so chewy and tasteful. I got the garlic bagel which was more savory, but also tried the sweet bagels they have and they're both amazing! read more

Boichik Bagels - Garlic Bagel - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

I ordered the everything bagel with lox Schmear and cucumbers. I thought my bagel was OK. It was a little too salty for my liking and I got it toasted, but it wasn't as warm and crunchy as I hoped it would be. Service was quick, you order at a window and wait for your name to be called. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's nowhere to sit since it's just window service.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A lot of items on the menu had unfamiliar names so my suggestion would be to add a description of what everything is for patrons read more

Love love love a good bagel !! The line was a little long but they are gENEROUS with the filling and the texture of the bagels are so good! They have a lot of different combos and bagel options to choose from. I personally always love some lox on a bagel! Parking is not toooo bad, I think there's a safeway nearby with some spots. read more

Boichik Bagels - lox - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

I've been here a couple times before, and I hate to disappoint. If you came here after reading that Boichik is comparable to New York bagels, you might be let down. In comparison, Boichik is much more expensive and a lot smaller than what you'll find in New York. But, their bagels are still a solid option for California standards. They have a crust on the outside and a nice chewy interior. They're just more than $6 for a bagel with spread. We came on a Wednesday morning around 10:30 AM, and there was a short line but it moved fast. Service is great, everyone is so kind and friendly. I ordered the eggything bagel with lox spread on the side, and my friend ordered a plain bagel with lox spread. From coming here multiple times, the amount of cream cheese they give you definitely varies. I've also gotten their sandwiches before, and they're also decent, just not mind-blowing or worth the $$. Also pictured, La Farine baked goods! read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've had Boichik a couple times. Last weekend I went to their home shop and got a classic lox. I love lox and it was fresh, the service was fine, it was filling. But for me the bagel needed work. I ordered a salt bagel this time, and the salt was barely visible, making it look like a plain. That's fine, I prefer that over an over-salted bagel. But it was very pale, with the only color showing it had even seen an oven was underneath. In both my experiences Boichik bagels seem underbaked, although thankfully boiled. Bagels are hard to rate, they're a personal thing. I've had them all over the place from standard bearers in NYC and Montreal to cream-cheese overkill sandwiches in the Midwest and nerdy NYC replica bagels in the PNW. But these here just aren't for me. I like bagels to have bite, and I prefer when they're on the smaller side. Basically I want my bagels to be intense, chewy and conservatively sized. I want to finish and feel an urge to eat another bagel. Boichik bagels seem soft and oversized, and I feel like I need a break from bagels for awhile. read more

Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 12:00 Build Your Own ($3.00) with a poppy bagel, untoasted, pink-label cream cheese ($2.00), nova lox ($9.50), daikon sprouts ($0.50) and avocado ($2.00) - super fresh and tasty ingredients - bagel was dense and chewy but not hard - small portion of nova lox for the price Service: - I ordered to-go on Toast, and the staff handed me my order when it was ready Ambiance: - [[HIGHLIGHT]]no seating, and the cashier is outside[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] - [[HIGHLIGHT]]you can see them working in the bakery inside![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Best bagel outside New York! We came here bright and early to line up for their yummy lox. Be prepared ahead of time with your order because lines are long, and they do rush you a bit to have your order ready by the time you get to the counter. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wasn't a big fan of the waiting are (taking up the larger half of a very active sidewalk alongside a major street) but the bagels came out quick ![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Boichik Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

Hands down, the best bagel on the west coast -- and better than 95 percent of New York offerings Nothing comes close, and the service is friendly and efficient. read more

I was craaaving a lox bagel and finally decided to get one to satisfy my stomach! Ordered a classic sandwich (chive cream cheese, nova lox, tomato, onion, capers) on an everything bagel through the Toast app for pickup before lunch around 11AM. It was ready for me about 10 minutes after I placed the order. Parking can be difficult around that area but I got lucky and snagged a 24 minute parking spot around the corner. The classic sandwich is huge! I've tried lox bagels at other places before and they have pretty much all been smaller than this one. A chewy, toasted bagel with lots of seasoning on top, smothered with loads of cream cheese and topped with generous slices of salmon, tomato, onion, and capers. There is so much filling you can barely take a full bite without making a mess! It really hit the spot. I love how fresh the tomato was too. Pickup was super easy. There is a table at the entrance with a sign for pickup. Just ask staff if your order is ready and they hand it to you. You can also place takeout orders at the entrance too. They have a build-your-own sandwich option as well. Thinking about doing the classic but replacing the chive cream cheese with lox cream cheese. Maybe too much? Will have to see! But overall, so happy with the classic! read more

Boichik Bagels - Classic on Everything - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Like to come here because they make really good bagels. I think the cream cheese amount is a hit or miss, sometimes they give a good amount sometimes it's little Like to come here whenever I'm craving it read more

Boichik Bagels - Everything bagel with lox cream cheese - Bagels Near Me - Berkeley, California

I am really surprised and disappointed at the same time. Boichik bagels are not the thing they are made out to be. That, or a lot of people simply don't have much to compare with. They are slightly better than say Thomas's but are on par with whoever makes Trader Joe's. Berkeley Bagels and even Noah's are a better bite. While taste is a very subjective thing, bagels should have a consistency that is more objective. The exterior should be 'tough', chewy and the interior soft but not bready. I prefer a sour taste but really the consistency needs to be there. I encourage everyone to try and compare but Berkeley Bagels stands out, they also use paper bags which is a plus for me. read more