Golden Bagel Cafe

I've been coming here for months and seriously love getting the cinnamon roll and cinnamon roll…read morelatte! The latte itself is so tasty, it has a good balance of strong and sweetness. I get it every single time im here. I'd also recommend the Mexican iced chocolate latte. It's also strong yet sweetened to perfection. The service here is always good and the employees always greet you. I like to come here to study and just sit outside to take in the morning air. I love the view of cowles mountain as well. It's a great spot if you wanna study, they have free wifi if you purchase something so that's a plus. I recommend trying the cinnamon roll latte!

For a few years now, I've been buying my beans, five pounds at a time, from Brew Coffee Spot in La…read moreMesa. I like the roasting profile they use, and for a while, they've stocked a Costa Rica Sonora Black-Honey Natural that is just fantastic. Joe Paraiso, the owner, is a very experienced coffee purveyor, and he's been incredibly kind to me, sharing his time and knowledge to make sure I get what I want. And, not for nothing, when I'm at Brew Coffee Spot picking up the beans I ordered online, I always have a coffee. Joe either does a great job of training his baristas, or he's REALLY good at hiring talent, or both. Seriously... his folks make my coffees, usually a cortado or a straight espresso, with a downtown San Francisco or Rome level of competence.

See all

Avocado toast

Maria’s Coffee Shop

4.4(27 reviews)

0.4 mi

End of Feb 2026 update:…read more The drinks here are made with love and taste exquisite! Each barista I've experienced has been nice as well. The coconut cloud matcha is delicious! Can't get enough of those double chocolate muffins, so if they are all gone just know I ate them all

Made another quick little stop at this cute spot. Every time I go I'm blown away by how much…read morecozier this cute little spot gets! Trying out the mocha raspberry or raspberry mocha latte. They have a $4 special for a medium size after 3pm on Saturday (and during the week). Check out the picture - it's s as pretty drink! There's always some form of TLC put into anything you get here! Thanks for bringing a quick smile to my face on an otherwise chaotic Saturday! Ps they also have a punch card to add up to a free drink!

The preparation area

Mazapan coffee, spicy salsa, and their cheese & pepper tamale

See all

Large French Vanilla Iced Coffee

Marathon Coffee

4.9(68 reviews)

1.6 mi

10/10 I got a hot sf banana/sf vanilla latte and i must say it was amazing! super nice service as…read morewell :)

This coffee shop is seriously underrated and definitely slept on. The coffee was delicious and…read moreperfectly balanced, with just the right amount of sweetness while still letting the flavor of the coffee come through. The gentleman there, who I believe may be the owner, was incredibly kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. You can tell there's real care put into both the coffee and the service. Definitely a hidden gem and a place worth checking out. I'll absolutely be coming back!

Iced Coffee

Inside

See all

Iced oatmilk matcha latte

Caffe Calabria Coffee Cart

4.4(17 reviews)

1.5 mi

Another 5 star This little Coffee place right outside the…read moremain hospital entrance is great ! I tried the Cafe Viennese today and it was delicious ! Just the right temp for a hot drink ! I can't wait to see what I will try next time !

I came here while visiting my sister in the hospital. It's a really cute coffee shop located…read morearound the corner from the main entrance. They have really large selection of drinks and menu items, and they are super friendly. Lawrence was wonderful! I had a salted caramel latte one day and a Mocha Blanco another and both were great!

Pastry Bar

See all

Trinitea Tea

4.2(502 reviews)

0.5 mi•San Carlos

Great service, friendly and quick! Good place to work on a very hot day when I don't have A/C at…read morehome. No one minded if I sat there for 3 hours. Note: I would leave in a reasonable amount of time if space got tight, but early in the day it did not. The tea is good; I tried lots on the menu before settling on the regular milk tea. Bathroom is good! Especially after all that tea ;-) I like this place.

I arrived at Trinitea Tea right when they opened to get some work done on my laptop. There was…read morealready a pair of customers at the register, so I used the restroom before ordering and settling in. The restroom was fairly clean and spacious. Afterward, I was greeted by the employee and ordered a taro milk tea with honey boba. I've been to this location a few times before and have always liked the chewiness and sweetness of their boba. I figured coming right at opening would mean I'd get the freshest batch, but that wasn't the case this time. The boba was mushy and not bouncy at all. It felt like it had been sitting for a while, possibly from the night before and kept warm. Considering boba is an extra $0.75, it was disappointing and didn't feel worth the add-on. Taro milk tea ($4.59 + 0.75 for boba) The milk tea itself was standard. It tasted like a typical taro milk tea made from a powdered mix. There were still some powder clumps at the bottom, but it wasn't a huge deal. A quick stir helped, and the flavor itself was fine. Service and ambiance The employee was very kind, and the ordering process was quick and smooth. I got my drink pretty fast. There's free WiFi, plenty of open tables, and outlets at some of them, which makes it a good spot to work or stay for a while. Music was playing overhead, but at a level where it was not distracting.

Counter

Royal Milk Tea w/ honey boba & Thai Tea w/honey boba & rainbow jelly

See all

Taro milk tea

R&B Tea

4.2(118 reviews)

0.3 mi•San Carlos

This is my go to drink spot in my area. I love the stormy drinks, boba and many others. I recommend…read morethe honeydew stormy. It is so refreshing! They have some space to work and hang out. A couple of claw machines and a Pokémon card machine that I won a Charzard X box one time.

Recently have been getting a tea rather than a boba milk. The mango dragonfruit green tea is my go…read moreto! I remove the dragon fruit bits just because I don't enjoy the squishiness. I do add lychee jelly! It adds a bit more sweetness. The workers are always friendly and happy to help. I usually order in the kiosk for easier ordering. If you do need to make modifications you have to order with the workers. There are lots of people who stay and study or play games. Definitely a great spot if you're looking to hangout with friends.

Dragonfruit Mango Green Tea

Brown Sugar Boba Milk

See all

Jasmine Green Milk Tea with Boba Roasted Oolong Tea with Cheese Cream and Grass Jelly

Paula Jean's Coffee Bean

4.6(5 reviews)

1.5 mi

I picked up a hot matcha latte when visiting a friend in the hospital from this small coffee kiosk…read more I asked for no sugar nor syrup, but with a touch of honey to cut some of the bitterness of the matcha. The matcha latte was very good. They did not have much baked goods when I visited, so I was unable to try one the scones that they carry. The coffee kiosk is located in the lobby of the building. The lady at the counter was friendly.

This coffee stand was right as you walk in front lobby and Elevators. They are busy making coffee…read moreFancy latte, they have all the coffee drinks fresh brew and coffee beans to buy. I saw a cute coffee cup there. Who needs another coffee cup But it had a good handle not heavy but just right After my appointment I waited, to let the employee's go and I ordered a Earl Grey tea I payed cash and tip. They a small compact area with lots of Snacks, some fresh muffins, teas drinks soda waters different drinks in fridge They were very pleasant and kind too they are working here! Paula Jean's has this coffee bean It's on the go.

Earl Grey 10/2/25

See all

Stewart's Coffee

5.0(2 reviews)

1.2 mi

Excellent coffee and great service! This place serves of the best coffees I have ever tasted and…read morethe guy who serves you is very chill

This place is a little coffee cart inside the medical center and I love it!!! I took my grandma to…read moreher Dr's appointment there and decided to get some coffee, since it smelled really good and it was to early in he morning for me. OMG they have the best Mocha's, I have been back 3 times already just for the mocha. After having their Mocha's I thought Starbucks sucks!!!! Made me wonder how many other little mom and pop places serve better stuff than the big companies. So anyways if you are ever in the la mesa area and want the best Mocha in San Diego go there. They are off Fletcher Parkway right before the Alberstons in the Sharp Medical office's main lobby. I recommend it.

Peet's Coffee

2.5(8 reviews)

1.1 mi

So glad my favorite barista Kelly is back, always make my coffee right plus is just a pleasure to…read morespeak with if she has a moment. Loving the espresso here more and more as I just want to cut carbs and still get my caffeine fix. Definitely better than other coffee shops (ehh Starbucks) as it's not bitter but rich and creamy. I frequent here any day I have class, and mind you it's not the only place to get coffee on campus or close by but the coffee is far better then the other locations. They do have pastries that are brought in from a local bakery and of course bottled water, sodas, snacks, etc... that are produced on campus(some of the snacks that is). Lines can get long especially during mid-terms and finals week. We all need that jolt of caffiene to stay awake for the long study sessions or 12hr days on campus like today for me. Definitely recommend stopping by and having a cup of coffee. Try it black or just a shot of espresso and get that kick you need with little to no carbs.

I generally go here for a quick drink before classes. Always overpriced on water. Today the blonde…read moreolder woman got upset and yelled at me when I asked how much the smaller was because the large water was over 5$. Only one other person in line. I walked out and left. If you need water go to book store it's cheaper anyways

Insane amount of caramel in this caramel macchiato. Yuck! C'est horrible.

Medium sized cup, Iced Caramel Macchiato

See all

In class warm up

Gold Coast Bagel

4.2(416 reviews)

2.1 mi

Ya'll...stop what you're doing and get yourself a big ole yummy muffin or a bagel or do what I did…read moreand got both! Ha! This place is the REAL deal- bomb bagels, sandwiches and big homemade muffins to die for, and hot or cold coffee! Yes please!! This place tends to be busy especially in the mornings but rightly so! I got an egg n bacon sandwich on a cheese jalepeño bagel with their chipotle cream cheese on the side- bomb! Their cream cheese on the side was a bit pricey but worth it! I also ordered a pistachio iced coffee with oat milk- so heavenly! I came here after a hike and it was the perfect treat! Staff are nice and attentive- there's two registers because they get busy so that was nice- ppl order quickly. They also have a nice seating area inside or outside- very chill place to hang and eat. Especially if you bring a pup- outside seating is nice. They also have fresh orange juice that my friend got and dang- had I know I would have ordered one too! I tasted it and sooo yummy. Prices are decent but again- worth it. I'll be back again and again!

I wanted to try a fresh bagel place, and Gold Coast Bagel did not disappoint. They had a huge…read moreselection of different flavored bagels. I had the blueberry bagel with cream cheese, and it was so soft I melted into every bite. I usually prefer to spread my own cream cheese, but they put a generous amount. The bagel wasn't as blueberry flavored as I would have liked, but you could still taste the blueberry. The staff looked happy to be there and walked us through the different cream cheese flavor options. The seating was open, and they also had tables outside to enjoy the sun.

Bagel with Lox Cream Cheese

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

20 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Will M.

12 years ago

This place used to be really good. My wife & I haven't been in a while, so we went today remembering the good times & then we remembered why we haven't been in a while. The service is so so... not necessarily bad, but kind of like they jusy don't want to be there. The older lady in the back that sometimes comes to the front to bark at the other employees is a little gruff. The bagels are soft & doughy... no crispness at all or any texture. I got the ham & cheese bagel melt... the ham was luke warm & the "freshly" melted cheese was rubbery. Didn't really taste like anything. My wife got the lox & bagel... very bland & everything just slid right off as you tried to pick it up. If all that wasn't reason enough to not come back, then this is... the prices are highway robbery! All we got were the ham & cheese bagel melt & the lox & bagels (went next door to Starbucks for the drinks) & it was $17.50!!! Save yourself the disappointment & go the the Einstein Bagels down the street! read more

Rose R.

18 years ago

(Not to be confused with Gold Coast Bagels, which is like two blocks away, ROFL) The characters: My boyfriend and I, both craving bagels. The setting: We were on a skateboard with our dog on Navajo. The conflict: We both needed to eat in a hurry so that we could catch the bus. The solution: BAGELS We ordered, it got there super fast. We both go veggie bagels which were deliciously packed with avacado slices, cream cheese, sprouts, lettuce, tomato, and cheese... maybe a little bit more but you get the gist. I would highly recommend this place, for real. read more

andrew s.

15 years ago

The Golden Bagel is one of my favorite morning stops before heading off to work. I love their bagels when they come out fresh from the oven (yum!). I usually wash my bagel down with a large cup of their fresh brewed coffee, which isn't half bad. This is one of those spots that you will keep coming back to even though it's not gourmet. It's just good and they do it right. You'll always get service with a smile, and that makes it special. PS - prices aren't bad at all (great value for your buck). read more

Brendan P.

1 year ago

I come to this bagel cafe regularly and they do a great job. The food is tasty and reasonably priced. It's best to pay with cash because you get a discount. They have a great selection of food and the staff is friendly and courteous. It's better to support a mom and pop store like this one instead of a big chain like Starbucks. I highly recommend this bagel cafe! read more

Scott M.

3 years ago

Terrible food. Ordered their egg and cheese bagel, the cheese was still frozen and eggs looked like they've seen better days. It looked so disgusting that I gave it back to them and didn't even ask for my money back. Just walked out. Never will I ever come here again. I advise everyone don't bother with this place. P.s. I'm sure the guy spit in the food as well. read more

Barb W.

4 years ago

I waited and waited in line while the owner talked to the person ahead of me. She didn't care that there was a line behind him. She went on about how she hated the whole neighborhood, like it was disgusting. Fletcher Hills & San Carlos. Not a great idea for a local business to bad mouth their customers. Will not be back. read more

Suzan Z.

2 years ago

Amazing food still number one to go to for lunch on Fletcher Parkway El Cajon I ordered the focaccia sandwich with chicken wrap and it was so delicious and fresh. We ate it all the stuff very friendly and the place is very clean ,until I go to them again. Can't wait.1 read more

Grace Z.

1 year ago

I went to Golden bagel and got myself a veggie sandwich on jalapeño bagel right on point with an açai bawl much needed for this summer and a Avocado tomato melt for my Mom the service was perfect. The place was clean and cool. The food was tasty. read more

Kylie S.

9 years ago

Great atmosphere. Nice staff. Super yummy food. Love the smoothies. I'm weird about textures and the smoothies are good. I opted for simple chocolate chip bagel and cream cheese, but I saw people get some bad ass bagel breakfast sandwiches. read more

Elisa M.

9 years ago

Good bagels and sandwiches. For some reason, they don't have their prices on the menu board inside, so definitely look at the one on their website or paper copies if you want to know what it'll cost before ordering! read more

Joan H.

10 years ago

Not only is their breakfast delicious but the Sante Fe Chicken Sandwich is the best sandwich around San Carlos! The people and service are great and the eating area outside is a neighborhood spot to hang out. read more

LEN H.

18 years ago

i have eaten bialeys from chicago, new york and san diego. the finest without any doubt are those baked at golden bagel on fletcher parkway. always crisp with a soft and delicious inside. read more

Soraya g.

17 years ago

Im getting hungry just writing this review, but their sesame bagels, and theior selection of toppers is very good, and satisfying. I also love their cofee because its strong tasting. read more

Rhys K.

9 years ago

Highly recommended bagel place for a quick bite, elegant seating located right next to a coffee shop, Compares service and taste to the bigger bagel franchise stores or even better. read more

Frank Z.

4 years ago

I love this place the staff is super friendly and the menu is great . I ordered the golden works and I recommend it to everyone. read more

Golden Bagel

1 year ago

I love this place the staff is super friendly and the menu is great . I ordered the golden works and I recommend it read more

christen f.

8 years ago

Food was great and staff was very friendly. Perfect amount of food if you need a small breakfast bite.

Paul M.

5 years ago

Wow so overpriced. no thanks. Never coming back

jeremy c.

10 years ago

The manager is very rude. Steer clear.

Bre R.

15 years ago

Mmm, mmm, mmm!

Golden Bagel Cafe - bagels - Updated October 2026

People who viewed Golden Bagel Cafe also viewed

Memo's Bagel Cafe

4.3

(333 reviews)

This place is so AWESOME I have been coming here for a few years now!! The customer service is…read moreamazing and the bagels are to die for and the matcha is amazing! Definitely recommend to check it out

I love memos!! Best bagels! I got the mixed berry smoothie and it was very creamy! The sandwiches…read moreare amazing

Donut Bros

4.5

(140 reviews)

JC picked carefully the donuts we wanted. He told us that this Nice place opened up in 2016…read more That means a 10 year anniversary is coming up! Today it's 95° outside and we are cooling off in here the air-conditioning is going strong We had donuts and fresh hot coffee. They also have four kinds of tea, hot cocoa, and apple juice, Coke, and many other drinks. They also have turkey avocado, bagel melts, and 10 other breakfast sandwich choices We will be back soon for lunch.

I was in the mood for donuts. So we looked up a place near to where we were at the time. We decided…read moreto go here. The cashier was very friendly and greeted us with a smile. It's a small inside with one table and a few high top tables. I got a bear claw for later and an everything bagel as well. I was really disappointed in the bagel. I would say it took about 10 minutes to get my bagel with cream cheese. I wouldn't actually mind if the bagel was really good. I was a bit disappointed in it because it tasted like a store bought packaged bagel. The bear claw was decent. I didn't realize it was a filled with apple filling. That was ok I just didn't know. I do not see me coming back but the donuts did look good all in all.

The Trails Eatery

4.2

(2k reviews)

Came with a large group of people (20 or so). The restaurant was very accommodating and extremely…read morefriendly. Acoustics are a little tough for this large group, but we had a real blast. The service did an excellent job and getting everyone their meal in a surprisingly fast fashion. I had the breakfast hash, which was perfect for a very hot Saturday morning brunch. It was accompanied by a Carmel mocha latte, but I didn't really taste the caramel. Excellent meeting place.

First and foremost I want to say the staff here was very kind and amazing but looked like they were…read moretrying to keep up to the lack of staff for the amount of people they were serving . THE GRUB : let's just get to it, the French toast had fresh berries, lemon cream, and whipped cream and bread the size of a half loaf was amazing, along with the omelettes and the scrambled eggs, bacon, and potatoes. Even the kids French toast was amazing , Great food from the cooks. 5/5 for all menu items. The only less-than-average item was the dry, safari-desert biscuit in the shape of a muffin. Clever packaging just not practical or savory. But the service lacked what I expected for this place. The inability to get simple things, such as refills on my drinks, napkins, syrup, or jelly, was frustrating, as it only seemed like there was one person up front, one waiter, and one waitress to serve the many people in the dining room. It was hard to get a hold of somebody when I wanted something as simple as those items.i totally blame management and ownership for this particular issue, as the staff when contacted was very cultural and quick to return to the table however because I couldn't get all of the items to make my breakfast the best it could be 3/5 stars . Overall, 4/5 stars for leaving the family with a bone-dry drinking cup and going home as thirsty as I showed up. BTW I'm still waiting for jelly for that bone dry biscuit that I asked for 4 minutes after getting my food..

Cajon Pass Deli

4.7

(267 reviews)

Just moved here and was craving a comfort sandwich. You guys..... Chef kiss. Such a cool menu and…read morelove all of the homemade salad options. Will be back for sure!

Hands down, this is one of my absolute favorite deli spots. It's a small mom-and-pop place, but you…read morecan literally feel the love when you walk through the door. The customer service is always friendly, welcoming, and genuine -- the kind of neighborhood energy you just don't get everywhere anymore. It's not a huge space inside and the decor is a little outdated, but honestly that's part of the charm. This is a small business with a BIG impact, and the community clearly supports them because the food quality speaks for itself -- everything is fresh. My go-to order is the Big Chomp on a lettuce wrap when I'm trying to cut carbs but still want to be full. They split open a head of crisp iceberg lettuce and pack it with meats like turkey and beef, plus all the sandwich veggies -- onions, tomatoes, pickles -- and whatever condiments you want. It's crunchy, refreshing, and so satisfying that you honestly don't even miss the bread. Now when I'm extra hungry, their breads are fresh and the sandwiches are top-notch across the board. You really can't go wrong. Just a heads up -- they close at 3 PM daily, so if you're not there by then, you'll have to catch them another day. You can call ahead or stop in, but either way you won't be disappointed. PSA: Don't forget to grab a sandwich punch card. Rack up those punches and you'll earn a free sandwich. Thank me later

Donut Bros

4.2

(23 reviews)

The best donuts I've ever had. Super fluffy and spongy! The chocolate was very light and not…read moreoverwhelming.

12/23/2025 - My first time here. They charge 50 cents if you use a credit card or debit card. I…read moretook 1 star away for that. No need to pass charges off to consumers where you can write those off in your taxes. Total of 4 stars. Paid a little over $5 for three donuts. An old fashioned chocolate, a glazed and a cream filled donut. I tried a bite of each and I was impressed. Fresh, soft and tasty. Inside there was no where really to hang. 2 small tables. One table had no chairs and the other table had 2 chairs. Very clean inside. I would go here again. A decent selection to choose from. Will try a sandwich next time from the reviews I read. I think there was just one employee there.

Golden State Bagel

3.3

(3 reviews)

Do not go here alone if you are a female. The other day I went to go get a dozen bagels for my…read morefamily and this was the first time i ever went in. the guy at the register (who i now know to be in charge) was friendly upon me walking in but then he skipped the person in front of me so he could serve me and then when i was checking out he goes "i hope this isnt wrong to say, but your hot" I have never been so uncomfortable running an errand. So much so that when i shared this with others in the area NOBODY was surprised and shared other odd/strange interactions. The bagels are delicious but we will never go back

Love this place. The bagels are good, reasonably priced, and the owner is always so friendly. They…read moreoffer their own baked goods as well. The lemon loaf was too tart for me but the coffee cake loaf was outstanding. Try their cinnamon cream cheese.

Submarina

4.0

(97 reviews)

I'm kinda OBSESSED with Submarina. It's not even remotely comparable to Subway. I will always go…read moreout of my way to come here because the sandwiches never disappoints. I placed my order online and asked for an excessive amount of pickles. Apparently my definition of "excessive" is different from theirs because I definitely could've used more, keep piling them on on! Either way, the sandwich was delicious, and they even drew a funny little pickle on the wrapper, which made me laugh. The employees are always great too. Definitely one of my favorite sandwich spots!

So good! Very nice and friendly employees. We go here maybe once every other week, always slaps…read more Tuna w smoked cheddar is my fave. We typically don't sit inside (only order to go), but it's kept clean and AC seems to always work. You can also order with DoorDash for pickup or delivery. Wish they would offer catering delivery, I'd use them all the time, but they do not.

Sunshine Pancake House

4.2

(856 reviews)

We just finished eating breakfast here, and it was an excellent experience from start to finish. We…read morewere seated quickly, the food was outstanding, and the service was amazing. The ambience was family friendly and welcoming. They serve Farmers Brothers coffee. If you have not tasted this coffee, you must try it. There is no bitterness to it and it's very smooth. I love when restaurants serve this brand of coffee. I ordered the vegetarian omelette. It was baked, generously portioned, incredibly filling, and absolutely delicious. My nephew had the strawberry waffle which looked very delicious. I also want to commend the entire staff for their exceptional service and hard work. They were attentive, friendly, and kept everything running smoothly throughout our visit. It's clear they take pride in providing a great experience for their guests. We will definitely be back and highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a great breakfast!

Delicious pancakes, friendly staff, fresh OJ, and a great atmosphere. The staff are so attentive…read moreand there's a lot of seating. The patio is also dog friendly! (For dogs under 40 lbs). They even brought out a water bowl for her, so kind. My family visits once and month and it's a great time every time. I order the pigs in the blanket every time with a plethora of fresh syrup options. It's delicious. My wife always changes her crepe every time and they're all delightful. Fresh homemade whip cream does it every time for her.

Antonelli's Deli

4.3

(990 reviews)