drove 30 miles to pickup an online order for 18 bagels and 4 schmear's for family in from New York! These were the BEST by far that I have ever had in the Bay Area. Just like NY. Had the 7:45 am pickup slot and goods were all ready and bagged up for me. Staff was awesome and super friendly! My car had the best smell on the ride back, I wanted to pull over and dig in. I ordered a mix of all flavors and the fam raved about all. I especially liked the Everything bagel with the Lemon Horseradish schmear!!! To die for! We also had Lox, Jalapeño Cilantro, Plain, and Scallion. All the flavors were SO GOOD! didn't get to stay but already full when I entered and noticed they had outdoor seating in the back so will be back soon and will bring the fam! WELL DONE Hella Bagels!!! read more

this place has a sticker saying they hate a certain group, of which i am a member. i just wanted a bagel, not to be hated. i am not angry, just sad. read more

The platonic ideal of a New York bagel. When your East Coast family comes to town and wants a bagel, bring them here. These bagels check all the boxes and make it look easy. The crust is crisp and crackles as you break into a fresh one. The flavor is deep and malty. The crumb is very chewy and provides enough structure to support a sandwich. One tasting note: the crust in today's batch was had caramel notes that started to recall pizza crust. Less time in the oven would dial that back -- but it gives the bagel character so maybe you want to keep it! But that's the level we're on here. I'm giving subtle tasting notes in a Yelp review. Hella has unlocked the New York bagel for us on the West Coast. read more

The bagels were super yummy! The coffee was not the best but the bagel MORE THAN MADE UP FOR IT- I cannot stress this enough. read more

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We reached out to ask for a donation for a community partner event and Hella Bagels responded promptly and was extremely supportive. The staff had our order ready for us when they opened at 7:30 am Thursday morning. Great customer service and communication. The bagels are delicious with a good crust and soft inside. The scallion cream cheese had a nice bite but wasn't overpowering. 10/10 will visit again read more

Hella Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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Happy 2nd birthday, hella bagels! You've really grown up and shining even brighter! We were pleasantly surprised by the birthday menu today. Big fans of your bacon egg and cheese bagels, we also tried the Chinese sausage Hot sandwich this morning and loved it! It's also such a family friendly breakfast joint with good seating and high chairs. The cold brews are also solid here and today they had roaming bean for espresso drinks! read more

Hella Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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Easy parking, fresh squeezed orange juice was delicious. Liked that I made it before they closed, which is still kind of early. Was a pleasant place to pick up a really late lunch - the bacon, egg, bagel sandwich. It was kind of messy though. read more

Hella Bagels - Yum Bacon Egg & Cheese bagel sandwich and fresh squeezed oj - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

Eager to bring bagels home for the family, I decided to branch out and try someplace new. This place is close to the El Cerrito hood, and had a fun menu of sandwiches with an array of bagel and smear options. It's conveniently just off of San Pablo and Marin, with plenty of street parking. The small shop had every table taken, at 11:00 on a Saturday morning, and a line - almost - out the door. I brought home a half a dozen sliced bagels, a green onion and horseradish smear, a chai iced tea and a "Bougie" bagel. As bagels go, these were the quintessential perfect, chewy and soft, fragrant bagels. The cream cheeses were delish and perfect for family to build their fav bagel meal. The Chai, was what will keep me coming back, however! It was perfectly sweetened, versus the sickening sweet of many shops, with a nice oat foam on the top. Don't forget the cinnamon sprinkle, which added the fragrant element. I had to wrestle my 20 yo for it when I got home. Now I'm left craving more. read more

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There are my new favorite bagels - chewy, fresh, flavourful and perfectly toasted every time! Also usually sold out so go early! We discovered this place after a friend recommended it and we could not be more grateful! They have a great menu, kind staff and nice indoor and outdoor seating. They are located on a busy street but hidden away keeps it away from the busy road and has plenty of parking at the back as well. Note- They have a bathroom next door We tried their everything bagel, plain, garlic and sesame bagels- all 10/10. My go to order has become the egg and cheese sandwich 10/10 and sometimes I crave it as soon as I finish! The flavor is so good and the eggs and sauce are perfectly balanced together. You can either order custom bagel sandwiches by matching your ingredients or choose a sandwich from their menu. If you are not hungry just get a plain toasted bagel with butter- SO good! They have some drinks and coffee as well and I cannot recommend this place enough! Waiting for a punch card for bagels because I go there ALOT! :) read more

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I was in the mood for lox and cream cheese and ordered a lox tycoon to go. I wanted to enjoy this with scrambled eggs at home. This is my first time here at Hella Bagels. The Classic Lox Sandwich. 3oz Nova Lox, Tomato, Red Onion, Lemon, Capers, & Dill. Served Open Faced or Closed Like a Sandwich. You can pay $2.00 more for this open faced variety for a little more ingredients. I thought the sandwich was fine. It was as expected. Nothing more nothing less. Service was good. read more

Hella Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

Stopped by today on a Saturday to try Hella Bagels. I ordered the Bacon, egg & cheese on an everything bagel. It typically comes with scallion cream cheese but I decided to swap it for the jalapeño cilantro cream cheese. My bagel sandwich was so good! Bagel texture was good, eggs cooked perfectly, mixed with the bacon, melty cheese, jalapeno cream cheese and hot honey Can't wait to come back to try more bagels and different cream cheese flavors, they also have drinks (cold brew, chai, matcha) that all looked really good, can't wait to try those next time too! read more

Hella Bagels - Bacon Egg & Cheese - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

I came in on a cold and quiet Friday morning to be warmly greeted by person behind the counter. Their menu is straightforward and has different sections for bagels, spreads, toppings and vegetarian and non-vegetarian pre-selected options. The space also has plenty of tables to sit in if you are looking to dine in. I went for a cold smoked salmon bagel and a hot smoked salmon salad bagel (that's a mouthful figuratively and literally). They offer both close faced and open faced bagels. The open faced at a slightly higher price due to the extra toppings. I opted for the open faced. Open faced bagels are all the rage right now and Hella Bagels flourishes at them. The bagels were chewy, well seasoned and the toppings were well balanced and fresh. There is also a small patio in the back with a parking lot to be enjoyed on nicer days. These were on par if not better than Boichik with zero line if you are looking for a quicker option. I will definitely be back! read more

Hella Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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Great bagels! A pristine store. Check them out! You won't be disappointed at their offerings. Excellent.

I stopped by Hella Bagels on a Saturday morning around 10:00 a.m. and there wasn't much of a line to order. Although I normally opt for an everything bagel at bagel shops, Hella Bagel had a sign at the counter that said their daily special was a scallion flavored bagel, so I decided to give it a try. I opted for toasted, and paired the bagel with their horseradish dill cream cheese. Within a few minutes, my bagel was ready; they're definitely quick in the kitchen pumping out bagel orders. I loved the flavor of the charred scallion on the bagel, which gave a hint of bitterness. The outside of the toasted bagel was crispy while the inside remained soft and light. The cream cheese was definitely the highlight for me. I would come to Hella Bagel just to get a container of their flavored cream cheese to go. The cream cheese was incredibly fluffy and well-aerated. I loved the balance of dill and horseradish -- which I thought had the perfect kick to it. Both flavors are very much present, and complement each other well. I would not hesitate to get the same combination again. It's hard for me to declare a clear winner between Hella Bagels and Boichik Bagel, but if I had to choose one, I would say I slightly prefer the bagels at Hella Bagels more. On the side of logistics, seating is plentiful both indoors and outdoors on their patio. Additionally, for parking, they have a dedicated lot in the back so you don't have to fight for street parking along busy San Pablo. If you're in the area and are looking for a quick breakfast, definitely worth stopping by! read more

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VEGAN REVIEW ah, finally a fancy bagel place!!! (something I have missed moving up from LA) GREAT bagel sandwiches, with several vegan options (including not just 1 but 2 cream cheese options). I love to get a bougie bagel. they also have oat milk cold foam!!!! +1 for that.... but -1 for no hot espresso drinks (just drip coffee). anyhoo-- I usually get a Thai iced tea or London fog. it gets VERY BUSY & they run out of bagels, so if it's after 11am check their online ordering before heading over (nothing like the heartbreak of a closed bagel shop......) Very hip & friendly staff Indoor & outdoor seating Easy parking on San Pablo Ave read more

This would be a five star review if a half dozen bagels included six bagels They go to three There doesn't seem to be any way to call them to deal with this so maybe they'll read this and give me an extra bagel read more

Hella Bagels - 6 here 5 in bag - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

If you give this place anything less than 5 stars, you need to go touch grass. The bagels are great, the vibes are great, they have a Bacon/Egg/Cheese, and the staff is super friendly. Idk what more anyone could want from a West Coast Bagel shop. read more

Second time I've been here and BOTH times, people had dogs inside. The staff really needs to keep an eye on this! read more

Hella Bagels - Pups welcome OUTSIDE. Please don't be an entitled jerk. - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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Bought our first dozen today. The bagels are tasty, with the right flavor and chew, better than others. The price is reasonable. Service was spotty and I was left wondering how to get noticed. The exterior of the shop has no sign and it was hard to spot. read more

Oh my, I had the pleasure of experiencing Hella Bagels today and it did not disappoint. Was it delicious? Yes, was the service great? Absolutely? Did the atmosphere pull us in? It sure did. Was it cool to watch them making the bagels while we ate? You'd better believe it! Was it expensive? A tad, but totally worth it. The city lights on an everything bagel was out-of-this-world delicious. The fresh and delicious ingredients really come together with this one. I can't wait to have another one next weekend. read more

Hella Bagels - Half of my city light bagel. Sorry, but I sealed the other half whole before it dawned on me to take a picture! - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

Omg. I have not stopped thinking about this bagel spot. My favorite bagel that I've ever had in my life! The boujie bagel was so life changing. I will forever recommend this place! read more

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Tasty dense boiled bagels in a convenient location. Friendly staff, fun cream cheese flavor options, and good coffee if you're eating it.

TLDR might be the best Bay bagel and the location is enjoyable We tried the wifey on garlic. This was excellent flavor and pretty presentation At home we did a side by side compare of Hella vs Boichick vs Poppy. Hella won. Poppy 2 nd place. Hella has a crisp crust The inside has good chew. Boichick was more doughy Poppy is more chewy-- and the inside and crust of poppy are both chewy so it was a little harder to eat. Hella is smaller circumference than Boichick and about the same as poppy. but does anyone care about that? Parking! Tables inside and out! Friendly staff Had to ask them to clean table but they did Bathroom grade: C. It doesn't smell like pee but it is merely serviceable read more

Hella Bagels - Wifey 10/10 - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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Just going to keep this review simple. Decor is fine, sanitized, beige and homey are what come to mind. Easy hang out spot. The natural comparison to this place would be boichik's which is just a few blocks away. I think I prefer boichik's in general. The bagels here were a bit more dense/chewy, which some people may prefer. I feel boicheck was still able to be dense without so chewy. The spread at Boichek's was also creamier. I will say the Jalapeno-Cilantro cream cheese was an absolute surprise and in a good way. You can literally taste the jalapeno, cilantro, and cream cheese and all in great proportions. Outside of that, the parking here drives me insane. It's a one way u-shaped lot behind the strip, if you don't find parking, you have to come out and you can't make a left, so you have to turn right on san pablo, but then you can't make a u-turn at the first or second stop light either, so then you have to go north on Buchanan and into the neighborhood just to turn circle back around the one way. I have had better luck parking on san pablo itself. read more

If you're ever lost on what to do for your birthday, I have an AMAZING recommendation. It involves ordering a variety of Hella Bagels delivered to your home with a crap ton of schmears. Also recommend ordering their veggies, so you basically have to do NO PREP. We all had such a blast trying different bagel and schmear combinations. The delivery process was also super smooth and they were really friendly about the whole thing! Basically, if you haven't had a bagel party, I reaaally recommend it! read more

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Delicious bagels, friendly staff, great music. The drinks are also very tasty. What else could you ask for?

Went out looking around Albany/Berkeley for a good bagel sandwich on a Thursday afternoon, and Hella Bagels was where we landed. Immediately coming in, the atmosphere is welcoming and subtle; simple beige decoration and an open kitchen to take a peek at the magic at work. The service was very friendly and patient with my partners' and I indecisive, and the surroundings were spotless and organized. We ordered two Bacon, Egg and Cheeses and their Japanese Egg Sando on their plain and garlic bagels, plus a drip coffee and their house Thai tea. Plus avocado in the brekky sandwiches, the total roughly came to 50+ dollars which is a little bit in the pricier side for the sandwiches, but quality on everything we got was one point! The Bagels: while they were on the smaller size, but definitely crunchy, dense, and fresh. The garlic bits were perfectly crusty and not burnt (which was spectacular). The sandwiches: if you're looking for a good Bacon, Egg & Cheese.. look no further, Hella Bagels is your place. They are quite generous with their delicious scallion smear, and accompanied with the hot honey, it balances the flavors perfectly (with a dab of hot sauce, ofc). The sunny side eggs are perfectly fried, and with an additional of avocado in them, it makes for a perfect breakfast sandwich. For the sando, while I understand that Japanese egg salad is typically on the blander side, theirs was lacking in the pepper department. Delicious nonetheless, and the gooey poached egg in the middle adds a depth in texture. Overall rating--- I would definitely give them a 4.5 stars, only because there is a lack of spicier options/variety in their sandwich and bagel options. I would definitely love to see a jalapeño cheddar bagel from them, but if you're around the area and looking for well made, balanced breakfast sandwich, Hella Bagels is your spot! read more

Hella Bagels - Bacon Egg & Cheese - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

Hella good bagels. Better than boichik. Wifey bagel and lox bagel are the best. Drink menu is extensive. read more

Hot eggy breakfast bagel! This is so delicious, decadent, and creamy. I think it's heft enough to share half with someone, or try another bagel sando and swap halves! Will be coming back again. read more

Hella Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

I remember grabbing Hella Bagels when it was a pop-up at Flowerland on Solano Ave. Stoked it's now a brick-and-mortar still so conveniently close to home! Upon walking in, your eyes head to the open kitchen concept, fresh bagels being made, and quick service. The bagel varieties, spreads, toppings, are all so fire. Last time I was in I went against the grain and ordered the Tamago Sando on Salt bagel. (Japanese egg salad) Huge fan! Hella Bagels also now serves other egg varieties like Egg & Cheese and the Bacon & Cheese which comes with hot honey, pepper jack, bacon, and scallion schmear...yesssss please! Huge fan of their Garlic Confit schmear and Scallion schmear. Bagel wise I'm usually an Everything girly but here, I'm a literally I'll try everything girly. If going the lox route is your thing, they def. have you covered. If you're more of gimme all the veggies or fruit on my bagel, there is the Bougie Bagel (avocado mash) and Peach Szn (peaches and hot honey say what!) among other creative flavors. Noticed the Violife "schmear" for those dairy free too! All in all the bagels, the people, the vibes, are all solid. For just the bagel & schmear, $5. To me, worth it. Love watching pop ups continue to blossom.."Hella" cool. *Pro-tip* - there's parking behind the building! read more

Hella Bagels - Tamago Sando (Japanese egg salad on salt bagel) - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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I was disappointed by my recent experience here, and not because of the food. Upon arrival, I noticed prominent signage prohibiting firearms. While the business is, of course, free to set its own policies, the messaging came across as overtly political and discriminatory--particularly toward members of law enforcement. For a neighborhood bagel shop, I expect a welcoming, neutral environment focused on food and service, not signage that signals exclusion or takes a stance that alienates part of the community. There are many customers, including on duty and off-duty police officers, who simply want a bagel without being implicitly labeled as unwelcome. Given the number of excellent bagel options in the area, I prefer to support businesses that focus on hospitality rather than political statements. Unfortunately, this experience ensured I will not be returning. read more

They've expanded the menu to include sandwiches. The bacon egg cheese sandwich is so delicious!! Peach season bagel is also phenomenal and served open faced for more brunch vibes. Menu has option for select sandwiches to be served closed or open faced. Open faced would be perfect for those trying to share. :) Staff are all so friendly, but a little slow for bigger groups. I'm giving them some grace since it was a busy Sunday morning. Plus is large cups for water so I've got minimal refill trips! read more

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These bagels were dense, hefty and really chewy. A good toasting didn't change any of that. Nice whipped scallion cream cheese though. I like Boichik way better. read more

Hella Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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New bagel spot in Berkeley on the westside. I ordered the "Sideshow," which is lox spread, shallots, capers, dill and a slice of tomato on a bagel (toasted onion for me). Big mistake getting it toasted, since they're fresh bagels. My bad. It was way too crunchy. I thought the onion flavor was a little overpowering, but I really enjoyed the lox schmear flavor. Kind of hard to locate, even if you know where it is. There's a parking lot behind, so you don't necessarily have to park on the street. read more

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Hella Bagel is Hellaaaaaa Gooodddd! Went here with my girlfriend over the weekend to just try something new and we were not disappointed. The bagels were fresh, and food came out warm. The little capers on this bagel was pickled to perfectttionnnn. The interior of this place is super modern, love the beige neutral tones and ample amount of seating. They have an indoor and backdoor area and the staff are super sweet. My only feedback as a designer, is their outdoor sign although aesthetics, makes it hard to find while driving by or looking for the restaurant. Here's a yelp tip, it looks like a 2D swirl with beige color blocks. Other than that its a lovely family friendly place to start your slow Saturday or Sunday mornings. read more

By far and away the best bagel I have found in the bay. Should probably be around 3.5 stars but it's just so much better than everyone else it deserves 4. Pretty good texture. Not perfect. Some crunch some chew. Not as dense and chewy as I like. Cream cheese flavors were interesting and paired well with the bagels. Jalapeño had zero heat so that was a bummer. Good jalapeño flavor though. Spicy peach and mango again had very little heat and was mildly sweet. I think I preferred it over jalapeño Staff was very friendly. Everyone was working hard. 6.25 a bagel with tip I think is acceptable. Will probably stop back in somewhat regularly. read more

Hella Bagels - Onion Bagel with Jalapeño Cilantro cream cheese - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California

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Im not the bagel snob in my house. So part A of this review is based on my coming in and purchasing for the first time. Part A San Pablo on Albany is becoming San Carbalato: on one end you have iconic Acme bakery as you go north towards solano blvd. then patisserie Rotha, for the bays best croissants and other delicious sweet treats. And now you have hella bagels. Your bread fix should be totally satisfied within a 2-3 block radius. What a quaint little place. An area to sit inside as well as a covered area out back. The staff is exceptionally polite and friendly! Makes you you wanna hang out there all day. Ample parking in back and you may get lucky on San Carbalato. Part B So I get these bad boys home 1 doz errrythang bagels with a couple of smears. The expert Aka Bae takes a bite and is in love. She likes em better than the "B" word bagels not that far away. They call it the B word at Hella Bagels so we will too. Apparently more dense and chewy with a nice crispy crust on the outside were her remarks. Well that makes me feel good cause I only wanted 6 and somehow paid for and got 12 . But I'm confident they will go fast!!! read more

These bagels were...hella good! Haha. I did not come to the bay craving bagels or with any type of expectation but came across ethers bagels when looking for a quick breakfast - let me tell you, my trip to the bay would have been worth it just for these. I ordered a garlic bagel and the bougie sandwich on an open faced onion bagel - sooo goood! The bagels were still warm and oh so fluffy - pure perfection. You can see them making the bagels as well. A must try! Service was efficient. read more

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Bought a dozen bagels today, $30, fine. When I requested to have them sliced, they requested extra $6. That's 50 cents per bagel to slice!!! At any other bagel place it is a free service. Bagels are OK but I am not coming back. read more

Dense and chewy bagels that pack a lot into a small bite, and the online ordering is super convenient (don't expect to show up after noon, even on a weekday, because they will be sold out). I wish they'd been slightly warmer (fresh out of the oven is ideal) but still a great experience as the Bay Area bagel boom continues read more

Hella Bagels - Everything / Garlic - Bagels Near Me - Albany, California