PopUp Bagels is worth the viral hype! Bagels are sold by the bag (3, 6, 12, and 30). Since it was just my husband and me, we ordered 2 everything and 1 salt. They also come with schmear (cream cheese, butter, or a weekly special). The bagels were hot, fresh, and soft. I brought my own peanut butter with me to dip my bagel in since I don't like cream cheese or butter and this was the move (for me). My husband enjoyed the chives cream cheese. The salt bagel was my favorite from the 2 flavors we ordered but I'd love to try all of the flavor options. Service was super fast. We went on a weekday a little after 9am and there was no line. From my understanding, this isn't always the case with no wait. I had my full order within 10 seconds after I paid. The employees working were very nice too. The inside of the store was very trendy. I loved all the photos on the wall. They had a few high top tables outside so that's where we ate our bagels. PopUp is located in a nice shopping center in Ballantyne area. There was a parking lot close by that advertised free parking for under 3 hours. If I lived closer, I'd be going here weekly! Can't wait for my next Charlotte trip. read more

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It appears I'm a bagel kick, since today I finally was able to visit PopUp Bagels at The Bowl. I have to say the bagels are absolutely amazing, so soft and chewy with a nice crust. I was surprised that they only offer 4 or 5 bagels, all basic types. And, the fact that you are required to buy 3 is quite interesting. Overall I enjoyed but the concept and limitation on what is offered was quite interesting. Obviously I would stop by if I were in the area but wouldn't go out of my way. read more

I've heard so many good things about PopUp Bagels that I'm glad I finally got to give it a try. I went on a Sunday afternoon and the line was long but it did move fast. I appreciated that a staff member was outside taking orders so that sped it up once you got inside. It was my first time there so I had no idea what they offered, which meant I had no idea what I wanted to order, so it would have been nice if they had a menu outside since that's where the orders were being taken. I got the lemon herb butter for my bagel, and it was delicious. The only thing is, I had to buy such a large tub of it for three bagels. It would make more sense to offer smaller portions. Otherwise, I thought the bagel was good but I do wish they had more variety. Maybe that will come in the future. But I will give it another try. I saw someone eating a lox bagel at the coffee shop nearby and they had a PopUp Bagels bag, but I didn't see anything like that on their menu. This is more of a grab and go spot, but they have a few tables you could eat at. read more

PopUp Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

What's Poppin? Pop Up Bagels sure is! When we arrived they were so busy! Their ability to quickly help you navigate the menu and efficiently get you your bagels (and Schmear) as fast as possible is unmatched. They have 4 staple bagels and lots of fun Schmear (or cream cheese) options to choose from. The offer an everything, plain, sesame, and salt bagel. I can't even begin to list all of the Schmear options!! The vibes in the restaurant are edgy and clean! Overall, the bagels were very well done with the crunchy exterior and doughy interior. It was a lot of fun to pull apart the dough and dip it in the schmear to get the perfect cream cheese to bagel ratio. I love being able to try all the different flavors of bagels and I'm excited to try more smear. The next time I go back. We ended up getting the pimento cheese, Schmear and the everything, salty, and plain bagels! I've been looking forward to trying this place for a long time and it definitely lived up to all of my expectations! read more

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Surprised and happy to see PopUp open in Charlotte! These were some of my favorite bagels from LA, so kind of a big deal. They're quite good, just keep in mind the smallest quantity they sell is 3 + a huge tub of schmear for $15. I really liked the strawberry limited edition schmear, and they gave us a free tub of the cacio e pepe, which was nice but that one was just okay. Another one is opening up soon in Plaza Midwood, so I think I'd check that one out! read more

PopUp Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Pop on over to PopUp Bagels and experience the rip & dip bagel! I arrived on a Saturday around 10:30 am and barely had to wait. I got 3 bagels and 2 schmears, which be warned, is a lottt more schmear than bagel. And for the price, it'd be better just the get the 6 bagels + 2 schmears pack. I'll be doing that next time. My other tip is to plan so that you can eat the bagels right away. Why? You get them warm, and you want to rip + dip so that the warm bagel melts the schmear a bit and you get a nice coating. Otherwise, the schmears are quite solid, and it's harder to dip if the bagel is room temp. So that means it's not as nice if you plan to take them to-go/eat them later on. Alright now how about the taste? I got plain, everything, and sesame bagels, and honestly thought the plain was best because you could really taste the schmears and appreciate the chewy texture. For schmears, I got the 2 specialty ones that day: truffle cream cheese and caccio e pepe butter. Both were savory and tasty. And now I have a lot left over, so it's nice that I can also use them to cook something else. Overall, PopUp Bagels is worth a try, especially if you order correctly and plan accordingly. Very interested to try future specialty schmears and see what others collabs they come up with! read more

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Ok, I see what all the hype is about! Super cute shop + delicious, warm, fresh bagels + yummy schmear. There's nothing like getting here right when they first open. Friendly & efficient staff, bright, engaging shop & quick checkout. So happy they're here! read more

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My friend and I stopped into PopUp Bagels on a Saturday afternoon around 12:30 PM. Luckily it wasn't overly busy at that time and we were able to walk right in and order our bagels! You have to order at least three bagels (which comes with one 'schmear'). The bagel options are plain, everything, poppyseed, salt, and sesame. We did two everything and one plain bagel. Schmear options include plain, scallion, or a rotating weekly flavor. They also have salted butter and a rotating butter flavor too. We went with salted butter. Our order was ready for us in less than 5 minutes and the bagels are served warm. They were so good! The inside of PopUp Bagels isn't very large but it's a fun space with lots of things to look at. They also offer smoked salmon and a variety of drinks (coffee, water, juice). read more

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Never thought I'd find a retail spot where the prices are as high or higher than something you can order from Goldbelly but PopUp Bagels met this dubious mark. Over $40 for a dozen bagels and a couple small cups of smear. That's just nuts no matter how good the bagels are and they definitely are good so I'll give them 5 stars for quality. Case in point, a dozen awesomely good bagels plus another dozen free from Zucker's in NYC are $80 with free delivery to your doorstep. I can make my own scallion cream cheese for a couple bucks more, thank you. A couple other shops on GB have even better prices but I haven't tried so not recommending without a personal taste. Rip it and dip it is a cute slogan but daaaaaaamn on the price! read more

Finally made it to PopUp Bagels @The Bally Bowl this morning. I had no idea what to expect, well a friend did tell me they don't do sandwiches (boo) but try them out. The bagels were fresh and warm. They are not giant bagels but rather a little bigger than my palm and they have height. The smears rotate I assume as the board had them hand written for the day. They also have butters as an option too. I opted for a dozen bagels which came with 2 smears and/or 2 butters (mixing is allowed), the honey chipotle cream cheese and the salted butter. Summary 1) These bagels are different, in a good way. Fluffy almost, but they hold up the cream cheese (and for good sakes these would make amazing sandwiches) 2) Smears come in a separate container for dipping/spreading, don't forget they have butters too 3)) You cannot buy a single bagel. They are sold in packs of 3/6/12, IKR 4) Expensive: a dozen bagels (uncut) with the 2 smears/butters that come with, and a small coffee: $56 (tip not included) read more

Pop Up Bagels lives up to the hype. Great bagels, super fast service, and everything was really tasty. Fresh, flavorful, and efficient. Don't go there expecting BEC on a bagel, it's just to go fresh bagels with sides of cream cheese. read more

PopUp Bagels - Everything bagels with reg cream cheese - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The bagel is so good that it is warm and soft compared to other one that I had. The spread is where it is the best, we got cinnamon butter, it was awesome. The service was fast and staff were friendly. There are not too much indoor seats, but lots of outdoor area to hang out. It is more on the pricey side, but I really enjoys it. read more

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We got the 3-pack of bagels (1 plain and 2 sesame), along with the scallion cream cheese and the salted butter for a little over $22. I must say, the bagels were delicious--especially considering we haven't been able to find a truly good bagel shop anywhere in Charlotte. The texture and flavor were spot on, and we really enjoyed them. My only suggestion would be to offer smaller portions of the schmears and salted butter for smaller orders. For just a few bagels, the portions felt a bit excessive and ended up being somewhat wasteful. Overall, though, great bagels and definitely worth trying! read more

Delicious and expensive! I loved my bagel and I love that they have super creative cream cheese flavors like Mac & Cheese, Ramen, etc. go to their website www.popupbagels.com to see what cream cheese flavors they have that day because the fun ones get changed up (they always have the more standard ones). I didn't like the parking but that is a problem of their location at The Bowl - not them specifically. It's hard to get and you have to pay by registering via a QR code. I got free parking since we were there only to pick up bagels (first 15 minutes are free). You must buy at least 3. Their bagels are "rip & dip," meaning they won't cut them for you. Doesn't bother me but I think it's funny to take away a service and give it a funky name and that makes it a trendy thing! If you want cream cheese, you get a tub of it - in my case, my daughter and I each wanted something different so we ended up with 2 tubs. I brought them home - it's quite a lot so you can use it later on, too. I imagine that would be a little problematic for people that aren't going right home... Three bagels and 2 types of cream cheese were over twenty bucks which would make this just a special thing for me - mainly if I want to try a new cream cheese flavors! read more

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The bagels are good and tasted fresh and not too dense. The negative is that they only have 5 different types of bagels: everything, sesame, salt, plain, and poppy. They do have unique schmear flavors. We got the pickle de gallo as the schmear of the week. It goes great on a bagel or sandwich. The negative is that they are very pricey. 3 bagels and 1 schmear was $14. $16.52 on UberEats. We added 3 extra bagels and it was $37.15 for a total 6 bagels and 1 schmear. That is way too expensive. read more

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Today I braved the grand opening of PopUp Bagels at The Bowl at Ballantyne, where I learned that patience is a virtue and hot bagels can heal the soul. Let's start with the basics. Their whole concept is "Grip. Rip. Dip." No slicing. No toasting. No bagel sandwiches. Just you, a fresh bagel, and a tub of schmear big enough to double as a moisturizer. The line was starting to wrap around the building like it was Coachella, but they just opened today so some chaos was expected. Once the hype chills out, I can see the whole grab-and-go thing moving fast like butter on a warm everything bagel. The Vibe Inside is standing-room-only. No seats. But outside you'll find tables, chairs, and a big lawn where people posted up like they were at a tailgate. Parking can be a pain, so prepare to do a few laps. The Bagels You have to order a minimum of 3 bagels, which honestly feels like the bagel equivalent of "you can't sit with us" if you just want one. Bagels come in five flavors: plain, salt, everything, sesame, and poppy. I went with plain because I'm a simple man who respects a good foundation. When I say they were hot and fresh, I mean I could've used them as hand warmers. The exterior had that classic New York crisp, and the inside was soft and chewy. Connecticut may have birthed this concept, but it's clearly been spending weekends in NYC. The Schmears Mac and Cheese and Truffle Butter I got two schmear flavors: Mac and Cheese and Truffle Butter. Mac and Cheese Schmear: It's like they took a box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese powder, whispered sweet nothings to it, and mixed it into cream cheese. Intense, nostalgic, and a little chaotic in the best way. Truffle Butter Schmear: Surprisingly balanced. Not a punch-you-in-the-face truffle situation. But fair warning, it's a little stiff for dipping, so rip your bagel and let the butter melt in like a cozy hug. There are a bunch of schmear options including plain, scallion, and plain vegan, plus some rotating limited flavors. Today's lineup included Garlic Rosemary Butter and Salted Maple Banana Bread alongside the two I picked. The Price Tag This is where things get... bougie. $7 for a schmear. $12 for 4oz of lox. $14 for 3 bagels and a side of schmear. I had to double-check to make sure I didn't accidentally apply for a mortgage. Sure, the schmear portion is generous, but if you're from New York, you already know what a "respectable" amount of cream cheese is supposed to look like. Final Thoughts This is easily one of the better bagel options in Charlotte. It's not cheap, but the quality is real. I wouldn't make this my daily stop unless I win the lottery, but if I'm in Ballantyne craving a bagel, this will be my first move...followed by a latte across the street at The Salty. And to all the New Yorkers ready to complain....RELAX. These bagels are Connecticut-born, New York-inspired, and Charlotte-ready. 9/10 for bagel texture 8/10 for schmear creativity 5/10 for my bank account ________ Looking for more legit Charlotte food spots without the fluff? I made a guide. Find them here: http://evansfoodguide.com Follow me on IG http://instagram.com/charlottefoodieguy Go eat something good! Subscribe to my Substack Newsletter to be notified of my newest restaurant reviews and what's happening in the Charlotte food community! https://substack.com/@charlottefoodieguy read more

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Overpriced and overhyped. I want A bagel. Not 3 bagels for $20 or 6 bagels for $30 when you include the tax. Bagels were good, but not great and they were small. Cream cheese tasted slightly off. I live across the street so I was hoping this would be fantastic, it is not. And the music is played so loud it hurt my ears read more

Amazing bagels! The everything bagel fresh out of the oven was delicious. The schmear options are great too, we went with the ramen ranch. The staff was friendly and dealt with the crowds well. Only thing to note, the music was blasting, as in you cannot wait inside for your bag, it will burn through your eardrums. read more

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I mean - it almost pains me to write this glowing review - because I did not want to like this place as much as I did. Why? Because what everyone said is right - they don't cut the bagels, they don't let you buy one and you have to buy cream cheese whether you like it or not. I don't like the "stuffy" required approach to their business. However, we'll try anything once... so we planned a quick stop on a Saturday morning. First, the bagels are HOT and fresh. You can't deny how delicious it smells once you walk in the door. The ladies are a bit strange in that even if there's no other customers, they have to follow their assembly line process so you awkwardly step aside and pretend you didn't just order your bagels and they awkwardly call your name as if you're not the only one standing there waiting for your order. LOL. Anyway, we opted for a couple of salt bagels, a plain bagel and an everything bagel with a seasonal (or temporary) vodka sauce cream cheese.... we really weren't sure how it was going to go - But - boy oh boy, the smell of the fresh bagels lured us and we had to starting diving in once we got in the car.... OMG. We were hooked at first bite. Complaining about how much we hated that we loved it the whole time. They're expensive, the process is silly, but oh-MY are they delicious. So yep, we fell hook line & sinker. We even went back on Sunday to get more of that delightful cream cheese and the experience was very much the same. These bagels are stupidly overpriced and the cream cheese "tub" is quite wasteful (we didn't use it all for 3-4 bagels) but it was DELICIOUS. We'll be back but we'll have to add it to the rotation to justify the fact that we fell hard for the trendy bagel place and would even deal with the stupid parking for these bad-boys. :) YUM. Thanks for blowing our minds POPUP. That vodka sauce cream cheese was delightful. read more

I had no idea today was the grand opening of PopUp Bagels in Ballantyne -- but somehow, I ended up there anyway. The line looked like an Apple launch back in the early iPhone days wth a steady stream of bagel believers winding out the door and around the plaza. PopUp Bagels, if you haven't heard, is a cult-favorite NYC (technically Connecticut-born) bagel brand known for its simple concept... hot, fresh bagels served in a brown paper bag with a side of "schmear." No slicing, no toasting... just grip, rip, and dip. I grabbed a plain, a salted, and an everything bagel with chive cream cheese as my schmear. Now, I'll admit, I'm no certified bagel expert by a long shot. You can quiz me on salsa acidity or the tenderness of carne asada any day, but when it comes to bagels, I should probably be sitting at the kids' table with a box of crayons. With that said, it's hard to beat a fresh-baked bagel, and that's exactly what I got. The exterior was light and flaky, the inside pillowy and warm, and the chive cream cheese spread perfectly - smooth, savory, and just the right texture to cling to each torn piece. There's also an energy here, that mix of curiosity and cult-like devotion that makes you feel like you're part of something. The smell of fresh dough hits you before you even make it to the counter, and by the time you open that brown paper bag, you know you're in for something simple done really well. Even if you don't consider yourself a bagel connoisseur (I'm certainly not), PopUp Bagels makes it easy to get why people are obsessed. If you find yourself anywhere near the Ballantyne Bowl, swing by and grab a bag. You'll understand the hype the second you "grip, rip, and dip." read more

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If you go here, you will have an amazing experience if you are locked in and a real bagel eater. If you're in a group you need to spend your time in line discussing your order. This is not a place to go if it is your first day on earth. This is not a place to go if you can't handle being a little overstimulated. It is a place to go if you want a sturdy bagel with CRUST. These bagels are not facing "soft bread in disguise"allegations....they are not facing store bought allegations either. I am a diva so I got the lox to assemble myself and I loved it. It's risky to operate with a limited menu but PopUp does it well and my group was the most excited by the specialty cream cheese lol. I was honestly geeked that they opened a Charlotte location, went extremely out of my way to try, and was glad I did. read more

PopUp Bagels - Lox - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I was in town visiting and sad that this location just opened so i had to try it! It went the saturday after thanksgiving and it was too crazy busy. However, they move very fast since there's only a few bagel and shmear options. We ordered 3 bagels (everything; poppy, and salt) and jalapeño shmear. It was $14 total and was the smallest and cheapest option to order (you can't order a single bagel). The bagels came out super fast and were steaming hot. The bagels were nice and soft and easily to tear to dip in the shmear. I just wish the inside had more seating, as it was cold outside and i didn't want to eat outside. Also, we didn't eat all our bagels, but a few hours later, the bagel was already getting hard. We had one bagel left the next morning and it was hard as a rock, so these bagel are definitely best enjoyed right away when fresh. The shmear was a large portion and we had a lot left over so we'll be using it for other bagels! read more

PopUp Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Great chain restaurant for bagels. Bagels are crisp, warm, and baked very fresh. Definitely a NY style bagel. Paired the bagel with their salted butter which also tasted fresh and authentic. Service is fast and friendly. My gripes are that bagels are pricy and you're forced to buy 3 (comes out roughly between $15-16). Also they don't do any bagel sandwiches. Other than that, if you're looking for a quick pick up for a fresh bagel I do recommend. read more

Worth the drive worth the hype. Served warm with the perfect amount of crisp on the outside read more

PopUp Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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La crème de la crème. I approved The day we went, it was the grand opening. That was really a special moment. We ordered a dozen bagels and special butter and cream cheese of the week. We really felt the hype, some cool people from the back gave us a free hat and totebag. We ordered online but even at the end of the day they still had fresh bagels available. For those, who don't know the concept of Pop Up Bagels it's simply having fresh bagels all day. If you want to order you need to order +3 bagels, they don't sell individual bagels and they not put any topping... It's additional if you ask for. The flavor of the week for the cream cheese was banana maple and garlic rosemary butter. The best of the best! read more

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Best bagels, best Schmear's, best service. Went to popup bagels craving something salty and savory and got just that. Employees are friendly and atmosphere is delightful. Was helped by Hailey and she gave the best service and answered all my questions. This was my first time at this company and she explained the menu and system so well to me and she was very patient while helping me understand! I got the best jalapeño Schmear and the most yummy bagels ever! 10/10, going back ASAP!! read more

PopUp Bagels - Bag - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Should've went with my instinct for one never heard of a bagel shop with only five bagel options not one being a sweet bagel for a child Decided to go back for another try and give my boyfriend a chance to try them and then realize that you're forced to buy Schmear if you don't eat Schmear, which I don't so I was a little upset but also feeling kind of stupid because I didn't wanna walk out, but I should've. I will not shop here anymore I can't understand why somebody would refuse to sell somebody just a bagel. You're still making money read more

I went to Popup this morning to grab some bagels for me and my friends. The staff are so sweet and welcoming. Their whole concept is amazing. Never going to a different bagel shop again. read more

While the bagels were good, hot from the oven, albeit on the fluffy side, the prices are really outrageous. A dozen bagels with cream cheese spreads should not cost almost $50. read more

Great spot and team. Piping hot bagels and love the schmears. Some have complained pricey but need to realize you are getting a full bagel sandwich (butter or cc). Look forward to the next store. read more

Absolutely LOVED POP UP!! Wow, delicious big fresh bagels. Super enthusiastic and kind employees. With a new butter or cream cheese every week, fantastic experience, will be returning! read more

PopUp Bagels - Salt bagels and Pop ups new brown sugar cinnamon butter! - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Very condescending and rude cashier. Bagels were fine, not NY style, but they were warm which helped. I started to order and received the same "we do things different here" speech which is fine, but I had only gotten 1 bagel flavor out before the lecture. Wouldn't recommend due to ambiance. read more

I question the business model. Did the owners consider the restricted market for offering limited bagels? People want a variety of options to enjoy their bagels. This place just doesn't offer that! The franchise investment is a big risk like rolling the dice, however, I see comments from the owner that the Pop Up Bagels model was designed to be intentionally different. Boy is it! Enjoy the investment honeymoon while it last. read more

Who ever heard of a bagel place that you can't Jsut get a single bagel or just a couple. Who wants a tub of cream cheese with 1 or 2 bagels? And $45 for a dozen bagels is insanely expensive. Taste is good but too pricy to come back read more

NYC bagel equivalent 12/10 good delivery or In person!! Will be back again to try a different cream cheese

Not sure if anyone should be OK with being required to purchase a minimum number of 3 bagels from this very limited selection AND cream chesse. What nerve. The bagels were average, but i'll not go back as there are several better options nearby without standardized minimum purchase requirements, read more

This spot nails everything a bagel place should be. The bagels arrive warm with perfectly chewy interiors and soft exteriors, truly exceptional. I had the everything bagel with scallion cream cheese, and the flavors were spot-on. The salmon lox option is generous and fresh. Staff members are friendly and efficient, even during rush hours. Prices are reasonable for the quality. Whether you're grabbing breakfast or craving a quick lunch, this place delivers consistently. It's become my go-to bagel destination, and I can't recommend it highly enough!​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Love this place! Not Famous, But Known. read more

Wow! Best bagel shop in Charlotte by far. I have been ordering NYC bagels from Gold belly, but Pop Up Bagels will be my new go to spot. Check this place out. read more

Amazing bagels! I had salt and everything bagels!! The only reason I didn't give it 5 is because they are always out of the cinnamon spread even when I come early but the bagels are always great, fresh, and delicious read more

PopUp Bagels - Bagels Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I don't understand the concept of this place and find it to be sooo overpriced. The bagels are average and the spreads are also average. Service was good. read more