LA has better bagels than the East Coast.
And before everyone gets up in arms, I’m talking about GLUTEN-FREE bagels.
I know everyone swears by East Coast bagels but in all honesty, the GF options in Boston were bleak. Aside from Goldilox (my first love) and Mamaleh’s (my second), there wasn’t much to get excited about.
LA, being the land of GF opportunity, has given me plenty of bagels to try. So here are my top three GF bagels in LA, in no particular order. Because how am I supposed to pick a favorite child?
Modern Bread & Bagel: For the Freezer Stash
Everything at Modern is gluten-free so the problem isn’t finding something I can eat, it’s choosing what to order!
I’ve loved everything I’ve tried there, and it’s a rare occurrence to walk into a place where I can order ANYTHING on the menu (and have it actually taste good). But this article is about bagels, so let’s focus.
Modern is my go-to for stocking up. I pretty much always have a bagel in my freezer, just in case.
And the FLAVORS! Cinnamon raisin GF bagels!! Not to mention superseed, poppy, onion, garlic, and pretzel. I haven’t seen this kind of variety at other GF bagel spots.
And for once, I feel … normal?
Layla Bagels: For When You Want Something Fun
I salivate at the thought of The Scarlett. It’s so simple but SO good. Heirloom tomato, lemon zest, chili flakes, cream cheese, and olive oil on top. The perfect balance of acidity, spice, and zestiness. All on a sesame bagel? My perfect bite.
I also love The Laika (smoked salmon, tomato, cucumber, pickled onion, capers, herb cream cheese) and The Pre-Jam (blackberry, guava honey, cream cheese).
Bonus points for offering half portions so you can mix and match. Because sometimes I want something sweet AND savory!
Worth noting: Layla doesn’t make their own GF bagels. They use Original Sunshine bagels in plain, sesame, and everything, with a $1 upcharge. The GF tax strikes again, but I’ll happily pay it for these sandwiches.
Pop’s Bagels: For the Classic Breakfast Sandwich
Pop’s is one of my newer GF bagel discoveries and I don’t think it gets nearly enough hype.
They make their own gluten-free bagels and they actually have that *squish* you’d expect from a regular bagel. A rare find!
What keeps me coming back is their classic sausage, egg, and cheese on a GF bagel. The double sausage and cheese is SO good! My only (nitpicky) complaint is that I’m not a huge fan of soufflé egg and would prefer a fried egg. But is that going to stop me from ordering this over and over again? NOPE!
I’ll definitely be back to try the rest of their breakfast sandwich options.
Honorable Mention: Truman’s
Truman’s in WeHo also makes a great GF bagel! I personally prefer Modern for stocking up on individual bagels but Truman’s is still worth checking out.
And while you’re there, get their GF cinnamon roll. It will CHANGE your life.
Next up on my list: Alfred’s GF bagels and Yeastie Boys.
What other GF bagels am I missing? Let me know!