The breakfast taco is arguably Austin's go-to morning meal. But there's a new kid in town trying to eclipse the breakfast taco's reign. Enter: the bagel.
After living in the Bagel Capital of the World for more than a decade, color me surprised when I moved back to Austin to find so many gourmet bagelries trying to take on the New York classic. The bagel boom in Austin is very real, with shops popping up all over town in recent years. Newer additions include: Shug's Bagels, which opened its doors just a few weeks ago, and the viral PopUp Bagels, which is set to open later this year.
If you're curious to know where to find a great bagel and what to order, I did some real shoe-leather reporting last week to help you narrow down your choices:
That lox good to me! (Elissa Castles/City Cast Austin)
5501 N. Lamar Blvd. Open everyday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This spot is hard to miss, with its bright orange accent color and cute dog logo. I can only assume the dog is named Charlie and is a nervous little guy! Nerves aside, the bagels are great! Most people order The Longhorn or The Classic, but I got the bagel with lox. Another classic combo for the savory folks who aren't afraid of smoked fish and capers at 8 a.m.. The best part is I went on a Saturday morning assuming it would be chaotic but instead it was orderly and lines moved quickly. Nervous Charlie’s also has a Cedar Park location and another is planned for South Austin too.
1206 Parkway. Open everyday from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
I first attempted to go here on a weekend, and to quote Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," that was a "big mistake. Big. Huge!" The line was out the door and continued down the street with no shaded spots to offer relief from the August sun. So, I decided to try my luck again on a Monday afternoon. There was still a line but it was much more manageable. Shug's has a lot of fun sandwich combos including a chopped cheese, pizza bagel, and more. I opted for the turkey club on an onion bagel. By the way, they were out of everything bagels which feels like a sin. The grand total for my sandwich was $17.32, which I wasn't expecting since prices aren't printed on their menu, and it nearly took my breath away. Was it worth it? In some ways, yes. The bagel was truly top-tier: a perfectly crispy exterior and soft, chewy interior. Perhaps next time I'll opt for the more economical bagel and schmear option. If you decide to venture here, be prepared to spend some money and may the line gods be ever in your favor!
2427 Webberville Rd. Open Thursday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturday - Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The award for most creative combos goes to this bagel trailer. Their colorful menu showcases an array of out-of-the-box sandwiches that make it hard to pick just one. After much debate I ended up ordering the Jam Sesh, a creative spin on the classic bacon, egg, and cheese. This sandwich is made with maple coffee bacon jam, scrambled eggs, and cheddar cheese. It's both savory and sweet and really hits it out of the park. The prices here are slightly on the higher end (my sandwich was $14 with tax) but I would say it was well worth it for the innovation. Plus, as you wait for your bagel, you can pop over to Fleet Coffee next door!
Casper's power lies in the fermentation of ingredients. (Elissa Castles/City Cast Austin)
4715 S. Lamar Blvd. Open Wednesday - Sunday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This unassuming shop located in South Austin stands out from the rest because its bagels are made with sourdough. And wow, are they good! Their expertise lies in the fermenting power of their products which includes not just bagels but also kombucha and kimchi. I ordered the tuna salad on an everything bagel which I scarfed down in record time. But the most popular options, according to an employee, are the bagel and lox sandwich, and bagels with schmear and kimchi. I'm definitely going back to try those and probably their whitefish salad as well which I am a sucker for!
1900 Rosewood Ave. Open Monday - Friday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on weekends from 7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The most popular combo at this no frills spot, according to the helpful cashier, is an everything bagel loaded with scallion cream cheese – a combo after my own heart and exactly what I ordered. Plus, I added bacon, an elite move. The bagel was pretty good but the schmear stole the show for me! It was so fresh and delicious, with bright green scallions perfectly balanced in the tangy cream cheese. The prices are much more affordable. Plus, they have dollar-off, build your own bagels everyday from noon to close. The downside is they don't offer a huge variety of sandwich options like some other spots around town. I think this a go-to spot if you're more into the bagel basics.
422 W. 5th St. and 11101 Burnet Rd. Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on weekends 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Before going here, I had heard a lot of mixed reviews. It's either the best bagel in Austin or overrated and not worth it. But I must say, I thoroughly enjoyed my B.A.T. on an everything bagel. This sandwich takes a spin on the BLT by including avocado and lime poblano scallion schmear. Delish! I must also give credit to the actual bagel which is caked in everything seasoning – there's not a plain spot on that thing. The most popular orders here are the Rose'n Shine and the Bodega Bagel. Rosen's has two locations: one near the Domain on Burnet Road and one downtown in Republic Square. A third location is set to open this Spring in Windsor Park!
