It’s true that a good bagel – well fermented, plump, chewy yet tender – can be difficult to come by in Hong Kong, but there are definitely bagel specialists out there that stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Whether enjoyed on their own, slathered with cream cheese, or in sandwich form, we’ve collated this round-up of the spots offering the best bagels in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong’s top bagel shops
1. R&R Bagels
R&R Bagels debuted on Central’s Li Yuen Street West nearly a decade ago, and it’s since expanded to three dine-in cafés – a testament to its authenticity. A quality bagel with spread will run you HKD45, with bagel options including plain, sesame, wholegrain, poppy, cinnamon raisin, onion, garlic, everything, and vegan and plenty of both sweet and savoury cream cheese flavours to keep things interesting. However, it’s R&R’s bagel sandwiches that are the most popular of all. The bacon jam BLT (HKD98) and smoked salmon (HKD105) topped up with lox, tomato, red onion, dill, capers, and cream cheese are true fans faves. The spot has recently introduced a Nutella-laced chocoholic bagel (HKD80) that sounds perfect for a pick-me-up.
R&R Bagels, multiple locations across Hong Kong
2. Bagels Alley
This bagel shop in Central serves up handmade preservative-free bagels with the ideal crispy exterior. On the Bagels Alley menu, there’s a variety of choices in the bagel with spreading (HKD39) category; the spreads run the gamut from classic plain cream cheese, to aromatic black truffle cream cheese (+HKD5), and even to spicy hummus (+HKD3). The bagel sandwich bestseller here is the Pastrami Bomb (HKD79), a delicious mélange of pastrami, cream and Swiss cheeses, tomato, rocket, gherkin, and mustard.
Bagels Alley, Shop A1, G/F, Haleson Building, 1 Jubilee Street, Central, WhatsApp 9793 8401
3. Schragels Delicatessen
Hong Kong’s OG bagel spot, Schragels was founded in 2014 by New Yorker Rebecca Schrage. Taking a bite out of one of Schragels’ kettle-boiled and stone-baked bagels transports us straight to the Big Apple; the texture and flavour are simply spot on. For a small breakfast or brunch gathering, we suggest ordering the Schragels 1.0 (HKD370), which comes with a dozen bagels and two tubs of cream cheese. If you’re flying solo, you can instead opt for a bagel and schmear (HKD60) or a bagel sandwich, perhaps The Big Apple (HKD105) itself, delivering roasted turkey, honey and pecan schmear, and green apple on a sesame bagel.
Schragels Delicatessen, G/F, 104 Jervois Street, Sheung Wan, WhatsApp 5285 7092
4. Mendel’s Delicatessen
Kennedy Town’s Mendel’s, a cross between a New York diner and Jewish deli, is beloved for its all-day breakfast offerings, stacked deli sandwiches, and – you guessed it – bagels. The bacon, egg, and cheese (HKD88) and house-smoked salmon (HKD108) are signature bagel sandwiches for good reason, whilst we also rate the diner staple that is the tuna bagel melt (HKD88). For a sweet change of pace, the blueberry bagel (HKD58) is recommended: blueberry compote and cream cheese on a toasted bagel slice.
Mendel’s Delicatessen, G/F, 66 Catchick Street, Kennedy Town, WhatsApp 9220 4344
5. Bagel GoGo
An underrated spot for top-drawer bagels in the city, Bagel GoGo in Hung Hom showcases about two dozen sweet and savoury bagel sandwiches, creative to the max. The messy chalkboard menu, scrawled in both English and Chinese, lists them all, from the luncheon meat, egg, and avocado bagel sandwich (HKD74), to the slow-cooked chicken chop with pineapple bagel sandwich (HKD76), to the mashed taro mochi bagel sandwich (HKD58). The portions are generous and the ingredients are super fresh.
Bagel GoGo, G/F, 35 Sung Chi Street, Hung Hom, WhatsApp 9882 2845
6. Halff Bakery & Coffee
Halff is a newcomer to Hong Kong’s bagel scene. A rainbow of pre-packaged individual bagel (HKD18–22) flavours are on offer at this Sai Ying Pun bakery or you can opt for a bagel set (HKD38), which comes with a choice of cream cheese, including funky flavours like summer berries, pistachio, and lemon curd and sea salt. The bagel sandwiches here are also mighty inventive – the Korean-inspired triple-cheese budae jigae bagel (HKD65) in particular, a mountain of luncheon meat, egg, cheese, cabbage, and fiery gochujang cream cheese.
Halff Bakery & Coffee, Shop B, G/F, 63 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun, WhatsApp 5161 9921
7. Lungo
With five locations across Hong Kong, you’re never far away from a quality cup of coffee paired with an equally quality bagel at this home-grown coffee roastery chain. Lungo’s diverse selection of bagel sandwiches range from the classic ham and cheese (HKD60) and smoked salmon and onion (HKD62) to the quirky chicken and wasabi mayo (HKD60) and avocado and green curry (HKD64). You can also get your bagel (plain, everything, cinnamon, or blueberry) topped more simply with the likes of peanut butter and condensed milk (HKD45) or Earl Grey peach jam (HKD45).
