Houston isn’t necessarily known for bagels, but that hasn’t stopped a new wave of bagel-believers (and some local stalwarts) from baking their way into our city’s carb-loving hearts. From NYC transplants chasing a taste of chewy authenticity to coffee shops adding everything bagels loaded with toppings to their repertoire, Houston’s bagel scene is finally on the rise.
From dedicated bagel shops to full-service restaurants, here are 10 spots to experience the city’s finest.
Space City Bagels
The Heights didn’t know how badly it needed Space City Bagels until it landed last year. In addition to serving up classic chewy rounds, Space City slings brunch-style bagel sandwiches and bagel pizzas, giving locals the grown-up version of Bagel Bites they never knew they needed. The friendly neighborhood vibe makes it an easy weekend ritual—especially if you add a cinnamon sugar bagel and a latte to your order. 2155 Durham Dr., Houston, spacecitybagels.com
Kenny & Ziggy’s
Houston’s most famous New York deli also makes some of the city’s most reliable bagels. They’re not cheap, but one of Deli Man Ziggy Gruber’s plain bagels topped with nova lox and scallion cream cheese is the most satisfying loot you’ll spend around the Galleria. Bonus: Pick up a dozen to-go on your way out, which feels like a power move after polishing off one of the deli’s famously sky-high sandwiches. 1743 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, kennyandziggys.com
4 Brothers NY Bagels
Run by a set of real-life brothers from Queens, this family-owned shop is all about authenticity. The bagels are boiled, baked, and big enough to be called Texas-sized, especially when schmeared with one of the house-made cream cheeses. The first bite of the bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel feels like carb-based therapy every time. 4443 Cypress Creek Pkwy., Houston, 4brothersnybagels.com
New York Deli & Bagel Shop
A Meyerland staple since the ’70s, this diner is the definition of an old-school bagel shop, where perfectly golden rounds are sold in bulk from a counter adjacent to the vintage dining room. Fans swear by the pumpernickel with lox and cream cheese, but your kids are more likely to go straight for the chocolate chip. Come early on weekends, or you run the risk of your favorite flavor being sold out. 9720 Hillcroft St., Houston, nybagelsandcoffee.com
Slowpokes
This fast-growing local coffee house chain isn’t your typical bagel destination, but its menu boasts surprisingly legit bagels from local bakers. The toasted plain bagel with cream cheese is unfussy and reliable, perfect for pairing with a flat white, while the breakfast bagel sandwich overflows with eggs, bacon, and gooey cheese to fuel the crowds of laptop warriors and stroller-pushing parents alike. Multiple locations, imaslowpoke.com
Hot Bagel Shop
If you’ve never stood in line at Hot Bagel Shop with a paper bag of warm everything bagels under your arm, you might be doing life wrong. This River Oaks institution has made mornings worth it since 1984, with jalapeño cheddar bagels that pack more heat than an August afternoon and sesame bagels that beg to be topped with lox. It’s no-frills, all flavor, and the closest thing Houston has to a cult bagel culture. 2015 S. Shepherd Dr. #900, Houston, hotbagelshouston.com
Jeff’s Bagel Run
The arrival of Jeff’s Bagel Run in 2025 was a breakfast sensation. Lines formed out the door at its first Houston location, tucked into a bustling strip center on the edge of West U. Flavors lean classic, but the schmears up the ante. The jalapeño cream cheese is a must. 3849 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, jeffsbagelrun.com
Bagel Bob’s
Bagel Bob’s doesn’t try to reinvent the dough wheel—they just perfect it. Opened in Spring Branch in 2020, and then relocated to the North Post Oak neighborhood, the shop cranks out chewy, no-nonsense bagels with an earnestness that garnered raves from JJ Watt. The strawberry cream cheese bagel is pink, playful, and addictive, while the egg and cheese sandwich is pure, unfussy comfort. 1244 N Post Oak Rd., Houston
Bagel Express
For more than 30 years, this Sugar Land mainstay has been serving up bagel bliss with 20 types of bagels, seven cream cheese flavors, and muffins and pastries, all made in-house. For regulars, Bagel Express delivers exactly what’s needed to take the edge off the morning commute: the service is speedy, the prices are reasonable, and the bagels taste like they should. 4670 Highway 6 S., Sugar Land, bagelexpresssugarland.com
Jersey Bagels
Subpar bagels in the ’burbs? Fuggedaboutit. Jersey Bagels has brought golden, chewy, East Coast-style rounds to Katy. Here, bagels are the real deal: boiled and baked into the perfect canvas for indulgent breakfast sandwiches, or, in the case of the signature Burrosa Bagel, sliced apart like a bloomin’ onion and stuffed with garlic cream cheese. It’s a gem that’s worth the weekend drive. 9522 Huffmeister Rd. #500, Houston, eatjerseybagels.com
