8 essential Dallas-area bagel shops

Bagels are having a big moment in Dallas. With the news of the recent expansion of Shug’s Bagels, along with newcomers like Lubbies Bagels and the heavily-awarded Starship Bagel, there are plenty of places to get an authentic bagel fix in D-FW. Here are eight essential shops to visit.

The following are listed in alphabetical order.

Bagel Café 21

Don’t worry Richardson, the bagel bakers didn’t forget about you. Lisa and Kyriakos Kouzoukas felt that Richardson was lacking New York bagels, and took matters into their own hands. Kyriakos, who boils, seasons and bakes most of the bagels himself, is originally from Greece but met Lisa in Boston, her hometown. Their Northern roots make for some delicious and authentic bagels. Bagel Café 21 offers — you guessed it — 21 different bagel choices, including the ever-popular rainbow bagel, which changes colors weekly. Though their rainbow bagels are plain, pair them with either the bacon chive or honey pecan schmear for a delicious (and beautiful) treat.

Bagel Café 21 is located at 1920 N. Coit Road #211, Richardson. bagelcafe21.com.

Bagelology

Much like Dallas, Frisco once lacked a reliable bagel shop. Owners Ameira Olayan and Fadia Anani were up to the challenge. Olayan left nursing and Anani left catering to answer the culinary call. The only problem? They had to learn “bagelology,” or the study of bagels. The pair studied up, even heading to New York to learn the process. It’s safe to say they’ve become bagel brains, making a variety of 15 different boiled and baked bagels in-house daily. They don’t mess around when it comes to schmears, spreading on a truly thick layer in the middle of the bagel, as it should be. Pro tip: Keep an eye out for their “bagel bears.” Yes, that means a bagel shaped like a teddy bear head, and yes, it’s as adorable as it sounds.

Bagelology Bagels & Coffee is located at 252 W. Stonebrook Pkwy. #600, Frisco. instagram.com/bagelology.bagels.coffee.

Benny’s Bagels

Benny’s is keeping Lakewood in the bagel game. Their regulars swear this small shop on the corner of a strip mall deserves the hype that other big bagel names in Dallas get. According to their Instagram, Benny’s offers over 23 varieties of bagel sandwiches, wraps, paninis and more. Much like other Dallas bagel shops, Benny’s follows the boil-and-bake method, to get that perfect New York-style crunch. Satisfy your sweet tooth with their honey almond apricot bagel, satisfy your wallet with their reasonable prices, and satisfy your soul with their friendly staff.

Benny’s Bagels is located at 1901 Skillman St., Dallas. instagram.com/bennyslakewood.

Dan’s Bagels

“East Coast born and Texas raised.” That’s what Dan Hilbert calls the bagels he sells at his Trophy Club bagel shop, Dan’s Bagels. Missing the bagels from his time working in New York, Hilbert used his free time during the COVID-19 pandemic to perfect his bagel-making skills. Now, Dan’s Bagels won gold for Best Bakery in The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s DFW Favorites. Unlike many other D-FW bagel shops, Hilbert makes his with a “crispy and chewy sourdough recipe.” The sourdough method provides more flavor, lower glycemic levels, and stays fresh longer, according to the shop’s website. The shop offers everyday bagels with flavors like Rosemary Salt and Blueberry Pie. The true standouts, however, are their rotating specials, featuring a whimsical rainbow bagel that’s almost too pretty to eat.

Dan’s Bagels is located at 301 Trophy Lake Drive, Trophy Club. dansbagels.com/menu.

Lubbies Bagels

Named after a combination of their last name with the Jewish term for grandmother – bubbie – sisters Andrea and Jen Lubkin are serious about their bagels. The ingredients are simple: Organic Central Milling flour, salt and clean water. The result? “The best darn bagels around.” Their shop in East Dallas feels homey, almost like you’re in your own Bubbie’s kitchen. Their opening in late summer 2023 was met with an overwhelming response, already making them a hot spot for Dallas bagels. They have since expanded their menu from just bagels and schmears to deli salads, breakfast, and hot and cold bagel sandwiches for lunch. Want something sweet? Try a bagel with their honey-fig-walnut schmear, made with Gina Marie Cream Cheese.

Lubbies Bagels is located at 1160 Peavy Road, Dallas. lubbiesbagels.com.

Sclafani’s New York Bagels & Sandwiches

What do you get when you combine Italian family bread baking with Jewish family bagel making? A delicious New York-style bagel, that’s what. Owner Chris Sclafani’s father, who comes from Italian bread makers, married a Jewish woman with a bagel-making family. That beautiful bagel combination made its way to Preston Center in Dallas in early 2022. Though it’s located across the country, Sclafani’s is committed to being authentically New York. The shop’s long list of menu items contains sandwich names like “The Hudson,” “The Streisand” and “The SoHo.” Even their Instagram calls their product “authentic #NYwaterboiledbagels,” hinting at the belief held by many bagel lovers that New York’s water makes their bagels better. Whether you’re a New Yorker or not, there’s no denying that Sclafani’s is a great Dallas bagel spot. Upgrade your order next time by adding a crispy hash brown or homemade cream cheese to your breakfast sandwich.

Sclafani’s is located at 6135 Luther Lane. snybagels.com.

Shug’s Bagels

You never know who you’ll find at Shug’s, and that’s the fun of it. Party-goers flood their walk-up window at the Mockingbird Lane location for Shug’s: After Hours. College students stand alongside post-church-goers in line for a big bottle of Pedialyte and a build-your-own egg sandwich. New York native and SMU alumnus Justin Shugrue crafted the idea for Shug’s after noticing a lack of bagels in Dallas, and now the boiled, seasoned, and baked bagels have become a Dallas staple. So much so that Dallasites will stand in the Shug’s line for over an hour — rain or shine. That wait will hopefully ease up now that their highly anticipated second location opened Nov. 4, 2023. The Lemmon and Oak Lawn spot, formerly Great American Hero, has a drive-through for pickup orders. What to order? For first-timers, you can’t go wrong with bacon, egg and cheese (plus a crispy hash brown) on The Shug.

Shug’s Bagels is located in Dallas at 3020 Mockingbird Lane and 4001 Lemmon Avenue. shugsbagels.com.

Starship Bagel

Much like many other New Yorkers who find themselves in Texas, owner Oren Salomon saw a lack of authentic, grab-and-go New York bagels. His solution? Open his award-winning shop, Starship Bagel. Since opening in Lewisville in 2021 and expanding to Downtown Dallas in January 2023, Starship has made waves in the Dallas bagel scene. In June 2023, Starship Bagel was the only bagel shop in Texas to be named one of the “Very Best Bagels in the U.S. (Yes, Outside New York)” by Bon Appétit. Recently, Starship Bagel was the sole shop representing Texas in New York’s 4th Annual Bagel Fest, and they did not disappoint. Starship won first place for Best Bagel and Rising Star, runner-up for Best Newcomer, and third place for Best Outside The Boroughs and Best Showmanship. Their bagels are, dare we say, out of this world. Try the Millennial Falcon, a play on words referencing the famous Star Wars ship. It’s like a bagel meets a perfect avocado toast (a millennial favorite).

Starship Bagel is located at 1520 Elm St. #107 in Dallas, and 1108 W. Main St. in Lewisville. starshipbagel.com.