The Best Bagels in San Jose (Best Kept Secrets!)
As the largest city in Silicon Valley, San Jose contains several hidden gem bagel shops influenced by bagel-making traditions from various regions. From New York-style bagels boiled then baked to achieve a delightfully chewy texture, to bagels wood-fired in a sweetened water bath for a firmer, sweeter exterior, San Jose offers several excellent options to suit any bagel aficionado’s preferences. If you are a bagel lover looking for a classic bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon, or a uniquely-flavored bagel filled with non-traditional mixes of cheese or other spreads, this guide will outline the very best bagel shops San Jose has to offer.
Main Street Bagels
Main Street Bagels in South San Jose offers a wide variety of fresh bagels cooked in the traditional New York City style. They are first boiled and then cooked on a stone making them firm on the outside but soft and chewy inside. Main Street Bagels offers all types of bagels and on a recent trip, we spotted jack cheese, poppy seed, egg, garlic, sourdough, asiago, and more.
They also offer bagel sandwiches like egg, cheese, and your choice of meat and Main Street doesn’t skimp on the ingredients. They also have a fridge full of drinks like orange juice and apple juice. They also offer their cream cheese tubs for purchase. The staff at Main Street is efficient if not overly friendly and they will whip up a frozen coffee drink, or a white mocha latte if you need one.
Main Street Bagels is tucked away in a large shopping center so parking usually isn’t an issue. A bagel sandwich starts at $9 and a dozen is around $30. This is more of a takeout spot but there are about three tables if you want to sit down to enjoy your bagel.
Address: 838 Blossom Hill Rd San Jose, CA 95123
House of Bagels
House of Bagels is a Bay Area chain serving up bagels, sandwiches, and a select amount of pastries. House of Bagels blends their cream cheese and our favorite is the lox that is well seasons with chunks of salmon. Their delicious breakfast sandwiches are the best in the area with fluffy eggs and crispy bacon. They also offer a version of this with sausage and bacon for meat lovers.
Like Main Street, House of Bagels is more of a to-go shop with a few tables outside the shop. Their spreads are what sets House of Bagels apart of from the other shops on this list and we always keep the lox or strawberry spreads in our fridge. If you want good bagels and unique spreads, then the House of Bagels should be on your list to try!
We prefer House of Bagels due to their friendly staff but it does get extremely busy on weekend mornings. There is plenty of parking and the Almaden location is easier to navigate than the location in Downtown San Jose.
Address: 5353 Almaden Expy Ste 63 San Jose, CA 95118 (South San Jose)
505 E San Carlos St San Jose, CA 95112 (Downtown San Jose)
Regal Bagel
This small cozy neighborhood bagel shop is in one of the last shopping strips before you leave the South Bay. The standout bagel here is the Norwegian lox with a generous portion of lox on an everything bagel with a schmear that has fresh chives. They have a select number of flavors and their bagels and ingredients for sandwiches always taste fresh.
We like that Regal takes the time to put just the right amount of cream cheese spread on our favorite cheese bagel, instead of slapping on a ridiculous amount to get customers out quicker. Regal also has a well-organized self-serve coffee bar and their Thai ice tea is one of the hidden gems on their drink list.
Regal Bagel is one of the best places on this list that offers stellar customer service. This is a family-owned bagel shop so staff will quickly start to recognize regulars and remember their orders. Parking is plentiful in the parge lot and there is a smoothie spot and coffee shop next door that offers outside seating.
Address: 125 Bernal Rd Ste 10 San Jose, CA 95119
Bagel Guys Bakery
This little spot with local owners offers something called a cragel which is a cross between a bagel and a croissant! Bagel Guys Bakery’s breakfast special bagels are the best on this list, filled with a ton of fresh ingredients and cheese that just oozes out. They also have a good selection of bagels and fill a hole in the area of San Jose right on the Campbell border of breakfast options. The owner Eric gives wonderful service and every time we stop in he greets customers with a smile and friendly hello. Even when the small cafe is crowded service like that goes a long way.
Parking isn’t an issue at this spot as it shares a large lot with several other small businesses. Bagel Guys offers great food and friendly service making it one of the best bagel shops in San Jose.
Address: 1702 Meridian Ave Ste C San Jose, CA 95125
Noah’s Bagels
The classic bagel chain Noah’s has a few locations in San Jose. Our favorite is the shop in San Jose’s historic Willow Glen neighborhood off Lincoln Ave. Noah’s offers bagel sandwiches, different types of spreads, and a delightful pretzel bagel that tastes similar to a lightly salted warm pretzel. My kids love these tasty bagels with some melted butter on top. Noah’s has perfected their system and because this is the only bagel shop in Willow Glen it gets crowded every single day. They offer everything from a pesto bagel to a lox bagel and they offer seating.
Quick note, there are seats outside but the last couple of times we went, there were regulars who made it tough to get a seat, and they aren’t very friendly either. Parking is a disaster at this location, and often we find ourselves parking in the parking garage, especially during those peak morning hours.
Address: 1140 Lincoln Ave San Jose, CA 95125
