There are currently four locations of Pop’s Bagels – Brentwood, Fairfax and Beverly Hills, as well as right here in Culver City – with a fifth on the way in an as-yet undisclosed part of the region. That’s a blessing, because Pop’s Bagels makes great bagels.
It would be a mistake to think that a bagel is a bagel, that it’s simply a ring of dense, tough bread. A great bagel is bouncy and simultaneously firm. That’s the genius of the starch format – it holds its shape while also allowing your teeth to sink in. It’s the carbohydrate equivalent of a memory foam mattress.
“Pop’s Bagels, like every great business story, arose from a problem in need of a solution,” they say on their website. “In 2017, after 6 years of living in LA and searching tirelessly for a bagel that hit the right spot, Zach Liporace decided to take matters into his own hands. After scouring Los Angeles for a bagel that married a soft, fluffy inside with a fresh crispy exterior, and just the right amount of chewiness, Pop’s bagel journey began in a small studio apartment in Los Feliz. Word spread quickly that there was a new bagel in town. Today, we are proud to be the leaders of the west coast bagel renaissance. Our heart will forever be in LA, but we are excited to show the rest of the world how we take and bake!”
If Pop’s Bagels really are the “leaders of the west coast bagel renaissance,” then they’re leading this particular renaissance with grace and distinction. The sesame seed bagel that we tried was quite simply magnificent. A triumph of dough over doh!
As one would hope, the exterior is crisp and allows for that perfect crunch when first biting in like the outer shell of an M&M. From there, your teeth are in freefall as they sink into the cushiony wonderland that is soft bread.
The dairy-free schmear takes it up to another level. Safe for vegans and the lactose-intolerant alike, it doesn’t taste synthetic and chemical-ish like many vegan cheeses. Rather, it’s creamy and tasty, with a hint of something resembling cheese. We’re not sure how they pulled it off, but they did.
Again, Pop’s Bagels is better than the average bagel joint. The secret is the quality – they don’t settle for “ordinary” with anything. This Pop fellow really knows his stuff.
Pop’s Bagels is located at 9300 Culver Blvd., #112, Culver City 90232. Contact 310-237-8494 or visit popsbagelsla.com.