A diverse set of trays hold an equally diverse set of bagels. From good food to spirited people to engaging conversations, the sold-out BagelFest West 2026 was an uncontended success. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.
Two weeks have passed since the first major bagel festival on the West Coast, but BruinLife still thinks back on the event that was BagelFest West 2026. When bagel-enthusiasts come together, gastronomic magic is bound to happen.
Chef J.D. Rocchio of Belle’s Bagels exchanges a smile with his colleagues as he busses samples to event-goers. The Highland Park-based shop is a favorite among locals, and after 14 years of serving quality sourdough bagels to its Angeleno neighborhood, the love it has received is well-placed. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.Drawn in by the sight of bagels and bagel plushies, attendees listen intently to an overview of Rise Bagels’ selections for the day as the next batch undergoes preparation. The table did not hold back on game day, bringing out a mean spread of deviled quail eggs and piped berry schmear on airy California-style bagels. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.Rise Bagels’ Tokyo egg salad and fruit bagels stand on display, artistically presented and tastefully seasoned. Opened as recently as December 2025, the Irvine-based shop proved to be the event’s dark horse, bringing home two awards — Best of the West and Most Creative — for good reason. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.Gabe Rubin of Mission Bagel welcomes a visitor with a good-natured hello. The Cincinnati native is the brother in the sibling duo that founded the San Diego shop in September 2025 — another small but mighty newcomer to the Southern California bagel scene. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.Mission Bagel brings a variety of its most popular menu items to BagelFest, with its Gefilte Fish Hillel a particular standout. The beet horseradish topping does more than add a vibrant pop of color to the table, offering a sweet counterpoint to the freshwater protein as well. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.
If one looks a bit past all the delicious samples (which is admittedly hard to do), one will notice a theme of family runs through BagelFest West 2026. As the husband in a couple duo this time, having named his shop after his children’s love for his late brother, Tom Levy introduces the options from Uncle Stevey’s Bagels to curious passersby. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.
Owner and Head Baker Daniel Messinger chats with visitors as he restocks the trays of his eponymous shop at BagelFest. As a phoenix from the ashes of the pandemic, Daniel’s Bagels is the result of a college dream come true for a UC Santa Barbara alum. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife.Co-founder Cheryl Storms of New Wave Bagel greets BruinLife with enthusiasm. The Encinitas-based shop specializes in artisan sourdough bagels, winning second-best schmear on Sunday with its lemon meringue bagel — a great feat among qualified contenders. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.Calic Bagel values innovation in its creations, serving bagels rip-and-dip and stuffed with Asian-inspired baking methods. The result is indeed softer than their traditional counterpart and should satisfy customers who prefer their bagels with less chew. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.Known for its cashew-based cream cheese, dairy-free Monty’s partners with gluten-free Original Sunshine to bring a vegan bagel to the table. Given that nearly two of every five Americans experience some form of lactose intolerance, Monty’s was a welcome exhibitor at BagelFest West 2026. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.Inspired by the Tarantino film of a similar name, Inglorious Bagels from Carlsbad serves a faithful recreation of soft NY-style bagels alongside creative schmears at BagelFest, including a kimchi cream cheese that was a photographer favorite. The table was notably one of the few that forewent the open-face concept, but presentation was nevertheless high. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.Founded in 2019 by the Faris family and named after their middle son (who introduced BruinLife to the two BagelFest-exclusive flavors of the day with great skill), Hank’s Bagels has since expanded to four locations in Southern California. The Angry Blueberry was an especial hit, rounding out the otherwise fruity schmear with a mild kick. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.A row of panels document the rich history of the bagel, following its journey from its Jewish roots in 1600s Poland to its expansion into supermarkets, regional variants, established flavors, cultural influences and even legal cases since. Bagelry is truly a story of innovation with a respect for tradition — a spirit very much alive in Los Angeles to this day. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.As the physical embodiment of the dedication of hundreds of individuals to bringing delicious bagels to the West Coast, BruinLife’s second and final round of samples at BagelFest 2026 is as fulfilling as the first. Rumor has it that the bagel revolution is slowing down in Los Angeles, but the fact that it happened is proof enough that passion can drive great change. Photographed by Amy Miranda/BruinLife.
Julia Gu is a UCLA alumna who earned her bachelor's degree in computer science and applied mathematics and was a 2025-2026 photo editor for BruinLife. When she does not have a camera in hand, Julia loves helping out at local elementary schools, learning languages and exploring music from around the world.
Amy Miranda is a second-year student pursuing a degree in business economics. With roots in Orange County, her journey as a photographer stems from an influential art class in high school. She has been an avid photographer since and often finds inspiration for her work from the cinematic compositions of films. When she is not studying, Amy spends time with her golden retriever Milo and her cat Oliver, who do in fact get along very well.
