Courage Bagels

The bagels at Courage come out almost charred; so dense and crispy, a sharp CRACK lets out whenever you bite into one. They’re topped with a basket’s worth of local produce, a bounty that would make any Alice Waters devotee swoon: heirloom tomatoes, sprigs of dill, and lemon slices that taste like summer.

Courage Bagels, which opened in 2020, makes the best bagels in Los Angeles—but perhaps you already knew that?

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Courage’s signature Montreal-inspired bagel is svelte—smaller, thinner, and sweeter than the ones on the East Coast. We say that for context, but what we love most about Courage is that they’re wholly unconcerned with the “NYC v. The Rest of The World″ debate. Instead, they host an unhurried bagel experience that highlights the bounty of nearby farmers' markets. Everything about Courage Bagels is unapologetically Californian.

Long wait times are a given, but the people working aren’t in a rush. Even if there are 100 people in line behind you, the person at the window will dreamily compliment your sweater (we got it on Depop) or stop to chat about the weather (it’s hot, isn’t it?). Each interaction is an unexpected treat—a personal touch that doesn’t feel performative. A warm smile can go a long way, especially when you just waited 45 minutes in line for a freaking bagel.

Prepared bagels are sold by the half, so utilize that option. The Hand-Sliced Smoked Salmon is cured fish in its ultimate form, shaved so thin it’s almost translucent, then showered in dill, onion slices, heirloom tomatoes, and a drizzle of olive oil. Get a half of that on sesame. For your other half, we strongly recommend a Run It Through The Garden. As the name suggests, it tastes like someone dumped a salad on a bagel. There are tomatoes, lemons, salty capers, onions, cucumbers, plus a sprinkle of pepper. We like that on the burnt everything. It’s an original creation that tastes sticky and sweet, as if rolled in garlic, sesame seeds, and an open flame.

If there’s a darker side to Courage’s sunny, laid-back atmosphere, however, it's the crowds and the resulting congestion around Virgil Village. Lines are known to snake around the block, obstructing streets and sidewalks. So while we do suggest geting that burnt-everything bagel. Just please stay off the freaking grass.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

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Food Rundown

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Run It Through The Garden

Courage Bagel’s sleeper hit. Cured fish will always have a special place in our hearts, but this bagel changed everything for us. It’s a uniquely California dish, covered in so many cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, salty capers, lemon slices, and dill (plus a thin layer of pepper), it could double as a salad. It would be impossible to recreate this in any other state.

photo credit: Kat Hong

Hand-Sliced Smoked Salmon

A dense, crackly bagel is topped with all the normal stuff (smoked salmon, cream cheese, onion, and capers) plus lemon slices, olive oil, dill, and the juiciest heirloom tomatoes we’ve ever seen in our entire lives. The juice from the tomatoes seeps into the dough when you bite into it, and the charred crust releases a sharp CRACK. Oh, and that dill! Sweet and aromatic, we wish we could make a wreath with it to hang in our home during the holidays.

photo credit: Jakob Layman

Loose Bagels, Two Per Customer

A great addition to your order. This way, you’ll be able to focus on that unique Montreal-style technique. The loose bagel is delightfully light, crackly, and guaranteed to leave crumbs all over your shirt. We like the burnt everything, an original creation that tastes sticky and sweet, like it was rolled around in garlic, sesame seeds, and an open flame, but the normal everything, sea salt sesame, and onion are also worthy choices.