P. L. Bagels

Best bagels in San Diego, bar none

Much better bagel places in town than this place. I had heard great things and loved the cash prices that were low. I love trying new bagel places. That being said, bagels with sliced processed cheddar cheese with microwaved eggs is what I tried on an everything bagel and was worried. I love Brooklyn bagels downtown and big city bagels and this place is so far down the scale it’s not comparable. Service was nice but not overly friendly. Would not recommend this place or go back for bagel breakfast despite the price.

I love this place! It is CASH ONLY, so be aware.
It’s kind of a hole in the wall bagel place, limited seating so don’t expect to sit down with a group or go for an entire meal type setting. But it’s delicious and the people are friendly and efficient. The selection isn’t huge but it suited me just fine.
The parking is tough because it’s SUCH a tight lot but it doesn’t deter from PL Bagels. And it isn’t overpriced which in this day in age is a miracle. They serve coffee but I’m pretty sure that’s all– nothing fancy like a latte or mocha. I would definitely give them a try!

Best bagels in SD! Originally from the east coast, my bagel standards are very high. Finally, a place that makes good, fresh bagels. Their cream cheese is also delicious. Coffee selection is limited (hazelnut, french roast and regular) but still good. The staff is very nice and the prices are great. A bagel and cream cheese with a large coffee is only $ 4. So glad I found this place.

$ 3 for a bagel with egg and cheese. A decent price– I ordered 3 and the wait was about 10 minutes but I happily waited for delicious food. Some of the bagels are smaller in size unfrotunately, i.e. the sourdough bagel, but still delicious!

The bagels were just ok, nothing special and didn’t taste freshly made. My walnut raisin cream cheese was good but again not spectacular. My husband ordered an open faced bagel and they wanted to charge us $ 4 dollars extra because they said there would be extra cream cheese, making it a $ 7 bagel and cream cheese! All in all, we won’t likely go again and will go to Einstein’s instead to get a better bagel and service.

A good solid bagel shop that makes its own bagels. They are more NY style than Montréal, but really, do you care that much??? They are fresh and the people are nice.
I had an everything with walnut raisin and a large coffee for 4.25. It was good and filled a hole.
While I am sure there may be a mo’ better shop in the 25 mile metro area, why bother unless it is your mission in life. :)

Not like a New York bagel. I’m from NY and this was a poor excuse for a bagel. They say «made fresh daily» but when I got there there were only 4 options and a whole bunch missing. Didn’t use gloves either. Wouldn’t recommend

Declined to serve my family today because my baby was crying. They said they were closed and went to the back of the business. I went next door to get food and came back to see them open and taking orders from the three people in line. I am a business owner and this is the poorest I have ever been treated. It’s not my fault my baby was sick and did not feel well. I hope other people boycott these people as well. We have been loyal patrons for over 12 years. I would like to go back and give take a piece of my mind for lying, manipulation and being prejudice. Please get in touch with me via Unilocal if you have experienced this here as well.

Didn’t get to try it because it was cash only… so if you’re in a rush remember to bring cash!

They have a nice assortment of delicious bagels at a great price. My favorite thing about this bagel shop is their selection of cream cheese. Definitely try the bacon basil cream cheese! I could put that stuff on everything. Try to get there early when the bagels are still fresh and warm!

None better in San Diego…
These are the best… My daughter lives in Brooklyn, and these remind me of her favorite place on 7^th Ave… Really authentic New York. I have never had another in San Diego that even comes close… THE BEST.

Simply the best! At least in SanDiego. If you want a better bagel, fly to New York, seek out the top 1% of shops there & you may get lucky. This place is not fancy, up-​scale or chic, but if you want an authentic, expertly crafted bagel — This is the place to go. Get there early, get one fresh (ask if there are any still warm) you will be hooked!
Thank You PL Bagel for bringing GREAT bagels to San Diego & saving me a lot of travel! ;-)

By far not the best bagel I ever had but it was good. I had the everything bagel toasted with the lite strawberry cream cheese. It was very light and filling. The service was fast and friendly. The negative is the place looks a little sketch, parking lot too, we almost got hit because it’s so small. Also, it’s cash only.

I was told this was the most authentic NYC bagels in all of SD and they had bialys from a nyer, and that the original owner was from NY and sold the business a few years ago. I was sold, and sold the wife on it for the Grand Prix of Bahrain. when we walked in Sunday morning at 7am and saw the bagel maker scoop the bagels out of the bagel water I was getting even more sold and so was she.
we got a ½ dozen (plain, sesame, pumpernickel, everything) and a bialy and when we got in the car she said the bagels were still warm. so… I reached over and gave it a squeeze and the hope ended there. NY bagels if done right has a dense dough and should offer resistance, it shouldn’t be like squeezing a roll.
when we got home the flavors of the everything and pumpernickel was spot on, the crust was almost there but the innards… the dough is what wasn’t right. if they did get it right it would be a true NY bagel. the plain was the closest in terms of dough about 80% there but again still too soft for a NY bagel.
the bialys werent even 50% close. bialys should be crusty and oniony and theirs was more like onion dinner roll, there was nothing crusty about it.
the best bagels for us in SD is busy bees in LA Jolla. their plain bagel is the closest you will get.

Omg best bagels and best cream cheese! The bacon basil cream cheese is insane!!!
And the family that runs the place is so awesome! I always love supporting my local businesses and they definitely earn my business!

I’ve been here three times, and every single time they screw up my order. The workers never seem like they’re listening so I’d suggest watching them as they make your order.
If you don’t take cards, at least make my bagel sandwich correctly. After today I told myself I’d never go back.

Cash only and NO ATM! The worker told me that the closest ATM was at the next plaza over; which had a HUGE deli in it… might as well go to the deli instead. We came here because of the reviews on Unilocal,but by the time we found an ATM, we found another café/​bistro.
C’mon, its 2014, if you’re still dodging taxes, at least don’t forget about the convenience of the customers who give you business. If you were smarter, you’d get an ATM, make even MORE money by charging a buck for each transaction, continue to dodge taxes by being cash-​only, keep customers satisfied, and you won’t lose customers who venture out to get cash and end up finding another shop who accepts credit or debit.
2014: init, square, cube, ATMs, POS credit swipe devices… Google it… the future is now now ow ow w.

I always love a good bagel, and I would have to say I rather enjoyed the one I had from this place. I tried their sourdough bagel toasted with butter and jam and a Earl Grey tea for $ 4. (
)
Although the bagel was very good, it did however need more of that sour flavor you get from a good sour dough, but it was still very good with good texture. The butter was light and the strawberry jam flavorful and sweet. (
) All the bagels are made in house and they also offer a variety of spreads for them bagels. In addition to spreads, they also make breakfast and lunch sandwiches with the bagels.
The Earl Grey teas was simple packaged tea, but it was good. The place is family owned and they are quite nice and quick to provide service. A very good place for bagels at very reasonable prices.

I bookmarked this place when we moved to the neighborhood last year, and I’ve been here at least two or three times a month since then. The bagels are very good, fresh and keep well for a few days in the plastic storage bags they give you. I believe a dozen is about $ 9.50 and an 8 oz. cream cheese is $ 2 – 3 depending on flavor.
The staff, which I believe is a family, are friendly and helpful. Sometimes I even call ahead when I’m in a hurry and they’ll get a dozen or two with cream cheese ready for me so I can just run in and out. Very helpful when I’m running late.
My only wish is that they offered more bagel flavors (ie pumpkin, potato, jalapeño cheese).