You Can Finally Get a Decent Bagel in Dallas, Thanks to Two Exciting New Contenders

For many, many years, it was incredibly difficult to find a solid bagel in Dallas. Sure, there were the chains and a couple of local spots that had earned devoted followings in their neighborhoods, but none ever really managed to rise to the top.

Now, though, Dallas’s bagel scene is finally getting stronger, thanks to these two brand new contenders that make waking up early actually worth it.

Shug’s Bagels

The lines at this SMU-area spot indicate that it’s not exactly a secret, but Shug’s Bagels made its debut in June and has been packed ever since. The bagels, available in classic flavors like poppyseed, everything, sesame, onion, and blueberry, are toasted to perfection and boast a chewy, bready interior that almost makes it feel like you’re standing outside a New York City deli instead of a Dallas strip mall.

Fight off a hangover with the BEC (bacon egg and cheese) bagel, or order an onion bagel piled high with pastrami (or the classic nova) lox, scallion cream cheese, tomatoes, capers, and onions for the full experience. And don’t forget to add a tub of flavored cream cheese to schmear all over take-home bagels.

Pro-tip: Go on a weekday. The line at Shug’s Bagels can be pretty lengthy even during the week, but it’s especially long on the weekends.

Lenore’s Handmade Bagel Company

This pandemic-born pop-up is brand new, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t already turning out truly excellent bagels. Available for delivery in certain zip codes and pickup at various coffee shops across the city, Lenore’s Bagels are made with Yecora Rojo flour that’s stone-ground by Austin’s Barton Springs Mill.

Heavily crusted with toppings — plain, sesame, poppyseed, and everything are Lenore’s current options — these bagels have a hearty texture that isn’t heavy, and a more complex flavor than the typical bagel thanks to that stone-ground flour. The menu is limited to just bagels for now, but flavored cream cheese spreads and other toppings are in the works.

Unfortunately, these bagels aren’t available on-demand just yet. To join the “Secret Bagel Club,” text a top-secret code (it’s “bagels”) to 214.480.4627. From there, you’ll get instructions on how to order and when to pick up. Check out Lenore’s website for more details.

Pro-tip: Order more Lenore’s bagels than you plan to eat, then use this ingenious hack to slice and freeze bagels that last in the freezer for up to two months.

• The Best Way to Wrap Your Bagels Before Freezing [Eater]