This browser does not support the Video element.
Better than New York? Checking out two popular SoCal bagel spots
A recent article from New York Times named California the new capital of bagels.
CULVER CITY, Calif. - It may be one of the biggest foodie debate upsets in recent memory: A New York Times article crowned California, not New York, as the state with the best bagels.
POP'S BAGELS, CULVER CITY
Outside Pop's Bagels in Culver City, owner Zachary Liporace was making his case before two ladies -- both New Yorkers -- that his family's bagels are legit.
"It’s got that real malty flavor to it. My grandfather called Pop was from Brooklyn, from East New York. Because I’m from Long Island, I grew up eating bagels from Long Island," Liporace said.
Initially skeptical, the ladies decided to give Liporace's soldout bagel shop a try, which was said to be better than New York.
"I actually was looking for two bagels to have with my Lox and cream cheese on Sunday," said one of the ladies. "You got two bagels in there or not?"
"I have two plain. You want two plain?" Liporace responded
Liporace said he tried every bagel in town when he moved to Los Angeles from the Big Apple.
This browser does not support the Video element.
Best bagels in the country are in… California?!
FOX 11's Hailey Winslow stopped by Pop's Bagels in Culver City, where their sandwiches sell out long before they're scheduled to close for the day.
COURAGE BAGELS, LOS ANGELES
Over in Virgil Village, another New York Times best bagel is owned by fellow New Yorker, Chris Moss.
His fiancé started selling bagels on a bicycle four years ago. Together, during the COVID-19 crisis, they opened Courage Bagels.
Wildly fermented with fresh local ingredients, they’re much different than a New York bagel.
"We try to make this really crunchy exterior, this shattering sort of glassy crust, and inside it’s chewy and the flavor is really complex. It’s smoky," Moss said.
Another success, even with each Courage bagel taking six days to make.
'THAT NEW YORK ATTITUDE'
Back in Pop's Bagel's, Liporace shared a secret ingredient behind his business' success.
"You just have to give them a little bit of that NY attitude and they immediately are into the bagel," he said, playfully.
Just one problem: they need more bagels, as they sell out so fast.
Liporace says he plans to open a second shop in Brentwood, hopefully with an opening set for early May 2021.
Get your top stories delivered daily! Sign up for FOX 11’s Fast 5 newsletter. And, get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.