Bageltopia Blog

Po' Boy Bagel Sandwich at Bageltopia in Berkeley

Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:17:36 GMT

Bageltopia head chef Dan Graf stylized our Big Easy inspired Po' Boy Bagel Sandwiches off of his own flavor experiences down on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, Louisiana. We hope you are able to bite into our Po' Boys and feel that Cajun “Feu-follet” spirit all the way here in Berkeley California. While Berkeley California's Mardi Gras celebrations may be limited in their scope, did you know that we have a Mardi Gras parade every year? Usually starting close to us here in San Pablo park, the parade route features marching bands, second lines and of course, lots of beads and pearls, colorful outfits and costumes. We love to feel the pre-lent spirit and let our unique community soar with these family oriented celebrations. What better way to share joy than with delicious food that evokes the tastes of a very unique part of American Culture. While we may not have the biggest mardi-gras in February, we can celebrate Fat Tuesday all year round as these sandwiches are offered year round as a permanent menu offering.

A Hearty Lunch Menu Staple

These Po' Boys represent the part of the Bageltopia menu that might be considered firmly in the “lunch” camp, but we will let you decide for yourself. And yes, you can order these sandwiches right when we open, so if you need a Po' Boy at 7:30 AM we have you covered, and it will keep you full all day, we guarantee! Truly, the Fried Chicken Po' Boy is a delight and on top of that is a truly a massive sandwich. Grab one and cut it in half and we promise there will still be enough to fully satiate two people and possibly a young one.

Reinventing the Po' Boy Roll with Bagels

The Po' Boy is New Orleans' working man's sandwich. Almost more about the bread than the ingredients you may find inside the soft roll, we questioned whether we needed to replicate the kind of dough that might rise in 110% humidity. That kind of swampy ambient weather simply does not exist on the corner of University and Acton. What were we supposed to do with our bagels and dough to make them perfect for the truly southern treat of the Po' Boy. Our solution was found more “in house”; our sesame bagel is chewy and airy. The Cajun remoulade softens and flavors the bread, and the fresh bagel squishes up all the flavor combinations into delicious bites.

Choosing the Perfect Protein

After extensive experimentation with different combinations of both meats as well as vegan alternatives, Dan landed on what he believes to be the perfect matching of the Po' Boy's (usually served on a French Bread Roll served lengthwise) aesthetics with a flavor pairing that brings out the chewy expressiveness of the bagel upon which the Po' Boy is served. Instead of the more traditional Protein options of Shrimp, Oysters, Roast Beef or Ham, Dan landed on the Fried Chicken Cutlet as the most effective meat offering for the Bagel Po' Boy. As with all sandwiches at Bageltopia, we always aim to have a vegan offering to compliment our mainstay menu options. In that spirit, for our Vegans Dan decided the crispy texture of the Oyster Mushroom creates a crunchy sensation similar to one you might find noshing on a Po' Boy on Bourbon Street on a humid August day, plus it has Oyster in the name, so that is kinda close isn't it?

The Fried Chicken Po' Boy, Dressed to Perfection

The Fried Chicken Po-Boy is as much a Fried Chicken Sandwich as it is a Bagel Sandwich. First we must ask, do pickles belong on a fried chicken sandwich? We are firmly in the Chik-Fil-A modeled, pro pickle stance of YES THEY DO. We would consider our Dredge to be a “KFC Knock off Dredge” and yes there are 12 spices featured, upping the Colonel by one spice. Yes our spice blend is also a secret. But we can tell you there is salt and pepper, coriander, a bit of onion powder to start, followed by our multilayered dredge. All cutlets are fried to order and made fresh so you know you are getting the absolute freshest piece of meat you can on your Po' Boy. This juicy piece of chicken is about 6-8 inches long, protruding from the center of the bagel like a giant protein beacon of flavor. We do not over sauce, but we do have a Cajun remoulade that really takes the trophy as it truly wins the spice game. Oh but it's not too spicy... just right!

What Does It Mean to Get It "Dressed"?

In fact, did you know that there is a certain term for when you add veggies and sauces to your Po' Boy? In New Orleans, when you add shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayonnaise on a Po' Boy, they call it “Dressed”. Well you can bet that we “Dress” our Po' Boys. The Chicken Patty is a hammered out piece of Chicken Thigh, seasoned, battered and fried to perfection before being served directly onto a bagel of your choosing. As mentioned previously, Dan will recommend a sesame bagel as the best medium for the Chicken sandwich. Why you may ask? The sesame bagel is often the softest of our bagels, with a slightly chewier consistency that absorbs the mayonnaise and flavor from the juicy chicken patty. If you are not into sesame bagels, you can use any of other bagel flavors. Many of our customers have ordered this exact sandwich on everything bagels as well as salt and plain! But we will say, adding the subtle flavor of toasted sesame seeds into the mix gives a mild tahini pop to the Fried Chicken Po' Boy. Did we mention it is also massive? Unlike some of our other bagel sandwiches like the Super Nova, it is served Closed Face as a complete Sando. Come give it a try, or go ahead and order online and it can be delivered right to your doorstep.

The Vegan Oyster Mushroom Po' Boy

There have been many different Vegan attempts at the Po' Boy from various luminaries of the Louisiana cooking scene. Some notable vegan alternatives for the meat protein you may find in a Po' Boy includes Friend Heart of Palm, Trumpet Mushrooms and Fried Tofu (to name a few). But why the Oyster Mushroom? Our Founder Dan Graf says “I love the taste of the fried oyster mushroom and I believe it brings the best flavor to the Vegan Po' Boy. After many rigorous tests using tofu and other veggie options, it was clear the oyster mushroom is the best option for the vegan version of this sandwich”. First we dredge the oyster mushrooms in a mixture of flaxseed and oat milk. Then one more dredge in seasoned flour flavored with our proprietary cajun spice blend as well as salt and pepper. We then lightly fry the oyster mushrooms to give them a buttery melt in your mouth texture. We use delicious Veganaise to make a remoulade base on the bagel before adding the aforementioned “Dressing” to make a Po' Boy that is crisp, juicy and delicious. Paired with our already vegan bagel offerings, our vegan community can rest assured that we “got their backs” on providing the best (and most authentic) culinary experience possible, with little compromise on quality. It truly is just as good as the chicken Po' Boy, with similar flavor pallets but, as you know, completely animal ingredient free and vegan! Come on in and try it for yourself, we believe you will be pleased with the authentic quality, dressing, and overall approach to this daily Nawlins staple.

Tell Us What You Think

Let us know how you feel about our specials and they may become permanent! We are always open to suggestions of how we can improve and we want feedback on our menu options you love, as well as the menu options you do not. Some of our most popular bagel sandwich offerings have begun as specials, so be vocal and let us know what you love about Bageltopia. Reviews and feedback can be given on Google, Instagram, yelp and on our website through our “contact us” form.

Visit Us & Follow Along

Order online at www.bageltopia.com or in person at our shop at 1401 University Ave (adjacent Fellini Coffeebar), open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30a to 2p.

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thebageltopia/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebageltopia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bageltopia

Bee-gletopia: New Rooftop Bees at Bageltopia

Tue, 21 Jul 2026 16:16:30 GMT

Bageltopia would like to present our newest project “Bee-gletopia”. Not Beagles, but Bees themselves — italian carniolan hybrid . In our continued and dedicated mission to deliver for our Berkeley community, owners Dan Graf and Mike Daillak have invested in a new and hopefully rather sweet endeavor: Honeybees on the roof of Bageltopia. Our new bees “ italian carniolan hybrid ” were sourced from “ Elk Valley ” and just arrived at their new home the second week of July. You might catch them buzzing around the corner of University and Acton, looking for a new flower to pollinate, supporting our local Berkeley bio-diversity. If you can't tell, we are bee-ary excited to welcome our new friends to their new home.

What Does "Topia" Really Mean?

When we ideate on the meaning of the term “topia”, we can look to its usage in both historical and postmodern contexts as a Latin term and also suffix. In many ways the “topia” suffix can be used to exaggerate the setting of a location. In Postmodern philosophy the term topia refers to an environment that is “lived in” as opposed to the non-existent Utopia that we all idolize. At Bageltopia we believe in this “lived in” ethos when it comes to food, to livelihood and our community, and now, to bees. Bee-gletopia is more than just a place to get delicious food. It is now a place where we nourish the local flora and fauna, we pollinate our local ecosystem to help the flowers grow and hopefully, soon, we will be able to offer some house made honey for our customers to enjoy.

How Long Until We Have Honey?

How long will it take for this honey to produce you may ask? Great question, After “rehoming” the bees into their new location, it can take anywhere from 3-6 weeks for them to build up their own comb. Once the comb is present, they will begin to generate excess honey.

Some bee keepers recommend not harvesting the extra honey until after the second season so as to maintain the wellness and thriving environment of the hive. We will be monitoring the situation actively here and will be sure to let everyone know as soon as the first honey can be harvested, so stay tuned to our social media pages for any and all updates.

The Buzz on Local Flavor and Biodiversity

From a culinary perspective... Did you know the kind of flower pollen harvested by bees can directly affect the flavor profile of the honey we humans harvest? Owners Dan and Mike are eager to see what kind of local flavors we will enjoy with our Bee-gletopia Honey! With our Mediterranean style climate, our fair town of Berkeley, California is heavily populated by non-native species, Trees and shrubs such as Eucalyptus from Australia, the Mediterranean and even South America can thrive here. By strengthening local flora and fauna and enabling the growth and flourishing of these plants and flowers, bees contribute to a healthy root system, to healthy mycology and most importantly healthy sustainable soil. When bees pollinate it contributes to local soil moisture and structure, preventing erosion, and enabling beneficial nutrient cycling. Honey Bees travel farther than other pollinators, spreading their pollen far and wide and fertilizing plants up to 5-7 miles away! Did you know bees are friends with other pollinators as well? The diverse plant life fostered by honey bee colonies provide their habitats the necessary conditions to create beneficial foraging grounds for thousands of other native bee species, butterflies, as well as other pollinators. This will bring the same thriving biodiversity directly to the flavors of our local honey! Now if only we can convince the Target across the street to add a green roof to their department store and we would really be in Buzz-ness!

Bee-gletopia Honey on Your Bagel

Of course we are most excited to feature our local honey on our special monthly bagel sandwich and cream cheese offerings. Peanut butter and honey on a cinnamon raisin bagel would be delightful. Honey, fig, arugula, bufala mozzarella? Now we are talking! Any combinations you would like to see on your own bagel? Feel free to come in and “build your own” bagel sandwich using our local roof top honey. Who knows, we may even harvest enough to be able to sell the honey in jars for consumption at home! Time will tell, but a happy bee is a productive bee! And with no real predators on the roof of Bageltopia we see a bright and buzzy future for our new project “Bee-gletopia”! Stay tuned!

Visit Us & Follow Along

And do not forget:

Order online at www.bageltopia.com or in person at our shop at 1401 University Ave (adjacent Fellini Coffeebar), open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30a to 2p.

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thebageltopia/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebageltopia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bageltopia

July 2026 Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley, CA

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:10:28 GMT

Happy 250th Birthday America !

We hope your summer is filled with Fun, Beach, Sunshine, BBQ, family and friends!

Caprese Sandwich

Summertime evokes the ripe fresh taste of a Heirloom Tomato, juicy, colorful and full of flavor. When paired with its favorite garden compatriot, fresh basil, you get a savory blend to the sweetness of the tomato. This robust spectrum of deliciousness is best finished with some fresh Mozzarella! Add some extra virgin olive oil and you have yourself a caprese sandwich that will evoke the feeling of the coast of Capri, origins of this amazing namesake Italian staple. Try it on a Salt Bagel!

Sun-dried Tomato Rosemary Bagel

It is a famous fact that Rosemary is good for your memory. They say the smell will ground you - always providing a reminder of where you are, where you have been, and where you are going. In that spirit, we want to be part of your core Bagel memories with our handrolled rosemary bagel inclusion. Does massaging the rosemary into the dough help the flavor? We like to think so… Add the earthy flavor of sundried tomato and you have yourself an iconic bagel, maybe best enjoyed with our Basil Butter ?

Elote Cream Cheese

You asked, and we are delivering!

Delivering Elote Cream Cheese that is.

Our Elote cream cheese is a Bageltopia favorite that we cannot keep off the menu. We take your roasted corn fresh out of the oven and mix it with lime juice and zest, Cotija cheese, Cilantro, and Tajin to emulate the sophisticated flavors of a proper elote summertime treat. The texture of the cream cheese is robust with the pieces of corn. Try stuffing it in a Poblano Pepper and roast it for incredible results…

June 2026 Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Asiago Bagel

As a born and raised east coaster, the Asiago bagel was a foreign concept for young Dan. This was simply not a bagel you found on the east coast. Dan first encountered the Asiago bagel here on the west coast, and found the demand for them from the locals to be surprising and compelling. With some experimentation Dan realized, wait, instead of just having cheese on top of the bagel… why not mix it into the entire dough? The results, delicious. While purists may claim that it is not a “true bagel flavor”, we encourage you to give them a try. You may love them.

BLT(A) on Bagel

In many ways, when Dan was growing up BLTs were the best summer dinner… no cooking - simple easy - fresh tomatoes, crispy lettuce and layers of delicious high quality bacon. Reliable and always delicious. Naturally, we are adding avocado for the peak California vibe (and that extra super food kick we all need these days). BTW yes, we do swear by Hellmann's (Best Foods out on the west coast) as our mayonnaise of choice.

Roasted Veggie Cream Cheese

When conceptualizing our newest cream cheese combination Dan thought about the summertime pleasures of grilling and chilling. What kind of special veggies could we mix together to make the perfect emulation of an evening with white wine, skewered plants and the crackling of oil on the grill? Well, how about Kohlrabi, Orange Bell Peppers and Broccolini, then roasted in olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper for a slight taste of char with a rich creamy base…

Bageltopia's May 2026 Specials: Garlic Artichoke Bagel, Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Cheese, and The Winged Muffuletta Bagel Sandwich

Fri, 01 May 2026 18:46:52 GMT

May is here, and so are three new specials worth making the trip for. Whether you're swinging by before class at UC Berkeley, looking for breakfast on the way to work, or just craving something seasonal and delicious — this month's lineup has something for everyone.

Artichoke Garlic Bagel

Hand-rolled with marinated artichoke hearts and fresh garlic — we think it's a natural pairing. Artichokes are in season right now in the Bay Area, and growing up on the Central Coast, Mike always knew it by the fields: rows of large, silvery-green leaves in full bloom are unmistakable when you pass by. This bagel is our nod to that.

Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Cheese

Having just returned to Berkeley from serving as a judge at the National Pie Championships hosted by the American Pie Council, Dan had pie on his mind. Dan's favorite pie is strawberry rhubarb, so it was an easy choice. This month's cream cheese combines candied rhubarb with both fresh and freeze-dried strawberries for a layered, pie-inspired flavor that goes well beyond your average schmear.

Winged Muffuletta Bagel Sandwich

We wanted a classic deli-style cold cut sandwich this month, but true to our values — lower carbon footprint, no mammals on the menu — we went all-in on poultry. Meet the Winged Muffuletta: smoked turkey breast, chicken mortadella, duck pastrami, and duck prosciutto, topped with a chopped olive spread and provolone. Since a traditional muffuletta is built on sesame bread, our sesame bagel feels like a perfect fit.

Come visit us at 1401 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA and follow us on the socials.

Bageltopia's April 2026 Specials: Jalapeño Cheddar Bagel, Blueberry Lavender Cream Cheese, Banh Mi Bagel Sandwich

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 07:30:00 GMT

Bageltopia's April monthly specials have Spring in mind. This month we're bringing back a fan favorite and introducing two exciting new offerings that celebrate the season — from floral cream cheese to a bold, globally-inspired bagel sandwich. Whether you're a Berkeley local, a UC Berkeley student, or just passing through the Poet's Corner neighborhood, there's something delicious waiting for you at 1401 University Ave.

�� Blueberry Lavender Cream Cheese

We've wanted to do something with lavender for a long time. Lavender is one of those flavors that's a cross between sweet and savory, and now that blueberries are in season, we thought the pairing would be a perfect combination for our blended cream cheese.

��️ Jalapeño Cheddar Bagel

Back for the month of April, this is one of our most requested bagel specials. Our Jalapeño Cheddar Bagel is hand rolled in house and baked fresh every day.

�� Banh Mi Bagel Sandwich

The Banh Mi Bagel Sandwich is one of Dan's and Mike's favorite sandwiches and we just had to bring it back for April. It's perfect for everyone with your choice of caramelized salmon or a vegan patty, mixed mushroom paté, pickled daikon and carrots, cucumber, with a spicy mayo.

�� Visit Us or Order Online

Order online at www.bageltopia.com or in person at our shop at 1401 University Ave (adjacent Fellini Coffeebar), open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30am to 2pm .

�� Instagram: @thebageltopia
�� TikTok: @thebageltopia
�� Facebook: Bageltopia

Bageltopia's March 2026 Specials: Za'atar Bagel, Preserved Lemon & Fennel Cream Cheese and The Cusano Vegan Bagel Sandwich

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 19:25:40 GMT

March is here and so are Bageltopia's newest monthly specials — and this month is a good one. From a beloved returning bagel flavor to a seasonal cream cheese and a brand-new 100% vegan sandwich, there's something for every bagel lover to look forward to. Here's everything you need to know about what's new at Bageltopia for March 2026.

Monthly Special Bagel: The Za'atar Bagel is Back!

Bageltopia's Za'atar Bagel — the most requested monthly special bagel is back for March 2026! The word Za'atar means wild oregano, a specific varietal native to the Middle East, and Bageltopia's unique Za'atar spice-blend recipe is made with fresh, hand-picked oregano and thyme, blended with cumin, coriander, and sumac. Like all good spice blends, the fresher the herbs and spices, the better the Za'atar comes out. Bageltopia's Za'atar is a hit with our staff too, who love the herb and spice aroma throughout kitchen as we bake them in house fresh throughout the day.

March Cream Cheese: Preserved Lemon & Fennel

For our monthly special cream cheese, Meyer lemons are in season and an inspiration for Preserved Lemon & Fennel Cream Cheese . This cream cheese is a blend of preserved lemons including Meyer lemons with roasted fennel root and fennel fronds.

March Sandwich: "The Cusano" Vegan Bagel Sandwich

March's Bagel Sandwich is "The Cusano." We were inspired to create a 100% vegan sandwich for March and "The Cusano" was initially an idea from Mike for an open-faced sandwich with a creamy, garlicy mushroom topping replacing traditional roast beef with savory mushrooms. Growing up, Dan ate this sandwich all the time at a local Italian sandwich shop in New Jersey, so he was all in with Mike's idea. We love the name Cusano, because it is a town in Northern Italy well known for its mushrooms. Bageltopia's version of The Cusano uses a vegan garlic spread and a blend of sauteed mushrooms including king trumpet, blue oyster and portobello mushrooms. To round out the flavor profile, we add grilled spring onions.

Flavor-wise, Bageltopia's March 2026 specials pair together very well, and our March specials are available at Bageltopia through Tuesday March 31, 2026. Order online at www.bageltopia.com or in person at our shop at 1401 University Ave (adjacent Fellini Coffeebar), open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:30a to 2p.

Bageltopia Blog

Po' Boy Bagel Sandwich at Bageltopia in Berkeley

A Hearty Lunch Menu Staple

Reinventing the Po' Boy Roll with Bagels

Choosing the Perfect Protein

The Fried Chicken Po' Boy, Dressed to Perfection

What Does It Mean to Get It "Dressed"?

The Vegan Oyster Mushroom Po' Boy

Tell Us What You Think

Visit Us & Follow Along

Bee-gletopia: New Rooftop Bees at Bageltopia

What Does "Topia" Really Mean?

How Long Until We Have Honey?

The Buzz on Local Flavor and Biodiversity

Bee-gletopia Honey on Your Bagel

Visit Us & Follow Along

July 2026 Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley, CA

Caprese Sandwich

Sun-dried Tomato Rosemary Bagel

Elote Cream Cheese

June 2026 Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley

Asiago Bagel

BLT(A) on Bagel

Roasted Veggie Cream Cheese

Bageltopia's May 2026 Specials: Garlic Artichoke Bagel, Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Cheese, and The Winged Muffuletta Bagel Sandwich

Artichoke Garlic Bagel

Strawberry Rhubarb Cream Cheese

Winged Muffuletta Bagel Sandwich

Bageltopia's April 2026 Specials: Jalapeño Cheddar Bagel, Blueberry Lavender Cream Cheese, Banh Mi Bagel Sandwich

�� Blueberry Lavender Cream Cheese

��️ Jalapeño Cheddar Bagel

�� Banh Mi Bagel Sandwich

�� Visit Us or Order Online

Bageltopia's March 2026 Specials: Za'atar Bagel, Preserved Lemon & Fennel Cream Cheese and The Cusano Vegan Bagel Sandwich

Monthly Special Bagel: The Za'atar Bagel is Back!

March Cream Cheese: Preserved Lemon & Fennel

March Sandwich: "The Cusano" Vegan Bagel Sandwich

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