Bageltopia Blog

September 2026 Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley, CA

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 01:16:42 GMT

Happy September from Bageltopia!

As we head back into our scholastic year, we are reminded of all the things we are grateful for. Living in beautiful Berkeley, California, it is easy to forget how lucky we are. The sun is shining and the bees on the roof of Bageltopia are buzzing. We have experienced our busiest summer season ever- and are entering the final quarter of 2026 ready to crush out some delicious bagels and meet all of the new class of '30 Berkeley students!

Pizza Fest Wrap Up

We had a fantastic time at the San Francisco Pizza, Bagel Beer Festival! What an amazing event put on by some of the legends of contemporary Bay Area food. Tony Gemiani curates an incredible community of carbohydrates, and we planned ahead to ensure that we were flexing our bagel muscle against so many of our bagel peers. We could not even keep the bagels on the table! As soon as we were able to make them, groups of ravenous attendees pounced and consumed them immediately.

The Sushinova, our take on the flavor profile of Japanese inspired sushi, was incredibly popular. People were allegedly "swarming" the table at the Pizza fest interested in trying the flavors and complex toppings of the Sushinova. Some people even took two. For us, it just looked like hands grabbing out of the mist. The Sushinova is a delicious and reliable treat, a must have at Bageltopia, and is available every day for your purchase and enjoyment.

We were also proud to feature our August special bagel sandwich, the Tuscano, for everyone to try. The Tuscano sandwich was inspired by the incredible sandwiches you might find at the legendary Florentinian focaccia sandwich shop, Al' Antico Vinaio. For the sandwich we created a Pistachio Cream Cheese which formed the base of the sandwich. On top of that we added Duck Prosciutto, Roasted Red Peppers, Roasted Eggplant and Arugula. It was so delicious. Fest attendees were shocked to learn that we were offering both duck and salmon on our bagel sandwiches. Truth is we were happy to share! In addition to our meat sandos, for the vegetarians, we offered our Pistachio Cream Cheese and our old time favorite, the Caper Dill Cream Cheese.

We are looking forward to next year when we can run it back with Tony G. and all the other incredible establishments in the bay area!

Catering

We are revitalizing our Catering operation here at Bageltopia, utilizing some of the feedback we received from our customers to optimize the experience of buying Bageltopia for special events, weddings, office parties and when you might need a box of bagels to feed 12 of your friends. We are going to be spreading the love around Berkeley as well, distributing sample boxes of 6 bagels with sampler cream cheeses to our fellow businesses, organizations, offices and manufacturers of the East Bay! Keep an eye out for the Bagel Box!

More info is available on our revamped Catering Page (link here)

KALX

By the way, we love music, and we are big supporters of the KALX community. They are having their infosession this Wednesday September 9th, remember to support your local Freeform Community Radio!

September Specials

Special Bagel: Berbere Bagel

First Question
How do you even pronounce this?

We pronounce it "Ber-Beh-Rae" and we hope that you enjoy the tongue twister! The second "e" in the word is more of an "eh" than an "eeee" if that helps? Regardless, Berbere means "hot" or "pepper" in the Amharic language. But to be honest "hot" over simplifies this complex and enlightened spice blend

Our Berbere spice is inspired by the Etriean origins of the spice itself - mingling a centuries old spice tradition with our contemporary bagel offerings. It is truly a complex flavor, its spicy, its hot and warm and savory and the cayenne pepper gives it a heat that makes you feel flush in your cheeks. Paired with some of our spreads it is quite a unique bagel sandwich, try it toasted with butter to start so you can really experience the Berbere flavor on its own!

Second Question:

Why is this complex flavor so delicious, slightly spicy and perfectly paired with our other two specials of the month? Great question.

The answer lies within the blended Subtle flavors of chili peppers, garlic, cayenne, cardamom, a true testament to the brilliance in the complexity of the flavors. Not only do they linger on your tongue, they work their way into your nose and fill it with the nice and full experience of a spicy bite. We are really proud of the balance of this bagel and how unique it is.

Some wonderful suggestions for how to enjoy the bagels include:

Try it with the Calabrian chili cream cheese for a double spiced experience! It will be a wild ride.
Or better yet, have it toasted! add pesto butter, egg and tomato for a spicy and savory breakfast sandwich with a bit of juiciness from the fresh tomatoes. You will love it!

Special Cream Cheese: Spicy Mango Cream Cheese

Inspired by the flavors you might find in a delicious spicy pickled mango, Dan was absolutely stoked about this flavor combination on this amazing flavored cream cheese! Dan claimed he was inspired by the experience of eating Indian spiced and pickled mango. The reduction of this flavor exists namely this one extra tasty hot sauce that we will leave un-named. But Dan put a drop of it on my finger and said "Try this". Then he handed me some of the Spicy Mango Cream Cheese. Now I will admit, I was skeptical. However the moment I took a bite of that Cream Cheese I tasted the exact same flavor you might find on a table serving naan and roti. And truly, it did taste like that hot sauce on the tip of my finger. Well done, Chef.

To make it, Dan took the base of our (always) Philadelphia Cream Cheese and mixed in a combination of flavors that are nothing less than enigmatic. First we add some Cayenne, Cumin, sumac, citric acid and Fennugreek. What is Fennugreek? Well, take the fresh and dried leaves of the Fennugreek plant, (known as methi or kasuri methi in South Asia) and use them as a garnish, or blended in a dish. Fenugreek is very popular in Indian curries, flatbreads, and vegetable dishes. It brings a flavor combination that is quite unique. Mix all of these delicious ingredients together till you have the perfect balance of spice. Then, of course, we add mango as the final step to create this East Asian, Indian Inspired spread.

Mixing in that western Asian influence we combine cultures topping our Berbere bagels with Spicy Mango Cream Cheese to certainly raise the hairs on your chest (and head)!

Some othe

Special Sandwich: Sabich Sandwich

The Sabich is a messy delicious answer to the fusion breakfast sandwich we have all been searching for! In typical bageltopia fashion, we are offering the Sabich with all the traditional fixings:

Hummus
Tahini sauce
Jellied Eggs
Roasted Eggplant
Falafel Patty
Harissa
Pickles made in house

The sandwich is served closed-faced, as opposed to some of the other open face Bageltopia offerings! The pickles alone should be jarred (personal opinion) and stand on their own as a PERFECT pickle. Do you like crispy pickles? With a little tang and a little sweetness? Perfect. These pickles are jarred with mustard seeds, dill, turmeric, black pepper and garlic. The Hummus is made in house and is creamy and smooth, not so chunky. It moistens the bagel to provide a tasty bite. The jellied egg is delicious and smooshed down. It melts in your mouth. Add that tahini to really take it over the top. Did we mention the tahini sauce is also house made? Yes, that's right. At bageltopia we make everything right here. Fresh ingredients, no fillers and no cutting corners.

Do you happen to be Vegan and still want to try the Sabich? Good News! There are two wonderful options for you. We can either make the sandwich sans jellied egg, or we can substitute tofu scramble instead. Both are delicious and translate well from their non-vegan sister specials.

We appreciate all of your support and excitement for our monthly specials, and look forward to sharing them with you every month!

Grab this sando while you can!

As always stay posted for more news on specials and everything Bageltopia!

See you around town Berkeley fam!

August Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley, CA

Thu, 06 Aug 2026 18:02:30 GMT

August in Berkeley brings the winds of change to our little community. Back to school sales are popping up at local retailers, families are returning from their summer adventures and vacations, and the weather is just a tad bit hotter, the sun a bit brighter and the seasons change on top of us as we transition to the second half of 2026. Berkeley has a vibrant energy at the end of the summer, crackling with anticipation of another successful scholastic year, brimming over the top with new UC Berkeley Calbears of the class of 2030 (wow!) and their excitable attitudes to the newness of University Ave. For our new students, did you know Bageltopia is a very comfortable place to get your morning work done? Swing by, park in our parking lot, grab a bagel, post up and LOCK IN. We are happy to have you!

There's some amazing culinary and cultural events around the bay area in August. There's Temescal Tastes on August 9th and Stockton Tequila fest August 29! But, one of our absolute favorites is the SF Pizza Bagel and Beer fest in North Beach, San Francisco. Taking place on August 15th, this year's gathering is the third annual event, hosted right in the heart of North Beach at 1630 Stockton Street, San Francisco. Last year, Bageltopia was featured among the best bagelries in the Bay Area, and the response from the festival crowd was extremely positive. We ran out of everything! We featured four of our delicious bagel sandwiches, the Superclassic, Supernova, Veganova and of course the Japanese inspired Sushinova for everyone to try at the 2025 offering of the carbohydrate based festival. People loved the varied offerings we had to taste, all built upon freshly baked bageltopia bagels. They moved fast.

This year we decided to feature a COMPLETELY NEW bagel sandwich that we will also be offering as our August monthly special here at bageltopia. Owners Dan and Mike, inspired by some of the viral sandwiches that have come from Florence, Italy collaborated to create a special sandwich that would make even the Mona Lisa smile, the TOSCANO. This is truly an unique offering from Dan and Mike, featuring Duck Prosciutto, spicy eggplant arugula and our own Pistachio Cream Cheese. You can trust that we have learned from last year's Pizza and Bagel fest that we know to bring plenty of servings for everyone to enjoy. In addition to the Toscano, we will have our Pistachio cream cheese. Rich in nutty flavor and a creamy texture that with shock and delight even the most plain cream cheese enjoyers, the pistachio cream cheese will be a center piece of the fest, featured atop our freshly baked bagels.

We would be remiss to not offer one of our most fundamental menu options, the Sushinova as a treat for our fish lovers. Take a lox bagel and give it a Japanese flavor twist and you have the Sushinova. We will be smoking extra lox for this event in house (as we always do) to lock in that thin sliced salmon classic. We take our lox seriously and we love this sandwich. During last year's fest we received lots of positive feedback from pizza fest attendees about the quality of the Sushinova sandwich! We are delighted to be able to bring that experience once again for everyone to enjoy!

We can tell you from experience that the Pizza, Bagel and Beer fest is a must attend if you are free Saturday August 15th and want to try some of the absolute best food around the bay area. We are looking forward to connecting with all of you, enjoying the different restaurants and noshing on some delicious bagels, pizza and beer from so many local food luminaries.

Grab your tickets soon before they sell out!

For our August specials we wanted to bring the excitement of the bagel pizza fest to our monthly menu. For the event, we took on the challenge of creating a sandwich that emulates the approach of a contemporary Italian sandwich you might find in a piazza in Florence. With a bit of experimentation we landed on some truly magical flavor pairs that will really be a work of art worthy of the ufizzi.

Toscano Sandwich

For the Toscano, we looked towards the sandwiches made by All' Antico Viniao, whose original location on Via de' Neri, Florence, is just around the corner from Michelangelo's David, and il Duomo. All'Antico is not afraid of some Pistachio Cream, which they slather on their foccacia based sandwiches.

Owners Dan and Mike said to themselves, ok, let's make an amazing pistachio cream cheese to combine with our bagel base to start our florentinian experience. They then matched that with duck prosciutto. This unique approach to what is normally a pork product is fatty and delicious in a way that most be tried to fully appreciate. We then add to that roasted red peppers, oily and full of charred flavor. A layer of roasted spicy eggplant (like a camponata) roasted in olive oil with garlic, herbs and Calabrian peppers. The flavor mixes to robust peaks. A bit of crunchy arugula on top and some olive oil and you have a sandwich that is truly top notch. Enjoy it all on a fresh poppy seed bagel, or sesame if you like. We are so excited for you to swing by and try it! Please tell us what you think.

Garlic Herb Bagel

Our Garlic Herb bagel, Handrolled (of course) is a fantastic late summer offering from Dan and Mike. Fans of Bageltopia will know that we are not vampires, and most certainly not afraid to get into some deeply influenced garlic flavor zones. Our black garlic cream cheese, for example, brings the rich and nuanced black garlic flavor

Pistachio Cream Cheese

Pistachio Cream Cheese! Seems so simple yet so elegant. As part of our flavor explorations for the Toscano sandwich, we wanted to emulate the pistachio crema you might find on focaccia sandwiches from the Tuscany region of Italy. In Italy the process to make the pistachio crema involved a blending of pistachios with olive oil, basil, lemon, pecorino romano or parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. When paired with a delicious slice of mortadella or a spicy eggplant you get a flavor combination that is uniquely Mediterranean.

We wanted to copy this flavor and the approach of the Pistachio cream all while leveraging the traditional bagel shop cream cheese format. Take the pistachio cream cheese and incorporate it into some of your favorite recipes and baked goods. Pistachio Cheese Cake, Pistachio Coffee Cake, Pistachio Pound Cake? Simply replace your normal Philadelphia Cream Cheese in your recipe with our Pistachio Cream Cheese. You will be able to get that rich dense pistachio flavor baked into some of your favorite dishes! A Danish with the Pistachio Cream cheese could be delightful. We encourage you to experiment on your own and please get back to us if you come up with a recipe that is truly amazing.

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

September 2026 Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley, CA

Pizza Fest Wrap Up

Catering

KALX

September Specials

Special Bagel: Berbere Bagel

Special Cream Cheese: Spicy Mango Cream Cheese

Special Sandwich: Sabich Sandwich

August Specials at Bageltopia in Berkeley, CA

Toscano Sandwich

Garlic Herb Bagel

Pistachio Cream Cheese

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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