Courage Bagels, a buzzing bakery in Virgil Village, serves up irresistibly crispy Montreal-style bagels piled high with fresh, whimsical toppings—just be ready for the line!
"On weekends, lines stretch down the block for Courage Bagels’ hole-y creations. Ari Skye and Chris Moss started serving their smallish, crisp, fermented “Montreal and California-style” bagels from a bicycle and built a fast following for not only the carbs, but market-fresh toppings like heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh dill. Special touches like wild salmon roe, sardines, and hand-sliced salmon make even the utilitarian bagel feel luxurious. Pro tip: Don’t sleep on the burnt everything." - Rebecca Roland, Eater Staff
"Courage Bagels makes the best bagels in Los Angeles—but perhaps you already knew that? Since opening in October 2020, this order-at-the-counter bagel shop in Virgil Village has captured the hearts of everyone we knew: New Yorkers, locals, people who avoid carbs like the plague. The small, thin, sweetish, and slightly charred bagels at Courage have been called Montreal-style, but really, they're their own thing. They're topped with a basket's worth of local produce, and are dense and crispy, releasing a sharp crack when you bite into one. Lines will be long. Order the hand-sliced smoked salmon and Run It Through The Garden, a greenhouse-like bagel that's uniquely Californian. " - brant cox, nikko duren, arden shore, sylvio martins
"If you have a working internet connection and an Instagram account, chances are, you’ve heard of Courage Bagels. This small Virgil Village bakery pumps out bagels that are (gasp) even better than the ones made in New York City. Needless to say, a trip here should be at the top of your to-do list. The order-at-the-window spot specializes in denser, crispier bagels than what you might find in New York, topped with unique ingredients like salmon roe, heirloom tomatoes, handfuls of dill, or cucumbers that taste like they were picked that morning. Lines tend to get pretty long on weekends (we’re talking hour-plus), so either come right when they open or be prepared to wait." - brant cox, nikko duren, garrett snyder, sylvio martins
"Over the last four years, Courage Bagel’s queue of loyalists remains long at the Virgil Village shop. Everyone’s lining up for bagels best described as Montreal meets California. These flattened, compact, slightly sweet, and crispy creations take up to a week to prepare, and the results are terrific." - Eater Staff, Mona Holmes
"On weekends, it’s not uncommon to wait in line for hours at this tiny Virgil Village shop, known for baking some of the best bagels in LA. But arrive on a weekday, especially right around opening time, and you can pick up a chewy, Montreal-style burnt everything bagel topped with cream cheese and colorful ingredients like marinated salmon roe, heirloom tomatoes, and a fistful of fresh dill without waiting more than a few minutes. This order-at-the-window spot is open 7am to 2pm, Thursday-Monday for all your carb and coffee needs. Post up at one of the small sidewalk tables outside and savor your bagel in (relative) peace. " - nikko duren, brant cox, sylvio martins
