Best of the Beach 2016, Best Bagel Shop: Manhattan Beach Bread and Bagel
You can get bagels at just about any supermarket, but they don’t have the texture and flavor of ones fresh from the oven. For that you go to a specialist. Locals have once again crowned Manhattan Bread and Bagel as the best of the lot, with good reason. They have all the modern versions packed with fruit, chocolate chips, jalapenos and cheese, et cetera and these are delightful. But their real achievement is in crafting the classics. Their traditional egg, water, and poppy seed versions have the delicate flavor and exact amount of chew that makes them the perfect vehicle for lox and cream cheese, peanut butter and jelly or one of the other spreads that are offered. Or you can have them plain and just enjoy them for what they are.
1812 N. Sepulveda, Manhattan Beach. (310) 545-7553.