Welcome to Mensch Madness 2025

The vote to determine the best bagel in Western Washington begins!

Welcome to It’s A Shanda, one Northeastern Jew’s quest to find a decent bagel in Seattle (and beyond). Along with free bagel reviews every Sunday-ish, we also offer weekly bonus posts. If you’re already subscribed, I hope you’ll consider upgrading to a paid subscription! Thank you for reading.

UPDATE: Voting for Round 1 is over. Head here to vote for the Schmear 16!

THIS. IS. MARCH.

While that sentiment might usually be reserved for college basketball as March Madness approaches, you and I have a very different kind of madness. We’re way too obsessed with finding good bagels out here in the Pacific Northwest.

So, it’s only fitting that we use this opportunity to determine, once and for all*, where to find the very best bagel in Western Washington.

*until we do this again next year

Welcome to Mensch Madness 2025! Read on below for exactly what this entails, and then get ready to cast your votes as we begin whittling down the list of bagel spots from 32 to 16.

Wait, what is happening?

Instead of March Madness, in which we determine the best college basketball team in the nation, we’re doing Mensch Madness, in which we determine the best bagel shop in Western Washington. I’ve included 32 bagel makers from Seattle, Bellingham, Tacoma, Olympia, and other towns and cities in the area.

Aren’t there more than 32 bagel purveyors in the region?

There are, so I had to set some parameters. I eliminated any place that doesn’t sell bagels in at least one retail location or farmer’s market. I also eliminated any bagel biz selling only one or two bagel flavors. When I decided to go with a 32-team bracket, that meant that a few places didn’t make the cut, so apologies to them. Work on those jalapeño cheddar bagels and make your case for inclusion next year.

How did you determine the seeding?

I used a combination of general consensus, popularity, my own rankings, and (in theory) common sense. It’s not an exact science, but I tried to separate my opinions as much as possible and rank every bagel spot accordingly. Of course, there are bound to be disagreements, but that’s what the voting is for! If we end up with a Final Four of all one-seeds, I’ll know I nailed it. If we end up with a Final Four full of six- or seven-seeds, I’ll have to do some deep reflection and soul-searching.

How long will the tournament last?

The tournament will last five weeks. It starts with the Round of 32, followed by the Sweet 16, the Elite 8, the Final Four, and the Mensch Madness Championship. I’ll post the new rounds every Thursday until we determine a winner. Voting will be open through the following Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. PST. That should also give you enough time to try out any bagel places you haven’t been to before voting.

Wouldn’t “Munch Madness” be a much less sweaty pun?

The Doughboys podcast has Munch Madness on lock, so mimicking that would be rude (and a dumb SEO play). This was the closest thing I could come up with, and to be fair, whoever makes the best bagel is a true mensch.

What are we voting for? Best bagel? Best bagel shop? Best onion & chive schmear?

Honestly, it’s up to you! Everyone does things differently, so making this about just one specific thing would be impossible. So, whatever speaks to you in each matchup, vote accordingly. Whether you like one place’s sesame bagels better, prefer their lox sandwich, or simply like how the cashier says hello when you show up, let your gut guide you.

Aren’t you just gonna sway the vote to favor the places you like?

First of all, how dare you. Second, I am stepping off my high horse for Mensch Madness. Like everyone else, I get one vote per round. Unlike a particular government right now, this tournament operates as a democracy and will be guided by the will of all Western Washingtonians.

Don’t you find the whole March Madness bracket thing tired and played out? Isn’t this just a way to fill space because you don’t want to work that hard for a month?

I mean… fair? But it’s too late now… LET’S VOTE!!!

We begin in the Hey Bagel Bracket, where 1-seed Hey Bagel squares off against Shawn’s Cafe Bakery. On one side, you’ve got Andrew Rubinstein’s heavily hyped return to the Seattle bagel scene, where you’re still bound to find lines around the corner almost two months after opening. Conversely, you’ve got Mercer Island’s scrappy bakery, slinging fresh bagels, coffee, and pastries while building a loyal fanbase.

Next up is 4-seed Sully Eats vs. 5-seed Atomic Bagels. Sully Eats has not only started making its own bagels but has also increased its presence all over Seattle. Find them at a farmer’s market near you. Meanwhile, Port Angeles’ prime bagel spot has already built up quite a strong reputation in a short amount of time. They also have a killer logo design, FWIW.

3-seed The Bagelry has defined the Bellingham bagel scene since 1984 and is still going strong. Some have said it’s still their favorite bagel place in the region. 6-seed Macrina might be better known for their breads and pastries, but their sourdough bagels are omnipresent at grocery stores, coffee shops, and all of their own locations.

Some might be surprised to see relative newcomer Bloom Bistro in the 2-seed spot. But it seems like the Georgetown bagel shop performs very well whenever it is in a ranking or competition (The Stranger just named them the best Seattle bagel). So, credit is due. Meanwhile, Eltana is one of the old stalwarts of the Seattle bagel scene, and their wood-fired bagels have a strong following around town.

In the Mt. Bagel Bracket, 1-seed Mt. Bagel remains one of Seattle’s hottest bagel shops. The long lines and social media shares have never dissipated. Good Bagels Cafe is slinging schmears in Anacortes and making its mark in Skagit County. 

4-seed Rubinstein Bagels has cemented itself as one of the biggest bagel names in Western Washington, with locations in Seattle and the Eastside. 5-seed Zylberschtein's remains a go-to North Seattle spot for bagels, matzo ball soup, and other noshery.

3-seed Rachel’s Bagels & Burritos expanded its reach recently with a Lake City outpost and remains a popular bagel option for many Seattleites. Meanwhile, 6-seed Blazing Bagels is arguably the region’s most recognizable bagel chain, with a menu full of more flavors than you can track.

2-seed Old Salt has staked its claim over Fremont and Ballard, with many saying it’s one of their favorite bagels in the city. 7-seed B’s Bagels & Butters hails from Gig Harbor and was recently Washington State’s representative at BagelFest.

1-seed Bagel Oasis is the Seattle scene's old standby, serving hot and fresh bagels since 1988. The Ravenna institution is still considered by many to be the best bagel in town. 8-seed Otherside Bagel Co. is the upstart from Bellingham, making a name for itself with fresh, organic bagels.

4-seed Toasted finally opened its doors in the U-District last year. The Mediterrean-inspired bagel shop is already on a regional domination tour, opening a Bellevue location with plans for two more Seattle shops soon. 5-seed Westman’s has two Seattle spots (Capitol Hill/U District) and prides itself on being Seattle’s premier Latine woman-owned bagel shop.

Even before the recent Seattle bagel boom, 3-seed Loxsmith, with a Beacon Hill home base and a West Seattle outpost, was considered one of the best bagels in town and garnered a strong reputation for, what else, their lox. 6-seed Grateful Bread specializes in many different things, but locals in Wedgewood and Duvall swear by its bagels.

2-seed Howdy Bagel has taken Tacoma by storm, and hungry fans continue to line up for its Instagram-worthy bagel sandwiches and cool merch happily. Meanwhile, 7-seed Briny Bagels is just starting out on Bainbridge Island, where it’s attracting lines of its own thanks to eye-popping bagel flavors and a unique schmear selection.

Finally, in the Backyard Bagel bracket, we’ve watched the 1-seed grow quickly from side hustle to farmer’s market mainstay to successful bagel business. Meanwhile, 8-seed Bean & Bagel isn’t flashy, but it’s a go-to spot for hungry UW students looking to grab a bagel on their way to class.

4-seed Oxbow, an offshoot of Sea Wolf Bakers, has cemented itself as a Montlake mainstay. In addition to rye-based bagels, they offer some good-looking pizzas, breads, and more. 5-seed Whidbey Island Bagel Factory has ardent supporters who advocate for its sandwiches and salt bagels at its Whidbey Island and Mt. Vernon locations.

You can find 3-seed Salmonberry Goods’ crispy bagels and curiously flavored schmears in their Sunset Hill shop or the Ballard Farmers Market. Their mission to use only locally sourced and seasonal ingredients makes them arguably the most PNW bagel makers. 6-seed Bakery Louise is a newcomer to the scene, but this Shoreline cottage bakery has made a significant impact in a short time.

In the final first-round matchup, Olympia’s own 6th Borough Bagels enters as a 2-seed thanks to some classic New York-style bagels and a solid array of schmears and sandwiches. They’ll take on 7-seed Dingfelder’s, well-known for its sizable sandwiches and Jewish fare. This deli also serves up a selection of bagels and schmears. 

Remember, you’ve got until Tuesday, March 11, at 11:59 p.m. PST to cast your votes. The winners of this round will be announced next Thursday, and then we’ll start the Sweet Sixteen.

And by all means, if you want to make a case about why certain bagel places should get someone’s vote, sound off in the comments!

Thanks for actually reading this far. If you enjoyed my Seattle bagel review and want to read more of them, make sure you’re subscribed to It’s A Shanda. Know someone in the Greater Seattle Area (or beyond) who would appreciate way-too-detailed reviews of local bagels? Please forward the link their way.