Can I find a good Seattle bagel at... Toasted in South Lake Union
Congrats to the Lake Union Park geese on their bagel haul
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Here’s the thing about geese. They love bagels.
That may be a generalization, and it is almost certainly a mischaracterization. The more apt notion would be that geese love food—your food, which is also their food.
I was reminded of this while sitting in Lake Union Park, trying to enjoy some bagels from the new Toasted location in South Lake Union. But we’ll get to that.
It took a while, but after co-owners Murat Akyüz and Jaafar Altameemi finally opened their U District store in July 2024, they quickly built an empire. In October, they announced plans to expand to Bellevue, followed a month later by plans for a South Lake Union shop. Their logo was also spotted outside a retail location in Pioneer Square in December. The Bellevue shop opened in February, and the SLU spot opened in mid-March. That Pioneer Square storefront is currently expected to open later this year.
After that, who knows??? Especially as their brand grows thanks to a killer social media effort and a growing number of accolades.
In the meantime, there was no time like the present to check out these new Toasted spots, learn how they differ from the original, and see if those big, bold flavors from their Mediterranean-inspired menu came with them.
And if you want to know how I define a good bagel, you can find that here.
WHAT I ORDERED
Plain bagel as-is ($2.95)
Everything bagel with cucumber and dill cream cheese ($5.95)
Smoked ‘Cado on a sesame bagel ($9.95)
THE EXPERIENCE
The Seattle weather has been beautiful this week, so I took a nice walk down the Blaine Street Stairs, through Eastlake, across the floating Fairview Walkway, along the marina, into Lake Union Park, and eventually arrived at Toasted’s new spot on the corner of Dexter and Aloha.
When I entered the shop, I was surprised to find a more spartan and industrial aesthetic than the one in the U District. However, it had its charms, including an upper-level mural that combined Seattle’s skyline with Middle Eastern imagery (every bagel place should have a mural; we need bylaws about this). The shop was bright and airy and felt like it fit snugly into the neighborhood.
UPON FIRST GLANCE
I got my usual review order, though the closest approximation to scallion schmear was the cucumber and dill cream cheese. I also figured that, because Toasted is all about the open-face presentations and big flavors, it was only fair to get one of their house sandwiches. I tried (and loved) the “Taste of Istanbul” in my U District visit, so I opted for the “Smoked ‘Cado” on a sesame bagel.
My first impression was that everything looked solid, as it should, considering these are sourced from the 2025 Mensch Madness chompion, Backyard Bagel. That also includes the packaging. What can I say, I’m a sucker for a custom-designed paper-wrapped bagel.
TOP
As I mentioned, I found a nice bench in Lake Union Park to enjoy my bagels. It also happened that a few goose families, including several goslings, noticed my order and seemed keen on getting a closer look. They were joined by a collection of ducks and seagulls who also appreciate a well-crafted bagel. Just as I started reviewing the plain bagel, the signal went out, and approximately 47 birds converged on me, including one goose with zero personal space boundaries and no consideration for the ownership of goods via purchase with legal tender. Everybody was cool, but I could tell this was a party I would be better off leaving, so I did the quickest plain bagel review ever and then broke up the remains to distract my feathered friends. Sadly, two-thirds of that bagel was sacrificed to facilitate my escape, but I live to eat bagels another day.
So, with all of that said, I can tell you that the plain bagel was a good size, had a tight center, and was a beautiful, dark golden brown color. The top was soft but firm and crinkly to the touch. There was also slight blistering along the edges.
The everything bagel was also a good size, with a tight center and a lovely dark golden brown coloring. Its darkness and darker seasoning (which included black sesame seeds and was very poppy and onion-forward) gave it a unique look. The everything mix also contained salt, AS GOD INTENDED. The top of the bagel was firm to the touch and featured solid blistering all over.
BOTTOM
I didn’t take a photo of the plain bagel’s bottom in my bird-induced panic. That said, I can tell you it was a nice golden brown with a dark ring running around it. There was no Cornmeal Ring of Doom (CRoD), and the bottom was soft but firm.
The bottom of the everything bagel was much lighter than the top, making an interesting juxtaposition. It was also seeded, which is always appreciated, and the seeds popped more on the underside. There was no CRoD present, but it was firm to the touch.
INSIDE/BITE
The plain bagel offered a soft, crinkly rip. I got that classic bagel smell from the interior. The bite was crinkly, and the insides were soft and chewy. I could tell this bagel wasn’t quite right out of the oven, but it was still very eatable and enjoyable.
I will say that I said no to toasting, which is basically just a reflex at this point. However, considering the place is literally called Toasted, and the bagels are coming from another place, I should take them up on that offer.
The everything bagel had a very solid schmear application. It was cold and firm, so it didn’t go anywhere when I took a bite. The cucumber and dill combo is a vibrant flavor pop. While not my go-to, I liked the fresh feel of the ingredients, coupled with a very smooth cream cheese.
Again, I said no to toasting because I’m a creature of habit and a pain in the butt, and I should have taken them up on the offer. The bagel was solid, and I got some good flavors from it, but the freshness factor was in play. I bet a light toasting would have taken things to the next level.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Before we get to final thoughts, I said I got a Smoked ‘Cado on a sesame bagel and intend to discuss it. Honestly, this was my favorite bite of the day. I devoured the whole thing. I’m a sucker for picked onions and the avocado spread felt fresh. Together, coupled with a dusting of feta and salt, it was a genuine flavor bomb. The sesame paired well, giving the chew a little texture without messing with the overall taste. And this bagel, it should be noted, was toasted. It made a difference.
Overall, I got what I expected from Toasted SLU, and that’s a good thing. The bagels are solid, the schmears are tasty and prepared well, and the sandwiches are flavorful. I’m going to chalk up my bagel freshness gripes to user error. While I’m not usually one to go for toasting, I think this is a place where it makes sense and enhances the experience.
Not that the geese mind either way.
Is It Good Enough For The Goys?
Like my initial review, I think this is a great bagel spot for the goyim. There are lots of fun flavors, the sandwiches are Instagram-ready, and it’s a really unique bagel offering in Seattle, and, quite frankly, anywhere.
Is It Good Enough For Northeastern Jews?
“The melding of bagels with Mediterranean and Turkish cuisine is somehow untraditional and ultratraditional at the same time, if that makes sense.” That’s what I said last time, and I stand by that. You can still get some of the basics here, especially in bagel flavors, but it’s an opportunity to branch out and try something new, and not in the “red bagels for Valentine’s Day” way.
MY SEATTLE BAGEL RANKINGS SO FAR (4/15/25)
Little Rachel’s (Lake City) - 1st visit
Toasted Bagels & Coffee (South Lake Union)
Toasted Bagels & Coffee (U District) - 1st visit
Loxsmith Bagels (West Seattle) - 1st visit
Golden Wheat Bakery (Central District) - 1st visit
Rubinstein Bagels (South Lake Union) - 1st visit
Rubinstein Bagels (Eastlake) - 1st visit
Rachel's Bagels & Burritos (Ballard) - 1st visit, 2nd visit, 3rd visit
Macrina Bakery (Capitol Hill) - 1st visit
Cafe Argento (Capitol Hill) - 1st visit
Eltana (Wallingford) - 1st visit
Westman’s (U District) - 1st visit
Einstein Bros. Bagels (U Village) - 1st visit
Dingfelder’s (Capitol Hill) - 1st visit
Cafe Solstice (U District) - 1st visit
Kelly’s Cannoli (Magnolia) - 1st visit
Bagelbop (Pike Place Market) - 1st visit
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