Boil and Bake is an absolute must-try in Costa Mesa! Their bagels are perfection—freshly boiled, perfectly baked, and with that perfect balance of chewy inside and crispy outside. Every sandwich is stacked with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the flavor combinations are out of this world.
Whether you go classic with bacon, egg & cheese or adventurous with their specialty creations, you can’t go wrong. The spreads are rich and flavorful, the portions are generous, and you can tell everything is made with love.
The staff is friendly, the vibe is welcoming, and it’s the kind of place you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. Easily the best bagel spot in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dan Doe
The bagels are good, no one will take that away from you. But how are you about to charge me 6 bucks for a lemonade and give me 75% ice when your lemonade is kept in the fridge.
Congratulations you ripped me off and increased your profits but you also just left me with an incredibly bad taste and ensured I don't come back.
I'd rather go to bruggers for a worse bagel but at least then I wouldn't leave feeling cheated.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Kelley Le
Boil & Bake is a solid bagel spot with California flair. Be prepared to wait at least half an hour outside before you are able to enter because this is a very popular spot.
I ordered the Santa Monica because I wanted a sandwich with salmon lox. I waited about 10-15 minutes for my sandwich to be made. It was tasty and delicious. It was priced reasonably as well.
I can see why this is a local favourite. It is worth a 30-minute wait in line.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
CHIEN KU
The New Yorker+ Chai Latte — A Breakfast Combo Worth Worshipping
I came to Boil & Bake expecting a solid breakfast, but what I got felt more like a spiritual awakening. I ordered The New Yorker sandwich and paired it with an iced Chai Latte, and honestly? I felt like I was being gently hugged by New York City and the Himalayas at the same time.
The New Yorker hits every mark. The bagel has that perfect chew with a crust that holds its own. Inside, you get a cloud of soft scrambled eggs, creamy melted American cheese, and the MVP—thick-cut bacon with a smoky crisp that makes you close your eyes and appreciate life for a moment. The side of spicy Kewpie-style mayo? That’s the bonus track you didn’t know you needed—silky, tangy, and just the right amount of heat to wake you up.
Now, let’s talk about that Chai Latte. Most places give you a vaguely spicy milk tea, but this? This was balanced, fragrant, and warming. The cinnamon and ginger danced together like they’ve been married for years. It didn’t just taste good—it felt kind. Like a grandma somewhere blessed it before it was served.
My friends ordered open-face bagels with lox and heirloom tomatoes, and every plate looked like it came from a lifestyle magazine shoot—except way more satisfying to eat.
Final verdict: Boil & Bake doesn’t just serve breakfast—they serve the energy you want your whole day to have. If you’re in Costa Mesa and thinking “just a quick bite,” think again. Get The New Yorker, get the Chai, and maybe cancel your next meeting—you’re gonna want to savor this.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Arsenie Jurgenson
Seems like an atypical experience but both my lox bagel and coffee were burnt...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Isabella Fernandez
Holy crap AMAZING, so hard to choose which to order. The bagels are incredible, and great friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Bella
Bryan Balzer
As a professional chef, an avid baker, and as one from New Haven county these guys are doing it right. Proper fermented dough is something that the public doesn't understand, heck even some bakers do not. Reliance upon bacteria, and time rather than additives and yeast to develop flavors texture and structure is true commitment to craft. Are they new haven kosher bagels from Ami's in Waterbury CT? No but they are the next best thing
Food: 5
Service: 5
Becca S
The turkey bagel sandwich was fine but didn't like that I was unable to ask for no tomato & no mayo on it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Alex Song
The best bagel restaurant in Irvine. All the ingredients are fresh, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Austin Jones
The cost and overall customer experience does is not worth the food, albeit delicious food. Going for the intentionally pretentious vibe, which I can tolerate, but again the price alone isn’t worth it. Mix that with the strict ordering (think Seinfeld Soup Nazi) and just fine ambiance - would rather Shirley’s.
I find it completely inexcusable that they cannot fulfill an order. I wanted the bagel to be double toasted or extra toasted and have just a small amount of cream cheese. Yet the opposite happened.. not toasted at all and a slab of cream cheese! Very Disappointed!
Food: 3
Service: 2
Jen Y.
I don't think there is a more aesthetically pleasing bagel than this place offers. We talked to the chef owner and love the story behind the sourcing (putting in effort to get local heirloom tomatoes). I found the bagels a bit too hard but with all the toppings it was really delicious.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Keilan McNeil
Jalapeño cheddar bagel with cream cheese. Thank me later. Or. Just enjoy your bagel. You’re welcome.
Boil and Bake is an absolute must-try in Costa Mesa! Their bagels are perfection—freshly boiled, perfectly baked, and with that perfect balance of chewy inside and crispy outside. Every sandwich is stacked with fresh, high-quality ingredients, and the flavor combinations are out of this world.
Whether you go classic with bacon, egg & cheese or adventurous with their specialty creations, you can’t go wrong. The spreads are rich and flavorful, the portions are generous, and you can tell everything is made with love.
The staff is friendly, the vibe is welcoming, and it’s the kind of place you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. Easily the best bagel spot in the area!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The bagels are good, no one will take that away from you. But how are you about to charge me 6 bucks for a lemonade and give me 75% ice when your lemonade is kept in the fridge.
Congratulations you ripped me off and increased your profits but you also just left me with an incredibly bad taste and ensured I don't come back.
I'd rather go to bruggers for a worse bagel but at least then I wouldn't leave feeling cheated.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 1
Boil & Bake is a solid bagel spot with California flair. Be prepared to wait at least half an hour outside before you are able to enter because this is a very popular spot.
I ordered the Santa Monica because I wanted a sandwich with salmon lox. I waited about 10-15 minutes for my sandwich to be made. It was tasty and delicious. It was priced reasonably as well.
I can see why this is a local favourite. It is worth a 30-minute wait in line.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
The New Yorker+ Chai Latte — A Breakfast Combo Worth Worshipping
I came to Boil & Bake expecting a solid breakfast, but what I got felt more like a spiritual awakening. I ordered The New Yorker sandwich and paired it with an iced Chai Latte, and honestly? I felt like I was being gently hugged by New York City and the Himalayas at the same time.
The New Yorker hits every mark. The bagel has that perfect chew with a crust that holds its own. Inside, you get a cloud of soft scrambled eggs, creamy melted American cheese, and the MVP—thick-cut bacon with a smoky crisp that makes you close your eyes and appreciate life for a moment. The side of spicy Kewpie-style mayo? That’s the bonus track you didn’t know you needed—silky, tangy, and just the right amount of heat to wake you up.
Now, let’s talk about that Chai Latte. Most places give you a vaguely spicy milk tea, but this? This was balanced, fragrant, and warming. The cinnamon and ginger danced together like they’ve been married for years. It didn’t just taste good—it felt kind. Like a grandma somewhere blessed it before it was served.
My friends ordered open-face bagels with lox and heirloom tomatoes, and every plate looked like it came from a lifestyle magazine shoot—except way more satisfying to eat.
Final verdict: Boil & Bake doesn’t just serve breakfast—they serve the energy you want your whole day to have.
If you’re in Costa Mesa and thinking “just a quick bite,” think again. Get The New Yorker, get the Chai, and maybe cancel your next meeting—you’re gonna want to savor this.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Seems like an atypical experience but both my lox bagel and coffee were burnt...
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 5
Holy crap AMAZING, so hard to choose which to order. The bagels are incredible, and great friendly service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: The Bella
As a professional chef, an avid baker, and as one from New Haven county these guys are doing it right. Proper fermented dough is something that the public doesn't understand, heck even some bakers do not. Reliance upon bacteria, and time rather than additives and yeast to develop flavors texture and structure is true commitment to craft.
Are they new haven kosher bagels from Ami's in Waterbury CT? No but they are the next best thing
Food: 5
Service: 5
The turkey bagel sandwich was fine but didn't like that I was unable to ask for no tomato & no mayo on it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
The best bagel restaurant in Irvine. All the ingredients are fresh, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The cost and overall customer experience does is not worth the food, albeit delicious food. Going for the intentionally pretentious vibe, which I can tolerate, but again the price alone isn’t worth it. Mix that with the strict ordering (think Seinfeld Soup Nazi) and just fine ambiance - would rather Shirley’s.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
I find it completely inexcusable that they cannot fulfill an order. I wanted the bagel to be double toasted or extra toasted and have just a small amount of cream cheese. Yet the opposite happened.. not toasted at all and a slab of cream cheese! Very Disappointed!
Food: 3
Service: 2
I don't think there is a more aesthetically pleasing bagel than this place offers. We talked to the chef owner and love the story behind the sourcing (putting in effort to get local heirloom tomatoes). I found the bagels a bit too hard but with all the toppings it was really delicious.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jalapeño cheddar bagel with cream cheese. Thank me later. Or. Just enjoy your bagel. You’re welcome.
best bagel ever I have!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Great store
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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