You go to a bagel bakery in the hopes of something that will beat out any non-bagel bakery in terms of freshness, taste, and maybe even cost.
After all, if all they’re making is bagels, and they’re not buying them from somewhere else – the way most Jewish delis have to do, or any restaurant for that matter –
Then in theory, the cost should be lower because they’ve got everything right there, all they’re doing is literally batching the dough, baking it, and selling it.
And it’s just a teeny bit of bread after all- this is NOT a whole loaf, something that can allows you several servings- it’s literally meant for one person only, and hopefully FILLIG enough that it serves as a meal.
So to take advantage of the fact that you’re in pseudo-flush surroundings, and out of greed, need to up-charge every single customer with something called a “slicing fee“ –(??!) literally, they will charge you to toast your bagel, even though IT COSTS THEM NOTHING MORE then - let’s face it, what good is a bagel if it’s not toasted??? -
That’s the kind of obnoxious greed and lack of authenticity and compassion that we don’t need.
If you’re going to pay upwards of $15 for a bagel with cream cheese and a tiny slice of lox, you would hope the bagel would at least come toasted.
There’s some funny comments by others, so I didn’t come up with this, but they are correct: these bagels are served as if it’s supposed to be some sort of salad in the middle – sprouts, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, capers, and the tiniest bit of Cream cheese which is more like bad salad dressing – instead of a proper serving – and way too watered down to really be cream cheese, at that.
The bagel itself was disappointing. I had the “everything“ bagel – but the texture of the dough was mushy, and definitely did not taste like a proper bagel. And while Western Bagel is certainly no New York-style bagel – far too small and lacking in good flavor – at least they taste and feel like a bagel should.
Lastly, the portion was underwhelming considering the price tag. It definitely wasn’t a “meal“ the way a proper New York bagel with cream cheese and lox is…
There is no atmosphere to speak of, unless you enjoy staring at gleaming stainless steel. A giant portion of what goes on behind the counter is you getting to see, in theory, the bagels being made. There’s about four tables outside, right on the sidewalk, and if you require a beverage with your bagel, a small can of Diet Coke will set you back $2.50 + tax. A small coffee, almost the same.
The fact that there’s a Starbucks literally one door down probably insures if you want a decent cup you’re probably gonna go there. At least you get Starbucks rewards :-)
Cleary nice people (aside from the greed of charging you to slice your bagel) own this particular brand, as every single person you come in contact with is upbeat, present, and kind. (I’m guessing they get their bagels and salad dressing for free!)
Honestly, if you’re craving a good New York bagel, there’s a place just up the street that gets them flown in fresh from New York, so while they will be next-day fresh, instead of same-day fresh, they’ll be a heck of a lot more kind to your pocketbook, and a lot tastier.
Definitely do not recommend.
Mario Espitia
Creamy and delicious! Had the rosemary/sea salt bagel with angry cream cheese (spicy). Can’t wait to come back.
Matt
I definitely recommend this place! You should definitely get the #6!!
Ilya Maksyutov
I visited this place for the first time around 11 AM and ordered the Lox Bagel. What I received felt more like a salad between two pieces of bread: a mix of tomato, greens, pickled cucumber and radish, capers, and a small amount of cream cheese. There were a couple of slices of smoked salmon, but honestly, the portion was very minimal.
I’m giving a low rating because, for $20.65 (including tip), I expected a more balanced dish with a reasonable amount of the key ingredients, mainly the fish and cream cheese. If the goal is to promote healthier eating, I’d suggest offering a proper salad version instead.
The bagel itself was quite tough to chew, not necessarily a deal-breaker but definitely something to note if you’re looking for a softer, more enjoyable texture. On a lighter note, if you’re trying to work on your jawline, this might just help.
Lastly, all the tables were taken, so be aware that you might not be able to dine in during busy hours.
In short, the concept has potential, but the value-for-money and ingredient balance could definitely be improved.
Benjamin “Benny” Myers
it's been a while but i remember it being good
Ariana Mercier
The bagels are divine! I love how soft and flavorful they are :) 10/10! Rosemary sea salt bagel is my fav!
Madelynn Ayen
Probably top 3 bagels I’ve ever had in my life. And I LOVE a NY bagel. I got the rosemary and seal salt bagel with lox, bean sprouts, tomatoes, and eggs and it was absolutely fantastic. The bagel was cooked to perfection and flavored wonderfully. The people were super nice and it was made super quickly.
VERONICA ESQUIVEL
Fried food smell, very oily type of food, this place was very busy took 30 minutes for 2 bagels and cream cheese
Craig Newhouse
The only real problem with Hanks is that many types of bagels start to disappear fairly early in the morning. There are lots of regulars here so it is fairly essential to get there early enough to have a lot of choices.
Tracy Pizzorusso
I already love Hanks bagels and my experience today makes me love them even more. What kind and engaging people they have working at this Sherman oaks location. I mentioned that I woke up feeling sick and that I was going to get a mask to protect other people throughout the day. And they were nice enough to give me a mask. Talk about going above and beyond!
Best bagels in LA, best vibes. Fresh and simple ingredients. Amazing service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
First Stop
I have ordered 3 bagels as follows: #2 (spicy) on rosmary with sea salt bagel, #3 without capers on everything bagel, and build your own bagel- blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese-for a picky eater. All bagels are freshly made daily here. The fillings are very big and generous. Our favorite turned out to be # 3 with lox and other fillings and the blueberry one is just heavenly delicious desert!!! The #2 is also very good but it is spicy, which I enjoyed. I also recommend to try rosemary and sea salt bagel very very good! The cashier told us there’s another Hank’s place in Burbank.
So delicious but I found a hair in my bagel which was a complete turn off
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sean Roth
"Hank’s Bagel delivers on flavor, and the customer service was friendly and efficient, but the real challenge came with actually eating the bagel. The bagel was so dense, hard, and chewy that it felt less like a meal and more like an endurance test. Honestly, I burned more calories struggling through it than I probably consumed. It was a Sisyphean task — like the mythical figure condemned to roll a boulder uphill for eternity, each bite felt like a battle I couldn’t win. No matter how hard I tried, the bagel remained defiant, unyielding to my efforts. By the end, my jaw was sore, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I walked away with a more chiseled, model-like jawline from the sheer effort of chewing. It’s one thing to enjoy a hearty bagel, but this was more like a workout than a meal. While the taste was good, the experience left me feeling like I was caught in an endless struggle, and frankly, I don’t think bagels should be this hard to eat."
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Gorilla King
I've been known to enjoy bagels. I've enjoyed bagels so much I've flown to NJ to eat them and brought them back on the flight to freeze to enjoy later. I don't think I'll ever need to consider doing that again. These bagels are absolutely enough to make me happy. The coffee is absolutely delicious and a must have. The amount of cream cheese they add to the bagel truly makes me feel like I'm visiting the East Coast. I been to literally 20 different bagel shops and a few private bakers. None of them were above a 6. The bagels here? Easily a NJ 9.2/10. If they had egg everything bagels I'd be enamored and give it a 10/10.
You go to a bagel bakery in the hopes of something that will beat out any non-bagel bakery in terms of freshness, taste, and maybe even cost.
After all, if all they’re making is bagels, and they’re not buying them from somewhere else – the way most Jewish delis have to do, or any restaurant for that matter –
Then in theory, the cost should be lower because they’ve got everything right there, all they’re doing is literally batching the dough, baking it, and selling it.
And it’s just a teeny bit of bread after all- this is NOT a whole loaf, something that can allows you several servings- it’s literally meant for one person only, and hopefully FILLIG enough that it serves as a meal.
So to take advantage of the fact that you’re in pseudo-flush surroundings, and out of greed, need to up-charge every single customer with something called a “slicing fee“ –(??!) literally, they will charge you to toast your bagel, even though IT COSTS THEM NOTHING MORE then - let’s face it, what good is a bagel if it’s not toasted??? -
That’s the kind of obnoxious greed and lack of authenticity and compassion that we don’t need.
If you’re going to pay upwards of $15 for a bagel with cream cheese and a tiny slice of lox, you would hope the bagel would at least come toasted.
There’s some funny comments by others, so I didn’t come up with this, but they are correct: these bagels are served as if it’s supposed to be some sort of salad in the middle – sprouts, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, capers, and the tiniest bit of Cream cheese which is more like bad salad dressing – instead of a proper serving – and way too watered down to really be cream cheese, at that.
The bagel itself was disappointing. I had the “everything“ bagel – but the texture of the dough was mushy, and definitely did not taste like a proper bagel. And while Western Bagel is certainly no New York-style bagel – far too small and lacking in good flavor – at least they taste and feel like a bagel should.
Lastly, the portion was underwhelming considering the price tag. It definitely wasn’t a “meal“ the way a proper New York bagel with cream cheese and lox is…
There is no atmosphere to speak of, unless you enjoy staring at gleaming stainless steel. A giant portion of what goes on behind the counter is you getting to see, in theory, the bagels being made. There’s about four tables outside, right on the sidewalk, and if you require a beverage with your bagel, a small can of Diet Coke will set you back $2.50 + tax. A small coffee, almost the same.
The fact that there’s a Starbucks literally one door down probably insures if you want a decent cup you’re probably gonna go there. At least you get Starbucks rewards :-)
Cleary nice people (aside from the greed of charging you to slice your bagel) own this particular brand, as every single person you come in contact with is upbeat, present, and kind. (I’m guessing they get their bagels and salad dressing for free!)
Honestly, if you’re craving a good New York bagel, there’s a place just up the street that gets them flown in fresh from New York, so while they will be next-day fresh, instead of same-day fresh, they’ll be a heck of a lot more kind to your pocketbook, and a lot tastier.
Definitely do not recommend.
Creamy and delicious! Had the rosemary/sea salt bagel with angry cream cheese (spicy). Can’t wait to come back.
I definitely recommend this place!
You should definitely get the #6!!
I visited this place for the first time around 11 AM and ordered the Lox Bagel. What I received felt more like a salad between two pieces of bread: a mix of tomato, greens, pickled cucumber and radish, capers, and a small amount of cream cheese. There were a couple of slices of smoked salmon, but honestly, the portion was very minimal.
I’m giving a low rating because, for $20.65 (including tip), I expected a more balanced dish with a reasonable amount of the key ingredients, mainly the fish and cream cheese. If the goal is to promote healthier eating, I’d suggest offering a proper salad version instead.
The bagel itself was quite tough to chew, not necessarily a deal-breaker but definitely something to note if you’re looking for a softer, more enjoyable texture. On a lighter note, if you’re trying to work on your jawline, this might just help.
Lastly, all the tables were taken, so be aware that you might not be able to dine in during busy hours.
In short, the concept has potential, but the value-for-money and ingredient balance could definitely be improved.
it's been a while but i remember it being good
The bagels are divine! I love how soft and flavorful they are :) 10/10!
Rosemary sea salt bagel is my fav!
Probably top 3 bagels I’ve ever had in my life. And I LOVE a NY bagel. I got the rosemary and seal salt bagel with lox, bean sprouts, tomatoes, and eggs and it was absolutely fantastic. The bagel was cooked to perfection and flavored wonderfully. The people were super nice and it was made super quickly.
Fried food smell, very oily type of food, this place was very busy took 30 minutes for 2 bagels and cream cheese
The only real problem with Hanks is that many types of bagels start to disappear fairly early in the morning. There are lots of regulars here so it is fairly essential to get there early enough to have a lot of choices.
I already love Hanks bagels and my experience today makes me love them even more. What kind and engaging people they have working at this Sherman oaks location. I mentioned that I woke up feeling sick and that I was going to get a mask to protect other people throughout the day. And they were nice enough to give me a mask. Talk about going above and beyond!
Restaurantji Recommends
Best bagels in LA, best vibes. Fresh and simple ingredients. Amazing service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have ordered 3 bagels as follows: #2 (spicy) on rosmary with sea salt bagel, #3 without capers on everything bagel, and build your own bagel- blueberry bagel with blueberry cream cheese-for a picky eater. All bagels are freshly made daily here. The fillings are very big and generous. Our favorite turned out to be # 3 with lox and other fillings and the blueberry one is just heavenly delicious desert!!! The #2 is also very good but it is spicy, which I enjoyed.
I also recommend to try rosemary and sea salt bagel very very good! The cashier told us there’s another Hank’s place in Burbank.
Bottom line I highly recommend this bagel place!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: 3 Bagel Sandwich, Everything Bagel, Rosemary Sea Salt, Everything
So delicious but I found a hair in my bagel which was a complete turn off
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
"Hank’s Bagel delivers on flavor, and the customer service was friendly and efficient, but the real challenge came with actually eating the bagel. The bagel was so dense, hard, and chewy that it felt less like a meal and more like an endurance test. Honestly, I burned more calories struggling through it than I probably consumed. It was a Sisyphean task — like the mythical figure condemned to roll a boulder uphill for eternity, each bite felt like a battle I couldn’t win. No matter how hard I tried, the bagel remained defiant, unyielding to my efforts. By the end, my jaw was sore, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I walked away with a more chiseled, model-like jawline from the sheer effort of chewing. It’s one thing to enjoy a hearty bagel, but this was more like a workout than a meal. While the taste was good, the experience left me feeling like I was caught in an endless struggle, and frankly, I don’t think bagels should be this hard to eat."
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
I've been known to enjoy bagels. I've enjoyed bagels so much I've flown to NJ to eat them and brought them back on the flight to freeze to enjoy later. I don't think I'll ever need to consider doing that again. These bagels are absolutely enough to make me happy. The coffee is absolutely delicious and a must have. The amount of cream cheese they add to the bagel truly makes me feel like I'm visiting the East Coast. I been to literally 20 different bagel shops and a few private bakers. None of them were above a 6. The bagels here? Easily a NJ 9.2/10. If they had egg everything bagels I'd be enamored and give it a 10/10.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Everything Bagel
Loading...