It’s tough to find a good gluten free bagel. The ones sold in supermarkets leave a lot to be desired, so I like to seek out the local companies who are making higher quality gluten free goods to get my fresh bagel fix!
There is really nothing as delicious as biting into a chewy, toasted bagel with cream cheese. Especially if it’s been YEARS since you had a decent gluten free bagel. Prepare yourselves-the following bagels will make you forget they are gluten free. These really are the best gluten free bagels in Northern California!
Mama Mel’s Gluten Free Baking Co.
Mama Mel’s gluten free bagels are my top choice for best gluten free bagels in NorCal.
Based in Petaluma, everything that Mama Mel’s makes it delicious and her gluten free bagels are no exception. They are both soft and chewy! Also her prices are very reasonable.
You do need to be a Sonoma County local to get Mama Mel’s hand-crafted yummy gluten free products though. If you want to do custom orders, Mama Mels’ doesn’t have a bakery that’s open to the public. She does orders via her website at certain times per month and then patrons can pick their orders up at one of a few locations. If this doesn’t work for you you can also find a list of where MM’s products are offered locally as well as follow her on Instagram @mammelsbread where she often posts about what she’s baking up before a weekend farmer’s market.
Mariposa Bakery Gluten Free Bakery
O.k. so Mariposa’s gluten free bagels aren’t cheap. At almost $3/bagel (untoasted and with nothing on it) even when you take a pack of 5 to go or ship them (add on shipping and handling and ouch!) these are some pricey-ass bagels if you just want to buy them to enjoy at home. On-site at Mariposa Bakery you’ll pay five dollars and change for a simple toasted bagel with cream cheese. Which yeah, admittedly, is still totally worth it if you’re craving that ‘normal’ experience, but still I have to call a spade a spade.
I like to grab some of Mariposa Bakery’s gluten free bagels and keep them in the freezer for occasional weekend mornings. Like those mornings when you’re with your bf or bff or sibling and they are noshing down on some amazing local muffin or scone or whatever other gluten-ous goodness they just went out and grabbed like it’s no big deal.
You feel the jealousy starting to gnaw at you… but wait! Grab your Mariposa bagels from the freezer and throw one in the toaster while bragging about how they are made by this amazing local bakery.. Then slather with cream cheese and enjoy the satisfying crunch and chew that you so rarely get to experience anymore. Ahh…. all is right with the world.
Odd Bagels Gluten Free Bagels
Hailed as one of the only gluten free bagels that a Jewish mother or New Yorker could love… Odd Bagels has been gluten free since 2013. I’ll admit they’ve got a density, weight, and chew factor that no other gluten free bagel (to my current knowledge) can match! I especially love their gluten free Everything bagel-YUM!
And, with a reasonable price-point (they cost around $2 each when you buy a package of four at one of their many Bay Area retail locations) they seem like a bargain. PLUS they currently have an offer through Good Eggs, where you can get $20 off on your first order if you are a new customer (through Good Eggs who fulfills and ships their orders).
*Odd Bagels doesn’t ship out of state currently so if you are out of state you won’t be able to get any of these delicious gluten free bagels. But next time you’re over here in the Bay Area, make sure to get a pack delivered or seek them out at a local specialty market.
Arise Gluten Free Bakery
Based in Arcata in Humboldt County, Arise Bakery makes an array of fantastic gluten free breads and bagels. From sourdough to multi-grain sandwich bread, to baguettes, to chewy bagels this bakery cranks out amazing freshly baked gluten-free goods every day and delivers to businesses all over Humboldt County.
The best place to scoop up one of their toasted bagels? Los Bagels in Arcata or Eureka normally have at least 1-2 of Arise Bakery’s gluten free bagel variety’s on offer, and they have a separate toaster that they use to toast them in to avoid cross-contamination. I normally opt for Arise’s ‘Everything’ bagel if it isn’t sold out (this one sells out fastest), but all of their gluten free bagels are fantastic. Choose from traditional toasted with cream cheese or opt for a breakfast bagel or bagel sandwich.
Arise bagel prices are also super reasonable, from a little over $3 for a toasted GF Arise bagel with cream cheese to $5 and change for a breakfast bagel topped with scrambled eggs and other goodies. This is a bargain.
Arise Bakery also sells their products online ( a 4-pack of bagels is $6.50) via their website and they deliver across the state. Though their shipping is somewhat pricey-their overall prices are lower than most gluten-free bakeries so if you order enough at a time (I like to throw some loaves in the freezer) it balances itself out.
Other places Arise gluten free baked goods can be found in Northern California