Hey West Seattle, get ready to rip and dip.
Hey Bagel’s West Seattle location is opening this spring. This will be the second location of the Seattle bagel shop known for its chewy sourdough bagels and fresh-from-the-oven approach. Founder Andrew Rubinstein announced on Instagram this week that he’s signed a lease for a new West Seattle location, with plans to open in May 2027.
The new shop will be just north of the Alaska Way Junction on California Ave. Rubinstein said he’s especially excited about the neighborhood, calling West Seattle “one of the coolest parts of the city” and praising its culture, vibe, and views.
So what makes Hey Bagel so popular? The shop specializes in sourdough bagels made fresh daily with organic flour. And don’t expect the usual toasted-and-sliced routine. Hey Bagel recommends tearing the bagels apart and dipping them in schmear. The bagels are vegan, and there’s a vegan schmear to go with them. The menu also includes bialys, a close cousin of the bagel with a different shape and texture.
Rubinstein previously founded Rubinstein Bagels before launching Hey Bagel, which recently took home Best Bagel and Best Bagel: Sourdough at BagelFest West. Later this fall, Hey Bagel will head to New York to compete against more than 25 bagel makers from 10 states and five countries at New York BagelFest.
And West Seattle may not be the last expansion. Rubinstein said in the video that he’d “love to” open a Hey Bagel location on the Eastside, but not quite yet: he’s waiting until he finds the right location.
For now, Hey Bagel’s only shop is at University Village in the U District, open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lines can get long during peak hours, but they move quickly. On the busiest days, the shop says it can crank out 180 bagels and bialys every 20 minutes.
Hey Bagel’s announcement marks the start of a bagel renaissance of sorts for the neighborhood, as Royal Bagel is also planning to open in Morgan Junction late this year at 6045 California Ave SW. They’ll offer New York-style bagels and schmear to-go at first, with an expanded menu in the future. West Seattle’s bagel era is officially on the horizon.
