A Seattle bagel shop just won multiple awards for its sourdough bagels at a West Coast competition—but can they hold their own in a contest with the world’s best bagel makers in New York? We’re about to find out.
Hey Bagel, the University Village shop known for its sourdough bagels, has been selected to compete at New York BagelFest. The event will bring together more than 25 top bagel makers from 10 states and five countries, according to BagelFest.
The Seattle shop earned its spot after winning both Best Bagel and Best Bagel Sourdough at BagelFest West. Owner Andrew Rubinstein, who also founded Rubinstein Bagels, admitted he was nervous in the weeks leading up to the competition.
“I was worried I would be embarrassed,” Rubinstein told The Seattle Times. Instead, Hey Bagel came away with two titles and a chance to compete for a national championship.
The shop makes its bagels exclusively with 100% organic flour, half of which is sourced from Washington. Every bagel is vegan and sourdough-based. Customers can pair them with house-made schmears ranging from spicy scallion and chili crisp to raspberry curry, hot honey and a coconut-based vegan cream cheese.
Hey Bagel will face tough competition in New York, including Rise Bagels of Irvine, California, which won Best of the West and Most Creative. Defending powerhouse Starship Bagel of Dallas will also compete. Starship has won Best Bagel Champion twice, in 2023 and 2025, along with several other BagelFest awards.
The festival will feature unlimited bagel and schmear tastings, celebrity chefs, live demonstrations, educational programs, interactive exhibits and entertainment. Bakers from as far away as Ireland, Spain, Canada and India are expected to participate.
Judges and attendees will determine winners in categories including Best Bagel, Schmear of the Year, Most Creative, and Best Bialy, while fans will vote for awards such as People’s Choice and Best Beyond the Boroughs.
New York BagelFest takes place November 15 at Citi Field. But Seattleites who want a taste of the best bagel on the West Coast don’t need to travel all the way to NYC—Hey Bagel is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. right here in Seattle’s University Village.
