Best of the West and Most Creative at Bagel Fest
Rise Bagels is a newly launched bagel specialty brand by Chef John Park and Jeff Tran, offering a variety of menu items centered around fresh bagels made daily using a hand-rolled method. Recently, it gained attention by winning “Best of the West & Most Creative” at Bagel Fest, and during my second visit, I could still feel the vibrant atmosphere.
During this visit, I tried the newly launched Birria and Smash Burger, along with Poke Bagel, Fruit Bagel, and beverages like Passion Orange Guava, and for dessert, Lemon Bar. The menu was uniquely composed overall, and I found it interesting how the bagels were presented in various ways.
The Birria Bagel featured a rich flavor of meat that blended naturally with the chewy texture of the bagel, and dipping it in the accompanying Consome enhanced the depth and richness of the flavor. Overall, it was impressive how the strong flavors were balanced. The Smash Burger Bagel showcased a heavier and more robust taste with the addition of rich cheese flavor over the meat, providing a different kind of enjoyment compared to a typical burger when paired with the bagel.
The Poke Bagel offered a lighter and fresher experience, with fresh ingredients combining harmoniously to create a nutty flavor, making it a great choice for a casual brunch. The Fruit Bagel paired the freshness of strawberries on top with the mild taste of the bagel, and the added Cookie Butter Schmear contributed a sweet and creamy flavor, making it a delightful dessert-like option. The Passion Orange Guava brought a refreshing and light tropical fruit flavor that complemented the bagel well, while the Lemon Bar had a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, making it a great way to finish off the meal.
Rise Bagels
Rise Bagels is a place where you can enjoy bagels in a more unique way by adding various ideas to traditional bagel styles. Each menu item distinctly showcases its personality while maintaining a smooth overall flow, making it a great spot to share multiple dishes with friends over brunch. The newly launched bagel menu items also have their own unique charms, so if you want to experience new combinations, why not visit this place?
Creative Bagel Shop
Located in Irvine, Rise Bagels is a bagel specialty shop that stands out with its casual yet modern atmosphere, offering a variety of menus centered around small-batch, handmade bagels baked fresh daily. The interior features a spacious table arrangement, making it comfortable to stay, and the bright and fresh mood makes it suitable for a light brunch or lunch. Thanks to the outdoor tables in front of the store, you can also enjoy a leisurely meal outside on nice days.
During this visit, I ordered the egg salad bagel Tokyo 7/11, inspired by the popular Japanese convenience store sandwiches on TikTok, and For the Nguyen, which features a banh mi style in a bagel. Additionally, I enjoyed the unique combination of Clam Chowder in a bagel, Yuzu Poppyseed Snickerdoodle for dessert, and Vietnamese Iced Coffee and Blueberry Lemonade as drinks, allowing me to taste a variety of menus.
Tokyo 7/11, inspired by Japanese convenience store sandwiches, featured a soft egg salad that paired well with the bagel, showcasing a clean and simple charm. The seasoning was not overpowering, making it a great choice for breakfast or a light brunch. For the Nguyen is characterized by its banh mi-inspired ingredient combination, with fragrant vegetables and a refreshing sauce balanced perfectly in the bagel. Overall, the flavors were vivid, making it a satisfying meal option. The Clam Chowder Bagel Bowl was impressively unique, featuring warm clam chowder inside the bagel. The rich and savory soup naturally soaked into the bagel, enhancing both texture and flavor. I chose from three types of bagels: Everything, Sesame, and Furikake, all of which were perfectly baked to a crispy exterior while maintaining a moist and soft interior, resulting in high satisfaction. The Furikake bagel, which I tried for the first time, had a subtle umami flavor from the seaweed, sesame, and seasoning, enhancing the sandwich’s taste. It had a different charm from the usual bagels and was my most memorable choice.
The Yuzu Poppyseed Snickerdoodle I chose for dessert was a moist cookie with a subtle yuzu aroma that paired well with the heavier menu items. It was a perfect dessert to finish the meal without feeling heavy. The Vietnamese Iced Coffee had a rich coffee aroma with just the right amount of sweetness, harmonizing well with the entire menu, while the Blueberry Lemonade provided a refreshing tartness that cleansed the palate nicely.
Rise Bagels
Overall, Rise Bagels seamlessly combines the charm of freshly baked bagels, a variety of sandwich combinations, and desserts and drinks into a single dining experience. Thanks to the refreshing menu options, it is easy to stop by for brunch or a light lunch, and the ample seating makes it comfortable to stay. If you’re looking to enjoy quality bagels in Irvine, I highly recommend stopping by Rise Bagels.
