Along with my Coffee Talk series, I thought I’d start a Bay’s Best Bagels series because what goes together better than the two? I’ll wait.

This edition will be on Schlok’s, located at 1263 Fell Street in San Francisco.  

Schlok’s hours are Wednesday-Sunday, 7:30am-2pm.

Before we get into what makes Schlok’s so great, let’s first start with a quick history lesson about what made this all possible to begin with- the bagel itself.

Bagel Backstory

Originating from Jewish communities in Poland in the 16th century, the bagel's journey began as a simple boiled and baked bread roll. It was traditionally given as a gift to women in childbirth. The circular shape symbolized the cycle of life.

The bagel made its way to America with the influx of Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants in the late 19th century. New York, in particular, became a hub for bagel bakeries. Its popularity surged in the 20th century, especially post World War II, and the bagel transitioned from a niche ethnic food to an American staple.

Bagels Around the World

• Montreal-style Bagels: Sweeter and denser than their New York counterparts, these are boiled in honey-sweetened water.

• Bagel Bites in the UK: Mini bagels, often used for snacks and sandwiches.

• Beigels in Poland: The European forefather of the modern bagel, sometimes filled with sweet fillings.

Whether you're team "toasted and buttered" or "fresh with a schmear", bagels offer something for everyone. As we bite into these doughy delights, we're not just savoring flavors but also centuries of history and culture.

Ok, now on to Schlok’s!

Schlok’s Story

After years of hearing his dad complain about “California Bagels”, Zack Schwab developed an appreciation for the East Coast bagel himself when he lived and worked in New York City. As Zack was returning home to the Golden State, James Lok was continuing his rise in the Northern California food scene, having cooked at Jardinière and The Restaurant at Meadowood before moving to San Francisco to be a Sous Chef at Benu. Little did James or Zack know when they ended up as roommates in 2015 that years later, a pandemic and a commonly-shared appreciation for a well-executed baked good would bring them together as business partners.

In April 2020, with the restaurant industry suddenly in flux and James and Zack’s respective next ventures put on pause, the two friends decided to have some fun. Knowing James was always up for a culinary challenge, Zack floated the idea of a bagel concept and dared James to bake the best East Coast-style bagel he could. James accepted the challenge, and after extensive research on ingredients and classic techniques, he created an absolutely beautiful bagel — a bagel inspired by East Coast technique but with some San Francisco improvements. Zack’s dad even approved, so they knew they were on to something.

James and Zack ran Schlok’s as a weekend pop-up from September 2020 through March 2021, and as word got around, the bagels started selling out within minutes each week. Encouraged by the dramatic response and demand, they signed a lease for their first shop in April 2021.

-James Lok & Zack Schwab

The Menu

Schlok’s offers the classic bagel and schmear or butter and other toppings to choose from, such as jam and cinnamon raisin butter. They also have a variety of bagel sandwiches, sliced Atlantic salmon (dill-cured or cherrywood smoked in-house), trout roe, and rotating specials. Enjoy your meal with one of their coffee or tea selections and finish it off with their brown butter and chocolate chunk cookie! And for our furry friends, they also offer dog treats such as sesame salmon skin treats.

Recommendations: 

• Onion Bagel with Baked Tomato Schmear

• Salt Bagel with Cinnamon Raisin Butter

• Brisket Sandwich- Pastrami, Roasted Garlic Mayo, Swiss Cheese, Mustard Seed-Sauerkraut

• Egg & Cheese Sandwich- Sweet Pepper Butter, Two Eggs, Cheddar (optional add of smoked ham)

• Classic Sandwich- Caper Schmear, Sliced Salmon, Tomato, Onion Sprout

• Honey Lavender Iced Coffee

• Brown Butter Coffee

But honestly, you really can’t go wrong with anything you order from them!

The first time I had Schlok’s was at my desk at work. Another colleague had picked up a dozen bagels to share. Their bagel made me stand up, walk to my director’s office and inquire, “where is this amazing bagel from?! It tastes so different from any I’ve had here!” She was also blown away and said it actually tasted like a New York bagel, which she hadn’t experienced since moving to the Bay from NYC. I’d say their mission was accomplished.

Run, don’t walk, to try for yourself!

Thanks for reading! 🙏 

All my best,

Mina Bahrami, Taste of SF