Calic Bagel — Restaurant in Los Angeles

Update: they turn off online ordering early now and we can not risk driving 30+ min to find out that they're sold out, so we haven't been in weeks. No idea when we'll return at this point.

I'm back and forth about this place. The Signature Calic is great and my husband loves the Habanero, but the staff could really be improved upon. We've visited a good 8 times or more. During the winter it wasn't chaotic so it was enjoyable, now they keep releasing social media promos and it's becoming overcrowded and irritating. Most of the time the staff just stands there, watches you order on the screen, and are unable to provide assistance. We've taken to ordering in advance online just so that they don't sell out before we get there, but we come from a bit of a distance so our bagels are cold when we arrive because there's no way to select a pickup time when ordering. If we wait until we get there, they're almost always sold out of the stuffed bagels.

We've had one positive experience with staff... The online showed every stuffed bagel EXCEPT the Signature Calic, so we called and asked if they were really out of that one... He was able to look in to it, confirm that there were still more, and add it to the online system so that we could order.

The last time we went the staff asked us to bring the "we're sold out" sign with us and it apparently became our job to tell the 2 dozen people that walked up after us that we were the end of the line. That was super awkward. By the time we got to the register they were out of pretty much everything. I asked if I could just get an everything bagel with a side of garlic shmear (at least to give somewhat of the experience that I come here for) and was told that they weren't selling bagels unless it was for a sandwich (ummmmm). I can't eat their sandwiches due to my allergies, so I had to settle for the bagel and shmear with honey which is plain cream cheese, and was honestly overpriced and disappointing.

We're back and forth on if we want to...

I finally schlepped my over from the valley to Calic Bagel on a Saturday afternoon looking forward to a stuffed bagel. I was surprised to see a line by the time I made it over there, but I wasn't detoured, it was 1:45pm. I stood in line and slowly it moved. By the time 2pm arrived a man came out to let us know that he will be doing the doors at 2:15 no matter what. Some people left the line. He then announced that all the stuffed bagels were sold out and usually sell out within the first two hours (they open at 8am). More people left as I thought, "that's like McDonald's running out of Big Macs." Why would you ever run out of your most popular item? Exclusivity? I'm not sure. I was able to make it in and soon after the doors were shut behind me, locked and the sign switched from open to closed. There were about seven people in front of me. One lady took about four minutes to order from the kiosk. Then the couple in front of me ordered. Then it was my turn. By the time I touched the kiosk the screen was all wallpaper, no buttons. The girl behind the counter announced that the POS machine was down, it shuts off at 2:20. She looked at the remaining customers and let us know that the store was now officially closed. An audible groan let out and people were noticably shocked. Then the man, the one who made the earlier announcement, let us know that he'll be turning them back on for us. Relief filled the eatery. I ordered by bagels and schmears and left. The food was okay. I wouldn't go back for just a bagel. It's better than what you can buy in a grocery store but no different than Einstein Bros Bagels or Noah's NY Bagel. If they were to introduce a similar or competing "stuffed" bagel then I think the allure and hype surrounding Calico would fade fast and that would be that for them. So, long story short, unless you're able to make it there by 9:30am, don't expect their signature...

Signature Calic Stuffed Bagel - garlic butter dipped with garlic cream cheese / 5⭐! Pizza Stuffed Bagel - pizza sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella cheese / 5⭐! Calic Butter Schmear / 5⭐!

Calic Bagel in Koreatown has successfully introduced a new type of bagel to Los Angeles - a stuffed bagel and it is a glorious invention. The concept is simple, instead of adding a spread after the bagel is toasted, Calic Bagel adds their house-made spreads directly into the bagel and then finishes toasting it. It creates wonderful pockets of flavor in each bite.

Toasting their spreads gives their stuffed bagels a unique texture and flavor. I went twice recently. Once to try the classic garlic butter and once to try their pizza bagel. Both were excellent. The bagels are super soft and fresh. The baked spreads and toppings were flavorful. I ordered a schmear once as well to try it out. Even though it was great, if you get the stuffed bagel, it really wasn't necessary. The stuffed bagels already pack in a ton of flavor.

Calic Bagel offers regular bagels and spreads as well as a variety of bagel sandwiches but their stuffed bagels are what are making them so popular. Each of the two times I was there, they were very busy the entire time and I suspect they stayed like that all day long.

The staff was friendly and efficient. They had a lot of people working but they were also cycling through dozens of orders. They are in a small strip mall with limited parking. They have a huge, shaded outdoor patio with lots of seating. There is seating inside as well but both times I went, I enjoyed my bagel on their patio. I was able to find street parking both times.

If you are looking for a fresh, tasty bagel and are curious about a stuffed bagel, I definitely...