Howdy Bagel — Restaurant in Tacoma

Exceptional Bagel Experience in South Tacoma!

I recently visited Howdy Bagel in Tacoma, and it has instantly shot up to the top of my list of must-visit bagel spots. There is an undeniable charm about the place - from its delightful rustic interiors to the irresistibly aromatic essence of freshly baked bagels wafting through the air as soon as you step inside.

The bagels themselves are a triumph, and you can tell that they're the product of expert craftsmanship and love for the art of bagel-making. They have a wonderful exterior crunch that gives way to a fluffy and chewy inside - just the perfect texture one seeks in an ideal bagel. The variety is staggering too, with offerings from traditional sesame and poppy seed bagels to more adventurous options like jalapeno cheddar and blueberry cinnamon.

Their spreads are an absolute treat as well. The homemade cream cheese variations are rich, creamy, and bursting with flavors. The scallion cream cheese was my personal favorite, perfectly balancing the creaminess of the cheese with the tangy zest of scallions. The smoked salmon was another standout, subtly flavored, and complimented the bagels wonderfully.

What sets Howdy Bagel apart is their commitment to quality and customer service. The staff are friendly, attentive, and incredibly knowledgeable about their menu, happy to provide recommendations and share the story behind their creations.

In terms of beverages, don't miss their locally-sourced coffee. It's robust, aromatic, and the perfect companion to their bagels. And if you're not a coffee person, they have a range of other drinks including freshly squeezed juices and artisan teas.

In short, Howdy Bagel Tacoma provides a marvelous experience for any bagel lover or anyone seeking a hearty, well-made breakfast. Their combination of skillfully crafted bagels, divine spreads, warm service, and inviting atmosphere makes them an easy recommendation for anyone in or visiting Tacoma. Howdy Bagel has won my heart, and I'm sure it will...

It's 56 degrees and cloudy in late May and I'm standing in a line out the door and halfway down the block for a bagel. I make a point of never going to anything exciting and new in this city until it's well established so that I don't have to do stuff like this. If this bagel doesn't divorce my husband for me and cure my depression I'm gonna be disappointed.

Update: this bagel sandwich tastes like when nature healed itself and we were bombarded with videos and photos of clear skies in Beijing and albino dolphins in waterways and previously extinct animals that lazarused themselves back into reality. I feel like this city desperately needed a bagel/baked goods redemption after the embarrassing debacle that was Tacoma Baking Co. Howdy Bagel is a breath of warm toasty air- the staff is pleasant and seem genuinely happy to be there, everyones sunny and genuine disposition made up for the 45 min caffeineless wait time. The drip coffee was great (don't judge me for getting drip, I'm over 30 and my body has decided that I'm no longer allowed to have any fun and if I get anything stronger than a drip it will retaliate by vibrating me straight into a panic attack and immediately evacuating my bowels.) But the star of the show was this sandwich that had me in my car, parked right beside the ever growing line of hungry patrons, having a near pornographic religious experience. Sauce was dripping down my chin and onto my chest, cheese was pulling in every direction, a slice of pepperoncini dangled loosely from my greasy lips and God(dess) spoke to me and said "hear that? That's your heartbeat in your ears... your blood pressure is getting kinda high" All of this to say Howdy Bagel...

WOW. There aren’t enough words to describe what a wonderful experience visiting Howdy Bagel is. From waiting in line to dining at a table with my best friends, everything was lovely. The line was long but moved quickly, and it gave me more quality time with my friends and we got to carefully plan out our orders. The atmosphere and aesthetic of the shop is even more cozy and welcoming in person than in photos. Despite the line, my group of 6 got a table right after ordering and we waited only a couple of minutes for our food and drinks.

I got an iced matcha which was perfect and one of my friends got a mocha that was divine—I thought I was going to melt into a puddle of joy after taking two sips of hers. And the food, the FOOD! Wow, the bagels were perfectly crisp on the outside and had excellent flavor throughout. I got the BEC on a rosemary sea salt bagel, and I can’t recommend it enough. I’ve had many of the items from past pop ups and truly everything is amazing. You can’t go wrong.

I could go on and on about every item I tested, but I think what sticks out to me most is the feeling you get at Howdy Bagel. The camaraderie of waiting in line and building anticipation, relaxing and enjoying a delicious meal with your friends, the warmth of the thoughtful design of the space, walking out full and happy and on cloud nine. As I walked back to the car with my friends, we all felt such a surge of happiness and connection, and that’s not something just any shop can provide. Thank you Jake and Daniel and all of the Howdy team...