The 5 best bagel shops in Charlotte

Charlotte is not a bagel city, and every transplant from the Northeast will tell you so. The shops below are the ones where that complaint stops, ranked on the bagel itself first and the cream cheese second. Two of the five are outside the city in Mint Hill and Indian Trail, because that is where the best ones are. Almost every shop here closes by early afternoon and one is shut Tuesday, so this is a morning list.

1. Family Dough Bagels

The Mint Hill shop New Yorkers call the best bagel they have found in the South, with several saying the best anywhere. Soft inside, a proper crunch outside, and cream cheese flavors and ratios that get mentioned as often as the bagels. Muffins have their own following and new flavors keep appearing. Closed Tuesday and shut by 1 p.m.

Hours: Monday, Wednesday to Friday 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; closed Tuesday

Address: 7102 Brighton Park Dr, Suite 500, Mint Hill, NC 28227

Why it made the list

• The best bagel in the region.
• Great cream cheese.
• Family owned.
• Closed Tuesday.

Directory listing: Family Dough Bagels

2. BagelGram NC

The Indian Trail family shop with a 4.9 rating, where New Jersey transplants say the bagels are the closest to home they have found. Toasted everything with scallion cream cheese is the order, and the same family runs Hemby Hoagies next door. Sandwiches sometimes arrive warm instead of toasted, and there is one cheese. Closes at noon.

Hours: Tuesday to Friday 8 a.m. to noon; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to noon; closed Sunday and Monday

Address: 7878 Idlewild Rd, Suite A, Indian Trail, NC 28079

Why it made the list

• New Jersey approved.
• Nitro coffee.
• Hoagies next door.
• Very short hours.

Directory listing: BagelGram NC

3. PopUp Bagels

The Plaza Midwood rip and dip counter that sells hot bagels in threes, sixes or dozens with a tub of schmear, no slicing and no sandwiches. Golden crust, chewy inside, and a scallion cream cheese everybody orders. You cannot buy one bagel, three cost about $14, and they go stale fast, so eat them the same day. A second shop is at The Bowl in Ballantyne.

Hours: Monday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday to Sunday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Address: 1606 Commonwealth Ave, Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28205

Why it made the list

• Hot bagels.
• The scallion schmear.
• Three minimum.
• Eat them today.

Directory listing: PopUp Bagels

4. Jeff’s Bagel Run

The Blakeney shop people call the closest to a New York bagel in Charlotte, with a second location at Ayrsley. The cream cheese flight of three flavors is the order, and the app takes orders ahead. Bagels are served fresh but not toasted, which catches first timers out, and slicing has been uneven lately. Open early seven days.

Hours: Daily 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Address: 9941 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277

Why it made the list

• The cream cheese flight.
• Order ahead app.
• Seven days.
• Not toasted.

Directory listing: Jeff’s Bagel Run

5. The Original NY Bagels

The Uptown option on North Tryon, with a bacon egg and cheese regulars order daily and three gluten free bagels, which few shops offer. Add on charges push the bill well above the board prices, with butter adding around $2, so read the total before you pay. Closed Sunday.

Hours: Monday to Friday 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; closed Sunday

Address: 214 N Tryon St, Unit 120, Charlotte, NC 28202

Why it made the list

• The Uptown choice.
• Gluten free options.
• Good espresso.
• Watch the add ons.

Directory listing: The Original NY Bagels

How we chose

We ranked on the bagel itself, using the judgment of reviewers who grew up eating them in New York and New Jersey, then on the cream cheese. We kept the list to five because those are the shops with the records to recommend, and we included the two outside the city because they are the best two. If your bagel shop is missing, tell us.