When I wrote “Joy of Bagels” in 2022, a roundup of the best bagel options in North County, Inglourious Bagels had just opened and was not yet on my radar. They popped up recently when I was looking for another bagel option to stop at on my way to work in Oceanside from Encinitas.
First off, the name caught my eye as it is inspired by the real Jewish heroes of Operation Greenup, who served as inspiration for one of my favorite Quentin Tarantino movies, “Inglourious Basterds.”
For those who haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it, as it’s a stylized take loosely based on a true story set during World War II. It’s the first year of Germany’s occupation of France and Allied officer Lt. Aldo Raine played by Brad Pitt assembles a team of Jewish soldiers to commit violent acts of retribution against the Nazis.
The film also features a long list of recognizable stars, including Christoph Waltz, Eli Roth, Michael Fassbender, B.J. Novak, Mike Myers and more. So, these bagel makers, at the very least, have good taste in movies, and they tout their bagels as “New York style,” so they must have something good going on.
Another aspect of New York style is their obsession with the water used to make their bagels. They wanted to capture the texture and flavor of the bagels that you expect in Brooklyn and Manhattan, which is said to help differentiate the world-class bagels found there. With the expense of shipping New York water across the country prohibitive, they hired a chemist to do their best to recreate it in Carlsbad.
As somewhat of a bagel snob, I’d say they did a pretty good job, as their bagels are solid. They opened in 2022 as a joint venture between Brian Gruber, owner of La Costa’s award-winning Notorious Burgers and friends Phil Gunther and Andrew Brewer.
My true test of a bagel joint is their lox and bagel sandwich, and my tradition is to start with a bagel that won’t overpower the delightful ingredients stacked inside. For me, that’s a poppyseed as there is no overwhelming flavor contrast and the poppyseeds add a nice texture. I’ve always constructed mine with plain cream cheese, lox, capers, onions, tomato and thinly sliced cucumber, not toasted and cut in half.
Cutting the bagel in half is key, as I then open it up and distribute the ingredients to each quarter, which provides the perfect bite and avoids the topping sliding all over, as can happen with a bagel sandwich. I’ll have to say Inglourious Bagels did it right with their lox sandwiches, and they have six varieties, including one with smoked whitefish salad that sounds amazing.
And speaking of bagel sandwiches, they have a long list of breakfast and lunch sandos that all look amazing. Some even include a potato latke, and for you Jersey folks, one has their famous Taylor Pork Roll. I am fully prepared to sample their breakfast and lunch sandwich menu.
The lunch sandwiches look equally splendid, with a Pastrami, Cuban, Club, BLT, and Tuna Salad making up the list. There’s just something special about a stacked meat, eggs, and such between your favorite savory bagel.
I have to admit that I’m somewhat of a purist when it comes to ordering a simple toasted bagel with a schmear of plain cream cheese. I keep it simple by going with either an onion, garlic, everything, egg or poppyseed. Any other ingredients seem to take away from the essence of the bagel experience, but I guess I do understand the need for a modern bagel shop in a suburban area to appeal to the non-traditionalists who demand a bit more flair with their bagel experience.
Inglourious Bagels does that and then some with their bagels, which lean towards a doughnut experience, featuring chocolate, cinnamon, blueberry, and everything jalapeno cheddar. I’m sure some folks love that variety and no judgment at all. And speaking of schmears, I counted eight at Inglorious Bagels, so there is plenty of schmearing variety happening as well.
A wide range of coffee, tea, and smoothie selections is available, and their catering options are extensive. All I know is that when I’m at work and a representative comes in with boxes of bagels, I’m always stoked…so keep that in mind for your next business breakfast or lunch function.
I’d have to put Inglourious Bagels among the best in North County and a solid option. They are so versatile and offer many flavor combinations, so it’s a sure bet that you will find something for the whole family there.
Find them at 6955 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92009 or www.inglouriousbagels.com.
