Seattle bagel shop heading to New York competition after sweeping the West

A Seattle bagel shop is heading to the big leagues this fall after crushing the competition on the West Coast.

Seattle’s Hey Bagel was selected to compete at New York BagelFest, joining more than 25 acclaimed bagel makers from 10 states and five countries, according to BagelFest. The shop earned its invitation after sweeping Best Bagel and Best Bagel Sourdough at BagelFest West.

Hey Bagel, located in University Village, makes all of its bagels from 100% organic flour, 50% of which is sourced from Washington, according to the business’s website. Every bagel is vegan and sourdough-based. The shop also offers a lineup of house-made schmears, including a coconut-based vegan cream cheese, spicy scallion, chili crisp, strawberry graham cracker, vegan scallion, raspberry curry, and hot honey.

Hey Bagel owner Andrew Rubinstein, who also founded Rubinstein Bagels, told The Seattle Times he was nervous weeks before BagelFest West.

“I was worried I would be embarrassed,” Rubinstein said.

Now, with a regional win under his belt, Rubinstein is heading to New York to compete for the national title.

Seattle bagel shop faces stiff competition

Hey Bagel will compete alongside fellow West champion Rise Bagels of Irvine, California, which took home Best of the West and Most Creative. They’ll also face defending champion Starship Bagel from Dallas, Texas, which won Best Bagel Champion in 2023 and 2025, Schmear of the Year in 2024, Rising Star in 2023, and Best Beyond the Boroughs in 2023 and 2024.

“With the World Cup of soccer over, it’s time to turn our sights towards the bagel world’s equivalent: the New York BagelFest,” BagelFest founder Sam Silverman stated in a news release. “This was the most competitive process in our history, with less than 9% of applicants selected to compete. And with BagelFest West 2026 champions entering the fray, the stage is set for the fiercest battle and most deserving champions we’ve ever seen.”

New York BagelFest is an immersive tasting festival, where thousands of bagel fans sample unlimited bagels and schmears from some of the best bakeries in the world. Every participating bakery goes through a rigorous vetting process evaluating quality, originality, reputation, and community following.

Visitors will have a chance to meet the acclaimed bakers who travel from as far as Ireland, Spain, Canada, and India to compete. There will also be celebrity chefs, live demonstrations, educational programming, interactive exhibits, merchandise, and entertainment.

A panel of experts and festival attendees will help decide the winners across several categories, including Best Bagel, Schmear of the Year, Most Creative, Best Showmanship, and Best Bialy. Fans will vote on People’s Choice, Best of the Boroughs, Best Beyond the Boroughs, Best International, and Rising Star.

More than bragging rights

Earning a BagelFest title has become one of the highest honors in the industry, according to BagelFest. Past winners have gained national recognition, media attention, and significant business growth.

“New York BagelFest is the ultimate celebration of bagel innovation and craftsmanship — widely recognized as the premier bagel showcase in the country and, arguably, the world,” Jeff Yankelow, Director of Bakery and Food Services Sales at King Arthur, stated.

The competition takes place Nov. 15 at Citi Field with two tasting sessions. Tickets start at $69, with a limited number of early-bird tickets starting at $49 available beginning Sept. 8 on BagelFest’s website.

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