BagelFest West Celebrates Bagel Boom, Yom HaShoah Marked at Pan Pacific Park

Inaugural festival showcases West Coast's top bagel shops, while Holocaust Museum LA holds annual remembrance event.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:59pm

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A highly stylized, pop art-inspired illustration featuring a repeating grid of a single, iconic bagel shape rendered in bold, neon-bright colors and heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the energy and innovation of the West Coast's thriving bagel scene.The vibrant celebration of the West Coast's booming bagel culture at BagelFest West showcases the creativity and technical mastery of the region's top artisanal shops.Los Angeles Today

The inaugural 'BagelFest West' was held at Wilshire Boulevard Temple's Audrey Irmas Pavilion, drawing over 1,000 attendees from across the culinary, hospitality and media worlds. The festival featured tastings, panels and competitions highlighting the creativity and technical mastery of the West Coast's top bagel shops. Meanwhile, Holocaust Museum LA held its annual Yom HaShoah commemoration at Pan Pacific Park, honoring survivors and those who perished.

Why it matters

The BagelFest West event underscores the growing popularity and sophistication of the West Coast's bagel scene, as artisanal shops push the boundaries of traditional recipes and techniques. The Yom HaShoah commemoration at Pan Pacific Park serves as an important annual ritual to remember the Holocaust and reflect on its ongoing impact.

The details

The BagelFest West festival featured around 15 bagel shops, including Hank's Bagels, Rise Bagels and Boichik Bagels, participating in tastings, panels and competitions. Organizers say the participating shops represented 'the best of the West Coast's bagel boom, blending technical mastery with boundary-pushing creativity.' The festival's 'Best of the West' bagel award went to Rise Bagels, based in Irvine, with Hank's Bagels and Boil and Bake earning second and third place, respectively. At the Yom HaShoah event in Pan Pacific Park, the theme was 'Remembrance and Responsibility,' with program participants including U.S. Rep. Laura Friedman, Beverly Hills Mayor Sharona Nazarian, Rabbi Ratner, and Holocaust survivor Henri Slucki and his granddaughter Jenna Perlmutter.

  • The inaugural 'BagelFest West' was held on April 12, 2026.
  • The Yom HaShoah commemoration at Pan Pacific Park took place on April 12, 2026.

The players

BagelFest West

A festival celebrating the West Coast's top bagel shops, featuring tastings, panels and competitions.

Holocaust Museum LA

A museum dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and educating the public about its history and impact.

Rise Bagels

An Irvine-based bagel shop that was named 'Best of the West' at the BagelFest West competition.

Hank's Bagels

A Los Angeles-based bagel shop that was the runner-up in the BagelFest West competition.

Boil and Bake

A Costa Mesa-based bagel shop that earned third place in the BagelFest West competition.

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What they’re saying

“You don't know what a real bagel is until you have one, and my mission is to feed the world with a truly amazing bagel, so that minds can be open just like mine was.”

— Sam Silverman, BagelFest Founder

“Today, we recognized the best bagel makers West of the Rockies. This group was selected from scores of applicants, with only 16% making the cut. They were chosen not just for the quality of their food, but for their creativity, character, and contributions to their communities. They are trailblazers dispelling the myth that 'it's the water' that makes bagels great and proving what has always been the truth: it's the people, the talent and their dedication.”

— Sam Silverman, BagelFest Founder

The takeaway

The success of BagelFest West and the continued growth of the West Coast's bagel scene demonstrate how artisanal food culture is thriving in Los Angeles, with passionate makers pushing the boundaries of traditional recipes and techniques. Meanwhile, the Yom HaShoah commemoration at Pan Pacific Park serves as an important annual reminder to honor Holocaust survivors and remember the tragic history of the genocide.