Where can I find your bagels?

Our bagels are sold exclusively out of our shop at 1263 Fell Street, San Francisco, CA 94117 every day from 7:30am until 1:45pm or sold out. We are also available on most delivery apps for delivery within SF, and we offer catering deliveries (for $200+ orders) up to 40 miles from our shop.

Pre-ordering for next-day scheduled pick-up goes live at 2pm each day. We save around half of our bagels for walk-up ordering. You can always check our Instagram Stories to see if we are sold out.

Why do your menu prices seem expensive?

We are proud to be a San Francisco business but it means our cost of doing business is much higher than shops in other cities and states. San Francisco businesses are mandated by city law to provide health benefits, pay a higher minimum wage, provide additional sick and family leave pay on top of state guidelines, and more.

We previously charged a 5% SF Mandate fee to help us cover these costs and break it out as a separate line item, but based on feedback from the community, we have moved away from a surcharge and all of our prices now include these costs.

The cost of our ingredients has also skyrocketed over the past few years. We do everything we can to keep our prices as low as possible, but even the old-school NYC shops have had to increase their prices substantially.

Thanks for the support!

Is there parking?

Yes! We are a part of the Falletti Plaza, so there is free parking in the Falletti Plaza garage for customers while you pick up your bagels.

Why is it so hard to order your bagels? I hear that you are always sold out.

It’s not so hard anymore, we promise! We have come a long way since our pop-up and early shop days. We rarely sell out anymore, and our line moves very quickly, especially on weekdays. If you’re worried about securing bagels or want to skip the ordering line, you can pre-order for next-day pick-up starting at 2pm each day, or same-day pick-up starting at 7:15am each day. If you are thinking of joining us by walking up, please check our Instagram Stories to see if we are sold out yet for the day.

Can I come at a different time than my pick-up time?

We know, especially on weekends, that ordering online can sometimes be difficult with how many people are ordering at once. We also know schedules can change and things happen, and that’s life. We just ask for your understanding that online ordering and scheduled pick-ups are luxuries that most high-volume bagel shops do not offer, because it is logistically quite difficult. In order for us to continue offering scheduled pick-ups, we do need the majority of guests to arrive at their scheduled pick-up time.

If you do need to change your pick-up time, please email us in advance. If you show up early without warning, we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate your order. We will do everything we can to get you your order as quickly as possible, but we will first need to make sure all customers get their orders who arrived at their correct pick-up times. Thanks for understanding!

I ordered bagels in the morning for pick-up but won’t be able to make it before you close. Can I cancel my order or get a credit?

Unfortunately, no. We cannot refund canceled or forgotten pre-orders. We have a limited number of bagels available per day and by pre-ordering them, you have removed them from the inventory for other guests. All pre-orders need to be picked up by 1:45pm or they will be donated and cannot be refunded. Thanks for understanding.

Do you do catering or large group orders?

Yes! Click here. Please note that catering orders require 48 hours’ notice.

How are your bagels different than all the others?

Our bagels are chewier, softer and have a slightly thicker crust than the bagels one typically finds in California. You’ll know as soon as you see, feel, and taste them. While we use classic bagel-making techniques like boiling and baking on burlap-lined wooden boards, we use 100% organic barley malt syrup and no added sugar (we’re in San Francisco, after all!).

But why are these different than I remember growing up in NYC? These aren’t NYC-style bagels!

We think our bagels are fantastic and stand up to any NYC or Montreal bagels, but we aren’t trying to compete with anybody’s nostalgia — that is a fool’s errand! What does NYC-style even mean at this point? There are shops all across the NYC area — each with its own methods and individual style. Personally, we prefer the slightly more proofed and fluffy Ess-a-Bagel style over the denser H&H style. But it’s all personal preference. We were greatly inspired by NYC’s bagel baking techniques (boiling and baking in a revolving tray oven), but we’re not calling our bagels a NYC-style bagel, especially because we do not use flour with potassium bromate like most NYC bagel shops. Schlok’s are California bagels!

How much schmear should I get?

Schmear-to-bagel ratio is a very personal decision. As a general rule of thumb we recommend one half pint per 3-4 bagels (assuming you spread the schmear on each side of the bagel and eat it open-face). You might have some extra, but when it comes to schmear, better too much than too little. Our schmears will keep for a week in the fridge.

Should I toast my bagels?

Toasting is very controversial, and people have very strong opinions. In general, we believe bagels are best enjoyed fresh, the same day they are baked, so you can appreciate the slightly crunchy, chewy exterior and dense but soft interior. Toasting a bagel fresh out of the oven means you are effectively cooking it twice. However, once a bagel is a day old, toasting is recommended. Many bagels sold across the city and country are not baked and sold fresh, which is how toasting came about. Schlok’s are always baked and sold fresh.

How should I store my bagels if I can’t eat them fresh?

If you can’t eat your bagels fresh, always store them in an air-tight container or ZipLock bag. For day-old bagels, give them a quick re-heat in the toaster before enjoying. If you need to store your bagels for longer than a day or two, plastic wrap them individually and place them in a ZipLock bag in the freezer. To revive a frozen bagel, place a slightly damp paper towel over the bagel and microwave it for increments of 10 seconds until warm to the touch — then slice and throw it in the toaster.

How long will the schmears last in the fridge?

Our schmears should be good in your fridge for at least a week, as long as they are kept refrigerated when not being schmeared.

Doesn’t schlok mean “shoddy, of inferior quality” in Yiddish?

Oy vey… just eat a bagel and stop kvetching. 

Zack Schwab + James Lok = Schlok’s

There we were, a Jewish guy and a Chinese-American with the mission to make the best bagel in town. “But what do we name it?” Well, when we jokingly put our last names together, the irony of the Yiddish translation was not lost on us. In fact, it was too good to pass up. The name stuck.

Are your bagels kosher?

We are not certified Kosher at this time.

Are your bagels vegan?

Yes!

Do you offer any gluten-free bagels or dairy-free schmear options?

We offer gluten-free bagels as a catering option but do not have them available daily at our shop at this time. We do offer vegan schmear.

Any allergies I should be aware of?

All Schlok’s products may have come into contact with seeds and alliums. There are no tree nuts in our facility.

Is your cream cheese pasteurized?

Yes!