1003 W Chapel Hill St
Durham,
NC
27701
Visit Website
If you’re looking for some of the best bagels around, head to Isaac’s Bagels. Buy a bag of bagels and a tub of cream cheese to stock the fridge or stop in for breakfast or lunch and order one of their awesome breakfast bagel sandwiches and a coffee.
Share
Hours:
Monday: Closed Tuesday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM Wednesday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM Friday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM Saturday: 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM Sunday: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
I love me a good bagel sandwich post morning bike ride, or between Sunday pickleball and church. Oddly specific, but those are prime times that I come by. I also love coming here cause people are just so nice and they’re super fast with your orders. Honestly, Isaac’s Bagels might just be the extra push I need to get up in the morning for my morning workouts (maybe not all the time cause I’m a broke grad student ok but you get the point). My personal favorites are their sausage, egg and cheese on a sesame or raisin bagel (the subtle sweet/savory combo is goated). Cheese is melty and so is my heart when I get food in me. I’ve had their lox as well, and my roommates really like their avocado.
I’m always amazed with their unique selection of cream cheeses and unique varieties of bagels. They also have caffeine for ya and if you really like their spreads, they sell them too. Super unique mix like burnt jalapeño, and Sichuan chili? Yeah, give me a couple gallons of those. I’m always intrigued by their other selections so it just means that I’ll have to do come by more often post-morning workouts when I’m in the area (& have some extra spending money). Anyway, gotta come by if you’re in the area. And if you’re not in the area? Why? Come by anyway, definitely worth it :)
Oh and they don’t have seating inside! So be sure to plan accordingly. Because they’re so close to Duke, I just recommend checking out campus or make your way to Duke Garden’s while you’re around. Or if you’re a student like me, just eat it in your car in the parking garage and make everyone walking by to get to class jealous. To each their own- as long as I get my bagels from Isaac’s 😌
Ellen Huai
Mar 27, 2025
4
Ok it’s pretty dam close to a good NY bagel. I’ve seen severely disappointed with the bagel stores out here in NC, some places it was like a kaiser roll disguised as a bagel. As a fellow long islander I approve of this place. It was so made fresh and warm in the morning. It was so soft and fluffy on the inside with the perfect outside lil crust. I just wish they served egg and egg everything bagels. It’s def a bit pricey for how small it is but I’ll take it at this point.
Ahmad Mansoor
Mar 8, 2025
5
I’m not a big bread person - I know, people think I’m crazy - I do love delicious bread, but don’t get cravings for it or go out of my way to eat bread. So that speaks volumes about how amazing Isaac’s Bagels are. Hands down the BEST bagels I’ve ever had, enough so that I actually DO get cravings for them! I usually get them before my long runs as a special treat to fuel me.
The food itself is a great variety. They have the staples of bagels and breads, with traditional flavors, but also have creative items that don’t cross into the hipster, nonsense realm of local shops. They’re just genuinely, deliciously creative! I’m mad I missed their recent donut making and hope that comes back soon!
Shop is always clean, service is always fast, and staff is always polite, kind, and accepting of EVERYONE. It’s straightforward, honest service and they treat everyone well because they’re focused on their craft. Parking can be a bit tough, but usually you can find somewhere. Other than that, been a fantastic experience every time I go.
Cameron Massey
Mar 1, 2025
4
We really wanted to love this place, with the location being in a cool neighborhood and a lot of buzz around it on social media. Unfortunately the food just didn’t translate. The Lox bagel was disproportionately capers & dill on a layer of cream cheese and the BEC on Sesame was a solid okay, the eggs tasted a bit like they were from a carton. Totally Instagrammable, but not our favorite.
Sri Vidya Uppalapati
Feb 2, 2025
5
Literally hands down the best cream cheeses in my life. The flavors are creative and unique, the spice and cream well-balanced. The bagels are soft on the inside and perfectly crisp on the outside, with great seasonings. The salt and pepper bagel is incredible. Loovveee their sandwiches, the Winter Tomato and Egg Salad are a hit!
Also service was friendly and timely!!
Mayra Salgado Castillo
Jan 18, 2025
4
I ordered the Lox sandwich and it was pretty good. Prepare to Takeaway as the space is small. They do have tables outside. The price is also high but I did have leftovers. Overall a good option for bagel cravings.
Sophia Purut
Jan 11, 2025
5
I’ve been going to Isaac‘s Bagels for about a year, and I never leave hungry or unimpressed! Their classic bagel combos are delicious, but I especially love their more inventive sweet and savory bagels. Pictured is the Winter Tomato with Szechuan chili cream cheese on a salt and pepper bagel. It might seriously be the best bagel I’ve ever had!! But I also love their ricotta, cherry preserves, olive oil, and sea salt bagel. You can’t go wrong, so please support this amazing local business!
Rachael Healy
Dec 14, 2024
4
Ordered the Avocado smashed open face everything bagel sandwich, added lox. It was beautiful. The chili oil was a great touch. Wish the radish was pickled or it had a pickled onion on it. The bagel itself was super chewy. The poppy frangipane was delightful, better warmed up. The dill scallion cream cheese is AMAZING. The chai latte is one of the best I’ve ever had. Staff is friendly! The parking is pretty limited on street. Overall 7.5/10.
matthew turpin
Oct 31, 2024
4
I had the pleasure of eating Isaac’s bagels at a workshop in Durham. The bagels were good but I prefer them to be a little less chewy and softer. I had an everything bagel. The real star of the show was the in-house vegan cream cheese. It was amazing! I think it might have been the best vegan cream cheese I’ve ever had. Kudos for providing someone with a dairy allergy something delicious I could eat.
Paul Biehl
Oct 26, 2024
5
Here me out:
I am a bagel lover, and Isaac’s does not only have amazing bagels, but something you won’t find in many places. Isaac has cream cheese combinations which are not from this world. One of them - Honey fig - OUTSTANDING! Another one - Sichuan Chili - WONDERFUL SPICE. If you don’t like cream cheese: Fresh avocado - PERFECTION - with a splash of lemon so it stays fresh! We actually came back after our little walk through the Duke Gardens to grab another one. Absolutely sensational!
B
Sep 13, 2024
5
These are hands down the best bagels in the triangle area. I grew up on NY/NJ bagels and feel like I’ve tried every bagel in the Raleigh, Durham, Cary area looking for anything remotely close to back home. I had given up finding “good bagels” in NC entirely, until I just stumbled across this pace! The bagel was absolute perfection, the right amount of chewy texture and the right blend of toppings for their Everything Bagel to taste just right. The service was super fast, my breakfast sandwich was ready within minutes of ordering, and the eggs were delightfully fluffy and buttery with PLENTY of cheese! I would drive out of my way to get bagels from this place!!
Be warned that parking is street parking only and the shopfront is easy to miss because there’s no official signs or anything, it’s just a quick walk-up and grab n go kind of place, but it’s WORTH IT!
badmoodpixie 1 (badmoodpixie)
Jun 27, 2024
5
Best bagels I've ever had. Delightfully chewy but somewhat soft. Huge portions of sandwich ingredients! I had the bacon and egg with cream cheese on one occasion and egg and cream cheese on another and I've never had more egg on a breakfast sandwich!
The only (incredibly minor, no stars deducted) issue I had is the bagels weren't cut completely through which was only a problem because they're so good I wanted to eat as soon as I got my food and couldn't do so while driving as the halves were still partially attached.
The cream cheeses I had on my bagels were delicious! I had the dill and the burnt jalapeño and both were flavorful and unique.
Mark “Jazmarc” W
Jun 11, 2024
5
I buy bagels here nearly every Sunday. They're so fresh and the sandwich choices will have you deciding what to get for hours. The sausage egg and cheese with spicy cheese is too die for. I generally order online and Isaac's is accurate on their preparation time. Looking forward to them moving to a place where you can sit down.
Alaina Deane
May 22, 2024
5
I am so thankful Isaac's Bagels exists. I work within walking distance of their shop and have often gotten their weekday special of a bagel sandwich and coffee. Everything I have had has been absolutely delicious! There have been many times that I have accidentally forgotten my breakfast at home and they have literally saved my day (and stomach)! Truly a favorite that never disappoints.
Brian Campbell
Apr 27, 2024
5
First time trying Isaac's today, what a delicious bagel shop! You know a place is great when there's a line going outside. I ordered the bacon egg and cheese on cinnamon raisin, it was so cheesy and filling! The staff there are very friendly, everyone was wide awake and smiling. I also only had to wait 2 minutes for my sandwich and coffee. They're fast and efficient and I'll definitely be back!
