There is currently a battle being waged on the streets of Atlanta: The Battle of the Bagels. Situated along the Atlanta Beltline, just feet apart, the rival bagel stores Emerald City Bagels and PopUp Bagels face off every single day. Armed with shmear and dough, the bagel war is every bit as intense as it seems.
PopUp Bagels are the newcomers, opening in February. Known for their “rip and dip” style, the Ponce location is one in a series of locations starting in Connecticut and spreading like kudzu across the U.S., taking out local bagel shops as they invade. Emerald City Bagels, first opening in East Atlanta in 2018 by a mother-daughter duo, has been in its Beltline location since 2024.
While many bagel connoisseurs with hearts and souls feel pulled to support Emerald City due to its local-to-Atlanta status, what is really at stake is the quality of the experience and, most importantly, the bagel itself. Let us compare.
PopUp requires a minimum purchase of three bagels and a schmear, making the cheapest possible order around $13-$15. At Emerald City, a bagel costs $2.50. Emerald City is the clear winner of the price battle.
However, PopUp makes up for their prices with their vibe. At PopUp, the team yells coordinated cheers when a dozen bagels are ordered, when a new batch comes out of the oven, or anytime they can find the excuse for a cheer. An Instagram-able collage of bagels covers one wall. These factors, combined with the changing weekly flavors for butters and cream cheeses, give PopUp a fun, fresh vibe that Emerald City lacks.
And finally, the bagel. After many taste tests, in my opinion, PopUp has better bagels. Their bagels are simple, fresh and warm. Perfectly crispy on the outside, yet soft and doughy on the inside. Nora Critz ’27 would go so far as to say “PopUp is the best bagel I have ever had.”
So there you have it. PopUp has won this battle. But who will win the war? Other renowned Atlanta bagel stores include Goldbergs, Einstein Bagels and the notorious Brooklyn Bagels. Who will rule the Atlanta Bagel Empire? It sure seems like PopUp Bagels is on its way to conquering yet another city and claiming yet another throne.
