Sam Khandelwal
Google
My wife grew up in Los Angeles, and as a bagel loving person of Jewish descent, she has always complained how hard it is to find a great deli in the Bay Area. Something that compares to Canters or Nate's Al.
Yes I took her to Wise and sons and other places in East Bay trying to find that perfect rugelach that wasn't too dry, no luck there.
So we settled for something that seemed easier - bagels. After trying many different delis and being disappointed, esp. Wise and sons, whose bagel wasn't bad but wasn't mind blowing either.
When all hope was lost, we found Katz. Or she did. And the love affair has continued. I am a huge fan of everything bagel, toasted, with tomato, avocado, onion and capers. And occasionally some lox.
You cannot miss this joint in the Mission with the giant bagel facade. Keep enough cash handy. I usually buy a bunch and freeze them. Somehow it tastes better when you toast a flash frozen bagel.
Go figure!