WA-BAGEL by ABURI

The store is very cute. When entering from the street, you have to follow the hall to the right and go down the stairs to the Concourse. The bagel was very chewy in an interesting way. But the rest of the Pacific sandwich was just ok, and felt unevenly seasoned, and was difficult to eat without it falling apart. The flavour wasn't as interesting as I expected from the ingredients. It was wrapped very nicely and toasted, though I'd prefer a plate - but I understand that might not be possible as the Concourse seating is not part of the shop itself. I might give a non-sandwich bagel a try, but I wouldn't eat the sandwich ones again. They aren't quite worth the price.

Fave bagel shop in Vancouver, but this is more to asian style. They’re chewy, and recommend to eat right away. Personal fave is the cheese garlic cheese bagel. Will come back to try more flavours

I was delighted to find their unique sweet bagels, like red bean cream cheese and matcha cheesecake — such a pleasant surprise! Even better, they offer a bagel-making class, which sounds like a super fun experience to try at home. Their frozen bagels are also a great choice — delicious, convenient, and perfect to keep on hand. The only thing I’d complain about is their limited opening hours — hopefully they can find a better location with longer hours in the future.

I saw the sign. Or rather, the signs. And not in an M. Night Shyamalan way. But in a Blue's Clues leading you to some yummy treasure kind of way. Suffice to say, if you know, you know. And if you don't, that's what the gigantic signs are for. Buried in Corporate Wonderland aka Park Place, a home to high powered lawyers and financial advisors, is this unheard of novelty: A Japanese Bagel Shop. Let that sink in. You've probably never considered this combination before. It's about as unlikely as With Love Meghan winning an Emmy or Meghan Markle finding any semblance of success. But I digress. Where the Sussex Duchess is in the midst of a free falling failure, Wa Bagel is ascending in the world of niche cafés. It boasts the title of being Vancouver's first Japanese Bagel and Sandwich Shop. And I'd also like to throw in that Wa Bagel is under the Aburi Umbrella of which Miku (the extravagant Waterfront Restaurant) is also a part of. No doubt, Aburi knows how to sell Japanese Culinary Luxury. So it's no wonder this flagship store lives in the heart of Vancouver's financial district. It's a place where people have money to burn and won't bat an eye at the $16 savory bagels. And in fact, will probably smirk at the $4.75 regular bagels. Wa Bagel usually boasts a lineup that leads out the front doors, has amazingly efficient and super friendly staff, and carries an eclectic, albeit limited, collection of goods such as imported drinks, shredded cheese, fruit gummies, pre-made oshi salmon sushi and cream cheeses. The Japanese influence manifests in the form of exotic bagels like Ume Bacon, Sweet Potato and Black Sesame, Mochi Matcha, and Red Bean and Cream Cheese, just to name a few. For you less adventurous connoisseurs, don't fret. Universally familiar bagels like Apple Cinnamon (sweet as pie), Garlic Butter and Cream Cheese (to die for), and Pacific (salmon with a Japanese Twist) also share this small exclusively curated menu. For a quiet gem of a café where Tokyo meets New York, walk the plush carpeted floors and head down the shiny steps to your Bagel Heaven.

What I like about this place is that they have very fresh and warm bagels especially if you visit in the morning. My favourite one is the Garlic Butter Cream Cheese which I can’t stop eating. If you visit before 11 am you can get a $1 coffee with your bagel item. They open 8 am which might not be convenient if you are early bird person.

I love their specialty bagels! The texture and flavour is really unique, tender and malty, and they have lots of interesting flavours. I want to keep coming back until I work through everything. Awesome veggie aburi bagel sandwich. I loved the tofu "hummus" which basically tasted similar to cream cheese with a little more texture. It's a nice change-up from the usual veggie bagel sandwiches because it has a characteristic Japanese flair from the sauce and the choice of veggies. The brown sugar matcha latte is pretty good and the decaf coffee is also a-okay. The area for improvement with the drinks is that they have oat milk but will only use it in cold drinks. I still feel that the sandwich is a little expensive, but the price of the individual bagels is really reasonable. They have a consistent artisanal quality to them. Very good service - I often see their head baker working and she's so friendly, as is the rest of the staff! The price of the individual bagels is really reasonable. They have a consistent artisanal quality to them. I feel that the sandwich is a bit expensive, though. It's $6 for bagel with shmear and $16.5 for the sandwich - does adding the veggies really need to up the price by $10? The shop itself isn't visible from the street, but they do have some sandwich boards set up at the entrance to the building to let you know you're in the right place. You have to enter Park Place (from Hornby or Burrard St) and then go downstairs. There's a spacious and relaxed seating area, which even has a small arcade. Nice to hang out here in the summer and get away from the heat.

We really liked these Japanese bagels. For some reason they reminded me more of a soft pretzel - chewy and soft. They’re big and filling, especially with the creme cheese. The garlic butter and red bean were especially exceptional. The staff were really nice.

At the lower level of the business building and not very busy storefront. Wa-Bagel specializes in Japanese style bagels and also has very unique cream cheese like the yuzu cream cheese. There were a variety of flavours to choose from when I visited at 10 am on a weekday. The kinako chocolate bagel was nice and warm and not overly sweet.

Holy cow what a bagel! But first you need to find the place. It is in the basement of the Park building. Go in the main entrance then past the elevators and down the stairs and you will be there. The security guy sent us through the parking lot and that was a debacle, we almost gave up. Don't give up! There is a big variety of bagels that changes a bit every day. We went twice and I had the bacon bagel with cream cheese both times. Andrew had the Montreal smoked meat both times. Guess we liked them! My bagel was crispy and chewy as it should be. The Montreal meat was thin sliced just in case that is not what you are wanting. But check them all out they look pretty good. I wish I could go back and try more but unfortunately I live three three thousand miles away. I was on a bagel kick this year and these are the best I've had.

Really liked their red bean bagel they are a japanese inspired bagel shop so I adore their flavors. They also have a great space for work and study. Only downside for me is that they close realllyyyy early and they only open on weekdays so unless you work or live close you'd have to plan ahead on when to go get it.

tl;dr Japanese flavors and textures abound in these baked rings; the pre-filled varieties reasonably function as standalone meals I've tried styles of bagels spanning from New York to Jerusalem, but never before had I heard of (much less tasted) a Japanese-style bagel. These dense rings are similar in size to a Montreal bagel, but they boast a springy dough akin to a mochi-style donut and are piped with classic Japanese ingredients. Little did I know that my first experience with a Japanese bagel would be in a compact shop tucked away on the concourse level of a downtown Vancouver financial building. The sitting area outside features a foosball table and a muted sports broadcast. As you walk down the stairs of the Park Place Building, you can catch a full view of WA-BAGEL's kitchen and prep area. Inside, the shop is tastefully minimalist. Bagels are displayed on stainless steel pans with warm accent lighting. The air is filled with soft guitar music and the aroma of baking bread. My partner and I swung by WA-BAGEL for breakfast on the go, so she ran in while I waited in the car with our hazard lights on. She reported being surprised both by the crowd and the efficient staff. Some of the most popular bagel flavors were already sold out, but the kitchen continuously replenished the stock as new batches were baked. For example, we missed out on the Matcha Mochi, but other varieties were fresh out of the oven. Across varieties, the fillings were piped evenly and felt generous but not overpowering. Of our haul, we were most impressed by the Kinako Chocolate. The soybean powder was nutty in flavor, and the chocolate was more deep than sweet. Our next favorite was the Ume Bacon, loaded with a uniquely savory combination of ham-like bacon and subtly fermented ume paste. Finally, the Sweet Potato & Black Sesame, sporting a thick sweet potato puree and a sesame dusting, was somewhat forgettable. WA-BAGEL's creations are undeniably unique and enjoyable, and I even feel that the nearly $4 price tag per bagel is justified. Unlike the more standard bagel varieties, these Japanese-style rings are a meal unto themselves -- they don't need an additional dollop of cream cheese or toppings. While you're mileage may vary based on the unpredictable selection at the time of your visit, chances are that something will be a hit.

What a great experience. We found this bagel spot on Yelp and it was right across the street from our Hyatt hotel. It is inside a business building and you'll have to go down stairs. The staff were so kind and had a beautiful display of the bagels. Red bean with cream cheese is a fan favorite so I had to try it. My husband had the garlic bread bagel. They were both delicious. We had never had Japanese infused bagels- never even heard of it. Let me say they were wonderful. We also thought the freezer with Japanese teas and sodas were a nice addition.

My favourite breakfast place. I love their fresh garlic butter cream cheese with green tea in the morning. Their bagel has a great balance of chewy from mochi dough and its flavour. You can ask them to heat up any bagel and I highly recommend you do so. It enhances the taste if you are going to eat immediately. Some other of my top ones are: matcha mochi red bean and matcha cream cheese. Some bagels seem to have less stuffing inside than the others and I'm not sure if it depends on type of just an inconsistent batch. Their sandwiches are worth trying but I prefer their fresh bagel anytime. There is a small fridge with their fresh cream cheese and a mix of japanese drinks and local brand lemonade. Really good selection. Also if you are craving for small snack, they also sell some Japanese snacks there too.

I had the pleasure of eating here twice in one week. I normally don't work downtown, but had to and the chewiness of the bagel is simply heavenly. Staff are very efficient, friendly and quick, and I found the prices very reasonable for the unique aspect of these bagels. I've now tried the garlic cream cheese, the red, bean cream cheese, and the Pacific sandwich and all were amazing. I definitely am more of a savoury person so I highly recommend the garlic cream cheese as a snack. There is a very unique seating area that isn't owned by this bagel shop but a shared space... I found it quite cozy, sleek, and comfortable.

WA-Bagel was absolutely a winner. I decided to try a new place for our office annual breakfast meeting. I called and Yukiko the head baker was patient and answered all my questions. I had questions on timing, delivery, earlier options, if we can order online first and call back to change. We ended up ordering the beef sandwiches, smoked salmon sandwiches, veggie sandwiches and assorted Japanese bagels with cream cheese. The amount of comments from everyone was endless. "Where did you order this?" "Can I see the brochure or website?" Needless to say it was a huge hit. There were zero complaints and now repeat customers. The bagel was soft and chewy with interesting fillings such as apple pie, mochi matcha or ume bacon. The sandwiches were a hit with the crowd favorite being the smoked salmon. It has a big layer of cream cheese, pickled onions, arugula and of course tons of smoked salmon.

We got our bagels right when they came out of the oven. Talk about fresh. These pillowy bagels are like no others; they have unique flavors and this red bean is the perfect blend of sweet and salty. I also ordered the matcha latte which was also balanced to perfection. Luckily, they have a nice eating section so you can escape the cold and relax a bit. They give you the bagel instantly so not much waiting, and they are so nice as well. This is an easy pick me up spot before you go about your day. :)

Quick and sufficient! Located at the basement level so it's a bit hard to find. I ordered Mo-cheese bagel and it came out great.

I love their specialty bagels! The texture and flavour is really unique, tender and malty, and they have lots of interesting flavours. I want to keep coming back until I work through everything. The brown sugar matcha latte is pretty good and the decaf coffee is also a-okay. The area for improvement with the drinks is that they have oat milk but will only use it in cold drinks. I still feel that the sandwich is a little expensive, but the price of the individual bagels is really reasonable. They have a consistent artisanal quality to them. Very good service - I often see their head baker working and she's so friendly, as is the rest of the staff!

This is a bagel place in a nice building- Park Place. It's quite quiet, with a few televisions and a game area in the main area. The seats are very nice. The bagel place itself has a pretty limited menu, which is always good when all their menu items are good. Me and my tablemate each got two bagels because they were less than $5 each. We both got a teriyaki bagel, I got a strawberry cheesecake bagel, and they got a black sesame bagel. The bagels are all filled with various things, making them even more delicious than a normal bagel. I personally liked the strawberry cheesecake bagel the best- it really does taste like if strawberry cheesecake was a bagel. Which, I mean, it's cream cheese, so that makes sense. I'd definitely recommend this for anyone in the area looking for a quiet place to have a bite of breakfast.

Love this Japanese bagel shop! It offers a variety of bagel options and is hard to find. My family and I had a great time trying out different kinds of bagels. Kinako Chocolate: this is not a typical chocolate bagel, the filling is a mixture of soybean powder and chocolate. The bagel is not too sweet and heavy! It had a nutty taste. Definitely recommend this if you want a sweet treat for your meal. Sweet potato & Black Sesame: another amazing combination! The sweet potato filing paired well with the black sesame on top, the sesame seeds add a rich nutty flavor. The filling is not overly sweet, more like the sweetness from the sweet potato itself. I love sweet potatoes, so this was definitely my favorite. Mochi Matcha: I'm not a fan of mochi, but still ordered this bagel since I couldn't resist my love for matcha. And I'm really glad I got this! The mochi wasn't hard to swallow and chew like I have imagined, and it was evenly and thinly distributed. The matcha flavor was subtle(which I'm really glad), so you can still taste the red bean paste. The red bean filling offers a nice touch of sweetness and the walnuts add a nice crunch and nutty flavor to it. Really recommend this one! Pumpkin: I love pumpkin and this was great as well, but it didn't stand out among the others! There's no pumpkin filling in this, instead the dough is mixed with pumpkins. Therefore, this bagel seems a bit typical among the others that I have tried. The bagel itself is nice and chewy, you can still taste a hint of sweetness and pumpkin flavor. If you don't like filling, then this one will be a good choice. Montreal: my dad ordered this sandwich, he thinks it was just alright (not super amazing). He didn't enjoy the cold pickle it came with, he described as it just came out from the fridge. The texture of all the bagels is just super soft and chewy! Not the typical bagels we find in the states. There are so many different kinds, so I'm sure you can find the one you like. The staffs are all super friendly and welcoming. They also have drinks and coffee. There are seats and tables, so it is a great place to stop by for a quick meal and chat. If you don't live or work around the area then the store might be hard to find, it is located inside of a business building. You will see a small sign outside of the building, the store is downstairs of the first floor. It took me awhile to find, but I think it is definitely worth it!

A japanese take on bagels, which have a very different chew and softness level versus montreal or new york style bagel. I love all the unique flavours that they have, plus the fact that they're seasonal. We got the matcha mochi and red bean & cream cheese for around $5, which had a nice japanese twist to them. Probably will stick to their sweet offering as I feel like I would prefer a more traditional dough for bagel sandwiches. Btw, this place came before a bit hard to find as it's located on the basement floor of an office building. I noticed they recently posted notice boards outside to help guide visitors.

Solid place for bagels. The garlic butter cream cheese was our favorite, it was excellent. Very buttery. Definitely not healthy . The Pacific was solid and ingredients were fresh. Wish it was a little more flavorful, but I know it's not supposed to be the typical lox bagel. I would have preferred everything flavored bagel or garlic or something and maybe more onion and some capers or some sort of elevation. Still, very fresh and quality.

I cannot believe how good this Japanese bagel bakery is. A little bakery under a commercial building is a bit hard to find but is right across Burrard st skytrain station. They have mochi, Sakura bagels and I can't wait to try the other. They sell them frozen too which I was tempted to get but didn't... fresh is best. They have special Mondays before 11am I think and coffee is only $1 with bagel purchase. Only open weekdays unfortunately. Wish they have another location open weekends too but they have pop ups occasionally at Brentwood. By always sold out! Aburi market has stock too.

I bought a few bagels here during lunch. All of them tasted fresh and unique. They were very different from the Montreal or Canadian type of bagels. Each of these bagels includes some Japanese styles of flavours. I loved them all. This bagel shop is on the basement level. They put an A-board on the ground outside the commercial building on Burrard and Dunsmuir. Customers need to get into the building before seeing a second sign. I was a bit lost when looking for the shop at the first time. The bagel shop is nice and bright. Some of the bagels were packed in individual plastic bags. Each flavour has a sign with its name and description of the ingredients. I might go back and try some other flavours. I took Skytrain to downtown, so it was easy to walk to this bagel shop but if I drove, it would be a bit painful to look for parking in the neighbourhood.

Delicious one of a kind bagels with great coffee or iced green tea if desired. Warm engaging service and beautiful clean modern boutique bakery and shop environment. What's not to love?

I like their bagels ! So delicious but they are more on the premium cost $10 for a specialty bagel, toasted with yuzu cream cheese

First time trying this new bagel spot! It was hard and a bit confusing to find. Figured it out from reading other reviews that it was inside a building and downstairs. The eating area was a cool cafeteria / lounge vibe, and I think I saw a Foosball table in the corner. The crowd on a Monday afternoon was a mix of corporate people and some people who likely lived in the building upstairs. Staff were friendly and quick! Ordered 1 bagel to go - the red bean and cream cheese. I liked the flavours a lot! It was a unique bagel, with the filling on the inside. I was pleasantly surprised that the cream cheese paired well with red bean for a smooth mouth-feel. I asked for the bagel warmed up, and that is definitely the way to go if you're going to eat it right away. The outside was a little crispy, and the inside was chewy. Near the end of eating, as the bagel cooled down, it started to feel a little bread-y and tough. I would like to come back to try other flavours!

Vancouver's first Japanese bagel shop recently opene. Wa bagel is owned by the ABURI group who also owns Miku & Minami. The Japanese bagels include fillings inside and they also sell unique premium bagel sandwiches. There are also other Japanese snacks, drinks and sushi available. Montreal Sandwich $15-plain bagel with Montreal smoked meat, miso caramelized onions, and Japanese mustard aioli. It came topped with a pickle! This was delicious. The bagel was airy & had a nice chewy texture. The flavours all balanced well and tasted fresh. I would get it again! Mochi Matcha $4.75-this is a matcha bagel filled with mochi red bean paste & chopped walnuts. I liked the unique filling & the walnuts gave it a nice crunch. The matcha flavour isn't that strong and there wasn't much of a mochi pull! Overall a great addition to downtown! They're open Monday to Friday 8AM-3PM. Located in Park Place Building on the Concourse Level. Price: Bagels range $2.50-$6 and Sandwiches range $15-17 Parking: Underground parking

Really good find for a bagel and schmear or bagel sandwich. The bagels are a chewier texture than a NY bagel but quite tasty and fresh. You can get Japanese seasons toppings or more traditional. I had the Pacific sandwich which has salmon, greens, cream cheese and a Japanese seasoning blend - I loved it It's a few blocks away from the convention center (a bit out of the touristic "chain" places) zone) so a little more peaceful. It's in the lower lobby of a corporate office building but there's a sweet waterfall park outside with table or bench seating. As well as inside in the lobby. I will be back to try more on their menu.

Fan of mochi and bagels? This is the place to be! Hidden on the lower level of park place is Wa Bagel! As if bagels aren't chewy enough, having mochi in the inside made it even better! I also love that they make everything in house

This was my first time trying Japanese bagels! I got a kinako (roasted soybean powder) bagel and a red bean and cream cheese bagel to share with my partner. The servers toasted the bagels for us which was much needed and appreciated! The red bean and cream cheese bagel was really good! A good amount of filling to bagel ratio. I do wish there was more red bean in it though--the bulk of it was cream cheese. As it got colder, the bagel started getting much harder, so eat fast! I wouldn't get the kinako bagel again--in my opinion there wasn't enough kinako to bagel ratio. Also I think for this type of flavour which is just powder, it's necessary to also have something make it more smooth and less dry. This bagel also happened to be too hard--my soft mouth struggled to bite and chew it. The space was really spacious. It's on the concourse level of an office building so it felt like a start-up lunchroom. Many corporate workers around eating their own lunch, lunch from different establishments, etc. Tables were really large as well--great place to sit and do work on your laptop and eat some yummy bagels!

I thought it was difficult finding good bagels in Vancouver but boy was I wrong. WA-Bagel is everything you hope to find in a bagel; a nice chewy texture filled with just the right amount of cream cheese. Loved them so much I had two! Since bagels are one of my food groups, I will be sure to visit them again, and again, and again....

I got the mochi matcha and pacific! The mochi matcha was filled with mochi, red beans, and the best part was the chopped walnuts. I really enjoyed the texture they added to it! The pacific was on the pricey end but was a good breakfast sandwich. I loved the shiso leaves as they amplified the flavor on the shiso ume cream!

Hidden away in the basement of a big office building are some of the best and most interesting bagels I have ever had. I have sampled many different takes on bagels in NYC, SF, and Chicago. The dough at WA-BAGEL is so flavorful and distinctive. I don't know how they make bagels so good. I could eat these all day. Super friendly staff too who are open to chatting about all your bagel experiences.

Fabulous bagels!! I had the Pacific sandwich and the shisho ume cream cheese and pickled red onion paired well with the smoked salmon. Going back tomorrow for another one

Recently opened Japanese-style bagel shop in Vancouver by Aburi Restaurants. The bagels are soft and has a chewy almost mochi-like feel. You can see the kitchen and fresh bagels coming out! There's a range of flavors and bagel sandwiches at the shop as well as to-go options of aburi sushi. They carry coffee from 49th parallel and a selection of Japanese snacks. I tired the aburi veggie bagel sandwich, pumpkin bagel, and red bean cream cheese bagel. The red bean bagel's sweetness level was just right (not too sweet). The veggie bagel sandwich was a bit garlicky and very delicious. Staff were super friendly and the wait for the sandwiches was not too long. I suggest avoiding the lunch rush because the line around noon was very long.

Really unique bagel texture. The size was perfect, not too hefty. Definitely want to come back and try the unique cream cheese flavors they have!

This place is a bit difficult to find but eventually I did manage to locate the store front. Located inside a business building, the downstairs area is quite nice and quiet and with lots of seating. Hours are a bit restrictive and there was only a small selection left as I came within an hour of closing. I was looking forward to trying these bagels as I have been a huge fan of the aburi group with Miku and Minami and their previous Wa Curry. I got a mochi matcha and a matcha kinako and found that were quite chewy and hard despite having heated them up at home. Maybe I didn't follow the proper instructions for heating them up? In that case maybe instructions should be provided on how best to enjoy the bagels at home. Unfortunately not able to recommend this place.

Very surprised seeing the @aburirestaurants expand their culinary concepts to Japanese-style bagels They had a huge variety of unique bagel flavors such as Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), Kinako (Japanese roasted soybean flour), Mochi Bean, Sweet Potato & Black Sesame etc. Unfortunately by the time I got there (only an hour after opening), they were sold out of most flavors (can count on Vancouverites, including myself, to be as excited about grand openings, even on weekdays ). I ended up trying the following: 1 Pacific $17 - smoked sockeye salmon w pickled red onion, cured cucumber, shiso, caper crisps, and shiso ume cream cheese on a plain bagel 2 Matcha Kinako $4.25 The toppings in the Pacific worked so well together Not to mention the matcha in the Matcha Kinako was surprisingly potent and I loved the Kinako dusting on top and filling on the inside. Not sure how I felt about sweet bagels though because when I think desserts, I definitely do not think bagels..... but to each their own! The bagels also had a bit more of a chew to it than regular bagels, but I believe that's intentional

These bagels are not like NY bagels at all but they're not trying to be. We tried sweet and savory varieties and they were all delicious. Highly recommend the red bean bagel! Finally, this place is on the concourse level of the Park Place bldg. A little hard to find but worth it!

Been waiting for this place to open up in a while after knowing they're from the Aburi Group. We tried almost all of their bagel flavors on display and the Montreal premium sandwich. Gotta say I love love the Japanese twist of a traditional bagel. The texture of the bagel is more on the chewier side and it is not crispy on the outside. My favorite flavors were the black sesame & sweet potato and the matcha cheesecake, both of which were only a hint of sweet. The Montreal sandwich absolutely blew my mind. The miso-caramelized onions were DELICIOUS and the mustard aioli help ties the entire bagel down. This was a perfect sandwich and I still randomly think about it at night. The ladies selling them were also really sweet!

One of my favorite places. I'm from Los Angeles and I dream about coming back to Van just for this bagel. The only bagels I eat as is: my fave is the matcha red bean walnut

Pretty crappy bagels. I've been to Japan and New York. This place doesn't do justice to either.

Great bagel in the heart of downtown vancouver, a bit challenging to find as it is in the basement of an office building but worth the effort.