This New Chinatown Bagel Shop Has Fresh Bakes From $3.50: Here’s What We Tried

Good Luck Bagels is a new bagel shop at Hong Lim Complex

Bagel fans, there’s a new spot in Chinatown worth adding to your rotation. Good Luck Bagels has opened at Hong Lim Complex, serving fresh bagels from as low as $3.50, alongside a lineup of loaded Korean-style dessert bagels and specialty coffee creations.

The bakery’s everyday bagel range keeps things wallet-friendly, with the Plain bagel going for $3.50. For something more distinctive, there’s the Kopi Boy ($3.90), a nod to the iconic rotiboy bun, and the Cinnamon Pecans ($4.50), which seems to be a fan favourite.

From 11am, Good Luck Bagels offers its Signature Open Face Bagels lunch menu, best eaten fresh. We tried all three, and they did not disappoint.

Every bagel had a perfect crust studded generously with sesame seeds and just the right amount of chew, with toppings that tasted genuinely fresh.

Our favourite was the Crunchy Garden ($12), loaded with air-flown candy tomatoes and crisp Japanese cucumber on a toasted bagel with umami spread.

The Smoked Salmon with Lemon ($15) was a close second, featuring house-pickled Australian purple onions in red wine vinegar and pops of sweet pomegranate.

The Japanese Grande Tomatoes ($13) kept things simple, with big, juicy tomatoes taking centre stage. Our only gripe was that we wished there was some crunch to offset the chunky tomatoes.

Do note that prices stated are for two halves. Diners can also mix and match two bagel flavours in a set for just $2 more.

If you have more of a sweet tooth, Good Luck Bagels’ Korean-style loaded dessert bagels are the real draw.

Options include the Apple Crumble Cheesecake ($9), Double Chocolate Matcha ($12), and Strawberry Pistachio ($10).

We especially loved the Double Chocolate Matcha, which came stuffed with a thick slab of matcha nama chocolate.

We were also among the first to try the bakery’s upcoming Kunafa Pistachio Bagel (price TBD), launching in October, and it was unexpectedly good, packed with nutty pistachio paste and a whole chewy Dubai-style cookie. It’s a little unwieldy to eat as is, so we’d recommend pulling the cookie out first before digging in.

To wash it all down, Good Luck Bagels has a specialty coffee lineup dubbed the “888 Series,” using Tiong Hoe Black Pearl Espresso as a base. We tried all three: the Tonic Espresso ($8), finished with fresh Brazilian lime zest and tonic soda; the Salted Maple Vanilla Americano ($8), topped with maple-infused cream, crushed Biscoff, and Maldon sea salt; and the Orange Vanilla Bean Mont Blanc ($8), our favourite of the trio, where fresh orange zest added a lovely brightness to the espresso.

Regular coffee is also available, including Americano ($4.50) and Latte ($5.50).

Good Luck Bagels’ interior leans into a retro European kitchen look, with blue-and-white Mediterranean tiles, vintage crockery, a farmhouse sink piled with fresh bagels, and punchy red cabinetry.

Sacks of Japanese flour are stacked in the open kitchen, hinting that the bagels are made in-house, while branded caps and hand-painted tile coasters add to the decor.

While you’re here, keep an eye on our Chinatown food guide and 1-day Chinatown food itinerary for more spots worth checking out.

Address: 531 Upper Cross Street, #02-41, Hong Lim Complex, Singapore 050531
Opening hours: Tue-Sat 8.30am to 3.30pm
Website
Good Luck Bagels is not halal-certified.

Photos taken by Chan Zi Xuan.
This was a media tasting at Good Luck Bagels.