Bagels Etc., the Bagel Maven’s Choice, 270...

Bagels Etc., the Bagel Maven’s Choice, 270 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. Open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday till 3 p.m. (714) 645-7877. While nothing can compete with Wolf’s delicatessen in Manhattan, these are the best bagels this side of Sixth Avenue: soft and chewy inside with a hard shell that cracks, not bends. Their 15 varieties include egg, pumpernickel, blueberry, whole wheat apple walnut and pizza. Plus, there are bialys, sandwiches, pizzas, cappuccino and patio tables. Mother’s Market and Kitchen, 225 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa. (714) 631-4741.; 19770 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, (714) 963-6667. Both restaurants open daily, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. A small but super health-food restaurant catering to both the loyal and the uninitiated in a sky-lit room ringed with pastel nature murals. Serves everything from textured soy protein in barbecue sauce to spicy vegetarian burritos, killer corn bread and thick fruit smoothies.