Bo’s Falafel Bar on SW Century Drive has been a bright spot in Bend’s culinary scene for the past several years, dishing out golden falafel and good vibes in equal measure. But starting June 4, the local favorite is pivoting — literally and deliciously. The eatery is rebranding as Bo’s Bagels, marking the end of one chapter and the start of another rooted in heritage, flavor and community.
Originally opened as a Mediterranean-inspired food truck featuring falafel, hummus, and fresh toppings, Bo’s built a loyal following with its creative menu, casual warmth, and open-door philosophy. The name itself has humble origins. “Bo’s is named after my dog,” owner Sierra Phillips laughs. “Nothing rhymed with falafel at the time.”
But running a Mediterranean kitchen in Central Oregon has come with challenges, especially in recent years. “All the imported ingredients have gone from 50 to 200%,” she says. “So we’re rebranding to being just Bo’s Bagels.” The change, though bittersweet, makes room for something already established and adored: handmade, small-batch bagels.
The transition brings opportunity, not just for efficiency, but for creativity. “How I come up with new items is driven by cravings,” Phillips admits. “I will get obsessed and fixate on something.” Luckily, she’s not doing it alone. “My staff are really rad and full of ideas. I trust their quality.”
The bagels have become a crowd favorite as it is at Bo’s, with customers returning for more and more until their daily production merited a change in the focus. “We use a three-day process so it’s really a labor of love,” Phillips explains. Once customers got a taste of Bo’s bagels, demand took off — and so did the batch size. “Now we make several hundred a day.” It’s a craft rooted in culture. The bagel, created as a Jewish delicacy during times of harsh oppression, has an entirely different identity at Bo’s.
One debate Phillips still has fun with? The hole in the bagel. While it still exists in Bo’s bagels, she likes to let them rise a little bit more in the middle for the love of the cream cheese. “… I hate losing cream cheese through it.” Most would not hesitate to agree that any effort to preserve every last bit of cream cheese is a positive idea.
Bo’s Bagels will feature a streamlined menu: bagels, sandwiches, and salads, with a few holdovers. “The garden sauce will stay… We’ll keep our fries because people love them,” she says. “And we’ll have falafel as a special from time to time.”
The shift also promises more time for special events that made Bo’s stand out from the start. Events like Socially Awkward Bingo. “We only did it once,” Phillips says, but the hope is to have more time for extracurriculars like this when the simpler menu is on its feet.
In the past, Bo’s has proudly hosted Drag Brunches — not just as promotions, but as unforgettable celebrations. While the business continues to evolve and time grows tight, Bo’s still makes space to support its queens, by catering outside events when they can’t host in-house. These performances, paired with bold, flavorful food, are a vivid reminder that Bo’s isn’t just about eating, it’s about celebrating. Always has been.
That spirit of inclusivity is a core part of Bo’s brand. Known for its colorful, joyful vibe and offbeat sense of humor. Bo’s proudly uses social media slogans like, “you CAN sit with us.” It’s that same warmth that keeps customers coming back and will undoubtedly carry Bo’s Bagels into its next phase.
The transformation is already underway. “We have all new equipment coming in tomorrow,” Phillips says, hinting at the quiet buzz behind the scenes. An announcement is expected soon. “June 1 will be the last day of Bo’s Falafel as everyone knows it, and June 4 will be Bo’s Bagels.”
As the shop closes one chapter and begins another, its mission stays the same: to serve flavorful, craveable food in a place where everyone feels welcome. From falafel dreams to bagel magic, Bo’s is still serving what matters most: comfort, connection, and a seat for everyone at the table.
This article appears in Source Weekly May 29, 2025.
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Damn. Elite falafel. Full time bagels isn’t a terrible trade!