Chicago chef Felix Zepeda of Rosca collaborates with Pilsen panaderĂ­a to sell bagels with Mexican twist; for sell at

CHICAGO (WLS) — Like Chicago, Rosca is a melting pot of flavors – but in the form of a bagel.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

“We’re taking something that’s something super traditional, like a bagel, and just putting a Mexican twist on it,” said Felix Zepeda.

Felix Zepeda, is the chef and owner of Rosca, which means ring in Spanish. And he’s taking his bagels to the next to the level.

“I actually take the wheat berries, but I grind them to make the flour, so not only are we locally sourcing and trying to keep it as organic as possible,” said Zepeda. “We are about 99 percent organic.”

The Pilsen native says each bagel he hand-rolls is a tribute to his neighborhood and his Mexican heritage.

“The toppings is really what kinda of like sets it apart,” said Zepeda. “From our Cinnamon Raisin Churro Bagel to our Mexican Everything Bagel to our Red Mole Bagel.”

” We take red mole and we mix it into the bagel dough and then top it off with a mix of toasted sesame,” explained Zepeda.

He makes sure to incorporate both savory and sweet.

“My cinnamon churro bagel- I wait until the bagel is nice and fresh out the often, I dip it in a little bit of butter and I toss that into some cinnamon sugar and treat that like a churro,” Zepeda said.

Zepeda, who by day works as a chef in the West Loop, started out in his home kitchen, taking only weekend online orders.

But now he’s making his mark with the help of another small business, a Mexican bakery in Pilsen. He recently began collaborating with, PanaderĂ­a IrĂ¡muco Gto, 1339 W. 18th Street.

“Now I get a professional kitchen. I’m able to like expand my business,” said Zepeda.

This means customers will soon get to choose from traditional Mexican baked goods and from Rosca’s one-of-kind of bagels.

“To be able to connect and collaborate with a business in the neighborhood still; it was a dream,” said Zepeda. “Pilsen is growing, it’s everchanging right now and I just really want to catch onto that wave and make it so that this way Rosca really shines.”

For now, Zepeda said it’s still best to order his bagels online from the Rosca website. They’re available for pick-up only.

But if you find yourself in Pilsen on a weekend – make sure to stop at Panaderia Iramuco for one of his bagels or a pan dulce.

They’re also available on the weekends at Casa Cactus on the North Side.

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

You May Also Like
Pope Leo makes moving tribute to his predecessor Francis in first speech as the Holy Father: Read full transcript

Full Transcript of Pope Leo’s Moving Tribute to Predecessor Francis in First Speech as Holy Father

Thank you. Brothers and sisters, dear brothers and sisters. This is the…
Tufts University student detained by ICE granted bail by federal judge

Federal judge grants bail to Tufts University student detained by ICE

RĂ¼meysa Ă–ztĂ¼rk, a Tufts University student, was recently granted bail by a…
World leaders congratulate Pope Leo XIV, first American pontiff

Meet Pope Leo XIV, a Villanova graduate, who expresses himself using symbolic and devout religious references.

Amidst a serene ambiance of quietude, Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti addressed a…
Trump and Kemp Strategize for Georgia Senate Race—Here’s What’s at Stake in 2026

Trump and Kemp Plan for Georgia Senate Race – Understanding the Importance of the 2026 Election

The upcoming 2026 midterm elections may seem far away, but the competition…
NFL rival Josh Allen's savage swipe at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship

Josh Allen, a rival in the NFL, criticizes Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship.

Travis Kelce once said that he used to dream of being like…
Who is Lorna on ‘9-1-1’? Season 8, Episode 17’s Callback Explained

Explaining the Callback of Lorna on ‘9-1-1’ in Season 8, Episode 17

In the recent episode of Season 8, Episode 17 of “9-1-1,” the…
Jennifer Aniston's 'stalker' shoots chilling glare in bizarre shirtless court photos after 'crashing' into her home

Shirtless Man Accused of Stalking Jennifer Aniston Gives Creepy Look in Court Photos After Allegedly Breaking into Her Home

Bizarrely, Jennifer Aniston’s alleged stalker showed up shirtless in court shortly after…
Madonna accidentally reveals unusual $23K item in bathroom of her mansion that only the very rich have

Madonna stumbles upon a strange $23,000 object in her mansion bathroom that only wealthy individuals own

Madonna revealed an interesting medical device in the bathroom of her opulent $40M…
Pope Leo XIV: How his views compare to those of Pope Francis

A Comparison of the Views of Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis

Cardinal Robert Prevost was selected as the next Pope after Pope Francis…
CBS Reveals ‘Yellowstone’ Spin-Off Starring Luke Grimes As Kayce Dutton

New TV Show Revealed by CBS: Luke Grimes to Star in Spin-Off of ‘Yellowstone’ as Kayce Dutton

Kayce Dutton rides again! Actor Luke Grimes, known for his role in…
Mostly women arrested in Columbia University library takeover: NYPD

“Columbia University Library Takeover Leads to Arrest of Mostly Women: NYPD”

61 females were taken into custody by the New York Police Department…
Meet Pope Leo XIV: The tennis-playing cardinal who fired volleys at Donald Trump on social media

Introducing Pope Leo XIV: The cardinal who plays tennis and criticized Donald Trump on social media

The election of Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, is a…