“Once you have it, you want it!”

HOUSTON – TikTok has helped put many local businesses on the map, and this recent trend has one Houston restaurant fueled with new business.

The social media platform has expanded its genres beyond being a “dancing” app, allowing creators to voice their opinions, show off their cooking skills, and even save dying businesses by helping owners with free marketing.

We know about the effects of TikTok influencers like Keith Lee and Mr. ChimeTime – but they forgot one place: Bread Zeppelin.

So KPRC 2 Senior Digital Content Producer Brittany Taylor took a trip to the newly opened Houston restaurant and gave it a try.

My personal experience

The staff were so friendly and the inside of the restaurant was clean. I decided to try the Greek salad stuffed baguette called Atlantic.

I love spicy and sweet salads, so this one was recommended to me. By no means am I NOT Keith Lee, but here’s my REAL reaction as I tried some of the items on the Bread Zeppelins menu.

Check out my reaction and food rating below:

Second time’s a charm

Matt West, director of brand development, said the Texas-based restaurant opened its first location in the Houston Spring area, signing its lease before COVID-19. He said the impact of the pandemic played a major role in why businesses did not do well, leading to their closure.

The business reopened in May 2023 in the Upper Kirby area, located at 3235 Southwest Fwy.

With the help of some hungry influencers, Bread Zeppelin has started to gain more and more popularity, especially after the recent TikTok trend of sliced ​​Italian sandwiches, known to many as the “Grinder” Italian salad.

What is unique about Bread Zeppelin?

According to West, the restaurant specializes in stuffed baguette sandwiches and sliced ​​salad bowls. Bread Zepplin is also known for its own and fresh ingredients. Proteins are also homemade, pickled and boiled. His signature dressings are also made from scratch!

Customers can choose from 11 signature salad bowls and three different grain bowls, or build their own with unlimited options.

Now, about the sliced ​​baguettes for salad: You don’t need to worry about carbs with the sliced ​​baguettes because they take out about 90% of the inside of the toasted baguette.

What sets their salads apart? Their salads are cut daily into small pieces and combined with your choice of protein, chopped vegetables and dressings.

The top 3 selling businesses are Southwest, Atlantis and Metro Cobb Zeppelins.

As for dressings, Avocado Ranch is his No. 1 seller. “We’re in Texas, and people love their ranch,” West said.

So what do they do with all that leftover bread?

According to West, the restaurant puts its leftover baguettes to good use by making a sweet, gooey baked pudding.

West also said the quality of the food is what gets people addicted, but her hospitality is what makes them stand out.

And let’s not forget about his drinks. Although they make their teas from scratch, they also make fresh juices.

Juicy Guava and Juicy Peach are highly recommended drinks.

Healthy customer addiction

West was very confident in his position that once a person tried the specialized zeppelin, they were guaranteed to come back for more.

“It’s a unique product — once you have it, you crave it,” West said. “I can’t tell you how many guests come in and have it for the first time and I see them, believe it or not, the next day, and then I see them two days later.”

“It’s addictive. It’s a good problem for us to have. It’s very “thirsty,” he continued.

He also credits social media for helping his business, growing his brand and gaining an organic following.

“People eat with their eyes, so when they see it, they want to eat it,” West said.

Since the TikTok trend, West said the restaurant has seen an increase of at least 30%.

Will there be more locations?

I just had to ask, “Will Bread Zeppelin open more locations for those in the Houston area who can’t travel?”

According to West, Bread Zeppelin plans to open a location in Memorial by the end of the year and another in the Memorial Area in 2025.

The company plans to expand into the Greater Houston area in the near future.

As for the restaurant’s first anniversary, West says they will be holding a birthday event May 1-6. Each day will be an event where one lucky customer can win free Zeppelins for a year.

Click here to learn more.