How a viral TikTok trend fueled business for Houston’s Bread Zeppelin: ‘Once you have it, you crave it!’

HOUSTON – TikTok has helped put plenty of 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 influencers on TikTok such as 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 Houston’s newly-opened restaurant and tried it.

My personal experience

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

I love tangy and sweet salads, so this one was recommended to me. By no means, I’m NO Keith Lee but here’s a look at my REAL reaction while trying some of Bread Zeppelins’ menu items.

Watch my reaction and food rating below:

The second time’s a charm

Matt West, director of brand development, said the Texas-based restaurant opened its first location in Houston’s Spring area, signing its lease pre-COVID-19. He said the impact of the pandemic played a major part in why the business did not do well, which resulted in them closing down.

The business opened again in May 2023 in the Upper Kirby area, which is located at 3235 Southwest Fwy.

With the help of some hungry influencers, Bread Zeppelin started gaining more popularity, especially since the recent TikTok trend of chopped Italian sandwiches, many know as the Italian “Grinder” salad.

What’s so unique about Bread Zeppelin?

According to West, the restaurant specializes in stuffed baguette sandwiches and chopped salad bowls. Bread Zepplin is also known for its in-house and fresh ingredients. The proteins are also made in-house, marinated, and cooked. Its 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, for the chopped salad baguettes: There’s no need to worry about carbs with the hollowed-out baguettes because they take out about 90% of the toasted baguette’s insides.

What makes their salads stand out? Their salads are chopped daily into small pieces and combined with your choice of protein, chopped veggies, and dressings.

The business’ Top 3 sellers are the Southwest, Atlantis, and Metro Cobb Zeppelins.

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

So what do they do with all that leftover bread?

According to West, the restaurant makes good use of its leftover baguettes by making a sweet, gooey-baked bread pudding.

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

And let’s not forget about its drinks. While they do make their teas from scratch, they also make fresh juices as well.

The Juicy Guava and Juicy Peach are highly recommended drinks.

Customers’ healthy addiction

West was very confident in his stance that once a person tries the specialized zeppelin, they are guaranteed to return 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 they 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 kind of addictive. It’s a good problem to have for us. It’s very ‘cravable,’” he continued.

He also thanked social media for helping boost its business, grow its brand, and get an organic following.

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

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

Will there be more locations?

I just had to ask, “Will Bread Zeppelin open more locations for those in the Houston area who are unable to make the trip?”

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 extend to the Greater Houston area in the near future.

As for the restaurant’s first anniversary, West says they will hold a Birthday Bash event from May 1-6. Every day will be an event where one lucky customer could win free Zeppelins for a year.

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