Boiling dough in NYC water since 1972, this iconic Seinfeld-featured bagel shop opens its first Texas outpost in Houston this Thursday

If you’ve ever lived in New York and spent years quietly mourning the absence of a proper bagel, this one’s for you. H&H Bagels, the brand that’s fed New Yorkers since 1972 and earned cameos on Seinfeld, Sex and the City, and The Office, opens its first Houston location this week at 2850 Westheimer Rd in the Upper Kirby area.

The Houston franchise is owned by Noman Khan, a native New Yorker whose family has called Houston home for over a decade. After years of missing the bagels he grew up with near Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Khan franchised the brand to fill that gap — and now Houston gets to benefit from it.

H&H has held to the same recipe for more than 50 years: bagels proofed and kettle-boiled in New York City water, then baked fresh on-site throughout the day. The dough uses unbromated, unbleached flour and non-GMO ingredients with no artificial preservatives — a standard the brand calls its Real Food. Made to Order. philosophy. Eggs are cracked fresh, avocados are hand-sliced to order, and the Nova salmon is cold-smoked over hardwood without preservatives.

H&H Bagels menu

The Houston menu covers the full range of NYC classics: Plain, Everything, Sesame, Jalapeño Cheddar, Pumpernickel, and more, paired with cream cheese spreads including Scallion, Spicy Scallion, and Strawberry.

Signature sandwiches include the Classic Bacon, Egg & Cheese and the Nova Salmon with “The Works.” Two Houston-leaning additions — the Southwest Turkey (bacon, avocado, pepper jack, southwest sauce) and The Gardener (veggie cream cheese, avocado, tomato, cucumber) — round out the lineup.

H&H also offers catering boxes for groups, including a Classic Bagels & Spreads Box and a Nova Salmon Box with traditional toppings. Pre-made sandwich boxes for parties of 10 or more are available as well.