Houston – Hungry’s is turning 50 and they want to celebrate with you!
The Houston restaurant with a rich history dating back to 1975, is celebrating its five-decade milestone with “Hungry’s Day” on October 27. Diners can visit any of their three locations to enjoy brunch, face painting, music, bar cart service, and balloon artists.
Originally founded by Fred Sharifi, Hungry’s began as Hungry’s International Sandwich Shop in Montrose. They quickly gained popularity by offering a diverse menu of international sandwiches, alongside over 100 imported beers. Hungry’s became one of the first in Houston’s take-out and delivery scene during the oil boom of the 1980s, offering an alternative to the limited options of pizza and Chinese food at the time. Fred’s nephew, Ashkan Nowamooz, joined the family business in 1985 with his wife, Sue, who graduated from the Culinary Institute LeNôtre, now executive chef and owner. Their daughter, Nousha is now
As Hungry’s evolved over the years, the restaurant is still a place for healthy and affordable meals. On Hungry’s Day, they are also launching their throwback menu equipped with the restaurant’s iconic dishes for every decade since 1975.
- Original Reuben: Starting with their 70s dish, this was one of the original menu items back when they opened as Hungry’s International Sandwiches.
- Ziti Pasta Salad: This nostalgic ziti pasta alad represents their 80s menu. The 80s were during Houston’s oil boom, and it’s also when Hungry’s pioneered the takeout and delivery model in Houston. Back when you could only get pizza or maybe Chinese food delivered, they were one of the first restaurants to offer take out and delivery which helped families with working parents an easy way to get a quality homecooked meal that they could enjoy with their families at home.
- Beef Fajita Wrap: Their 90s dish is the beef fajita wrap. Even though they have evolved from a sandwich restaurant, the “international” component has always remained part of their DNA by putting their twists on different cuisines.
- Chicken Avocado Pita: Their 2000s dish is a personal favorite of Nousha. She tells us she ate this almost every day after school.
- Beet Reuben: The restaurant has come full circle with their 2010a dish, the beet Reuben. It offers a vegan option to their classic Reuben.
Visit their website or follow them on social media to keep up with their big birthday celebration.