Written by Nina Thomas
It is late November and the Christmas season is just about to start. Decorations are already put up and Christmas lights are all around. It’s 8pm at night and it’s raining outside, actually its drenching. Radio city is two blocks away while Rockefeller center is around the corner. The city blocks are wide and somehow everything still seems to be buzzing, even though the sky is already pitch black.
And the line at 53rd and 6th for its famous chicken and rice combo is long at all 5 different carts surrounding the cross section even with rain pouring and wind blowing. People have their umbrellas out and ready, willingly waiting the average 10-15 minute wait in the rain. The smell of chicken and lamb cooking saturates the city air. What can you do?
“The Halal Guys” is a chicken and rice cart located on 53rd and 6th that sells spicy chicken and lamb platters and sandwiches. Expanding from one cart back in 1990, it now has five carts surrounding the 53rd and 6th cross-section, all of which are packed on a average city night, even when it is raining. Platters cost six dollars while sandwiches cost four dollars. This food cart is one of many located across the city. Customers go up to a stand and ask for their order while the meat is cooked right in front of them.
Halal meat is unique in the fact that Muslim people are allowed to eat this under their religious law. Customers wait outside for their food and are given their food to go. This is difficult under harsh weather conditions yet many people still make the trip to “The Halal Guys”. Should weather permit, patrons also eat outside by the stand, although no formal seating is offered. Many times customers will also add “white” or “hot” sauce to their combinations. These additions have become famous because they are offered at halal carts.
“The Halal Guys” first became famous for selling its classic combination of chicken and rice on 53rd and 6th street. They started back in 1990 as a small hot dog stand when it later decided to appeal to Muslims caddies by introducing halal chicken and rice to the menu. Five years after its opening “The Halal Guys” experienced an increase in sales because of a New York Times article advertising their cart. From that time two or three more articles came out and before they knew it the owners were met by a surge of people who wanted chicken and rice. Now 53rd and 6th has become the place to go for the perfect combination of chicken and rice.
“The Halal Guys” plans to open a brick and mortar shop between 14th street and 2nd avenue. This is after almost 24 years of selling from a cart. Hesham Hegazy is a senior manager and partner for “The Halal Guys” and is opening this new location due to a high demand explaining that, “any business person would do the move. We expanded from 1 cart to 2 to 3 to 4 to 5 and now a store.” The 14th street store is located much farther downtown and because of this is much more accessible to college students. In many ways it is more hidden than a traditional stand on a corner. Other food franchises surround this location such as: Wendys, Taco Bell and Subway.
Currently customers order their food from the cart and then immediately take it to go. Some even wait until they are home to eat the food they have brought. However at this new location they will offer seating inside and patrons will be able to order food from outside of the store and inside as well.
At this new location, an extended menu will also be offered to customers. They will offer a different menu including more vegetarian options and a juice bar. This made in an effort to cater to a larger of audience of people while providing healthier options as well. Outside of the store a traditional chicken and rice stand will be available that will sell the classic menu of spicy chicken or lamb over a platter or sandwich. The only clear difference will be the additional menu located inside that will offer more options to customers but at a steeper price.
For a long time “The Halal Guys” were hesitate about opening a store. A brick and mortar location was available next to their carts on 53rd and 6th but this would cost them almost $40,000 a month according to Hegazy. This is now the location where a Starbucks in now open. While at the same location except in carts, “The Halal Guys” are able to serve 500-700 people on a summer night just from carts. With plates running for $6 on average, that is anywhere between $3,000 to $4,200 in just one night of business. Their hope is that a new extended menu with costlier items will make up for their new overhead costs at their 14th street location. Hegazy explains that, “…inside store items will cost more but because it will have a different menu.”
Halal has been a long been a favorite of New York’s college students who often trek miles for its cuisine. College students often eat on a budget with very little time and for $6 students have the option to buy food and eat quickly. The owners chose the 14th street location to cater to this college crowd. According to Hegazy, “Most students need to take a cab to our location, eat and the go back. We wanted something within walking distance for them.” This is perfect for the hundreds of college students who trek from across the city to 53rd and 6th for their lunch fix. The 14th street location is close to college campuses such as New York University, The New School and Baruch College. All are within walking distance form the storefront.
David Lopez , a sophomore at Baruch College is excited for the opening of this new location, “It was pretty welcoming to have a closer cart to home and school. 14th street is well within walking distance from school if one had the urge to got for a $6 lunch”