For many years, fans have been demanding a place to sit and eat their halal food. The Halal Guys have finally listened.
The Halal Guys on “53rd and 6th”, have become a popular name in New York City. There are five carts in the city. After twenty-three years they are beginning to expand throughout United States and worldwide. Just recently they opened their first restaurant on 14th street and 2nd avenue. The Halal Guys plan to open an additional restaurant on the Columbia University campus.
The restaurant excites many customers. Cab drivers and customers from different states can now eat there. They no longer have to wait on huge lines in the sweltering summer heat or blistering winter cold. Now customers have access to air conditioning, space, and tables.
“The line is short and the guys are friendly. Now that they opened up a place, I don’t have to wait in the sun,” said a local costumer.
The restaurant will have the typical gyro and platters that are sold at the cart. It will add a juice and smoothie bar, hummus, tabbouleh, baba ghanoush, Mediterranean salads, and yogurts. Also the falafels will now be made fresh, instead of being reheated at the carts. The Halal Guys are trying to reach out to the vegetarian customers.
Location played a big role in deciding whether or not to expand. There is a lot going on in East Village. “Number 1 is that it’s right by the NYU Dorms,” the manager said.
There is a cart open right in front of the restaurant. The Halal Guys will have both the cart and restaurant open. The major difference will be is that the restaurant will have a huge variety of food.
Although this restaurant is beneficial to many costumers, some costumers are still not happy. The prices at the East Village outlet are somewhat higher than at the cart. They will offer two sizes, a regular for $6 and $7 for large. The restaurant will also add tax to the meal. The average platter at the Halal Guys cart is $6.
In 1990 Abdelbaset Elsayed, and Mohamed Abouelenein ran a hot dog cart. Both founders noticed there was a high demand for a full-filling halal meal for Muslim cab drivers. “Always looking for a halal meal,” according to the manager of Halal Guys. This inspired them to add more items on their menu at the time.
They get a wide range of customers. “You just look at the lines [at Halal Guys], and it’s people from all walks of life. That right there is a franchise. It’s absolutely the right time now,” according to the Daily News paper.
The Halal Guy’s next goal is to open a larger place at Amsterdam Avenue and 95th street, then they hope to expand all throughout the business world. Abouelenein and Elsayed are working with the Fransmart franchise company to open restaurants in L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Houston. In addition, they hope to expand in Canada, the Middle East, and Europe. Fransmart is the same franchise company that expanded Five Guys.
“It’s going to be the Chipotle of Middle Eastern food,” Dan Rowe, Fransmart’s chief executive, said according to New York Times.
The Halal Guys Brand has become strong. It attracts many tourists and have imitators of the brand. There is something special about their meat and white sauce that attracts many people.
“When you’re working at your pushcart, you keep working and you don’t follow what’s happening about your name. And then (I discovered) all this demand. The name ‘Halal Guys’ had spread all over the world — and I didn’t even know it,” Abouelenein says according to the daily newspaper.