The Halal Guys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Halal Guys |
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Line at the cart (2007)
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1990 |
| Current owner(s) | Mohamed Abouelenein Ahmed Elsaka Abdelbaset Elsayed via The Halal Guys Franchise Inc. |
| Food type | Halal, Middle Eastern cuisine |
| Street address | Corners of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue (main and second locations) |
| City | Manhattan, New York City |
| State | New York |
| Postal/ZIP code | 10019 |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 40°45′42″N 73°58′45″W / 40.76180°N 73.97928°W |
The Halal Guys is a very popular restaurant chain. It started as small food carts in New York City. These carts were on the corners of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. Today, you can find their food carts and restaurants all over New York. They also have locations in many other places around the world.
The Halal Guys are famous for their main dish. It's a platter with chicken or gyro meat served over rice. They also make tasty sandwiches, like chicken or gyro wraps. All their food is halal, which means it's prepared according to Islamic law.
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How The Halal Guys Started
The Halal Guys was founded in 1990. Three friends from Egypt started it: Mohamed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka, and Abdelbaset Elsayed. They first had a hot dog cart on 53rd Street.
Mohamed Abouelenein felt that hot dogs were not a full meal. So, in 1992, they changed their menu. They started selling chicken, gyro meat, rice, and pita bread. This new menu was a big hit, especially with Muslim taxi drivers in New York City. They loved getting a quick, affordable halal meal.
As more people heard about the food, it became very popular. The chicken and rice platter became their signature dish. It was especially loved by the Muslim community in the city.
The Food They Serve
The Halal Guys serve what they call "American halal" food. Their platters and sandwiches use ingredients like chicken, gyro meat, falafel, and rice. People describe the taste as a mix of flavors from the Mediterranean and Middle East.
One of the most famous things about The Halal Guys is their white sauce. Customers absolutely love it! Many people have tried to figure out the secret recipe, but no one has succeeded. It's a bit like tzatziki sauce, but unique. Most other halal carts in New York City also have a white sauce, but each cart's recipe is usually different. The Halal Guys also make a spicy red hot sauce.
Growing Around the World
In 2014, The Halal Guys decided to expand. They teamed up with a company called Fransmart. This company helps businesses open new locations as franchises. A franchise means other people can open a restaurant using The Halal Guys' name and recipes.
Within just one year, The Halal Guys made deals to open new restaurants. They expanded to places like California, New Jersey, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.. They also started opening restaurants in other countries. You can now find The Halal Guys in Canada, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Helping the Community
The Halal Guys also believe in giving back. In 2016, they donated $30,000 to LaGuardia Community College. This money was used to create scholarships. These scholarships help students who are having financial difficulties pay for their education.
