Americanized halal food has arrived in Baton Rouge. The Halal Guys is debuting in the Capital City this Friday with the opening of its restaurant—its fifth in Louisiana—on Lee Drive next to MOOYAH Burgers, according to 225 Dine, which gives readers a first look at the popular chain’s newest location.
“The Halal Guys started as a hot dog cart in New York City in 1990,” 225 Dine reports. “When founders Muhammed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka and Abdelbaset Elsayed realized there was a market for Muslim cab drivers in search of a halal meal, they switched directions, and the concept exploded from there.”
The word “halal” translates to good and is used to indicate food that complies with Islamic dietary laws. Nearly three decades later, The Halal Guys has more than 225 franchises worldwide.
With red tabletops, stainless steel and an exposed kitchen, the Baton Rouge restaurant’s industrial interior is designed to imitate the original food cart, says Elizabeth Fletcher, the chain’s Louisiana marketing director. A floor-to-ceiling mural depicts a line of people waiting around the block for a meal from The Halal Guys food cart.
The fast-casual eatery’s menu is simple, with chicken and beef platters and gyros, falafel, fries, hummus and baklava. As the first Americanized halal food chain, The Halal Guys’ slogan on its website is “We are different.”
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