The Halal Guys is an American Greek Halal fast food restaurant. Their journey started in 1990, with three Egyptians who founded the Halal Guys.  They first started by selling hot dogs to taxi drivers in New York City, then shifted to selling platters which then made them famous along with their white sauce, red sauce, and “Q sauce”.  They have always operated around the clock in New York City because so many people love their food.  “They now have become so big and have stores all around the world they are a massive franchise,” said Heba, a manager at the local chain.  The local Halal Guys is located in Bull run Plaza at 11760 Sudley Manor Dr.

As you walk into the restaurant you can smell the chicken being grilled and the delicious beef Gyro being sliced. The venue is surrounded by glass windows so it looks very lively inside.  They also greet you within 30 seconds with “Welcome to the Halal Guys!” so you feel welcomed, and the staff members help you with the menu if you have any questions.  The menu is simple and easy to understand.

The menu has a choice of a small platter, a regular platter, or a wrap.  For each item, you can choose chicken, beef, or a combination.  They also have a veggie option which is falafel ( fried chickpeas).  If you are looking for something sweet they have some very good desserts like Baklava (a layered pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey), Baklava cheesecake, or chocolate chip cookies.

At one of my visits, I ordered a regular combo platter topped with onions, green peppers, jalapeños, topped with white sauce, and a few drops of the hot sauce,which is made from ghost peppers. The passion fruit lemonade is a favorite of mine, and I added a slice of Baklava cheesecake. As I took my first forkful of chicken, the aroma was inviting and I eagerly dug in for more.  White sauce and rice made a flavorful creamy and salty combination. However I’m glad I only got a few drops of the red sauce. It wasn’t too spicy and didn’t overpower the dish. The Baklava cheesecake was very good; it was nutty but not too nutty because the cheesecake balanced it out. It wasn’t overly sweet it was just right.