New York cult favorite Halal Guys opening Kansas City location. Next: Johnson County?
Three Egyptian immigrants started The Halal Guys as a New York City food cart in 1990, specializing in premium quality halal meals — food that follows Islamic dietary laws.
They quickly built a loyal following and kept expanding, opening three more carts. In 2014, they opened their first brick-and-mortar restaurant and later another in the city.
The franchise company now has more than 100 locations in the United States, Canada, Indonesia, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
Northland resident Osama Hanif, 23, tried it as a teenager and has been a fan since. In 2021, he signed on as a franchisee with his father, uncle and two others.
They plan to open their first metro location later this month at 8702 N.E. Flintlock Road, near Liberty.
It will offer beef gyros, falafel sandwiches, and chicken rolled in warm pita bread. Its chicken platters come with rice, lettuce, tomatoes, a choice of toppings such as onions, jalapeno, hummus and baba ghanoush, along with its famed white sauce (mayonnaise based), hot sauce and barbecue sauce.
Its hot sauce is described as “seriously hot.” Most customers request between just a few drops and a few lines. It all depends on how “heat resistant” you are, the company said, and the choice between white sauce and hot sauce can be an “agonizing decision.”
Sides will include baba ghanoush, hummus, falafel and fries. For dessert it will have baklava and chocolate chip cookies.
Hanif first announced the Kansas City franchise two years ago and has since looked for locations in the Crossroads, Westport and other areas.
Now he is negotiating for a spot in Johnson County. He plans to have at least five locations in the metro.
Hanif was born in Houston, and moved to the Kansas City area in 2007. He earned a degree in finance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. He also opened a wholesale business specializing in novelty items. His father has been in the retail/wholesale industry for more than 20 years.
