If you’re from NYC, some of your fondest late night memories probably include stumbling out of the bar/club/lounge at 3:00a.m. and making your way to the nearest Halal cart. “I’ll take chicken over rice, extra white sauce, one line of hot sauce please,” you say as the smell and steam coming from the cart make you giggle in excitement while you wait for the perfect ending to your night. If you were lucky, then one night you were standing at The Halal Guys cart!
The Halal Guys
6304 Springfield Plaza
Springfield, VA 22150
http://www.thehalalguys.com
What started as a modest cart on West 53rd & 6th Avenue in New York City has now expanded to a true empire! 25 years of serving great quality halal food has landed The Halal Guys five NYC carts and over 20 restaurants across the U.S. and Internationally.
Today, they are opening another one right here in Northern Virginia at Springfield Plaza. I can’t tell you how happy I was to learn that I would have a piece of my NYC memories only a 10 minute drive away from home.
I had the pleasure of attending their sneak peak last night, where invited guests were able to taste the menu before they opened to the public. Of course, they did not disappoint. The meat was high-quality and flavorful, the white sauce was on point and the hot sauce was the typical “don’t get more than 3 lines or your taste buds will burn off” type of hot.
Their menu offers platters or pita sandwiches and you can choose between chicken, gyro (beef), combo (chicken and gyro) and falafel. They also serve hummus, tahini w/pita, baba ghanouj and baklava for dessert.
The restaurant itself is small with counter seating in the front and about 3-4 tables, so this is definitely more of a quick takeout establishment, but if there is room, it’s pleasant to grab a seat and enjoy your meal.
If you’re not familiar with Halal food or The Halal Guys, here are a few important things to know:
- American halal is a mix of mediterranean and middle eastern flavor
- “Halal” means “permissible,” so “halal food” means that it has been prepared according to Islamic dietary rules
- The Halal Guys pride themselves in making sure that only the most quality meat is used and that the animals used to source their meat are treated humanely
If you haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing a platter of chicken or gyro over rice, or if you have and just need an excuse to go get some, make sure to check out The Halal Guys in their new Springfield, VA location today!
Also coming soon: locations in Vienna, University Mall and D.C.!
