Halal Guys closes both Long Island stores

Halal Guys, one of the pioneers in the halal chicken and rice genre, has closed both of its stores on Long Island.

Its original store in Farmingdale reopened this month as a Shah's Halal Food, which now has at least 19 locations across Nassau and Suffolk counties. The phone number for the Halal Guys' other location, at 2565 Hempstead Tpke. in East Meadow, appears to be disconnected and the restaurant space is listed for lease. 

Margaret Carrera, chief development officer for The Halal Guys corporate office, confirmed Friday that the chain has had to close locations across the Long Island area, and said that they've seen strong growth in other areas like Colorado, Massachusetts and North Carolina.

"This was not an easy choice, and we’re deeply grateful to our team members and loyal guests in the community who have supported us over the years," she wrote in a statement.

When Halal Guys opened its first Long Island brick-and-mortar eatery in 2018, it was a sensation. Newsday reported that the store on Broad Hollow Road served more than 1,000 people its first day. Five days later, there was still a line out the door. But over the years, other halal chains moved into the market, like Shah's and Hamza & Madina. 

Halal Guys got its start in 1990 as a hot dog cart at West 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. Founders Mohammed Abouelenein, Abdelbaset Elsayed and Ahmed Elsaka were originally serving Muslim cabdrivers who wanted a quick, affordable halal lunch. The trio eventually stopped serving hot dogs and moved into rice platters topped with chicken and beef gyro meat, along with the famous white sauce. 

By Andi Berlin

andi.berlin@newsday.comAndiBerlin

Andi Berlin is from Arizona and does not know where she is going. But when she gets there, she’ll find something beautiful and delicious that the world needs to taste.