What startling news does "the halal guys" have for vegans?

Every franchise brand has a backstory. And in many respects, the journey of the halal guys to prominence as a multinational business epitomises the American Dream. They had a corner location at 53rd and 6th Streets in Manhattan for many years. They remained open from 7 p.m. until 4 a.m., an ungodly but regular time. They make them a must-have for cab drivers, clubbers, and anyone who has heard of them.

The lovers of their platters created a website called "53rd and 6th" or the "Platter Club." This site gushed about "the best lunch in the city" because their platters were so renowned. Even back then, only one thing set their chicken and gyros platters apart: the renowned white sauce. Everyone knows to ask for a lot of it, even if no one knows what it is.

The Halal Guys are now a reality due to the cart's foundation. It is a privately held corporation with physical locations in America and other countries. Even QSR acknowledged it as the chain with the second-highest gross earnings after Chipotle in 2018.

The hot dog cart

Three men who fled Egypt, their native country, in search of a better life are the protagonists of the story's opening act. Abdelbaset Elsayed, Ahmed Elsaka, and Mohammed Abouelenein reportedly made a living by working in kitchens and taxis after arriving in New York. They saved up enough money to open a hot dog cart.

In 2007, Abouelenein spoke with The New York Times: "A hot dog is not food." We discovered that Pakistanis and Egyptians make up the majority of the cab drivers. He stated that the lack of halal food caused them too much suffering. And thus, in 1992, the cart switched to serving gyros and chicken.

According to Abouelenein, they were the first street vendor in the neighborhood to offer halal meat. The guys also altered the menu. This set off a series of events that led to the demise of Manhattan's famous hot dogs and their replacement with halal platters.

Good news for vegan enthusiasts

There are only two things on the original menu for the 53rd and 6th carts: a platter and a sandwich. Additionally, it offered a variety of beverages, notably water, soda, and Snapple. However, if you come by now, you can find a little bit more diversity. They now serve falafel, baba ghanoush, hummus, and fries, which will please vegans. There is also baklava and the most un-Middle Eastern chocolate chip cookie for those with a sweet craving.

The menu's design has remained unwaveringly basic. "A high-sodium, high-fat, pleasure-centered, center-stimulating experience is the goal of every element on a halal guys platter." The lamb/beef hybrid gyro meats are crusty, spicy knobs, and even the finely chopped chicken pieces have a rich flavor. It's a messy frontal assault of meat, sauce, rice, and spice when it's all put together on a platter. That recipe for success allowed the halal guys to grow beyond New York and into other parts of the world.

The main gripe of many is that, despite being halal-certified, the majority of these items are off-limits to vegans. That is, up until the company debuted their new vegan tzatziki, eggplant hummus, and vegetarian gyros. This nationwide franchise has joined the expanding movement of eateries selling meat-free and vegan options. According to Halal Guys, the vegetarian gyro will only be offered for a short period of time. However, we may hope that, with enough demand, it will eventually be added to the regular menu. "Pea protein, brown rice, coconut oil, spice blend, beets, mushrooms, and paprika" are the ingredients of "meat" for gyros. Gluten-free and soy-free are additional claims made for this item.

The cornerstone of the halal guys

Foodies and fans will concur that the halal guys white sauce is what really sets them apart. Hesham Hegazy, general manager of the company, acknowledges that it has the potential to change the game. This is due to the fact that while the white sauce recipe isn't conventional, the chicken and rice recipe is.

Customers initially expressed astonishment because they were anticipating yoghurt sauce. They wanted more of it, but they still enjoyed it. Hegazy claims that it is not traditional. Hegazy acknowledges that their sauce is the reason they are profitable: "The sauce is the reason we are in business. People try to replicate our bottles and steal them, but none have come close."

Final Thoughts

You're missing out on some of the greatest, most reliable quick-serve halal food available if you've never tasted the halal guys. These cuisine plates, which prominently feature chicken and gyros over rice, let you pick between savory and fiery hot sauces.

The components for their hot sauce, which comes in the same kind of sachets, are likewise printed. The meal of beef and chicken gyros is served over rice with lettuce and the renowned white sauce. It is the most popular combo platter item on the menu. These have the reputation of always being open. They also have a physical location on the Upper West Side, at 95th Street and Amsterdam. This may also involve the location of East 14th Street, where you may purchase delicious meals. They have also spread to numerous locations around the United States. It also includes the Philippines and South Korea, and they intend to do so even more.