PROJECT chicaGO: The Halal Guys
Be warned: the food here is highly addictive
The bright red and yellow signage and bar tables are there to warn you early on about your upcoming addiction and withdrawal symptoms. I guarantee you — your late-night cravings will kick in soon after trying The Halal Guys for the first time.
Halal food refers to food acceptable according to Muslim law. Meat must be prepared under specific instructions, making sure all blood is drained from the carcass. Countless of Chicagoans, muslims and non-muslims, have become regular customers at The Halal Guys since its opening last August.
I met with Steve Chong — one of the co-owners of The Halal Guys Chicago, a foodie, and a fun friend — for a quick conversation about the restaurant, his inside tips on how to order, and the difference between the stores in NYC and Chicago. Steve is keeping himself busy these days, getting ready to open the second location this summer in the loop (180 N Wabash Ave).
Joanne Kim: How would you introduce your restaurant to a stranger who has never tried The Halal Guys before?
Steve Chong: The Halal Guys is one of the most well-known food trucks from New York. The store in Chicago is the first storefront of the original food truck. There’s always a line of people waiting to try it throughout the year. The greatest thing about this line is that it’s not just Muslims, Asians, White, or students — it’s a mix of everyone, including businessmen in suits. It’s crazy! For everyone to come in line is in itself a cultural experience.
JK: What’s your signature menu?
SC: Our signature menu is the platter with lettuce, tomatoes, rice, with chicken and gyro on it. You can get falafels too if you want. Then we have our famous “white sauce” that everyone talks about. I can’t tell you what’s in it, but it’s our “cherry-on-top.” A lot of people tried coming up with a copied recipe to recreate the sauce, but no one’s been successful. There are number of fake Halal Guys food-trucks because of the popularity.
JK: Is The Halal Guys in Chicago any different from the one in New York City?
SC: We cut the chicken a little thicker here — that way the meat stays juicier. The original owners in New York initially cut it in thicker chucks but now they serve the chicken more shredded at the carts instead because it cooks faster so people can go through the line quicker.
JK: Any tips on ordering?
SC: Order half chicken, half gyro. Put as much white sauce on as you can, as in order an extra white sauce. Get the hot sauce on the side so you can try very little first to see if you can handle the spice. If you can, then add more. Plus, get the BBQ sauce.
JK: BBQ sauce?? You have that?
SC: Not a lot of people know about this, but we have it. It gives the platter a little tangy taste. It’s my favorite. I can’t eat without it.
Steve was on point. I can’t go back to enjoying my platter without the BBQ sauce anymore.
The Halal Guys
49 West Division Street
*This was originally posted in PROJECT chicaGO’s online publication.
