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New York's Halal Guys Set To Open In Chicago This Summer

By Lisa White in Food on Feb 21, 2015 8:25PM

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(Photo: The Halal Guys' Facebook)

A popular New York City food cart icon with a cult following is looking to set up shop in Chicago as early as this summer. The Halal Guys, started in 1990 with their signature yellow and red cart at W. 53rd and 6th Ave, is eying a major expansion which includes a bevy of Chicago locations.

The Halal Guys will open their first Chicago location in the Gold Coast this summer according to Eater Chicago. It will be the first of five planned shops in Chicago. The massive expansion also includes new locations in Las Vegas, Southern California and globally with outposts in Malaysia and the Philippines. Expansion plan were initially announced last year. The Halal Guys already have two brick and mortar locations in New York City alongside their classic food carts.

Chicago is an obvious choice for the expansion, with a growing Muslim population and the home of Chicago Halal Food Festival, Eater points out. The Halal Guys are known just as much for their delicious platters of meat with signature red and white sauces as they are for long lines crawling down and around the block from their food carts. They've become so popular that they even have a section of their website showing fans how to spot imitators, which have popped up across New York City over the years. We can't wait to enjoy some of their wonderful street meat without the hassle of hopping a flight.