Source: Pennlive

Kawaguchiko, Japan – A new dining establishment offering halal cuisine has emerged in Dauphin County, with owner Arslan Ghumman introducing Halal Munch to address what he identified as a significant gap in the local food scene.

“There’s not this type of option here for halal,” Ghumman explained. “Our food is for everybody.”

From Brooklyn to Pennsylvania

The primarily takeout restaurant, which opened earlier this year, is located at 4315 Jonestown Road in Lower Paxton Township, taking over the space previously occupied by Cheezzy Pie pizza shop. While the compact venue offers limited indoor seating for approximately 15 guests and additional outdoor tables, most customers opt for takeout or delivery services.

Ghumman, who previously worked as a district manager for a restaurant in Brooklyn, New York, relocated to central Pennsylvania to be closer to family. He leveraged his industry experience to establish Halal Munch, initially offering only pizza when the restaurant opened in February before expanding to a full halal menu by late March.

Halal Principles and Menu Offerings

The restaurant adheres to halal dietary guidelines, which follow Islamic principles prohibiting pork and establishing specific standards for kitchen hygiene and animal slaughter methods. Halal Munch’s diverse menu features burgers, pizza, rice platters with chicken and lamb, gyros, chicken wings, and tenders.

Homemade Quality Earning Praise

According to Ghumman, all items are freshly prepared in-house, including pizza dough and sauces. Customer response has been enthusiastic, with positive Google reviews describing the restaurant as “a hidden gem in Harrisburg” where “every dish was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care.”

Specialty Dishes and Future Plans

Specialty offerings include the Spicy Demon burger topped with fried onions and spicy sauce, Shake Fries with chicken, mozzarella and spicy sauce, and chicken tikka pizza featuring tikka chicken, vegetables, and mozzarella. Ghumman proudly notes that their chicken wings are “crispy, crunchy, and juicy,” with additional menu items including chicken nuggets, popcorn chicken, mozzarella sticks, and jalapeño poppers.

Currently available for delivery through DoorDash and UberEats, Halal Munch plans to introduce its own app-based ordering system with delivery service in the coming weeks.

Original Articles:

pennlive.com. (n.d.). ‘Hidden gem’ restaurant opens in Dauphin County with halal menu. Retrieved May 1, 2025, from https://www.pennlive.com/food/2025/04/hidden-gem-restaurant-opens-in-dauphin-county-with-halal-menu.html