Long-Awaited San Diego Debut

After years of anticipation, The Halal Guys, known for its famous rice platters with the customer’s choice of chicken, gyro and falafel, said it will officially open soon in Hillcrest. The iconic New York City street food brand has secured its first San Diego location at 3825 Fifth Avenue in San Diego’s Hillcrest community.

From Street Cart to Global Empire

Founded by Egyptian immigrants Mohammed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsakaas, and Abdelbaset Elsayed, The Halal Guys is a testament to the American Dream – growing from humble beginnings as a food cart on the streets of midtown Manhattan to a global icon known as the largest American Halal street food concept in the world. The business initially started as a hot dog cart but eventually began selling halal food in 1990.

Menu Offerings and Signature Items

The restaurant’s menu centers around its famous rice platters, allowing customers to choose from chicken, gyro, and falafel options. Aside from its rice platters, it also offers warm pita bread sandwiches filled with meat of choice, lettuce, tomatoes, additional toppings and the signature white and hot sauce. These signature sauces have become legendary among fans of the brand.

Expansion Plans for San Diego County

The San Diego expansion is being led by franchisee Farhan Qadri, who has ambitious plans for the region. Farhan Qadri is the franchisee charged with expanding the company’s California foothold by sprinkling five Halal Guys storefronts across San Diego County, though the exact locations of the additional four restaurants have not yet been announced.

Building on California Success

The Halal Guys already established a strong presence in Southern California before venturing into San Diego. With new investment, the brand established its presence in Southern California, opening its Costa Mesa storefront in 2015, which helped prove the concept’s viability in the California market.

Global Reach and Continued Growth

Today, The Halal Guys now has over 100 restaurants worldwide with hundreds more in development, making it one of the most successful halal food franchises globally. The San Diego opening represents another milestone in the brand’s continued expansion across major metropolitan areas in the United States.

Original Article:

SanDiegoVille. (2025, August 14). NYC’s The Halal Guys set to open first San Diego location this September after years of anticipation. https://www.sandiegoville.com/2025/08/nycs-halal-guys-set-to-open-first-san.html