Brace! The Halal Guys Moves Closer to an Opening Date

Legendary Manhattan food cart operators The Halal Guys announced an enormous franchise expansion last year, promising Las Vegas would be among the first of 200 worldwide restaurant locations. In March, The Halal Guys announced a takeover of the former On The Mat Fight Shop at 3755 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 101, in Spring Mountain Square. Now comes word that the kings of all things halal plans to open its very first Las Vegas location in mid-August.

The chain the draw fierce lines in Manhattan offers a menu of chicken, gyro and falafel over rice, dubbed "a melting pot of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors."

Construction on the 1,752-square-foot space started in April with an anticipated opening in mid-summer.

Since 1990, The Halal Guys food cart on 53rd Street in Manhattan opposite the Hilton Hotel has become a spot of true legend with the hour-plus wait, the yellow bags, the fake cart copycats, the murder of a customer for cutting in line and above all, the "magic" white sauce and optional hot sauce served over their very simple menu of chicken, gyro and falafel over rice or in a sandwich.

For years, they only operated two carts, not trucks, that needed to be towed to Manhattan. Future plans for Halal Guys include two bricks-and-mortar stores in the city and five carts.