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This report was updated on April 20.
The Halal Guys near Walmart in Farmingdale has quietly closed.
Those recently looking for a falafel platter or beef gyro from the nation’s seminal halal food chain — with their signature white sauce — instead found a Shah’s Halal.
Not only that, Long Island’s other Halal Guys spot in East Meadow has also turned its lights off and locked up.
The last public communication from Halal Guys Long Island happened Feb. 14 on Instagram.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to align with shifting market demands, we’ve had to make the difficult decision to close a few locations in the Long Island area,” said Margaret Carrera, the chief development officer at The Halal Guys. “This was not an easy choice, and we’re deeply grateful to our team members and loyal guests in the community who have supported us over the years. At the same time, we’re excited to see strong growth throughout other regions like Colorado, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Iowa and soon to come into South Carolina and a few airports where we’re expanding our presence and investing in new opportunities.
“We remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences to our guests and continuing to grow in ways that reflect how and where people want to dine.”
The Halal Guys was founded in 1990 by three Egyptian-Americans as a hot dog cart in midtown before expanding to several carts over the course of the next decade.
The company began franchising in 2016 and ballooned to 100 global locations by 2020.
The Halal Guys also swept the halal category in the 2024 GLI Foodie Awards.
The closest location for Islanders now is in Long Island City.
— photo from The Halal Guys on Facebook
