The Halal Guys open in Toronto

TORONTO — When Imran Momin witnessed the lines at a The Halal Guys’ New York City food cart in 2008, he knew he wanted to franchise the concept. 

“When I saw I had to wait in line for 35 minutes to get my food, I thought, ‘Well, this has got to be something’” said Momin, adding the hype didn’t overpromise. 

“There was no particular ethnicity that was waiting in line; there were people from all walks of life,” he added.

The Halal Guys started in 1990 as a hot dog cart at West 53rd and 6th Avenue. 

The three original Halal Guys, founders Muhammed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka and Abdelbaset Elsayed, recognized the demand for halal meals from Muslim taxi drivers looking for a bite between pickups and expanded the menu to include chicken and beef gyro. 

They added more carts around Manhattan, attracting “around the block” lines. In recent years, The Halal Guys developed a brick and mortar eatery, partnered with Fransmart and began expansion in the United States and internationally. There are now more than 400 units in development around the world. 

Momin, who has foodservice experience in management for quick service restaurant chains, partnered with his two cousins Alveen Momin and Averroes Momin to apply for territory rights. The trio was awarded a five-unit deal in the Greater Toronto Area. 

The first Toronto location opened May 5 at 563 Yonge St. 

The Toronto restaurant was originally billed as Canada’s first unit, but a franchise in Montreal opened in September. Although the Toronto franchisees may not have been first, the Yonge and Wellesley location won’t be their last. They have eyes on Mississauga and Vaughan, Ont., for future stores.  

“It was always a dream to open one of my own restaurants, so here we are,” said Momin. “Back home in India we owned a couple of restaurants, so it’s in our blood.”