Been eating way too much mediocre chicken and rice lately, so I had to go back to the OG Halal Guys, and yeah... I kinda missed it. The classic chicken still hits and reminded me why it became a go-to in the first place. Tried the spicy BBQ chicken seasonal too, but that one was a miss for me--pretty dry and bland. The pita was soggy, which was kinda disappointing, but the rice and veggies were fresh and tasty like always. Overall, I'd stick with the classic next time. read more

The Halal Guys - Chicken and spicy bbq chicken platter - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Visiting family and wanted something filling and quick. Portions were big which is why I love them lol. But the freshness of the food just wasn't there. The pita bread was super hard like a croton. Then one of the pita bread slices was super soggy like it was sat in steam or moisture. Rice and meat were seasoned well and they were heavy handed on the sauces which is a plus for me. read more

Honestly, hit or miss. Sometimes I love it sometimes I don't. Their hot sauce is awesome with their white sauce. Staff is super friendly and will let you try new items if you ask nicely read more

I came to The Halal Guys on a Saturday evening to pickup takeout. There was one other customer seated inside, it wasn't busy. There are a handful of tables for indoor seating. I ordered a regular platter with chicken and falafel. I like the setup where you can basically customize your bowl with base, protein, toppings, the amount of sauce, etc. I waited a bit as they were making a fresh batch of falafel. The chicken was well seasoned and the falafel was not overcooked. The veggies were fresh, bowls include lettuce and tomato. I added green peppers at no charge and olives include a charge. The staff were friendly and greeted us as soon as we entered. This location is consistent with the other chains in the area. The regular platter bowl was delicious and very filling. The white sauce is so delicious while the red sauce is super, super spicy... I cannot handle alot of spice so I just asked for a packet on the side so I could add the amount of spice I wanted. It looked so delicious that I started eating and forgot to take a before picture haha.... I order takeout from here often and have always had a positive experience :) read more

See all

Who doesn't love this location? There's no "will they, won't they" sitch. The second you walk in, someone's acknowledging you. They are polite and lightning quick. It's easy to get to, not too busy, see aforementioned quickness. The food is perfectly done, in all my experiences. The place also has a great vibe, makes me happy to be there. read more

I ordered on Uber eats. I got the chicken and steak bowl with extra protein. I also got the fries , a side of hummus and pita and side of falafel. I kid you not I had this food for six meals over three days. The portions are generous to say the least. I think I paid about $25 total with tip for my driver. I got extra sauce to make sure I would have enough for all of the food, the white sauce is my favorite and it comes in these large bags. I never got tired of eating it, and everything was flavorful and delicious. I would say if you are ordering from this place to just get plenty of food in order to mix and match sides throughout the week. Will definitely do this again if I don't have time to meal prep one week. read more

The Halal Guys - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I have now taken to getting Halal Guys from Door Dash and I gotta say, it is ALWAYS fast and delish! Many food do not travel well - even if they're amazing at the restaurant (Pho and spring rolls are great examples). But the food rolling out from Halal Guys is amazing. It's always warm and perfect and the servings are huge. I have never finished a meal from here without being totally stuffed (and I'm a big dude). If you don't feel like going in to the store, don't be afraid to have their food delivered. You will not be disappointed. read more

This was my first time trying Halal Guys, and I'm obsessed!! I I got the Beef Gyro Platter and those guys really hooked me up - they gave me so much of everything and it all came together so well. This was a fantastic meal full of flavor and insane spice (in the best way possible), and I desperately wish I lived closer to Bethesda to enjoy this more often! read more

The Halal Guys - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This restaurant was a banger for a late dinner. Portions were super well-sized for the price and the food was delicious! I loved the rice! I got the chicken shawarma plate and it was so good, the perfect amount of spicy! I tried the hummus and the falafel and both were genuinely so amazing. The service was great, as they encouraged us to stay and eat even though they were closing up shop for the day right after we came in. It was clean inside and still had a few people eating at the tables inside, meaning that it must be a great quick stop for food. The service was really so great, thank you! read more

Servings are greatly proportioned, and the food tastes good. The service here is different from other DT Bethesda spots and I actually feel welcomed. Please try this spot if you're looking for a quick bite! read more

The Halal Guys - Chicken Platter and Combo Regular Platter - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Order was ready on time. The food was a hit for my kids! We ordered chicken sandwiches, gyros and fries. We will visit again

The food was perfect and fresh. Fullying and the service was excellent. I tried the honey sriracha falafel today. It made me want to return for seconds, and the sauce complimented it very well. read more

Awesome service with tasty food that is relatively inexpensive for the area and the proportions. The staff is super friendly and even gave us a surprise portion of hummus! The space is small inside but suitable for a tasty meal and the music was definitely on point! I will definitely come back if I'm in the area and in the mood for something Mediterranean/Turkish. read more

The Halal Guys - Wall artwork - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Amazing food would recommend. Excellent service aswell, the man working noticed the pita he was going to give me was slightly torn and went to get me a new piece. I wouldn't have even noticed. It's a shocker there aren't more people here all the time. read more

First with good, my order was ready when I got to the restaurant to pick up. There was nothing good about the food. I ordered the food based on an Instagram reel that I had seen a day before. Oh boy, what a mistake. May be the one in NYC is good, but this one in Bethesda was, to say the least, underwhelming. Don't waste your time or money!!! The romaine lettuce was wilted and old. The red rice had no taste, the gyro was hard and tasteless, the chicken was dull with no taste, even the white sauce that everyone was raving about was tasteless and tasted like it was made with low quality oils. read more

My husband brought me home a to go combo platter after he got off work, after being home with my sick baby all day, I was super excited to eat something delicious from what is usually and easily one of my favorite restaurants, but instead I was met with disappointment. The gyro was a little burnt but decent enough to eat, the shawarma however was ROCK HARD. I NEARLY CHOKED ON MY FOOD. I don't even know what to say after that. Please do better. *** Update: I was so disappointed that I decided to call the restaurant that same night to tell them what happened. The manager apologized and was kind enough to offer me a new plate. It was too late to return that evening, so we came back the next day for lunch. The regular chicken and gyro combo plate was much better. Changing my review from 1 star to 3 thanks to their customer service. I do not recommend the shawarma. read more

The hubby and I stopped by Halal Guys for a very quick snack while we were out in Bethesda. We split a small Gyro platter and the food was very good. Our platter was delicious, with a generous amount of gyro meat (beef), lettuce, tomato, and rice. We, of course, topped it off with their signature white sauce. The meat was a bit oily (but gyro meat often is) but delicious and flavorful. I also loved how tender and well-cooked the rice was. Don't make the same mistakes I did: 1) Only check-in on Yelp after paying for your order... You'll miss the awesome 20% off your order Yelp Check-in promo! 2) Avoid asking for the hot sauce unless you enjoy being in a world of pain... We put a few dollops of the hot sauce on our order and I felt delirious from the burning sensation in my mouth. I enjoy spicy food, but this was something I was unprepared for! Luckily, the kind staff member working the front-end let me have a ton more of the white sauce so I could have some reprieve from the heat. There is a decent amount of seating inside (at least 4 tables) and restrooms inside aren't locked to the public. Parking at the Elm street garage is just around the corner and free on weekends! read more

The Halal Guys - Small Gyro Platter - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Craving a little Middle East food. From the streets of New York into downtown Bethesda is the Halal guys. Known for their carts and street food in New York City this small establishment has a selection of salad, sandwiches in peta and Delicious crinkle cut french fries. Using the app is easy and you can customize your order. read more

The Halal Guys - Clean kitchen! - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Okay, that red sauce is really hot! I'm dying right now and had to get some water from Starbucks. This restaurant did a pop up in a food court through Fooda so I'm not at this location but the employee is from there. They're not selling drinks at the pop up which is why I was running around looking for something to put out this fire in my mouth. The beef platter has lettuce and tomatoes with the yellow rice under the beef. It's served with pita bread. They offer cucumber sauce and hot sauce. I should have noticed how carefully they were adding the hot sauce asking if that was enough. It was a good alternative for lunch. I just would have liked to have had the option to buy a drink with my order. The pop up was closing when I was there but the food was still fresh. I'm going to have to stop by the restaurant some time read more

The Halal Guys - Beef platter - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This should be known as haram guys. The attitude they show, a Muslim not supposed to do that. Bad manner and service.

There's something for everyone to enjoy at Halal & with a quick turnaround from the team behind the counter. Your choice of: Small or Large Sandwich (Pita) or Platter. Protein - Falafel (Vegan), Chicken, Gyro Beef or both = Combo. Toppings - Tomatoes, Green Peppers, Olives. Sides - Hummus, Baba Ganoush & Fries. Sauces - White (Mayo/Yogurt) or extremely hot. Note, there's hot sauce & then there's Halal hot sauce, be aware of the latter. My platter was a little inundated with lettuce & onions, yet the Falafel was cooked perfectly & the Hummus rounded out my good meal. They offer a Rewards program & the moment you sing up, you earn a free Beverage. Earning Tier: One Point for Beverages, Sides & Desserts Two Points for Sandwiches Three Points for both small or larger Platters Friendly staff & environment added to Bethesda Row's fast & casual eateries, offering inexpensive & tasty Middle Eastern/Mediterranean food. There's not much sitting space, yet people are open to share their tables. read more

The Halal Guys - Falafel Platter with Green Peppers, Tomatoes, Rice & delicious/creamy Hummus, 1/10/19. - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

They had a bad day. Simple concept: chicken, beef or felafel. Everyone gets salad, tomatoes and rice. There is no variation. And nothing to substitute if you don't want one of those three things. Today, they didn't make any felafel. And the soda machine wasn't working. There is no self-saucing here either, so you can't go crazy with the tehina on your food. You get what you're given. And I stayed strong to my no meat Monday pledge (week 2) waiting for veggie felafels. Took more than 10 minutes to get overfried felafel balls with a bit of tehina. Shoulda gone with a side of fries or humus. And hoping today was just a bad day. read more

See all

Amazing taste like new York truck with friendlier staff and no lines. . The place is clean

I tried the combo platter. Both the gyro and chicken were nicely flavored, and the chicken was tender. The dish had yellow rice, that I assume was from turmeric, but I found some of the rice undercooked, and it was bland overall. The next component was iceberg lettuce, that was fresh, but had no dressing. There were pitted olives, onions, green peppers, and tomatoes that provided a healthy mix. I chose tahini dressing which was placed on the meat and had little impact. Everyone is backing this bowl concept for good reason. Where The Halal Guys fall short is in limiting the lettuce options, and not allowing better control of the dressing. Still it represents value for Bethesda. $10 buys a heaping bowl. The nutritional value is there. So they represent another option when seeking fast casual. read more

The Halal Guys - Combo platter - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I first heard about halal guys when I was living in New York but didn't have the opportunity to try it out. I was surprised to discover they have a location in Bethesda, so I ordered a small chicken + falafel platter on UberEats during the pandemic. To get this out of the way first, just wanna say the red sauce is SO SPICY. I love hot sauce so I made the mistake of using the entire packet and my mouth was on fire. It was honestly difficult to talk in my work meeting an hour later because my lips were still hurting... so moral of the story is to be very careful with the red sauce. Don't be like me. For a small platter, the portion size was very generous. Chicken was juicy (and maybe just a tad too salty), and the falafel was crispy and flavorful. I used half the packet of white sauce and have to say that stuff is addicting! I enjoyed my food, however I don't think this place sits on a throne above other places that serve halal food. read more

Really just depends on who's serving you. They are very inconsistent and that's my biggest gripe. Manly the portions are inconsistent such as too much or not enough of something such as large amounts of lettuce and not enough tomatoes, not enough meat or not enough white sauce, and if you change anything they will charge you. According to a previous post it's upto them to decide what they want to charge you extra for. It's up to the interpretation of the person serving you which leads to an inconsistent experience. It's to the point where if I see certain employees I won't bother going in and eat lunch elsewhere. Otherwise they are just like any other halal guys location and the service is decent. read more

I've been to many Halal Guys: the original food cart in NYC, in VA, in NJ, and three different ones in Philly area. This one in Bethesda is not my favorite. Parking in the area isn't great and the staff is a little unfriendly. I usually pick up 3 to 4 trays to go and ask for my lettuce and tomatoes in a separate tray so that I can travel with the food. My server seemed to be annoyed with my request and gave me two small cups of lettuce and tomatoes. Other locations fill up trays for me. C'mon, help a brother out! Food is still good, but service could be better. read more

Like the last reviewer, I am so disappointed in The Halal Guys Bethesda location. This was my first time actually trying Halal Guys in general and my overall experience was pretty awful. Also, this is my first one-star review so it's pretty devastating. I'm generally very understanding and don't like to give bad reviews as I know it can affect an establishment but there needs to be some changes. There was supposedly a check-in Yelp deal for a buy 1 get 1 free burrito if you check-in by Jan 31st and I never received this offer even after showing the cashier the deal through the Yelp app. He ended up charging me full price for all my food and even charged me incorrectly for what I ordered. I have reached out to both Yelp and The management at The Halal Guys but I'm waiting to hear back from either of them. The service is definitely subpar as they were very slow as well making my food. It took a total of 20 minutes just trying to make 2 burritos and a chicken platter. I understand if it takes time for food to cook but if I had a 30 minute lunch break, I would literally only have 10 minutes for my co-workers and I to eat our food so keep that mind. As for the food itself, it was just okay and nothing impressive. I've had better halal food at street carts for less the price and better flavors. read more

The Halal Guys - Ordered 2 burritos and a small chicken platter but they never gave me my free burrito offer - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

See all

Portions are super generous and can definitely last two days. The combo beef and chicken meats are both really tasty but the vegetables (e.g. lettuce, tomatoes) weren't that high quality but I guess it doesn't make much of a difference in the end. read more

The Halal Guys - Savory Herb Beef & Chicken Platter - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

I'm in town for a conference and was out walking in the cold rain yesterday looking for something to eat on a budget. I saw The Halal Guys and went in. Ordered the falafel bowl. The staff were so friendly and kind to me!!! The food was delicious and I went back again today for a repeat!! YUMMY! Thanks Halal Guys"! read more

The Halal Guys - Small Falafel bowl with white sauce and a side of hummus with olive oil and paprika - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Got this for lunch today. Food is good as always. The hot sauce is super spicy so just 1-2 lines is all you need!! They're allowing indoor dining now so the tables are available. There's a little card at the table that says to flip when you leave and they're suppose to sanitize between customers. I did not stay long enough to see it though. read more

Ordered takeout from the yelp/grubhub app. Food was ready fast and on time and accurate. Food was really good. I would return. Thanks Halal Guys read more

I've heard about The Halal Guys in New York for years and always wanted to try it but never really got the chance. I saw over time that they were slowly making their way down to DC and knew that I would eventually get the opportunity. When the opportunity finally came I was a little indecisive on what to order but ended up with the combo rice plate and some fries. Overall, it wasn't bad... I'm not the biggest fan of gyro meat and wish I would have just got chicken only. I think I may have enjoyed my food a little more had I done that. The fries were pretty tasty as well. I'm not in a rush to go back but I'm also not avoiding going there if that makes sense -haha! Next time I go, I will get a chicken plate or chicken sandwich with fries and I think I will be much more satisfied. Also, that spicy sauce is SPICY! Beware! read more

The Halal Guys - Combo Rice Plate - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

This halal guys is legit! As good as the cart in NYC. They have a lot of different options but we stuck with the original mixed chicken and gyro plate with rice and white sauce. It was great. The place is pretty small but does have seating for 10-15 people. The price is great and you get a lot of food. Service here was excellent. Very happy with this halal guys and will come back for sure!! read more

The Halal Guys - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Frequently asked Questions 1. What should I order? The menu is just a handful of items. You can have chicken, beef, or falafel as a sandwich or a bowl. Try them all, even in one bowl if you'd like. I'm partial to the combo bowl myself, so I understand. The bowl can come with or without rice, and there are a few veggies to add at the end. Go ahead and order everything. It will be delicious. 2. What size bowl should I order? The smaller size is more than plenty, especially if you are ordering a combo with everything. 3. Which sauce should I choose? I personally like the white sauce and the hot sauce together. The white sauce is a dairy free (but not vegan) mayo. The hot sauce is no joke, testing at 100,000+ Scoville units. (Sriracha is 2000+, as a comparison.) The BBQ sauce exists, but there's a reason that it isn't mentioned as often as the other sauces. 4. What on the menu should I skip? Go ahead and skip the BBQ sauce. If you have to choose between rice and fries I'd recommend the fries. You'll be too full for baklava, so skip it or save it for after your nap. 5. Is there a loyalty program? Absolutely! Ask for a card at the register or download the app ahead of time. I have no idea how the rewards work, but I'm positive that I'll return often enough to find out. 6. Is there anything else I should know? The Halal Guys has been in business for decades, this is simply the newest location. The menu is beyond simple, but is perfect. Please let them know if you are a vegetarian, as they keep their pita warm by stacking it on top of the chicken. They will be happy to grill one fresh just for you. read more

See all

Got a gyro/chicken combo platter with a side of fries and falafel. The combo platter comes with SO MUCH meat! Spiced-well, it's cooked like it was made at home with love, where the natural juices keep it fresh from drying out. It was delicious. I'm not normally one to get chicken at 'fast-food' 'food-stand' type places, but this was worth it. The rest of the platter is sectioned out with lettuce, fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, and rice. They balance out the toppings well, nothing is too overwhelming. (While there we saw the owners directing the staff to how to create the perfect pita-he explained how you need to make the pita you want to 'score' at a restaurant. It was pleasant to overhear). The white sauce lives up to the hype! There is something unique about the spice combo in the mayo that really makes the dish. But they aren't kidding the hot sauce is HOT. The falafel was yummy! Ideal portions, not overly greasy, not overly salty, with a pow of flavor-I don't really know what sauce they serve with it-and it was a bit flavorless, so that was the only meh, but the falafel was so good I didn't need to dip it. Fries are crinkle cut, take you back to high school cafeteria joys of eating. The ambiance is great for Bethesda; key location, ample parking, lots of table seating, clean and spacious inside. It's definitely a contender for a regular go-to spot in Bethesda! read more

Newly opened and i am excited because i love their food and followed their brand from NYC. I actually met the co-owner who is from NJ which was cool. Its good to see them venturing into other places. The service was amazing and i couldnt ask for a better service. I had the combo chicken and lamb bowl with all the fixings and it was delicious as always. They food hasnt changed much from the NYC brand which is good. Service was quick and the baklava was soo good! Parking is a bit of a pain since its on a busy street and right downtown. Street parking is metered. Metro is also not far from it. read more

The Halal Guys - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

The Halal Guys is a great addition to the Bethesda dining experience. The design of the restaurant lends itself strongly to a take-out experience, but still has enough seating to satisfy those on the go, who want to have a quick sit down and enjoy a bite to eat. The menu revolves around the sandwich/platter concept of quick customized meals. Pick your style, your protein, your toppings, your sauce, your extras, and your sides. Freshly shaved, or fresh off the grill, your meat comes hot. The falafel comes with a depth of flavor. Extra meat, or completely vegetarian, everyone can have a filling culinary outing. The super friendly staff makes the experience a must for local residents and those moving through Bethesda. While people might think they only have on street parking, never fear. They are across the street from the Elm St parking garage. Good food. Good parking. Good people, what else do you need read more

The Halal Guys - Halal Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Ordered once - extremely low quality food. Couldn't finish it...and I never do that. I won't try it again but hope others have a better experience. Maybe it was an off night... read more

I had my doubts. I've had halal from New York a ton before this became a huge chain (yeah it's been years I know), and I've avoided this chain because I didn't think it would be any where near the New York experience. I was even doubtful when I went in and watched them pack up my carry out order. Until I got home and took a bite and wow I haven't been happy and satisfied with a "fast food" carry out like this for a long time! My only wish is that they would have higher protection for covid like more barriers between the consumer and the worker. But the taste is GREAT, the rice is so flavorful, the portions were what I wanted and man was I satisfied. I really appreciated how fast I could walk in, order, and receive my food and get out. read more