Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Halal Guys

    4.2 (222 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Order The Halal Guys Takeout or Delivery

    The Halal Guys Photos

    Business Info

    THE HALAL GUYS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - The Halal Guys

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    W. Curtis P.

    I'm very familiar with the halal guys and have been going since they were a cart in New York City. We have gone up to the location in Buena Park many times and are quite familiar with what they offer. I was super excited that we were getting one in San Diego. I went last night and I was pretty disappointed. Food wasn't awful, but it just seemed dry and not prepared in the same manner as the other location. Little things like large iceberg lettuce not shredded lettuce. Shaved off gyros not the usual chopped up stuff I normally see. The chicken actually looked unappealing. It tasted OK but not great. The people themselves seemed fine and were nice to me. So I don't have any issue with the service and the ambience of the place is what you would expect. It's got a fast food vibe. I'm also not a big fan of the location. It sucks to have to pay $10 to park to go to a fast food joint.

    Protein plate -chicken
    Cece L.

    Left the zoo yesterday and we wanted something nutritious, affordable and quick. We found this place and loved it. We ordered to protein plate and loved the service and how clean the restaurant was. We also got parking in front for under $3. Man I want to go back. They had the soccer game on and then played drake and Bruno mars. Highly recommend this place and loved the service.

    Regular Platter
    Mia Y.

    I got regular platter (comes with rice, tomato, lettuce); you get to choose two proteins and I ordered gyro & falafel. The falafels take 5 extra min and they serve you 2. I also got onion and green pepper for toppings. Add white & spicy sauce! I can say that the gyro is so flavorful! They are generous with this serving. Pita bread was kind of cold and hard. Overall, I feel like I've had better elsewhere. Parking is tough in this area

    Pita sandwich with spicy BBQ chicken and all the toppings
    Christopher G.

    My first time at a brick-and-mortar Halal Guys restaurant. I've visited the food truck in New York before, and yes, it is definitely pretty good. That said, it's not like *mind-bogglingly epic* or anything. Don't get me wrong, I love their story and the hustle--they've definitely put in the work and really built a miniature empire at this point. This new store on 5th Avenue in Hillcrest is nice, super clean, spacious, and has a cool wall mural inside. It's only been open a couple of months, and I stopped by two days ago to try it out. The girl with the bleached short hair was very friendly and informative--great customer service. I ordered a pita sandwich with spicy chicken BBQ, and got everything on it. I had the dairy-free mayo and the super hot sauce as toppings, too. It was tasty, and that hot sauce packs a serious punch, but it strikes me as mainly drunk street food more than anything. I mean, it's good, but it's not great. It's in the right location to capture a lot of the partying crowd in Hillcrest on the weekends, though. The flavors are there, and it's filling and tastes fresh, but ultimately it tastes mostly like halal street food. Maybe it's the scaling that's cutting into quality slightly, I don't know. I'd say it's worth trying out forsure, and definitely worth hitting up after a handful of drinks, but beyond that, I wouldn't go too far out of my way for it.

    Took my friend who's visiting San Diego here , not too familiar with halal food but I was very impressed with the food and amazing customer service !! Fresh food and clean area Thanks dawn and Stephane

    08/2025 menu
    Henri V.

    The Halal Guys opened a month ago in Hillcrest. Parking is challenge. HG is a franchise chain of restaurants, I've seen them in Los Angeles. Never stepped into any of them until now. I was cordially greeted by the staff. The menu is limited and their claim of fame is 'Halal meats,' similar to Kosher meat prep with slight variations, you can read more about it yourself via Google. Here, the meat options are shredded chicken and gyro meat, both didn't appeal to me so I chose falafel, a vegan option. I ordered a falafel plate, 2 scoops of hummus, lots of onions, jalapeño peppers and topped with garlicky white sauce. Also got the side of crispy chicken wings and a ginger ale togo. After taking home, and tasting the falafel plate: the hummus and falafel lacked flavor. The white sauce also lacked flavor and didn't enhance anything, I had added fresh ground black pepper and crushed garlic. The falafels were not greenish hue inside meaning it lacked parsley. Disappointed in the falafel plate, but if you're not as picky as I am with flavor intensity, you might like it as is, on the bland side. I suggest for togo orders, separate the hot foods from the plate with salad, the hot falafels wilted the lettuce...the untrained staff should have known better. Usually, not a fan of chicken, but since these a Halal prep, I felt comfortable eating these. The fried chicken wings were seasoned perfectly and were scrumptious, would return for those. Indoor only seating and interior was clean and lively music for cool ambience. Service by the staffers seemed disorganized, my order wasn't handled seamlessly. Until one of the owners, noticed I wasn't happy, he was proactive and made sure my order was completed, so I appreciate his efforts. The super nice owner, whose name I probably misspelled Shahid was very helpful and friendly made my visit more pleasant than expected. I am glad there is a place offering Halal prep meats and The Halal Guys is Worth a try.

    Jennifer A.

    "Hillcrest just got a platter upgrade-- @thehalalguys @hillcrestsandiego are here! From gyro-licious bites to falafel that's truly unfalafel-believable, these plates are a shawarma-derful

    Suite front
    Emmett T.

    It's nice to see a new occupant in a longtime vacant suite in downtown Hillcrest. The popular NYC-based eatery, The Halal Guys, just debuted a few weeks ago where an unsuccessful breakfast joint had operated. I avoided the long lines of the grand opening and came a couple of weeks ago in the evening. The decor featured murals depicting the pride of how this business started as a food truck in the streets of NY with lots of yellow and red colors. The concept was build your own bowl, platter, or sandwich using vegetables and either beef, chicken, or falafel as a protein. Sides, sauces (including their famous white sauce), beverages, and desserts rounded out the menu. An army of workers were busy cooking the meats on different rotisseries, prepping the toppings, and assembling the customers' orders. It was no different than what you see at Chipotle. There were two platter sizes, small and regular. I picked the latter with a combination of beef and chicken for my meal. Rice, lettuce, tomato, two triangular pita pieces, and an unlimited dousing of white sauce were added to the top of the serving vessel which was a round aluminum pan. The sauce was mayonnaise based with a tangy flavor. For the quality of the ingredients, it ranged between three and four stars. The workers were really pleasant and even posed when I was taking a photo of their preparation area. The level of service was why I rounded my 3.5 star rating of The Halal Guys to four stars.

    Regular Platter
    Kathleen C.

    Was waiting for Halal Guys to open a location in San Diego but maybe having had it Orange County the hype was no longer there for me, but decided to try it for the nostalgia. I wasn't sure what to expect since it recently opened, if it was going to be busy or not and to order ahead or dine in. I left it to the parking gods and lucked out with a meter still in the green! Came here on a Tuesday night around 7:30pm and it was empty. The staff were nice enough, place was clean but the food was not as good as I remembered it. Maybe it was the temperature of the food not being hot, maybe cuz it wasn't busy so the turnover of food was slow. I got the regular platter and got the chicken and gyro because I couldn't remember what I liked more, definitely the gyro over the chicken! Pita was hard, and hummus not worth the extra charge. I also don't remember halal guys charging for extra sauce, but also I guess nothing good is ever free anymore. I will say if you're ordering it on top in person they are generous. Maybe I'd go back, but definitely nothing I'm going out of my way for. Location definitely makes it less enticing due to the parking situation.

    Mixed regular platter (bbq chicken + gyro)  w/ bell peppers and onions
    Jyothi C.

    As a former New Yorker who used to carpool from Long Island to pick up the mixed platter as a college kid, I can attest this is legit. The portions are not as loaded as the OG cart but other than that, the classic flavors are all there. Best part? Look at that white sauce "serving" . They are thankfully generous with the white sauce serve. Ordered: Mixed platter with Spicy BBQ Chicken and Gyro, onions and bell peppers + plenty of white sauce and some hot sauce. You can also get hot sauce on the side. The platter assembly is done similar to chipotle and moves fairly quickly. All the staff that I interacted with were so friendly and happy to help. Will definitely be back when the craving hits next.

    That's the owner checking on things.
    Missy F.

    Grand opening day! I got there about 9:45am. That 15min til opening seemed liked hours, but.. I was one of the 1st 50 people so I got a free small platter. Parking wasn't too bad that time of the morning. I parked on the street (metered), however they have a lot right across the street for a fee. Met the new owners who were very nice and grateful to open up in San Diego. Location is ok but I think parking will be a issue. I think breakfast bitch was in that location prior. Like someone else mentioned the ordering process is like Chipotle. It was crowded but organized. I won a prize and hope to win a bigger prize whenever the announce the winners. I got a combo platter (gyro and spicy chicken) for my freebie and the larger size I paid for. They were running a special on sides so I ordered some wings. Have I had Halal guys before, yes in NY and ATL. In NY, I've also tried another halal place called Bonjour Habibi. Is Halal Guys better than Bonjour Habibi, I don't think so. My platter was good. I would say serving size is decent. The spicy chicken had a little heat to it, and I mean little. I think I would go for the regular chicken next time though. I got the white sauce. The white sauce tasted different to me. Mind you it's been years since I had Halal Guys. It tasted more mayonnaise base. It needs more salt, lemon.. maybe yogurt/garlic base would be better. I also wish they offered the choice to have grilled onions instead of raw. Non the less I enjoy my platter and plan on coming back. Oh and the wings.. very good. Had a little kick to them. They're not on the menu but I hope they continue to serve them.

    Jhenny B.

    YESSSS FINALLY! I can't tell you how happy I am that we finally have a Halal Guy's in San Diego. THIS is a big deal in my opinion. I use to drive to Costa Mesa just to satisfy my craving. Food is simple but good quality halal food. Options between platters and sandwiches, with your choice of protein, beef gyro, chicken or falafel. Minimal veggies, with rice and a side of pitas. The white sauce is where it's at, they're known for their creamy sauce that amplifies flavor and if you're feeling spicy, the hot sauce will def come with a kick. Apply with caution, a little goes a long way. Ample seating to accommodate small and/or big parties. Originating from a food truck in New York, so excited that they made their way up the west coast. The location is cool too, so many other things to do around the area. You must come in and try!

    See all

    2 months ago

    Dawn and Luis were great and so was the food. I would recommend if you are in the San Diego are.

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of T S.
    0
    7
    0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    25 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Kim M.
    0
    33
    9

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cece L.
    9
    238
    352

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    The food is just as good as the other Halal Guys, but with less of a drive. The staff are great and very accommodating.

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    21 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 25
    Thanks 10
    Love this 21
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 53
    Thanks 15
    Love this 46
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wais K.
    5
    10
    12

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Glad halal guys made it to San Diego so I can get my fix. Stephanie and Dawn were great and I'll be sure to return.

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Hali
    0
    6
    1

    3 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Great food and great service! Loving the vibe and the feels. Definitely would recommend.

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adria D.
    1239
    713
    6462

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys S.

    The Halal Guys S.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Julio O.
    191
    14
    17

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 3
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The Halal Guys

    The Halal Guys

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 6

    The Halal Guys Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Halal Guys

    You might also consider

    Mimoza Mediterranean Restaurant

    Mimoza Mediterranean Restaurant

    4.6
    (421 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Celebrated our friend's birthday here and it was a fun time!!…read more Everyone really enjoyed their meals! The portions were generous and filling, that my friend and I shared the chicken wrap (they had the wrap, I had the fries) and it was the perfect amount! My friends said the sauce was so good too, similar to a spicy mayo but with more herbs Two of our friends ordered drinks, which they shared w me so I know the bar does a wonderful job! Can't remember the names of the drinks and didn't get any photos, but one was purple while the other was orange! Our waitress was kind and helpful! She checked on us a few times and was proactive w the bar when she noticed our drinks hadn't arrived yet :) Also the interior aesthetic is GORGEOUS!! We couldn't stop talking about the chandelier and the neon sign wall^^

    Excellent location in downtown San Diego, with a cute vibe and super walkable from the convention…read morecenter and a lot of different spots in Gaslamp Quarter. Beef Borek - Solid item to share with multiple people as an appetizer or have as a single entree, though would have been nice if it were pre-cut since it could get a bit messy. 4/5 Mimoza Mixed Grill - Overall really good, as it was nice to try a bit of everything. However, the Grilled Kofte (Turkish Meatballs) stood out above the rest, and next time I'd probably just get these alone. Would have been nice if it came with a quick explanation of what each thing was, since it was a bit hard to know what was what right off the bat, but that's just a small criticism. There was one meat that I didn't like as much, but wasn't sure which it was. 4/5 Pistachio Espresso Martini - This was amazing. 5/5 Baklava with ice cream - This was just okay. 3/5 Really enjoyed the meal I had here with my wife and sister-in-law, and would totally come back for food and cocktails!

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Beyti Sarma
    Beyti Sarma
    Turkish Coffee

    See all

    Turkish Coffee
    Shawarma Guys

    Shawarma Guys

    4.7
    (1.1k reviews)
    8.5 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Casual dining

    I can for the viral Wagyu Shawarma Cheesesteak. It was very tasty with a mix of peppers, onion…read morecheese and sauce. Whatever sauce they used gave it a bit of spiciness. I went at 3:30 pm on a Saturday and was surprised that it was pretty busy at that weird time The sandwich was huge ( probably 12 inch sub) so depending on how hungry you are, you could easily split it. I loved the fries. Whatever seasoning they used gave is perfect

    Man I really wanted to like this place due to all the rave reviews. Our first experience was mixed…read morewith some meats being great and others dry beef bits that weren't very tasty or appealing. Our second experience we got the chicken shawarma Brian's way. Everything was cooked well, but I guess although I like pickles, I'm not as big a fan of Mediterranean pickles. The first bite or two were actually good, but subsequent bites the pickle tanginess was overwhelming and just not so pleasant as I finished it. I thought maybe I'll get it without the pickles next time. However, after eating I got an unexpected headache that usually comes from ingestion of MSG. The fries were tasty... maybe there was MSG in those? Not sure. I've honestly had much better phenomenal shawarma in San Joes CA. I have yet to find a great Shawarma here in San Diego. Feel free to recommend.

    Photos
    Ordering counter
    Ordering counter
    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!
    Wagyu beef and chicken shawarma plate, hummus and pita bread. All tasted so good!
    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !

    See all

    The combo wagyu beef & chicken shawarma !
    Alforon

    Alforon

    4.6
    (1.9k reviews)
    5.4 mi
    $$

    Amazing food here! I love the family run business, which is very genuine on serving the best food…read moreand brining people together. We came here for a late lunch, so we were lucky that there was a parking spot opened up right in the plaza. I can not imagine how difficult parking would be during the busy time! I assume you will need to find street parking. Although the plaza is small, the restaurant is big! It has many tables inside, including larger areas for groups. We went in and saw a family having dinner together. That really gave the restaurant a warm family vibe. You can see in the decorations that they have earned many recognitions and had even been on Guy's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show! What an amazing place! We started the lunch with a nice mint lemonade! OMG! I highly recommend this! I would go back just for this, so refreshing and perfect way to be primed for a great meal. We had three items, Soujouk Flat Bread, Baba Ghannouj, and Ouzi Lamb. The portion is large! We could not finish and had to take to-go for two of us. I love their baba ghannouj! Very authentic and come with the bread. The serve was smiling when I asked whether it came with the bread. He eventually also told us that we should open the bread like a pita and put baba ghannouj in there. I appreciate the guidance on how to enjoy the food. I also loved soujouk flat bread. So delicious! The highly recommended ouzi lamb lived up to the expectation and it's very delicious. Overall, I can't say enough good things about this restaurant. We will come back for sure because they have so many good delicious food on the menu that we need to try!

    First of all let me say that the love dessert has me hooked. Best thing here! One of the most…read moreunique and tasty things I've tried in a while, and that's saying a lot w my sweet tooth. I love the floral and pistachio taste, and it doesn't leave you feeling heavy afterwards. The mint lemonade is also a must have- tastes like it came from the garden in the best way possible. For savories, I had the spinach and cheese bajeen, baba gannouj, and the lamb fatteh - all had a lot of flavor and tasted homemade. I love trying new foods so will have to come back with more friends and try other things on the menu. The downside of this place was being seated on the right side of the restaurant near the carry out section. This was the pit of despair. I noticed that most of the staff goes to the other end first, and as a result 4 tables got seated after us and all of them had food on their table before we managed to flag one of the staff. It was definitely busy in there but he replied that he was simply going in order, but apparently order or left side to right side instead of arrival. I recommend trying to get seated on the side w the stained glass windows for better service. Other than that, the experience overall was pleasant.

    Photos
    Inside seating
    Inside seating
    Ouzi Lamb Special
    Ouzi Lamb Special
    Lamb fatteh

    See all

    Lamb fatteh

    The Halal Guys - mideastern - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...