N.Y.’s Famous Halal Guys Is Really Opening on Saturday in Wicker Park

After a false start late last month in Wicker Park, the Halal Guys swear they’re ready this time to open the chain’s third Chicago restaurant. Opening day along the hipster highway is set for Saturday at 1415 N. Milwaukee Avenue. The N.Y.-based chain started as a street cart selling gyros and rice plates and now it’s a national behemoth with plans for 200 restaurants across the U.S. in 10 states. Chicago was its first market outside of New York.

The restaurant is a former FireFin Poke Shop and offers ample seating. It opens at 11 a.m. and will offer giveaways for the first 200 people in line. Alderman (1st Ward) Joe Moreno will cut a ribbon. This location will stay open until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. As opening day coincides with Cinco de Mayo and the Kentucky Derby, there likely will be a large group of customers who will need sustenance late at night. Whatever mindset they enter the restaurant, hopefully they’ll carefully use Halal Guys’ hot red sauce. That stuff burns and has a lingering effect if consumed irresponsibly. Make those mornings mild.

Besides Gold Coast and the Loop, Halal Guys also has a suburban Skokie location. The chain’s expansion continues as its Wicker Park location opens on Saturday.

The Halal Guys, 1415 N. Milwaukee Avenue, (347) 527-1505, open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Thursday 11 a.m. to 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.