The Halal Guys — Restaurant in East Brunswick Township

Update: changing to three stars from the four I had them at.

The food is still good but the quantity and basic common sense and customer service is an issue. At the carts I get just the pita and Gyro. I'm not a fan of the rice or salad and I don't like to waste food so I ask them not to put it on.

If you try getting the same at the store location they leave your plate pretty much empty. So to avoid this I usually asked them to sub in French fries for the rice (like pretty much any small family owned place that serves gyros would happily do for you). Depending on who is working this was a hit or miss. Some would do it off you others would either charge you extra or just not do it.

I just got off the phone with the "Director of Operations" and apparently new policy is if you want to sub French Fries in for Rice you need to pay an extra $1. This is flat out absurd and will most likely lead me to come here less and less. Pretty stupid way to lose a customer who has been there 17 times in the 10 months (this doesn't count trips to the carts in the city and even a trip to the location in Milwaukee) this place has been open.

The location is convenient for me but this place will most likely see less of me. All for maybe a couple of cents worth of margin for them.

Taste matches the original carts from Manhattan. Prices are higher like expected but the quantity being less sucked. I've even here a couple of times now. I usually get just pita and the gyro in a plate. No rice. No chicken. No salad. At the street carts they load you up with the gyro meat and not leave the plate half empty like they do here. That is the only reason I'm giving them a four star here.

If you are whining about them not having lamb you're just exposing yourself as someone who hasn't been to the street carts in a while. They've had beef at the carts for a while now instead of the lamb.

There is some seating available but plan on taking your order to go. There are also other options (like french fries) available that aren't available at original...

The Halal Guys was the first place I've been to that specializes in Middle Eastern/Eastern Mediterranean food. As a local, the menu brings a nice, approachable diversity to the area.

I ordered the Combo Chicken & Gyro with extra falafel, a meal that was recommended to me by a friend who also recommended the location to me. For less than $10 I received a glorious plater of chicken and beef, comfortably fogged in white sauce, atop rice, lettuce, and tomato. In addition, the plater came with a few slices of peta bred that was kept warm on the grill.

I strongly recommend mixing the dish once you're ready to eat it, to spread the sauce around, and bring the lettuce into play - not doing so allows you to accidentally eat through the top layer of meat unequally.

When I went in the first time, I was slightly intimidated by the fast moving line and noise/pace of the kitchen. The staff was able to read this and help me through the ordering process. If you're shy or confused, don't be afraid to ask for help - the staff, though working quick, has always been able to help me make a choice.

I found it's much easier to take out than to eat in - it's very popular and most days you might have a hard time finding a seat. The containers they give you are good for eating in the car or bringing home.

Also: try the hot sauce! Warning, it's very hot, and they give it out in small portions because of this. Don't feel cheated if you don't get a lot! It's better to get too little than to get too much and have it ruin your meal.

If you're in the area, check...

I always loved eating at the carts in NYC while I worked there many years ago when I didn't care what food I put in my body. So I had to try the B&M store. The food was tasty, portions were large, and the service was quick and friendly. My main issue is that this idea is nothing new. The quality of the ingredients isn't great. The salad is simple iceberg. When I eat at other Mediterranean places I get a nice salad with onions, cucumber, and vinegar. The olives are extra yet usually included at other places along with grape leaves (which I used to dislike but have grown quite fond of). The rice was tasty but just your run-of-the-mill yellow rice which I highly doubt is made with quality oils. Other places offer a more natural homemade rice with bits of veggies that isn't oily. The chicken and beef were both very tasty. The sauces tasted okay but again, I know they aren't made with care. They offer their white sauce in to-go packets that list the ingredients on the back. Lots of cheap oils are used. Other places will use olive oils which are healthier than soybean and vegetable oils. My point is that Mediterranean restaurants are a dime-a-dozen. There are many local, family-owned versions that serve authentic, fresh food made fresh to order. I recommend finding those places and comparing. This is basically a fast food restaurant. I probably...