New Halal franchise planning Cedar Rapids, Iowa City locations

A fast casual restaurant with Middle Eastern fare is planning its first steps into Iowa with a franchise deal for five locations.

The Halal Guys will soon be serving falafel, gyros, baba ghanoush and fries in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines. The timeline and exact locations for the plan, which is part of an effort to increase the brand’s footprint throughout the Midwest, has not yet been announced.

Most locations operate with counter service.

“Iowa is a new, untapped market for The Halal Guys that we are very excited to be expanding in,” said franchisee owner Ahamed Ahamed. “These five stores will be the first of hopefully many more throughout the state.”

Founded in 1990, the restaurant claims to be the only Middle Eastern fast casual brand with more than 100 locations internationally. It is growing rapidly, with 400 more locations being planned worldwide.

The concept, which was started at a hot dog stand by three Egyptian immigrants, was popularized by word-of-mouth through Muslim cabdrivers in New York City after the owners realized the market for the same kind of halal platters they serve today.

The restaurant started opening brick-and-mortar franchises by 2014.

The Halal Guys’ signature white sauce takes center stage in marketing, where it’s drizzled across its falafel platters and highlighted in gyros. The mayonnaise and Greek yogurt base is accented by vinegar, salt and pepper, lemon juice and parsley.

Comments: (319) 398-8340; elijah.decious@thegazette.com