THE LOOP — Halal Guys, the New York sensation that opened last year in the Gold Coast, will bring its Mediterranean meat-and-rice platters to the Loop this summer.
Local franchisee Steven Chong said Thursday that Halal Guys will open a new store this summer at 180 N. Wabash Ave. Chong and his business partner also will open a cafe next door called "Bean & Leaf" serving Stumptown coffee and pastries, among other things.
“Our location will be here whether you are looking for a late-night combo platter or coffee/dessert, as there aren’t too many places in the Loop to hang low with your friends," Chong said.
Known for its rice-and-meat platters and wraps drizzled in incendiary red and soothing white sauces, Halal Guys got its start as a food truck in New York. The chain debuted here last summer near Clark and Division streets, drawing long lines for months.
Chong thought, with a new CTA station coming soon to Washington Street and Wabash Avenue, a Loop location was the chain's obvious next step.
"Many of our customers requested a Loop location for a quick lunch or for dinner after work," he said. "We wanted to not only cater to the working crowd in the Loop but also to the residents in the area."
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