By Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host Published Mar 14, 2016 at 10:30 AM

Former New York street vendor-turned-fast-casual restaurant, The Halal Guys, will open their first Milwaukee franchise just a block from UW-Milwaukee at 3133 N. Oakland Ave., in the former home of Wright's Burgers & Wings.

The Halal Guys serve up platters and bowls featuring rice, pita, lettuce and tomatoes with a choice of chicken, gyro meat or falafel. Sides include fries or hummus or tahini served with pita.

Dustin LeFebvre and Ravit Ansal, the owners of the new franchise, are planning to open the restaurant late April or early May, and are currently seeking real estate in Madison, where they hope to sign a lease for a second location later in the year. They are also eyeing three additional locations in the Chicagoland area.

"I am excited to share The Halal Guys’ 25 years of street vendor passion with the people of Chicago and Wisconsin," said LeFebvre in a recent press release. "The Halal Guys represents a confluence of global tastes and timeless comfort food with the special brand built dutifully through dedication, craft and the amplification of taxi drivers all across Manhattan."

Founded in 1990 by Mohamed Abouelenein, Ahmed Elsaka and Abdelbaset Elsayed, The Halal Guys made their name as the first mainstream American Halal food restaurant chain, and are now the largest American Halal Food concept in the world.

Lori Fredrich Senior Food Writer, Dining Editor, Podcast Host

Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with each and every dish. She’s had the privilege of chronicling these tales via numerous media, including OnMilwaukee and in her book “Milwaukee Food.” Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. 

When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or recording the FoodCrush podcast, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.