Middle Eastern food is pretty foreign to me, so when The Halal Guys opened at 5621 S. LaGrange Rd. in Countryside, I did not know what to expect. I heard from friends who had eaten at the food cart in New York—where the restaurant started—and they all had great things to say about it. Despite some locations in downtown Chicago, there is nothing that serves this type of food in the area, so I had set my expectations pretty high.

The restaurant is situated among other fast food chains, so I assumed the inside would resemble a typical fast food restaurant. When I walked in, I was taken aback by the unique feel of the restaurant. The walls were built of exposed brick and bright lighting, rather than wood that other fast food restaurants have. I noticed it was very clean, which is a super important quality for any restaurant for me. There was one person in front of me who was helped very quickly and soon after, I ordered. The food was prepared as you ordered and the employees were very helpful explaining each type of food. There were a few groups of people at the restaurant, but there was still plenty of room to sit down.

I ordered a beef gyro for $6.99 and a side of falafel for $1.50. The prices seemed a bit expensive for a fast food restaurant. In my gyro, I chose beef served over basmati rice, lettuce, tomato, hummus, and a special white sauce. The beef was hot and the gyro was packed with ingredients. It was a bit difficult for me to bite into the overstuffed pita, yet the flavors still meshed to create an amazing taste. However, the falafel was overcooked and very difficult to bite into. The taste was bland and didn’t have much to offer. Other than the falafel, my meal was great.

While I was eating, an employee greeted me in a friendly manner and asked how the food was. This was very nice and unexpected considering it is a fast food restaurant. The restaurant also offers a chicken platter ($7.99) beef platter ($8.49), and a chicken sandwich ($6.99).

Overall, my first experience at a Middle Eastern restaurant exceeded my expectations of the restaurant. I was able to overlook the falafel and generally high prices at The Halal Guys for the great service and main entrees. I would definitely