It looks like the hype just wasn’t enough to keep it alive.
The Halal Guys, the famous New York street cart brand known for its platters of chicken and gyro over rice, has quietly closed its only Vancouver location on Robson Street.
A Noms Magazine community member first tipped us off to the closure, and the Google listing now confirms it is permanently closed.
On the window is also a sign that says “PERMANENTLY CLOSED”.
The Robson Street outpost originally opened in 2023, at a time when the buzz around The Halal Guys still carried some serious weight.
Born in Manhattan in 1990, the brand’s origin story starts with three Egyptian founders operating a hot dog cart.
They eventually pivoted to halal food, catering to Muslim taxi drivers and building a cult following for their generous platters, soft pita sandwiches, and signature sauces.
Their red and white sauce became iconic, and what started as a street cart exploded into an internationally franchised name.
The Vancouver shop aimed to bring that same NYC street food energy to the West Coast.
But for many locals, it never quite hit the mark.
The Vancouver location rarely saw a crowd after its grand opening.
Despite being on the busy Robson strip, the storefront often sat empty- a stark contrast to the buzz it once rode in on.
Its closure also coincides with the rise of another NYC-born street cart that has quickly been gaining popularity and expanding its own reach, taking over the attention once reserved for The Halal Guys.
Now, The Halal Guys in Vancouver joins the list of recently shuttered spots in the city, including Kibune Sushi Restaurant, Chi, and Take Five Cafe.
Address: 570 Robson St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2B7