Community Highlights: Meet Osama Hanif of The Halal Guys

Today we’d like to introduce you to Osama Hanif.

Hi Osama, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My parents are immigrants from Pakistan. I was born in Houston, Texas, and moved to St. Joseph, MO, in 2007 and then to Kansas City, MO, in 2018 for college. Growing up, I saw my parents work extremely hard to make sure my siblings and I would have the opportunity to live lives of convenience and passion rather than necessity. From a very young age, I realized that I couldn’t let their efforts be wasted. My father worked many odd jobs and saved enough money to open up his own business alongside my uncle and other business partners. I feel that the entrepreneurial spirit is not something you are born with, but it is something you can inherit. That was true in my case. Although I excelled in academics, I always wanted something more. Seeing my father work to establish and grow his business inspired me to do the same. I’ve always been a risk-taker. Leading up to leaping The Halal Guys franchise, I started multiple businesses with the help of my father and uncle. Some yielded success, and others taught me very valuable lessons. The idea of pursuing The Halal Guys was a very spontaneous decision. My friend, Ammar Qureshi, pitched the idea to me. I had always loved the food and decided we had to act instead of waiting for someone to bring it to KC. After pitching the idea to my team, we submitted an inquiry to the franchise.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Something needs to be smoother in business. There are ups and downs. Some losses sting more than others, but ultimately, the lessons learned truly matter. I made many mistakes in the past 2 years working on bringing The Halal Guys to Kansas City. Some could have been avoided if I had been more patient and attentive. However, I’m thankful for those mistakes. I know new mistakes will happen as we advance, but old ones won’t be repeated. Opening a new business is always challenging, but doing it during the pandemic was the cherry on top of many uncontrollable factors, such as supply chain shortages, raw material price increases, and processing delays for permits. We projected to open our first location in 6 months. In the end, it took 2 years.

We’ve been impressed with The Halal Guys, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
The Halal Guys is the world’s fastest-growing “American Halal” franchise. We are truly a different restaurant. Our world-famous white, red, and bbq sauce on top of our fresh platters and sandwiches live up to the hype and then some! The Halal Guys embodies the American Dream. Three Egyptian immigrants started this journey on the corner of 53rd and 6th Ave. and sparked a craze that no one would have imagined. Home of never-ending lines, mouth-watering food, and iconic sauces, The Halal Guys is a piece of New York culture. We wanted to bring that culture to Kansas City. We are proud to be a part of a brand that represents the American Dream, uses the highest quality ingredients, and keeps customer satisfaction in mind!

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Always talk to people. Even if you think you’re “too busy” or just nervous. You never know what can come of a simple conversation. I constantly reach out to my mentors to ask questions and seek advice. Something that has helped me understands that I need the answer for everything.

Pricing:

• Regular Platter $12.99
• Small Platter $10.99
• Sandwiches $9.99

Contact Info:

• Website: thehalalguys.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/thehalalguyskc?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/The-Halal-Guys-103390989314700/?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Image Credits
The Halal Guys