The Halal Guys first came to the streets of New York City in 1990, when the three founders opened up a hot-dog cart in Midtown. They realized there was a demand from Muslim cab drivers looking for a halal meal, so they began serving American halal food from the cart. The Arabic term halal means ‘lawful’ and is often used in Islam to describe meat that is permissible to eat based on specific religious guidelines. But in New York, many people know halal as the affordable food they can find at many street carts across the city. At The Halal Guys' original cart on 53rd Street and 6th Avenue, people wait in line for the iconic combo platter, a foil dish packed with chicken and gyro over rice, accompanied by lettuce, tomato, pita, and the famous and secret red and white sauces.

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Good afternoon! Wishing you a happy Thursday, June 11th, 2020 from all of us at Viewing NYC!

Here's what the weather looks like in the City right now.

Few industries have been as hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as the food and restaurant world. According to a survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association, New York state restaurants had to lay off more than 250,000 people and lost nearly $2 billion in revenue in the first 22 days of March alone. And while patrons have been rallying around restaurant relief funds, many owners have been trying to rethink their entire revenue models.

Among them is Hannah Habes, the founder of Matchaful, a New York based cafe specializing in single origin Matcha. The cafe was a staple for health conscious consumers, looking to cut down their caffeine consumptions and adopt a more holistic approach inspired by Japanese wellness practices. We spoke with Hannah about how she’s been able to pivot the cafe business and spin up a sustainable delivery system, all while connecting with new customers looking to prioritize mental health and wellbeing in the midst of a worldwide pandemic.