The Halal Guys Are Suing a Copycat Food Cart

Now on the brink of a massive international expansion, cult favorite street food vendor The Halal Guys is suing a set of rival food carts for ripping off its name and logo. The copycat carts, which have been around for at least a year, go by the name of The Halal Guys of New York instead of just The Halal Guys. The owners of the real deal say they first learned of the knockoffs when one set up shop on the same block as the original, at 53rd Street and 6th Avenue. According to the Daily News, the suit seeks "unspecified monetary damages," as well as a name change from the rival. The suit claims: "The goodwill and reputation of the Halal Guys is at stake."

As Midtown Lunch and Serious Eats have both noted, the block that houses the original Halal Guys has long been home to a confusing array of rival halal carts. But, perhaps spurred by future plans and the recent brick and mortar expansion, this is the first time the real Halal Guys have taken legal action against a blatant copycat.
· Food Cart Business Sued for Being a Rip-off of Halal Guys [NYDN]
· All Coverage of the Halal Guys [~ENY~]