The first thing that comes to mind when you think about a halal ‘KFC’ is the local Kennedy Fried Chicken. And while Kennedy’s (and Crown Fried Chicken, another popular halal fried chicken chain) offers halal fast food at all hours of the night, each location can seem like an independent franchise with inconsistent menu options and products advertised as halal at one restaurant while touted as non-halal at others. However, for New Yorkers there is a new option for deep fried (and now grilled!) chicken from a popular and familiar fast food chain. Within the last 2 weeks, a new Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has opened up in Brooklyn, NY which offers the taste of halal chicken on its menu. We took a visit to find out if it meets the hype.

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KFC has been running a halal trial in the United Kingdom for several months and in the United States, there are KFCs in parts of the country outside of the Northeast that already offer halal menu options. The KFC located at 208 McGuinness Blvd is the first restaurant in the franchise to offer halal meat on its menu in the New York area. The establishment is located a few blocks away from the G line’s Greenpoint Ave stop and if you’re traveling by car, it’s only a few minutes off of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway or the Long Island Expressway with ample parking spots available. The KFC itself actually shares the space with a Taco Bell franchise as well, similar to the setup of some Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins locations. When walking in, you’re greeted by a large and brightly lit facility with plenty of place to sit and enjoy your lunch or dinner. Restrooms are available for guests which is a welcomed plus.
View a larger map of 208 McGuinness Blvd, Brooklyn, NY 11222

During my visit on a Sunday night, there was a fairly large number of diners, with a majority of them being Muslim. I ordered a 2-piece chicken meal which took about 10 minutes to prepare. I could tell that some of the people were a bit miffed by the waiting time which can be chalked up to the numerous buckets that were being filled with chicken by the staff.

Speaking of the chicken, it is important to note one key detail: Only the regular chicken pieces are halal. That means you can choose from Classic, Extra Crispy, or Grilled styles of chicken (legs, wings, breasts and thighs included). However, the halal menu does not extend to any sandwiches or the popcorn chicken. Also, I was told by an employee that the gravy for the mashed potatoes is not halal because it contains some type of animal product in its list of ingredients. Fortunately, I was assured that this location is looking to expand their halal selection to be all inclusive in the future. The chicken I ordered tasted exactly how I expected it to – tender and juicy.

Other quick points: The halal meat is being supplied by a slaughter house in Georgia which is Muslim owned and is an approved vendor for KFC. Employees have said that foot traffic has been very heavy since they’ve opened and guests have traveled from as far as Connecticut to experience the taste of a halal KFC. For those of you living in Manhattan, you will be pleased to hear that there are plans to start construction on a new halal KFC in New York City next week.

Pros

• Great tasting chicken
• Easy to access location
• Ample parking
• Clean restaurant (and restrooms)

Cons

• Limited halal menu (will be expanded in the future)
• May need to wait longer than expected for your order if it’s really busy

If you’re in the mood for fried chicken or have been waiting for a halal KFC option, you should definitely check this place out.