Halal Korean fried chicken at a baseball game? Only in America. And only in New York. For that matter, only in Queens — one of the most diverse places on Earth.
Since 2024, the New York Mets’ Citi Field has been home to Seoul Bird, which offers fried chicken and gourmet burgers not just with a Korean street food twist, but also with meat that is halal certified.
The Mainstreaming of Halal
Many foodies mistakenly refer to halal as a cuisine. But it can best be understood as the Muslim equivalent of kosher. Halal is a term used to describe, among other things, meat that abides by Islamic ethical and sanitary requirements for how animals are slaughtered.
And not long ago, the closest observant Muslims could get to a halal option at a sports stadium was a Hebrew National hot dog. (Muslims are permitted to eat kosher meat.)
But that’s now rapidly changing as sports venues shake up their menus and cater to increasingly diverse fan bases.
Seoul Bird opened its first full-time location in London, where many mainstream chains offer halal options to cater to a cosmopolitan Muslim population.
From beauty products to film and food, all things Korean are riding a global wave of popularity. And Muslim consumers are no exception, devouring Seoul Bird’s burgers and fried chicken flavored with soy garlic, spicy gochujang, and kimchi.
Take Me Out to the (Halal) Ball Game
This season, Steve Cohen’s Citi Field has made another halal addition to its food lineup: Naz’s Halal, a popular local halal gyro chain.
Perhaps the Mets are trying to outdo their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees, on the food front too. The Bronx Bombers joined the halal trend in 2022, partnering with the world-famous Halal Guys to serve their signature “chicken and rice” and beef gyro platters.
Halal Guys began expanding beyond its original Midtown Manhattan food carts on the corner of West 53rd and Sixth in the mid-2010s, turning into a global fast-casual brand, with locations as far away as — you guessed it — South Korea.
Halal gyros are also offered nearby at the UBS Arena, home of the New York Islanders, which features Shah’s Halal — another local chain, like Naz’s Halal.
Down the Acela Corridor, at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, baseball fans can experience a halal option of another trending food: birria tacos. Little Miner Taco, a local Mexican chain that uses halal meat, is among National Parks’ new vendors for 2025.
Religious freedom and the free market are at the heart of the American experiment. At the ballpark in 2025, the two meet — over a bucket of halal fried chicken.
Halal Food Options
Barclays Center (Brooklyn, NY)
Seoul Bird — Korean Fried Chicken Sandwiches, Chicken Tenders, and Wings
Chase Center (San Francisco, CA)*
El Halal Amigos — Steak and Chicken Halal Burritos
* Only on Muslim Community Night (April 4, 2025)
Citi Field (Flushing, NY)
Naz’s Halal Food — Chicken Gyro and Lamb Gyro Platters
Seoul Bird — Korean Fried Chicken Sandwiches
Comerica Park (Detroit, MI)*
Big Cat Court — Chicken Shwarmas and Chickpea Power Bowls
* Only on Arab American Night (April 9, 2025)
Nationals Park (Washington, DC)
Little Miner Taco — Birria Tacos
Rogers Centre (Toronto, Canada)
Mary Brown’s — Chicken Tenders, Spicy Big Mary, and More
Section 143 — Chicken Tacos with Chips and Pico
The Catch Bar — Loaded Mac & Cheese (Chicken)
The Stop — Jerk Chicken Nachos, Chicken Rice Bowl
UBS Arena (Elmont, NY)
Shah’s Halal — Chicken and Rice Platters
Yankee Stadium (Bronx, NY)
The Halal Guys — Beef and Chicken Gyro Sandwiches and Platters
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