Eat, Sip, Shop: Popular restaurant’s new Lehigh Valley spot serving up tasty eats, late-night hours | Eat, Sip, Shop
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A family-owned business is offering its burgers, gyros, fried chicken and other tasty eats at another location in the Lehigh Valley.
Crispy Halal, a fast-casual restaurant serving halal cuisine including sandwiches and rice platters with choice of protein, held a soft opening on Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 25 E. Third St. in Bethlehem.
A new location of Crispy Halal operates at 25 E. Third St. in Bethlehem.
The new Bethlehem location offers seating for around 70 guests – roughly three times the capacity as the business’ original Allentown location, which continues to operate at 514 N. Seventh St., co-owner Mohammad Rafi Ayaz told 69 News.
Ayaz operates Crispy Halal with his father, Mohammad Latif Ayaz, and two brothers.
At the Bethlehem location, the Ayazes enlisted two additional partners, Mahmoud Elsaman and Islam Elsaman.
In opening the Bethlehem restaurant, the group aims to better serve the Lehigh Valley community.
A new location of Crispy Halal operates at 25 E. Third St. in Bethlehem.
“We have a lot of loyal customers in Bethlehem, including Lehigh University students, who have been traveling to our Allentown location,” Mohammad Rafi said.
“We’ve also been doing a lot of catering for Lehigh clubs and groups. So, this is a much more convenient location for them and everyone in the Bethlehem area.”
Crispy Halal, previously known as Crispy Spice, originated in 2022 at 514 N. Seventh St. in Allentown.
Customers can enjoy gyros (grilled chicken, lamb/beef, mix or falafel), fried chicken (mix of breasts, thighs, legs and wings), wings (available in sauces like hot, honey barbecue and mango habanero), loaded fries (topped with choice of protein) and hot sandwiches including chopped cheese, Philly cheesesteaks, cheeseburgers and crispy chicken sandwiches.
Crispy Halal is a family-owned and -operated restaurant serving halal cuisine including fried chicken, gyros, cheesesteaks and rice platters.
Platters, starting at $11.99, include your choice of grilled chicken, lamb/beef gyro, mixed (grilled chicken and lamb/beef), chicken tenders, fried chicken or falafel over rice. Platters are served with fries and salad.
Mohammad Rafi labels the fried chicken and chicken tenders over fries as best-selling items.
“We’re also continuing to expand to our menu, with items like a pastrami hero and pastrami cheese croissant,” Mohammad Rafi said. “Honey chipotle chicken is coming soon.”
Other menu highlights include salads, milkshakes, side orders such as onion rings and mozzarella sticks and desserts such as baklava, churros and assorted cakes.
Crispy Halal’s original location operates at 514 N. Seventh St. in Allentown.
Patrons also can customize their dishes with various sauces, including white, hot, green and chipotle.
“We know life moves fast, and that’s why we focus on making fresh, made-to-order halal food that’s quick and convenient,” a message on the restaurant’s website reads. “Whether you’re dining in, ordering takeout, or placing an online order for pickup, our goal is to serve hot, flavorful meals without the long wait.”
At Crispy Halal in Bethlehem, customers can place orders at the counter with a staff member or at one of three self-order kiosks. Online ordering also is available.
Like the Allentown location, the Bethlehem restaurant serves lunch, dinner and late-night meals.
A new location of Crispy Halal operates at 25 E. Third St. in Bethlehem.
The Bethlehem restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.
The renovated spot previously housed a location of Color Me Mine, a contemporary paint-your-own pottery franchise, which recently relocated to Promenade Saucon Valley in Upper Saucon Township.
A temporary Crispy Halal banner has been installed on the Bethlehem building’s exterior, and a permanent sign is expected to be installed in the coming weeks.
Following the Bethlehem eatery’s opening, the Ayaz family plans to continue expanding Crispy Halal’s footprint in the region.
A new Crispy Halal location is expected to open in February in Harrisburg, and the family also is looking to sign leases for locations in West Reading and Lancaster soon, Mohammad Rafi said.
For the latest Crispy Halal updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram. Info: 610-455-4488.
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