Planners delay decision on extending hours at popular Halal Guys eatery amid concerns over parking and noise

A decision about a new Costa Mesa restaurant’s request for later operating hours was postponed Monday following concerns that the eatery was causing parking, noise and trash problems in adjacent neighborhoods.

The city’s Planning Commission pushed back the Halal Guys’ request to stay open as late as 1 a.m., and will hear the matter again Dec. 14. The parties involved want to allow more time for outreach and for a possible natural slow-down in the crowds at the popular Middle Eastern-inspired restaurant.

“Until we see that Halal Guys can figure out how to make that business work with the neighborhood instead of making it work at the expense of the neighborhood, I wouldn’t be inclined to allow extended operating hours,” said Commissioner Stephan Andranian.

The Halal Guys, at 3033 Bristol St. near Paularino Avenue, originally asked to stay open as late as 3 a.m. — four hours longer than its current 11 p.m. closing time — but a city zoning administrator denied that request in September.

The Halal Guys appealed but scaled back their request to a 1 a.m. closing, Thursday through Saturday.

Before Monday’s vote, the commission received letters from several residents and heard testimony about unruly customers parking on neighborhood streets instead of at the Bristol Street shopping center.

“I don’t see the need to have all that noise at 12 or 1 o’clock at night,” said Trinity Drive resident Susan Thompson, who urged the commission not to extend Halal Guys’ hours at all.

Kevin Maguire, an owner of the 3033 Bristol St. center, said they have added on-site security and more trash cans since acquiring the property.

He called the Halal Guys a “great tenant” whose initial booming success is likely to slow down as more of the chain’s restaurants open in the coming months.

The Costa Mesa Halal Guys is the New York-based company’s first site on the West Coast. It opened in early October and was quickly bombarded with long lines at all hours of the day.

“I do not believe that people are going to wait for two hours in line for lunch or dinner in another couple weeks,” Maguire said. “I think it will go down to being a normal, very successful restaurant.”

Thomas Pham, Halal Guys’ franchisee for Southern California, said his business takes neighborhood concerns “very seriously.”

“We want to be part of the community,” he said. “We’ve very excited to be here in Costa Mesa.”

Pham echoed Maguire’s belief that, as more Halal Guys locations open, the Costa Mesa restaurant won’t be as busy.

He encouraged residents to send concerns via a dedicated email address, thehalalguyscostamesa@gmail.com, and said the center plans to add nighttime security.

Pham also cited Halal Guy’s efforts in the community, namely donating more than 2,000 plates of food to the Someone Cares Soup Kitchen and creating 45 jobs, some with health benefits, that pay above minimum wage.

With the business’ social media accounts, Pham added, it hopes to educate customers about acceptable parking options in Costa Mesa and encourage customers not to litter.