A fast-growing halal fried chicken chain is setting its sights on Connecticut for the first time, with plans to open a location in North Haven's Home Depot Plaza. The spot at 111 Universal Drive North previously housed Punjabi Kadhai Indian Cuisine, and the new tenant, YoYo Chicken, is expected to occupy roughly 2,500 square feet of that space.
The news comes from The Connecticut Scoop, which reports that YoYo Chicken will open its first Connecticut restaurant in North Haven, taking over the footprint left behind by Punjabi Kadhai. No opening timeline has been announced yet, according to the outlet's report.
A Halal Fast-Casual Chain On the Rise
YoYo Chicken has built its reputation on fried chicken tenders, wings, chicken sandwiches, smashburgers, hot dogs, waffle fries, burritos, walking tacos, mac and cheese bowls, rice bowls and milkshakes, per the North Haven report. The chain emphasizes fresh, halal-certified ingredients across its menu of chicken tenders, smash burgers, wraps, milkshakes and fountain drinks, according to the same report, which the company's menu lists alongside wings, bowls, burritos, desserts and shakes, as noted by the Mankato Free Press. The company's own site describes offering delivery, takeout and dine-in service, making the food easy to enjoy however customers prefer.
The chain is owned by Omar Elgammal, who was inspired by his father's halal food truck in Manhattan, Newsday has reported. That personal connection to halal street food has carried through as the brand expanded its footprint well beyond New York City, with locations now spanning cities in New York and New Jersey, according to YoYo Chicken's own website.
From Long Island Strip Malls to a Minnesota Debut
Exactly when and where YoYo Chicken got its start is a little muddled in the record. Newsday has reported in one account that the first Long Island restaurant opened in Baldwin in 2004, while a separate Newsday report describes that same Baldwin location opening in 2024, and yet another Newsday account places the Baldwin opening in late November 2023. The discrepancy among those dates has not been resolved.
What is clear is that the chain has kept expanding at a rapid clip. Following openings in Deer Park and Huntington Station, YoYo Chicken opened a Bellmore location at 2942 Merrick Road on January 16, 2026, Newsday reported. The chain also opened its first eastern Suffolk restaurant in Calverton at 4490 Middle Country Road, where customers can eat in, take out, or order delivery through Uber Eats and DoorDash, according to RiverheadLOCAL.
The growth hasn't stopped at New York's borders. YoYo Chicken opened for dining and takeout at 1304 Ulster Avenue in Kingston, New York, described by Hudson Valley One as a new fast-casual option landing on the city's commercial strip. The chain is also expected to open a location in North Mankato, Minnesota, at the former Curioso-Tea space on Commerce Drive, per the Mankato Free Press.
What Comes Next for North Haven
Back in Connecticut, details remain sparse. The North Haven report notes that YoYo Chicken reportedly has 25 locations currently open and plans to open additional locations soon, though no specifics on North Haven's hiring, hours, or launch date have surfaced. For now, North Haven residents curious about the halal chicken spot will have to wait for an official announcement before they can grab a tender or a smashburger at the Home Depot Plaza address.
