Gatsby
A long Cape Town submarine sandwich — a full loaf loaded with curry-slathered chips, meat and salad.
Ideal stay
Best for
Our take
The Gatsby is a massive, unapologetic Cape Town institution. It is not fine dining, but a functional, greasy, and deeply satisfying feat of engineering designed to feed a crowd on a budget.
The Gatsby is a massive, unapologetic Cape Town institution. It is not fine dining, but a functional, greasy, and deeply satisfying feat of engineering designed to feed a crowd on a budget.
- Ideal Stay
- 30 to 60 minutes, including the wait
- Best For
- sharing with friends, budget-friendly eating, authentic local street food
- Skip If
- solo diners, formal dining, those avoiding fried foods
- Go If
- You are travelling with a group of three or more hungry people and want to experience a genuine, no-frills piece of Cape Town’s working-class food culture.
Why it's worth your time
A Cape Town invention from the 1970s, born at a fish-and-chips shop when a hungry customer wanted a sandwich big enough to share, and supposedly named after the movie 'The Great Gatsby.' A whole loaf, split and loaded with chips, grilled meat, and sauces, is built to feed four. It's the city's great takeaway icon — buy one from a township or Cape Flats spot like Super Fisheries in Athlone and accept that you'll wear some of it.
What we love
The sheer audacity of the construction. It is a full-length loaf of soft white bread packed with slap chips, meat, and sauce, designed to be sliced into wedges and shared. It is the ultimate communal meal that forces you to abandon any pretense of table manners.
What to know
This is a heavy, carb-loaded meal that is best eaten fresh. You will be asked how you want it sliced, and you should expect to get sauce on your hands. It is traditionally a takeaway item, so do not expect a sit-down restaurant experience. Most shops are located in the Cape Flats or near transport hubs.
The full guide
The Anatomy of the Dish
A proper Gatsby is built on a long, soft white bread roll, typically a French loaf. The foundation is always slap chips, which are thick-cut, soft, vinegar-soaked fries. From there, the fillings vary by preference and shop. Common proteins include polony, masala steak, chicken, or calamari. The sandwich is then layered with salad, such as lettuce, tomato, and onion, and finished with a generous drizzle of sauce, often peri-peri or tomato. The result is a bulky, heavy package that is sliced into four or more wedges. It is designed to be a complete, filling meal that provides a high-calorie, salty, and spicy experience. The bread must be fresh to hold the weight of the chips and meat, and the chips must be properly soft and vinegary to define the flavour profile.
Where and How to Eat
You will find the best Gatsbys at simple, long-standing takeaway shops, particularly in the Cape Flats and the southern suburbs. These are not typically sit-down restaurants; they are functional spots where you order at a counter and take your food to go. The setting is often casual, and the experience is best enjoyed as a vuil dite, a local term for a messy, informal meal shared with friends on a car bonnet or in a relaxed home setting. You should have a cold drink or juice on hand to cut through the richness of the fried ingredients. Do not look for fancy plating or cutlery. The wrapper is part of the experience, serving as a necessary barrier against the inevitable spill of chips and sauce as you eat.
Ordering Like a Local
When you arrive at a takeaway shop, look for the menu options for a full or half loaf. A full Gatsby is substantial and easily feeds four people. You will be asked for your choice of protein and how you want it sliced. Be prepared for the shop to be busy, especially during peak lunch hours or late at night. If you are in the Athlone area, you will find shops that have been serving this dish for decades. Avoid places that try to overcomplicate the recipe with gourmet ingredients; the charm of the Gatsby lies in its simplicity and its roots as a quick, affordable meal for workers. If you are unsure what to order, a masala steak or a classic polony and chip combination is the standard starting point.
Before you book
Questions Gatsby always raises
- Is a Gatsby the same as a bunny chow?
- No. While both are iconic South African street foods, a bunny chow is a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry, originating from Durban. A Gatsby is a long submarine-style sandwich filled with chips, meat, and salad, originating from Cape Town.
- Can I eat a Gatsby by myself?
- You can, but it is not recommended unless you have a massive appetite. A full Gatsby is designed to be shared among three to four people. If you are alone, look for shops that offer a half-loaf option, which is much more manageable.
- What are slap chips?
- Slap chips are a specific style of South African chip. They are thick-cut, soft, and limp rather than crispy, and they are heavily seasoned with salt and vinegar. They are the essential component that gives the Gatsby its signature texture and flavour.
- Are all Gatsbys the same?
- No. While the core concept of bread, chips, and meat remains, every shop has its own take on the sauce, the quality of the bread, and the specific meat combinations. The best way to find your favourite is to try different local takeaways.
More dish in Western Cape
Bobotie
Cape Malay spiced minced meat baked with a savoury egg-custard top — South Africa's most famous home dish.
Koeksister
A plaited or ball-shaped doughnut, fried and drenched in syrup — two versions: the Cape Malay spiced ball and the Afrikaner plaited crisp.
Malva Pudding
A baked, sticky sponge of apricot jam and butter, served hot with custard — the Cape's national dessert.
Melktert (Milk Tart)
A Cape custard tart dusted with cinnamon — soft, barely sweet, and the country's most-baked tart.
Pickled Fish
A Cape spiced pickled fish — snoek or hake in a turmeric-onion vinegar — the Easter dish of the Cape.
Smoorsnoek
A stew of smoked snoek (a local fish) with potato, tomato and onion — a Cape West Coast classic.