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All France Paris La Guez Mère
La Guez Mère is permanently closed.

This entry remains in the Atlas as a record of its history, but it is no longer accessible to visitors.

AO Edited Gastro Obscura

La Guez Mère

Head to this repurposed Renault van for fiery sausages and fries.

Paris, France

Added By
Austin Bush
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A repurposed VW bus serves as the restaurant front.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
A repurposed VW bus serves as the restaurant front.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
French fries are the ultimate sandwich topping.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
This sausage may be Paris’s truest street food.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
Choose your fighter.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
Spicy harissa kicks up this sandwich.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
This no-frills fast-food stop stays open late.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
Great, greasy fare served here.   Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura
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About

In the genre of sandwiches that stem from French colonization, the banh mi reigns supreme. But a lesser known fusion sandwich, at least outside of France, is the merguez frites.

Also known as the frites merguez, the sandwich takes the form of a light, puffy baguette stuffed with spicy lamb sausage, slathered with condiments, and topped with French fries. It’s the birth child of North African and French culinary traditions, and has become a staple in Paris, where it may be the city’s only true street food. Typically sold at fast food-leaning restaurants that serve a variety of savory fried and grilled dishes until the late hours, the sandwich is the centerpiece at La Guez Mère.

Located in the largely immigrant Belleville neighborhood, the shopfront at La Guez Mère takes the form of a repurposed Renault van. The menu spans a few variations on the sandwich, and supplements include onions and tomatoes, cheese or condiments such as spicy harissa.

The merguez, which here is grilled, is smokey and pleasantly charred, the French fries generously dusted with seasoned salt. Your dessert is the surprise tangle of deliciously salty, greasy fries you’ll find at the bottom of your bag.

Related Tags

Restaurants Sausages Fries Sandwiches Colonialism Diaspora

Know Before You Go

La Guez Mère is take-away only.

Community Contributors

Added By

Austin Bush

Edited By

jackgrafik, saconaldo

  • jackgrafik
  • saconaldo

Published

January 9, 2024

Updated

January 3, 2025

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La Guez Mère
47 Rue de Belleville
Paris, 75019
France
48.873114, 2.380788
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