A Gatsby is a South African submarine sandwich consisting of a bread roll filled with chips (French fries) and a choice of fillings and sauces.^[2] It originated in Cape Town^[1] and is popular throughout the Western Cape province.^[3] The sandwich is typically large and shared by several people.^[1][2]

There is no standard recipe for a Gatsby, but it is usually offered in a long (one foot or more) French-style bread roll cut lengthwise.^[2][4][5] Other breads used may include hot dog buns or roti flat breads,^[6] although a filled roti is usually referred to as a salomie.^[7] The sandwich is made large to be shared, usually four ways. The filling of a Gatsby comprises chips with any number of other ingredients such as meats, fish and eggs. Meat fillings may include chargrilled steak,^[4] masala steak,^[2] chicken, boloney sausage, Vienna sausage and Russian sausage. Fried or pickled fish,^[4] calamari,^[1] curry^[3][4] and eggs are also frequently offered.^[1][8] The fillings are commonly dressed with achar pickles or peri peri sauce.^[3][5]

Although the Gatsby is typically made with meat fillings, vegan versions can be found that are usually made by substituting the meat with marinated soy.^[9][10] Healthier versions can also be found, using ingredients such as beans which are said to significantly reduce cholesterol and fat levels.^[11]

The Gatsby sandwich originated in 1976 in Athlone, in the Cape Flats area of Cape Town.^[1] Food shop owner Rashaad Pandy wanted to serve a quick but filling meal to workers helping him renovate his store. He filled a large round loaf with "slap chips" (South-African-style chips with vinegar), polony sausage and achaar and cut this into wedges. "Froggy", one of the workers, declared the sandwich a "Gatsby smash",^[12] alluding to the movie The Great Gatsby which had been screened at an Athlone cinema. The name stuck and Pandy subsequently offered the sandwich in his shop.^[13][14] The sandwich grew in popularity and was adjusted to use a long French-style roll. The gatsby sandwich is a popular hangover cure for Capetonians.^[15][16]

• A store in Cape Town, South Africa with signage for Gatsby sandwiches, 2014
• A personal-sized Gatsby sandwich prepared with calamari and chips, being sold at a food stall for R45 (approximately USD $3.75), 2014
• A Gatsby sandwich

• Bunny chow—a South African fast-food dish consisting of a hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry
• Chip butty—a French-fry sandwich from the United Kingdom
• Mitraillette—a French-fry sandwich from Belgium
• List of African dishes
• List of sandwiches