One of the things I enjoy about Antigua Guatemala is the number of eating establishments. Owning a restaurant is one of the most difficult businesses to run successfully here, going by the number of restaurants that open and close every week. It’s a tough balancing act – they need to differentiate themselves enough from the rest to attract tourists, while at the same time be affordable enough so that the locals keep coming during the tourism off-season.
Patata Frites (6a Avenida Norte #35 – moved here) is one such business. This popular new place, only half a block away from Parque Central, (UPDATE: new address listed, now half a block from La Merced) does one thing: sell Dutch-style, freshly fried French fries (say that fast three times).
French Fries and Flavored Mayonaisse
In the US, fries are a sidekick to burgers, fried chicken, and sandwiches, not meant to be the main attraction. The crazy Dutch have other ideas, as “patat frites” are a staple at roadside stands – also in Belgium, by the way.
In Guatemala, it’s not uncommon to find baskets of “papas fritas”, for sale, though it’s a food item more commonly found at “ferias”, or patron saint celebrations. And that’s how Patata Frites manages to be quirky enough to attract tourists looking for something different while being accessible to most chapines (slang for Guatemalan).
Patata Frites, Antigua Guatemala
So what makes a basket of French fries switch citizenship and turn Dutch? Mayonnaise – lots of it.
Menu of options at Patata Frites
Besides choosing the size of your Patata Frites, there’s an array of toppings to choose from, erroneously labeled as “salsas”. From Ranch-flavored mayonnaise (ranch being hugely popular in Guatemala) to exotic Wasabi-flavored mayo, there’s bound to be some combination that will appeal to you. On top of that, there’s a secret menu of sauces and items available upon requests, like sweet and sour sauce and avocado-flavored mayo. You can also choose between regular fries and curly fries, the latter being my favorite as I’m convinced the curls make the fries tastier. If you’re not a fan of “fried” anything, ask for their baked potatoes.
A standard plate costs about Q10 for a small one, Q15 for a large. There are also “Baby” portions for children. In addition to regular baskets, there are also specialty fries, like the chili beans and jalapeño basket, and the sweet potato and Nutella option. Those cost Q25. Each dousing of sauce costs Q3 to Q5 each.
“Grande” Specialty Chilli Fries
While not big enough for my usual lunch meal – my 10-year-old daughter didn’t get filled up with the regular “small” sized basket, nor did I with the specialty plate, there are enough carbs in each serving to be useful as a late afternoon snack or stand in for a light dinner.
“Small” Sweet Potato Basket with Buffalo Sauce and Sweet and Sour Sauce
As far as seating, there isn’t much inside the small location. There’s a small three-chair table in the corner and a single chair next to the register. Take it to go and saunter over to Parque Central instead.
Decoration Inside Patata Frites
Tip: Check their Facebook page often, as they may have special offers from time to time.
Patata Frites
6a Avenida Norte #35
(502) 7832 1510
Hours: Sunday – Thursday: 10 am to 8 pm & Friday – Saturday: 10am to 10pm
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More restaurants here: https://okantigua.com/antigua-guatemala-restaurant/
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Have you been to Patata Frites?
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