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stories from the kitchen

FRIES B4 GUYS is a halal late-night restaurant at 485 Cambridge Street in Allston, Boston. We serve hand-cut Dutch-style fries, Turkish kumpir (in-store only) from an oven shipped from Turkey, halal burgers on buns baked in-house at 11 AM, and Belgian waffles. Open daily 12 PM to 2 AM. This blog is written by Maaz Shaikh with interviews of Chef Ahmet, and covers how we actually cook: the Dutch double-fry technique, kumpir made the Ortaköy way, the signature sauce that took 10 tries to get right, and a guide to late-night food near BU and BC.

Fully halal burger, Dutch-style fries, and in-house sauces at FRIES B4 GUYS in Allston, Boston Halal in Boston

Halal restaurants in Boston, and how to spot the fully halal ones

Most halal spots in Boston confirm the chicken and stay quiet on the beef. Here is how to spot the ones that are fully halal.

Boston has no city-wide halal certification, so the word on the window only tells you so much. This post breaks down the one question that catches people out, the chicken-not-beef gap, and what a fully halal menu in Allston actually looks like. Every item at FRIES B4 GUYS is halal, all 8 sauces included, open until 2 AM.

By Maaz Shaikh · Interviews with Chef Ahmet · 6 min read Read the story →
Halal in Boston

Halal food in Boston that is actually worth it

Every item at FRIES B4 GUYS is halal. The beef, the fries, the sauces. The beef comes from a halal-certified butcher, ground fresh the same morning, and the kitchen stays open until 2 AM in Allston.

Halal double cheeseburger close-up at FRIES B4 GUYS in Allston, Boston
In the kitchen

What is kumpir? A Turkish baked potato, made in Allston

Kumpir is street food from Ortakoy, Istanbul. A big potato baked for an hour, mashed with butter and cheese in its skin, then loaded with whatever toppings you want. We brought the oven over from Turkey.

Loaded kumpir with olives, corn, and sauces at FRIES B4 GUYS in Allston, Boston

Common questions

quick answers, straight from the kitchen

What is kumpir?

Kumpir is a Turkish street food. A large baked potato is mashed inside its skin with cheese and butter, then loaded with toppings like haydari, tabbouleh, olives, corn, and jalapeños. The dish comes from Istanbul's Ortaköy neighborhood, where rows of kiosks have served the same recipe since the 1980s. FRIES B4 GUYS at 485 Cambridge Street in Allston is one of the only places in Boston serving Turkish kumpir. Our cuisine and our oven both come from Turkey, baked the Ortaköy way. Kumpir is available in-store only, not for delivery.

Where can I get Dutch-style fries in Boston?

FRIES B4 GUYS at 485 Cambridge Street in Allston serves Dutch-style fries, hand-cut daily and double-fried using the traditional Belgian-Dutch technique. The fries are cooked once at a lower temperature, cooled, then fried again hotter. The result is a crispy outside and fluffy inside that stays crisp even after sauce hits the plate.

What is open late near BU and BC in Allston?

FRIES B4 GUYS is open daily from 12 PM to 2 AM at 485 Cambridge Street in Allston, serving halal burgers, hand-cut Dutch-style fries, Turkish kumpir (in-store only), and Belgian waffles. The location is walking distance from Boston University and a short ride from Boston College, which makes it a convenient option for students grabbing food after a study session or late at night.

Can I order kumpir for delivery?

No. Turkish kumpir is available in-store only at our Allston shop. It is not available on DoorDash, Uber Eats, or any delivery service. Kumpir is best served right out of the oven, and our oven is at 485 Cambridge Street. Walk in, sit down, pick your toppings. The rest of our menu, including halal burgers, hand-cut Dutch-style fries, and Belgian waffles, is available for delivery.

Who writes the FRIES B4 GUYS blog?

The FRIES B4 GUYS blog is written by Maaz Shaikh of Honey Bridge, with interviews and recipe details from Chef Ahmet, the co-founder of FRIES B4 GUYS. Every story comes from inside the kitchen, based on how the food is actually made. Read more about us.