Gusto, self-proclaimed the first Algerian fast food spot in Berkeley, opened Jan. 10 and is positioned between the McDonald’s and Spats on Shattuck Avenue.
Gusto is not just a place to find a cheap and quick meal, it is also an “experience,” said owner Abdullah Bouhafs. With a video compilation on TVs, pictures of landscapes on the walls and music lightly playing, the restaurant conjures an atmosphere reminiscent of the cuisine’s home country, Algeria. According to Bouhafs, this was a purposeful homage that aimed to blend the “new generation” and the “old generation.”
After selling their specialty sausages — called merguez — to more than 70 local California businesses, “the location chose” Bouhafs, who jumped at the opportunity to take over the kitchen from a friend and establish Gusto. They are going to stop deliveries while the business is still young, Bouhafs said.
“It’s like a baby,” Bouhafs said in reference to his restaurant. “You have to always carry the baby to grow up.”
Gusto has many options for its customers, but its specialty is merguez, which is offered in lamb, beef and chicken.The restaurant also serves burgers and Algerian tacos that are more like traditional wraps, Bouhafs said.
In addition, a large variety of sweets are offered at Gusto. Ghribiyat, maqrout, kunafa and mille-feuille are made fresh and available in the store everyday, added Gusto.
“We tell people, if you feel hungry, come here,” Bouhafs said. “No one is going to be hungry here. If you want to eat, come over, we’re going to give you food, no problem.”
Bouhafs also emphasized the affordability of his food, detailing that it ranges from $8 to $15.
According to Bouhafs, the community support and the feedback has been “99% positive.” Even with so much enthusiasm, Bouhafs is still looking forward to upcoming events that could bring in more customers, such as the Super Bowl and Algeria’s World Cup match this summer.
This upcoming weekend, Bouhafs said he plans to add coffee and tea to the menu. For the Muslim holiday Ramadan, he is intending to incorporate the Algerian soup chorba into the menu, along with a different type of bread. Bouhafs added that these changes will remain even after Ramadan has ended.
Gusto will also add delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub this coming weekend. Bouhafs hopes that this will combat the “challenge” of parking on Shattuck Avenue.
Bouhafs’s energy was welcoming, friendly and contagious as he described what his restaurant offers.
“In my home country, we give people something sweet on their first visit to make sure their life is sweet,” Bouhafs said.