“Drills Through Flavortown”: Guy Fieri Discovers Boston’s Ultimate Sloppy Joe Upgrade
“Don’t buy one beer when you have this—buy like 10.” That’s Guy Fieri’s advice after biting into the Sloppy Jacques at Sauce in Boston, a dish he declared doesn’t just visit Flavortown—it “drills through” it.
A Dutch-Inspired Joint in Boston’s Tourist Hub
Tucked into one of Boston’s busiest areas near the aquarium, Faneuil Hall, and Haymarket, Sauce has been drawing crowds since co-owner and chef Chin Guo opened it with some college buddies back in 2011. The name? It’s a nod to their Dutch street food inspiration, and they take their condiments seriously—twenty different sauces ranging from savory to sweet, with names like Samurai and Vampire Slayer that Guy noted “sound like a comic book.”
As for Guo’s culinary training? He admits he has none. “We moved off campus so I had to start cooking,” he explained, “and there was the Food Network.” Guy’s response: “I’m done. That’s a secret. My job is over.”
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The Star: Sloppy Jacques
The Sloppy Jacques is Sauce’s elevated take on the childhood classic, and it’s earned serious devotion from regulars—one customer claimed to have been there “about 20, 50 times this week.” The sandwich features braised beef and bacon served on a brioche bun, with a house-made ketchup that adds a distinctive sweet note.
Guy’s reaction was immediate and enthusiastic: “Really rich… that is big flavor.” He praised the savory-sweet balance created by the bacon and stout beer in the braise, calling it “over the top” for sloppy joe fans. Yes, he acknowledged it’s “a little bit of a mess to eat, but a glorious mess.”
The dish caught the attention of Samuel Monsoor, a Triple G champion who was featured in the segment. His assessment of the Sloppy Jacques: “Big flavors. Huge portion. I love it.” Similar to Texas Chili | Big Bite, this is comfort food pushed to its maximum potential.
The Chicken Sate Pocket
Guy also tried the Chicken Sate Pocket, served with the restaurant’s signature panda sauce featuring Asian-style flavors that are “salty but a little sweet.” The pocket includes carrots, onions, and crispy chicken with peanut sauce. Guy appreciated the textural contrast—”Chicken’s nice and tender and crunchy”—calling it an “outrageous texture, nice big hearty sandwich, a lot of flavors.”
Like a Sushi Burrito in Hawaii, these sandwiches prove that fusion done right creates something greater than the sum of its parts.
What Makes This Spot Work
Beyond the food, Guy highlighted the atmosphere: “You get some of the locals, you get some of the tourists, great people watching and a lot of fun.” With fresh ingredients and those twenty signature sauces to experiment with, there’s enough variety to keep customers coming back—apparently 50 times a week, if that regular is to be believed.
For those chasing bold, messy, gloriously over-the-top comfort food in Boston, Sauce delivers exactly what Guy loves most: boundary-pushing flavor in a casual, fun setting. Find more Triple D spots in our restaurant directory.