Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Stopped in not long before closing time. Ben was awesome. Definitely one of the best fried chicken meals that I have had in my life. Just the right hint of heat (meaning spice) to it. WOW! The Mac N Cheese was incredible. The Slaw was perfect. The beans were awesome! and yes… i ordered the greens too! and they were damn good! (not better than your’s Dex)
I recommend everyone give it a try. A great meal without all the fuss! Ben even joked that the «meatballs» were good. What meatballs? This is a chicken joint. I’m gonna leave that one alone. Right!
Seriously…put this one on the list for sure! You will not be disappointed.

Soft opening was the reason why I stopped by. Maybe I just enjoy my waiters sweat buckets and stumble while placing my orders but this place was popping. Chicken smelled like crispy goodness and came out in 10 minutes. And you know, the chicken really wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great either. The crispiness of the skin and batter had a solid crunch, the aroma was fragrant and the white/​dark meat was juicy enough that it didn’t feel dry. It was a good meal. My only trouble was remembering anything about this place. It just didn’t stand out.

I’ve been to the original in Memphis and I was worried that the food here would not live up to the real deal. The food is on par here and the service was great. The décor fits into the Fulton Market neighborhood, yet still has a Memphis vibe. The only thing that was off putting was the club music that was blaring. It was hard to talk over the music, but the food was so good that it didn’t really matter. This is a must if you’re in the mood for some hot chicken.

Our group of 5 ordered the 16 (?) piece dark meat selection, but oddly enough, my brother-​in-​law bit into a breast with his first piece. Hmmm…
The chicken was crisp and lightly battered. I liked that the batter had JUST a hint of spice. Clearly it wasn’t enough for my dining guests since they doused their chicken with hot sauce. ;)
Although the food is good (sides were generous and flavorful), if you have a heart for the Earth, this may not be your choice dining place. Think: styrofoam plates, styrofoam cups for drinks and sides, just styrofoam everywhere. The Green Fairy in me died a little that night.

I grew up an hour from Memphis, but Gus and I didn’t have the chance to meet until we both ended up in Chicago. And boy, I’m so glad we did.
This is, without a doubt, the best fried chicken in Chicago. Unlike so many others that are thickly battered, greasy, and fatty, Gus’s fried chicken is light, crisp, flavorful, and moist.
No gross, flubby skin sloughing off the chicken here, folks!
I also love the atmosphere, which is casual but fun. Wide open. Clean. Not greasy and grimy like you might expect of a fried chicken joint.
The okra and fried green tomatoes were both good – but not fantastic. They need some kind of sauce aside from the bottled ranch, which wasn’t so tasty. Wish they made some homemade sauce!
The chicken dinner, though, was FANTASTIC. Even my wife, who doesn’t love fried chicken as much as I do, was impressed.
It’s flavorful – must be brined. And spicy! And served with white bread, just like any good fried chicken should be.
I wasn’t expecting much off the sides, as most Unilocal-​ers seem to think they are lackluster, but we had the baked beans, the coleslaw, and the mac and cheese and thought all were really, really good.
They also have sweet tea, which any self-​respecting southern restaurant should have!
It’s bit pricey, is the only drawback. We paid like $ 55 for lunch for two. I definitely don’t remember paying that at the fried chicken shops back home, but I’d pay it again cause, well, it was damn good!

Just a bit spicy, crispy and fried up to order, Gus’s is the new place in Chicago to sample us some Tennessee-​an fried chicken. On a frigid day, I wouldn’t be hesistant to take a piece and hold my hands over the top to warm up. Oh, my little tasty poultry hand warmer.
You can order by the piece, plate or bucket. We got ourselves a plate which normally is a choice of 2 or 3 pieces along with 2 sides and bread. The staple side of sweet baked beans and creamy slaw complements perfectly with the spicy chicken. I also got to take a bite of greens (slightly spicy) and okra (wished they weren’t cut and fried into tiny little pieces, lost the slime factor),
The dark cuts of thigh and leg are satisfying, but opting for white cuts, in particular, the breast, is huge! I got to try all 3 and they are juicy, spicy and crispy. If you like fried chicken, you need to add this to your list. There ain’t nothing like southern fried chicken, they know how to fry.

Wow, this is probably the juiciest, tastiest fried chicken I’ve ever had. I had the spicy white meat chicken — it was just the right amount of spice. The accompanying baked beans and cole slaw were just the right portion size and also very good.
Prices, including wine/​drinks, are reasonable.
My only knock is that there is very limited parking in this part of the West Loop/​Fulton Market area. It is surrounded by warehouses where street parking isn’t allowed. We actually tried to go one night and ended up going somewhere else when we couldn’t find parking within a few block radius.

Gus’s, we meet again! I’ve been to the Gus’s location by the bluffs in downtown Memphis, last year, on my son’s spring break actually. It’s not divey, as others have said– it’s basic, but quite a normal restaurant in an up and coming area with great service and kick ass fried chicken– the best I’ve ever had, actually.
Gus’s in the West Loop had the same great service I experienced in Memphis. And since it’s a brand new place, there are some nice touches like refurbished wood and a long section of counter/​bar seating. Is it fancy? Definitely not, just new.
Came here with my son to retest the waters, and met Dan G. as well. No line, no waiting at 11:30 but if you’re driving here for lunch, expect tight parking around here. Got the two piece meal and the chicken was great (but not as great as when in Memphis, for some reason, my son agreed). Still, it was a good meal in a nice atmosphere, service was top notch, and I really liked this place. I’ll definitely return often.

Located in the west loop Fulton Market.
Free street parking.
I love fried chicken but I tend to stay away from it to somewhat try to be healthy if you know what I mean. When I saw that Gus’s was opening near us I knew I had to give a try. We got the 8 piece dark special, large greens, medium mac and cheese and fried pickles. Like, how is the skin of the chicken so crispy and the meat is so tender? And the skin had some heat to it which made it even better. We decided the chicken is worth returning for but the sides? eh.

Soooo, the chicken doesn’t disappoint, it’s delicious. I grew up outside of Memphis, TN and visited the original Gus’s Chicken in Mason, TN several times. I also visited the 2^nd location in downtown Memphis a few times. The Chicago Gus’s is true to the original, from the chicken recipe to the atmosphere. However, I do appreciate the cleanliness/​atmosphere of the Chicago restaurant. It’s true to the original Gus’s «vibe», but much more inviting if you want to eat in.
I have to admit, the lackluster customer service made my experience start off on a slightly sour note. I called in my order, with an expectation to not have to wait when I picked it up. I arrived 20 minutes later and still had to wait 15 minutes for them to prepare my order??? Soooo, what’s the point of taking phone orders? The place had just opened and there was 1 couple eating in when I arrived, so the restaurant wasn’t busy. No explanation or apology was given, the cashier just let me wait, then handed me my food.

Amazing! Coming from Memphis this is right on point! Food made to order, great customer service clean!!!
I had sweet tea mixed with lemonade– Amazing! And I ordered the 3 tenders with slaw and beans… Ugh!

At the rate that West Loop is filling in with new eateries, no one who frequents that area will have a reason for complaining about what to sample. And a bit of Memphis has made its way up to Chicago and into the West Loop neighbourhood.
Hell, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken.
I ordered a plate of chicken, baked beans, fried okra, potato salad, and a slice of sweet potato pie. The chicken is spicy and I love that. The sides were good. The sweet potato pie was not quite a smooth/​creamy as I have had it at the Memphis location, but I devoured it just the same.
Great service. This is one of those restaurants where you order at the counter and then take a seat, after which your food is then brought out to you. I went shortly after the restaurant opened for business, so it was not quite stuffed to capacity. It’s definitely worth checking out if you want a sampling from Down South.

Having been to the one in Memphis and liked it, we tried this one in Chicago a few weeks ago. From an atmosphere standpoint, it’s like night and day. The Memphis one is not in the greatest of areas and if memory serves correctly, a little divey. The one in Chicago is the complete opposite — more lofty/​trendy like and much more airy feeling.
We started with the fried pickles and even though they came out after we got our meal (which I hate! — but our waitress did apologize twice about it), they were delicious. Wonderfully cooked — lightly breaded — and a really pickle slice inside. I would definitely get this again.
We got several of their wings /​breasts /​thighs and everything was very tasty. I actually liked it better here than the Memphis — whereas, my husband thought the Memphis place was better tasting. It had a wonderful crisp on the skin and was nice and hot (temperature and spice level). I did ask if they do a less spicy rendition (for people like my parents who like food bland), and they unfortunately do not. I wish they did b/​c I would bring my parents here.
We also got the cole slaw and mac and cheese — which contrary to what others are saying, i thought were fine. Nothing fabulous, but I would order both again.
They do have a bar here, but since it was lunch, we did not order anything. Overall — a good place and definitely one I would be back to.

Today was my first experience with Gus’s and it was a really good one. As I scarfed down my chicken, I kept wondering how they manage to get so much flavor into it while keeping it tender. I don’t know the answer — and I’m guessing they won’t share their secret with me — but I didn’t let that stop me from thoroughly enjoying the chicken.
If all they sold were chicken, this would be a 5 star review. But the sides… whomp whomp. We had the mac and cheese, baked beans, greens, and fried okra. The beans are the only thing I’d eat again. Maybe they are so focused on infusing flavor into the chicken that everything else gets shafted?
Though the sides were forgettable, I’m definitely coming back for more bird! Also, the space is pretty well ventilated so I did not return to work smelling like grease. That is a good thing.

Chicago’s first taste of the world famous fried chicken!
Fried chicken is still the in thing for new restaurants in the city. First opened in in October. Prior to this outpost opening, I was willing to drive the 9 – 10 hrs all the way to Memphis for this chicken. It is that good. The best in the World. If you’re in Memphis definitely try it!
With this knowledge and experience in hand, I came across Gus’s as I was just walking to another restaurant just one block away for a late lunch. Once I saw the sign, my choice was made, Gus’s it is!
It was completely packed for late lunch 1:20pm on a Saturday. We were seated within 10mins though.
The staff is down to earth, attentive (almost like southern hospitality). It’s a simple menu, you come here for chicken and standard southern sides. Price point is $ 3 – 4 per piece with a whole bird at $ 20. Platters come with two sides, snacks come with white bread.
Be prepared to wait for your chicken ~15mins, they batter and drop only after you order. The chicken is steaming hot when it arrives to your table. Sweet tea is legit southern style and dangerous (scared to see my dentist next month!). The restaurant offers full bar as well.
My original Memphis Gus’s experience was spicier (sweat inducing), but this Chicago version was relatively mild. Perhaps the server didn’t mention I had an option… if there is a variance in spice level, I was not made aware of it. In any case, you still get the steamy hot fried chicken with a skin so crispy you’ll leap for joy.
Spice aside, its a good piece of chicken on crispyness alone. Try it with Crystal hotsauce and honey — now get messy! I’d put hot sauce on absolutely everything.
Kids meal is a good offer (2 legs and a side for $ 6.60).
Located within a couple blocks of Morgan Green line. Much better option than the 10hrs of i-​57.

Say hello to smokin’ hot, amazing freshly fried chicken right here in Chicago. I’ve heard some buzz about this place and come here with some cousins ASAP.
We had a party of 8 and we ordered 24 pieces of dark meat, 3 per head. We also ordered a few large sides (which come in big styrofoam tubs). Here’s the breakdown:
18 piece dark
6 piece dark
Fried pickles (appetizer)
Large mac n’ cheese
Large cole slaw
Large fries (seasoned)
Medium potato salad
I was a little bummed that they were out of greens, but the mac n’ cheese and the slaw were great complements to the chicken (which had a spicy kick). For me it wasn’t too spicy, especially since I washed it down with some sweet tea. (Refreshing like whoa.)
Their sweet tea is GOOD here, seconded by my cousin who’s spent some time in Nashville and loves southern food. Definitely order it with your chicken, and it comes with a take-​home cup. They have Louisiana hot sauce, which you don’t even really need since the chicken was delicious on its own.
Chicken gets five stars. Everything was so fresh and came out piping hot, the skin a golden brown crisp — like it was breaded and fried upon ordering. Since they cook to order, your chicken will take a little longer to be ready than say, KFC, but Gus’ cannot be compared to a fast food chain. It’s like, top notch fried chicken.
Their servers will give each person plastic cutlery and foam plates, so it has a very casual feel like you’re at a picnic. Service was kind and our server made sure our cups were filled with sweet tea, even bringing a few extra pitchers because of our large party.
As someone who appreciates really good fried chicken, Gus’ is on point. No wonder they are «world famous» haha. I believe it. According to their website, they have 12 locations across 6 states (GA, MS, AR, TN, IL, TX)… 1 amazing recipe. And they’re still planning to expand.
To all the fried chicken lovers in Chicago, this place is for you. Next time I’m back I hope they’ll have the greens, but God bless you Gus and thanks for chicken done right!

Overall: Good fried chicken at a good price!
The good: Great fried chicken. Crispy with a spicy under-​flavor. Great moisture. Service was friendly and overall great. The atmosphere is cool, picnic-​y feel with some flair. Full bar and TVs. Great music selection of older tunes
The bad: Our fried pickles app came out AFTER our main meals. Only big complaint. Small amounts of sides
Atmosphere:8/10
Service: 7.5÷10
Food: ⁸⁄₁₀

Kinda let down.
The chicken’s skin was tasty, but surprisingly dry. Strange. The meat itself was good and juicy, so if you got a bite of skin and meat, it balanced itself out a little better. Be aware that the chicken will come out *incredibly* hot, so force yourself to let it cool for a bit. My girlfriend doesn’t like eating off the bone, so she ordered tenders. I tried hers and I thought the chicken wasn’t as good without the skin.
I tried ordering just a breast and a leg, but my server brought me a plate with three pieces of chicken, beans and cole slaw. (I don’t care for beans and I thought the cole slaw wasn’t very good.)
I did like their fries, which were pretty thick and nicely seasoned. Their macaroni and cheese is creamy and excellent.
You get your food on styrofoam plates with plastic silverware that isn’t really up to the task of taking apart the chicken, so that’s weird. I get that they’re trying to replicate some sort of run-​down Southern chicken shack, but this location must have cost a fortune to build, so let’s stop pretending. It’s also really wasteful.
Our server was incredibly nice, though she did mess up my order, bringing me the full plate when I’d only ordered individual pieces. When the bill came, it wasn’t adjusted to reflect what I’d ordered. I came here on the fourth day they were open, so maybe they haven’t worked out the kinks yet. Our server also hovered three feet from the table while I was signing my receipt and deciding on the tip, which was awkward.
My favorite part was the music. Ray Charles. BB King. Stevie Ray Vaughn. Eric Clapton. Great playlist.
The place is very big with high ceilings and two TVs at the bar. It looked like the kind of place where you’d order at a front counter, but they seat and serve you. There’s no host stand, which seems like an oversight, considering the layout.
Gus’s is an okay restaurant, and maybe the food will improve in time, but I’m not sure I’d go back.

When to go: Anytime before 6 for no wait. Preferably weekdays.
How many people to invite with you: 2 – 4
How much money to bring: Around 20 per person or less! :)
What you’ll see: Beautiful exposed brick, an inviting neon sign out front, young wait staff who are super friendly, broken chairs, cheap napkins, cheap silverware, cheap paper plates. The southern charm striped table cloths.
Now…what do ORDER!
Fried Chicken– of course! Go with the plate. I loved the fried okra, the french fries were terrible and so was the potato salad so just stick to the original cold slaw and beans if you must.
BE PATIENT– Your fried chicken comes fresh to you out of peanut oil so it’s a bit of wait. I ate so much my stomach was hurting but I still took home a slice of pecan pie! You can get it hot or cold. It was perfect when we got home.
I will def. go back! It’s also nice to get fried chicken for cheap in the city.

A number of years ago a friend made homemade Fried Chicken at the house. It was moist on the inside and super crunchy on the outside. It was the best Fried Chicken I have ever had. To this day it is the benchmark I use for Fried Chicken spots.
Did Gus’s win best Fried Chicken and win my heart. No! It was solid chicken and I like that it is local (Cougle) but it wasn’t mindblowing. It was comparible to Parsons and Roost. The leg I got was even a little dry and tough to eat. My other piece was a beast and that was pretty good and juicy. The spices were actually perfect as it gave the chicken a nice flavor without being overly spicy. This chicken has a lot of potential and with a few tweaks could be the best in Chicago. Although still not as good as my buddys.
In addition to the Chicken I ordered a side of baked beans which was delicious although maybe a tad too sweet. I’ll let that slide as I was regretting not getting the larger size.
A few beefs I have with this Chicken place. When I made my order they asked me if I wanted any hot sauce. Sure. They gave me small packets of Louisiana Hot Sauce and ketchup. WTF is this Popeyes? I would like to think of them as a step above those nasty commercial spots. Make your own hot sauce. Hot sauce on Fried Chicken is a pretty common exercise and using your own hot sauce could seperate you from the competition. Its not hard to make. Also What do I do with the Ketchup? Who puts Ketchup on good Fried Chicken?
Guess what? They have a bar. I believe this is the only location at this point that has one. So I ordered up their Legbar Old Fashioned (J. Riegal Whiskey, Mandarin Napolean, Bravo Boomerang, Cherry Bitters). Not bad but a bit sweet. However It was served in a plastic cup. Doh! How can anyone drink an Old Fashioned out of a plastic cup? Get some glasses and present it properly otherwise get rid of the bar. You can put my coke in a plastic cup.
Overall the Chicken was solid and with tons of potential but not the best. The side was delicious yet a little sweet, southerners do like things overly sweet. Maybe tweak some things to appeal to regional tastes. The Old Fashioned was good but a bit sweet as well and I was turned off by the plastic cup.
They want to be better than their commercial counterparts but still engage in too many hole-​in-​the-​wall practices. Clean some of this up and I will be a regular customer.