Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Do you know how dangerous it is to have fried chicken a few miles from my house? Right next door to Gibson’s Donuts? So dangerous, guys. I don’t like the baked beans, I could do without the fries, and the slaw is not my jam, but that chicken… This location is my favorite because of the seating and space inside, a lot more room than you’ll get downtown.

Hot outside and door opened at 1105. But worth the wait. People behind me complaining
#gusisworththewait

Its good! So, if you haven’t been get there for this wonderfully spiced, hot chicken. The price is high for chicken, (to me) but worth it. If you’re looking for good, hot chicken & cold beer, this is your place.

The chicken was go good the crust was crispy and the chicken had just enough spice. Mac and Cheese was so good.

My teenage son has become quite the foodie and is interested in attending a culinary school for college. He had heard of Gus’s on Food Network and insisted we eat there first when we took a weekend trip to Memphis. We were not disappointed! Really good food!

Wow! Crispy on the outside with a hint of spice and tender juicy chicken on the inside! That was some of the best fried bird I’ve ever eaten!
The slaw and Mac nCheese were average but fit well with the chicken.
The pecan fried pie and vanilla ice cream were downright heavenly!!!
DDD got it right!

Hands down best fried chicken on the planet! Spicy, juicy, hot and fresh! Sweet tea was perfect! I ordered the 2 piece dark, leg and thigh, then like the fat kid I am, added the second thigh and upgraded to the 3 piece meal. It was literally that good. I had the mac n cheese and fried okra. Also delicious! I will be making a stop at Gus’s every time I’m in Memphis! I went at an odd time, so there was no wait, but I would stand in line all day for this chicken!

My biggest regret after my trip to Memphis this time last year was that i didn’t make it to Elwood’s Shack or Gus’ Fried Chicken. I went to both this year, and while Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken was a fun experience, the actual chicken didn’t blow me away compared to some of the other great fried chicken I’ve had around the country.
Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere?
It should come as no surprise that the service and atmosphere at Gus’s are both excellent. I imagine if I’d walked in to Gus’s a few decades back it would look and feel almost exactly the same, and that’s not a bad thing. There’s history here, and it’s complimented by friendly faces and fast service. Star Granted.
Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost?
The menu at Gus’s looks broad, but when you get down to it it’s really just different blends of chicken and sides. I opted for an a la carte combination of two tenders and two legs sided next to some mac and cheese, and it was all extremely cheap even when I put a few beers in the mix with hefty chicken tenders coming in at under $ 2.00 for each. Good stuff. Star Granted.
Stars 3 and 4: How was the food?
Make no mistake, this was really good chicken, with a crispy and flavorful skin surrounding some hefty bits of chicken. I preferred the tenders to the legs just on account of how difficult it was to separate meat from bone on the legs, and the whole thing went together with what was some mac and cheese that was just ‘okay’ on account of lacking flavor.
Nothing here was wrong, but it was all very comparable to the fried chicken I’ve had elsewhere across the country. Single Star Granted.
Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could?
I like the history at Gus’s, but the product is too familiar for me to say that I’d rank it head and shoulders above other friend chicken establishments. No Star Granted.

Gus is known for fried chicken so I wanted to try it. I honestly don’t know why it’s so popular, the chicken was just chicken. After I finished I didn’t feel like I wanted to eat here again. It wasn’t bad chicken but it surely wasn’t the best I’ve had. I don’t want to steer anyone away but I won’t be returning.

Gus’s came highly recommended and lived up to expectations. The fried chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The amount of zesty zing was also perfect. (If you don’t like hot chicken, this might not be for you.)
The sides were also good. The collard greens were perfect while I’d say the macaroni and cheese and potato salad were average compared to others I’ve experienced. (Average is not bad; it’s just average.) The sweet tea was so good I sucked down at least three full cups.
Service was fast and friendly. We arrived 10 minutes before closing but it was clear the staff expected to seat and serve people right up until closing time with a friendly smile. (As a former server, I despised when customers came in so close to closing.)
Great experience. I would highly recommend Gus’s to anyone visiting Memphis.

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken was recommended from multiple sources– from television shows (Bizarre Foods: Destinations) to coworkers– so this was one of the first restaurants I visited when I came to Memphis for training.
Surprisingly, according to people who come to Memphis often, the chicken is not always consistent. The course trainer said that it was better over the weekends because the chicken is spicier– not entirely sure if that’s true but I did notice a difference between a dine-​in on Monday night and take-​out on Thursday.
During the dine-​in experience, I did enjoy the fried chicken but did not think it was particularly special, but on the take-​out experience (trainer got enough to cater to a dozen people), the chicken was much juicier and spicier. I definitely thought Gus’s Fried Chicken was worth the hype on the take-​out experience, but given the inconsistency, I would have to go a few more times to see if it was just an ‘off’ day on that Monday night.
3.5÷5, upgraded to ⁴⁄₅ because it’s still a solid meal of good chicken and cheap and good beer.

The grand daddy of Fried Chicken! If you have NOT had Gus’s Fried Chicken… Then you haven’t lived yet!
Straight to the point: The chicken dark or white and chicken tenders were on point. The skin was crispy, seasoned to perfection, and rich in love. The meat was juicy, tender, and flavored just right from the frying and seasoning process.
I sat at the bar and got immediate service; it was packed for lunch. The half and half sweet tea was perfect with the chicken. My only regret was not ordering more! I can’t wait to come back for more!

Most amazing fried chicken– ever!!! This is the first place I’m eating out in Memphis and not only was it fantastic, but it’s also listed on Unilocal’s 2016 places to eat in the US so #lifegoals achieved
Seriously however, I was a bit taken aback by the location — it’s similar to the Flatiron building in NYC, so the place location is in this triangle sort of delta, with a road on either side. There’s parking on both sides of the restaurant, but I gotta say, it takes some navigating.
I ordered the 2 piece dark chicken and switched out the beans+ coleslaw for fried okra and greens instead. For my drink, I got half-​sweet and half-​unsweet tea, and it really was a cool surprise, when the drinks came out it was in a takeaway plastic cup — water is served in a Styrofoam cup (#not being recycled, but food was good, so no stars lost).
I thought my ice tea was pretty good and fairy quickly after the order was taken, my menu choice arrived (also served in a Styrofoam plate, but there was a piece of white bread, underneath my fried chicken which absorbed the oil, but also protected the hot chicken from searing away the Styrofoam plate).
I really enjoyed all three parts of food. The chicken rocked my world, but it was interesting as a co-​diner found the batter too spicy. My okra was also perfectly fried and perfect ooze factor, plus was super happy that my greens were just that — only greens and not mixed with any sort of pork. I tried the chips (seriously overdone — save your money) and my co-​diners didn’t like their beans either (out of our party of 4, three of us were eating here for the 1^st time).
Cant wait to return and try some other things on the menu!

Yuuuuuuuum.
Chicken was tender, not dry, skin was perfectly crunchy with spices. I got 2 piece dark with Mac and cheese and coleslaw.
Highly recommend this place. The locals recommended this place to me.

Am I an awful awful person if I say I was extremely underwhelmed by the chicken here? I had heard so much about it and couldn’t wait to try. However, I DID get boneless tenders, so maybe that was where I chose the wrong path for the best Gus’s experience I could have had? The texture of the chicken was nice but the flavors were just meh. Little spicy (in a good way) but not the flavor I typically really enjoy when I eat a piece of fried chicken.
The beans and slaw were great. Service was decent too.

Took a trip this past weekend to the only city in Tennessee that I’ve never had to pleasure to visit, Memphis! In Memphis for a weekend long group event that I committed to towards the end of 2015. As we arrived and checked into our hotels, the hunt for dinner had begun. A quick search on google lead us to restaurant that had 4.5 stars with 200+ reviews. Really? It immediately spiked my interest as heavy thoughts came through my mind…“Could it be that good… Is the hype that real?” Or is it one of those touristy city landmarks that everyone just loves to go to? You know… we all have that restaurant in every city. With that in mind, we took the 30 minute drive to Gus’s. As we approach the restaurant, the smell was just captivating, Fried chicken!!! Yum!!! I guess it was on and poppin that night because the place was packed! Walked inside and waited just 5 minutes for a table for 4. Got greeted by Kirsten, our awesome waiter, and proceeded to get our drink order placed alongside fried pickles as appetizers. Menus were spread through the table and we all decided on doing the family dinner. Now, think about this. Its only 4 guys… how many chicken pieces do you think they can eat, 12, 16, 20? After deliberating for a few minutes, we decided to get the 20 piece (5 a piece, which was still a lot). Any leftovers would go back to the hotel for breakfast. Again, family 20 piece dinner with baked beans, slaw and white bread. And so the waiting begins. Moments later, the chicken tray and sides arrive at our table. We were all like wooow… Don’t get me wrong, we eat out all the time, but I’ve never seen something like it. 20 large pieces of chicken that were steaming hot. With my mouth watering, I jump right in and grab the first piece. Perfectly cooked, moist and, flavorful fried chicken. The spice kicking in after the initial bite burning my lips (chapped lips, its winter!!). But I kept going, as it was that good. The table was in total silence as the chicken was getting devoured. It just didn’t have a chance. Ironically, I took a minute or two to let all this chicken I inhaled sit. I then looked over at one of the guys. He had a piece of chicken on his hands that he was just eye balling as if he was lost. He had me like…“huh”? Then I ask him, «whats wrong man?» He responds «I’ve never had chicken this good in my life… How do they do it? I just can’t go back to regular chicken anymore». We all busted out laughing! I replied, «You know they have one in Atlanta right?» He places the chicken on his plate, cleans his hands and goes into his phone to look for it. As he bookmarks the Atlanta location, he says «Ha». And with that, we got our checks and left happy… and full.
So, Check it out!

«Chicken to die for” — truer words were never spoken! Gus’s motto is the truth, plain and simple! You simply cannot visit Memphis without trying Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken.
Gus’s is a popular casual eatery among locals and tourists, with table service for dining in and counter service for to-​go orders. From beginning to end, our waitress had nothing but good olé Southern hospitality– food was brought out quickly and piping hot (I could see the smoke and hear the sizzle so I know it was fresh out of the fryer) and drinks were always full. You even get a reusable plastic cup with Gus’s logo to keep as a souvenir. People aren’t lying when they say that this is the best darn fried chicken in these parts– Gus’s chicken is world famous for a reason right? The half chicken plate with beans, coleslaw, along with the fried okra appetizer and an extra side of greens were plenty to feed two for lunch. The crispy crunch of the dark skin as you bite down into the meaty, juicy chicken will rock your taste buds and spin you in circles, with its subtly spicy kick.
Don’t worry about the limited parking options at this location because there is a Kroger’s nearby that you can go to for additional parking. Save room for a donut stop at the ²⁴⁄₇ Gibson’s Donuts, which is also within walking distance. With that being said, bookmark Gus’s and get ready to feast on some finger-​licking delicious world famous fried chicken!

This place is fantastic! The food is so good. If you don’t come to any of its locations while in Memphis you are truly missing out!
I’d never heard of this place, but my mom knew it as she’d been here before. Thank goodness she brought me. We shared a 3 piece white meat chicken meal and it was easily enough for the two of us. Every bite was heavenly! For some reason her breast came out super hot (temperature) and my breast and wing were just warm. But we didn’t care at all and just dug in!
Not gonna lie, when our waitress cedrika didn’t ask us how hot (spice) we wanted our chicken, I was a little nervous. But it was perfect. Such a good heat and flavor. And the Mac and cheese was delicious. We subbed it in in place of beans as neither mom or I enjoy them. And the coleslaw was fantastic too. It was great to have a creamy bite after the heat of the chicken.
And cedrika was super sweet. She took a moment to review places for us since we’re in from New York. She was a great server!
Come here! I’m hoping to get another time in before I head home.

If I can tour the south and taste test fried chicken! I wld be a very fat man! I really liked the personal touch The folks at Gus fried chicken added. The air of good food, short waiting periods. No wait! The food was Fantastic!
I wld however suggest build a park in the abandoned lot next door and get a picnic table.
If you come, for fried chicken. I wld come after lunch hour.
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I came by during my labor day weekend trip which was mainly for spending time with family and loading up on some homecooked Cambodian food. I had a good 2 hours to kill and just happened to be crossing paths with Gus’s so I decided to get an order to-​go.
I’ve heard about Gus’s from family as well as on TV and the internet. I’ve told friends they had to check this place out as well and I felt if I had one stop to take in Memphis it would be at Gus’s.
I ordered the two piece white with slaw, beans. I also took some tips from the locals and ordered a small side of Mac and cheese. I waited what was maybe 10 minutes before I got my order. I opted out from hot sauce as I wanted to try it as it came out before I made any «upgrades». The 15 minute drive home felt like hours as the aroma of the chicken started to fill my car up. I didn’t want to be that guy at the stoplight chowing down on a chicken breast… but I thought about it.
Eventually I got home and dug right in. The Cole slaw was balanced perfectly with the right consistency, not too runny but not thick like a potato salad. The beans were also the right amount of tenderness, not mushy nor undercooked. They had a slight tangy/​sweetness to them which was a good way to offset the taste of the chicken (I’ll get that in a sec!). The Mac and cheese had what I thought to be paprika but it was also a mix of other seasoning on the top. It was VERY cheesy which is too my liking, but again not overcooked, clumpy or dry.
And finally, the chicken… Perfection.
I got the white plate which included a breast and wing, and they were still very moist. I was also surprised by a small slice of bread which the chicken sits atop. Its a nice addition, but I would be been fine without it. And the skin, oh lawwwwwd, the skin! If you like the spicyness of Popeye’s, this will blow you away. Way crispier, much spicier (but not a burning hot) and definitely much more flavorful. And again, despite it all, the chicken was still moist with every bite. Love it, appreciate it, I’ll definitely be back. The only thing I was missing was a nice, crispy ale to finish it all off but since I got takeout I had to skip this time. Gus’s is definitely a must for anyone visiting Memphis. No ragrets!