Gus's Good Times Deli

A staple both of Knoxville and of UTK campus, Gus's is the best sandwich around! From the outside, a small unassuming deli, but from the inside, a one-of-a-kind lunch experience. The place is decked out in UT sports memorabilia and you can just feel the history of the campus - all sorts of famous alumni and other celebrities have dined here. I've only ever been on UT football gamedays, when the place is packed out with lines spilling out of the door and down the sidewalk. In spite of this, the service is phenomenal - speedy and friendly, you're not gonna have to wait long at all. Every employee you talk to is gonna be very polite and helpful, even in the middle of a rush. The food is amazing, I've had several different sandwiches and burgers and they were all delicious every time, with fresh, quality ingredients. The freshly fried French fries with Gus Dust sprinkled over top are to die for. Steamed deli sandwiches are their specialty and you can't go wrong with any combination you make. If you are in Knoxville or anywhere close-by, or you are visiting (especially for a gameday), you HAVE to go by Gus's and get you a HAWT and STEAMY.

This place has been around forever and it never misses. Total hole-in-the-wall spot right by campus — great food, great people, and always open when you need it most. Whether it’s early morning or late night, you’ll get solid food and a cold beer. Gus’s has been part of the UT experience for decades, and it still hits the spot every time.

I took my wife to Gus's Good Time Deli for her first experience, and she absolutely loved it! The food never disappoints, and it’s definitely the best place in town.

I tried Gus’s for the first time today. Some of the friendliest service you will find in town! I was skeptical of the steamed sandwich but they convinced me to try it and I’m glad I did! The turkey sandwich was delicious!

I got the bacon double cheeseburger with mushrooms. It was one of the best things I've ever consumed. That burger healed me. And I was sober that time. The young woman who took my order was very pleasant.

Lived in Knoxville for 13 years now. Been to Gus’s many many times over my years here. I have never, not once, had one single issue with my food or service. I have eaten in as many times as I have had it to-go. I’ve had the burgers, the hot dogs, the cheesesteaks…… every single one was delicious. The location and the atmosphere remind me of my college days (though I did not go to UT, and Gus’s far outshines what I did have at my school). Long live Gus’s!

It just doesn't get any better than Gus's! The most accommodating staff and the very best food. I almost literally count down the days in between my visits from Nashville :) Pastrami and smoked cheddar on dark can't be beat, although my daughter argued her cheeseburger won the day ;)

I had a chicken philly extra cheese add 🥓. I had more bacon, onions, and peppers than chicken. Don't get me wrong the flavor was good but the chicken to other toppings ratio was way off. I may go again because the service was excellent, and it was my 1st time so maybe the 2nd will be more satisfying. They are a little expensive but I do understand prices for ingredients have went up.

Had to get a steamed hoagie. It's a local thing. Ordered the regular hoagie and it was huge. The guy behind the counter showed me how they made it because I was curious. Delicious. Divey and fun atmosphere.

Upon our arrival we were met with the friendliest person who greeted us and familiarized us with the menu. My husband and I both ordered deli sandwiches which were amazing! They were steamed and taste great along with a side of french fries.

This is place is amazing. The food is great, the location is great, and obviously the Vols memorabilia is amazing. I used to frequent here when I went to school at UT and it's as good now as it was then (+\- 7 years ago) --and I am not a drunken college student (anymore ;)). I love the owner's responses to the trolls, it is refreshing seeing someone stand up for their business when they know they are in the right. Keep on keeping on! Here's to 40 more!

Nothing wrong with this place. It was 9pm, we needed dinner. Ordered a hoagie and Steak in a Sack. The food was sooooo tasty. The fries were salty, like they should be and they were perfectly fried. The staff was helpful and answered all my questions. I LOVED the surroundings. All the UT related sports clippings gave the place such a great vibe. I will gladly return to Gus's this place is great!

Disgusting! The place was filthy and they were dropping the bread on the floor. Easily the worst cheese steak I've ever had. Threw the fries out - they clearly don't change their fry oil here on a regular basis. Unless you're a drunken college student, I recommend avoiding! * Wow, if "discerning taste" is an expectation that your staff won't use a sub bun that was dropped on the floor to fill an order, then I guess I'm guilty as charged.

The menu and environment here is a bit confusing for first-timers, but we'd heard great things from our Vols friends so we were excited to try Gus's. The menu is pretty extensive and it's hard to choose what to order! The restaurant itself is well loved and traditional with posters from many years in business. Their steamed sandwiches are what they're most renowned for, so that's what we went for; I'm not sure that I'm a huge fan of the sogginess, so I didn't manage to finish the bread, but the food overall was fresh and tasty. One recommendation: split everything! The portion size is insane and one person cannot finish a sandwich and side alone. Go Vols!

Stopped by before we went to an Alabama concert on campus. It was delicious. I don't eat all the bread but man, the fries were amazing little crispy yummy bites of delight. The Philly cheesesteak was good. The onions and peppers were perfect and the cheese and meat was amazing. We had visited before a different concert and it was good then and still delicious when we went back. That night it was a giant concert at Neyland so the line wrapped around the restaurant but we were still able to get seats. The other night the concert was smaller and the day before Easter (they are closed Easter Day) so there were barely any people there. We were able to talk to some of the guys working who were super nice. Our food was super quick and fresh. If there is another event we go to on campus, we will definitely keep this place in mind.

Not sure what to say or think about this place because the phones simply did not work. I called several times only to reach a Verizon message saying the the called member is busy. I called over a span of 15 minutes with no success. I can't comment on the food but service and availability are questionable

Great food, hard workers, and good service. Been going for years, don't listen to these fakes writing bad reviews. I'd rather spend my money here than going to the BS corporates on the strip. Keep on keeping on GUS'S!!!! Support small business!

We stopped here on our way back to KY accidentally when we plugged in deli shop into our GPS. We did not know it was on the University Tennessee campus but decided we would give it a try. We are so glad we did. We both got a Deli special which was a sandwich, fries or chips and a drink. I got a ham and cheese and my hubby went with a beef sandwich that Gus recommended. Both were delicious and we will definitely keep this stop on our list when we are traveling through. We are not TN fans at all but still glad we ate here and enjoyed all the old memorabilia.

Place was alright. Sandwich was good and fries were hot, but the service left a lot to be desired. The guy couldn't accept my sandwich order and was curt when I asked him questions. It wasn't busy, so it was a bit odd. Cool Tennessee paraphernalia though.

Solid sandwich shop, but not worth it if there's a long wait. The brownies are very good. The fries are killer. Not at all soggy. The sandwich was good, bread was soft, but it was pretty plain - way more bread than filling. You can choose one meet and one cheese. The board says the sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard, etc. My sandwich just came with mayo and mustard. It needed more stuff. A fine spot for a sandwich, but I don't think it's worth a long wait (we waited for an hour on a game day).

If you like a steamed sandwich, this is the place to go. The lines can be long, but it's worth it in the end. I also tried the Philly cheesesteak this time and it was delicious!

Closes at 3am... showed up at 2:30am, doors locked. Employee at door says "we're closed" I asked what time they close, he replied,"3am". It's 2:30am. Lazy. Will never understand why people who have jobs don't want to do them.

To preface this, Gus's is a UT staple and I first ate here years ago on a campus visit. Since then, I have eaten at Gus's dozens of times and eaten my way through about half of their menu. The food can be hit or miss, but it's usually pretty solid. Their deli food, especially the Reuben sandwich is my go to. But that being said, you really can't go wrong. The gyros are good. The steak in a sack is good. Nice, big burgers. Not to mention - they load you down with thin and crispy fries every time. The service is great and the people who work here are fantastic. The place feels like stepping into the past in a way with the UT theme and old timey national championship and Peyton Manning newspapers on the wall. Gus's is a true staple of strip area and part of what makes it great to be a Tennessee Vol!

food was cold took forever they lost my order twice. When I told them the food was cold he touch the food with bare hands and just heated it up

Great food & such a staple in Knoxville. Great for a late night meal. The workers, the service, the food all great

good late night junk food spot. Nothing crazy, but above what it should be considering there aren't a huge amount of options at that hour.Walkable from a few of the hotels and next to a hookah bar. If you want sandwiches and fried stuff with sauces look no further

This is the epitome of a late night college deli when you are studying for hours and realize you never ate, or you've been out partying and you need to soak up some of the fun, except, THE FOOD IS AMAZING! It's not one of those, "wow that was delicious" the night of partaking in a little fun and then you go back the next day and think "omg I can't believe I ate that ". I say deli, but I ordered a crispy chicken sandwich and I honestly think it was the best one I've ever had. Hubs and I got in late from travels, we're starving, and it was like a gold beacon calling our names. So happy we listened! Gus's ROCKS!

absolutely the greatest service you can get in the campus area of UTK. Went in super late but were willing to still make my meal even though I was accidentally arriving past closing time. Super efficient and kind staff, very considerate and cannot find a better food destination with no troubles in the campus area. Gus's will always be my most cherish and favorite spot.

it's a classic college diner feel. The food is freshly made to order, with a signature fry seasoning and plenty of university paraphernalia on the walls. Gus's has extensive hours and i have heard from friends that they offer free delivery within the neighborhood as well. It's great drunk food or study food.

People are really nice. Guy walked it up to my work and dropped it off. Philly cheese steak slaps fashore

Gus's Good Times Deli has been a staple of UT food for decades and it still delivers - both figuratively and literally. The steamed sandwiches are stellar & you get greeted with a smile 9 out of 10 times. I miss that Gus & Charlie are no longer there, but tI will continue to come at least once every time I come to Knoxville because of the college feel! I have been ordering the Roast Beef and Swiss on white for over 3 decades and I have NEVER been disappointed.

Steamed sandwiches still great 41 years later. :) amazing to see some of the originals behind the counter today.

Was brought to this place by a long time vols fan . everything looked pretty good on the menu ...ended up ordering the Reuben which was very classic( I would ask for extra dressing ) fries were good and atmosphere is a must if you're a vols or sports fan. Price is very reasonable and you can even pick up a 12 pack on the way out!

Best deli in town. Pepperoni and smoked cheddar is best ever. A must stop while in Knoxville.

I have always liked Gus's....still do...however...have noticed a couple of changes last few times in.... They pretty much expect a $10 for your order....you "must" order fries or chips whether you want them or not.... Thinking perhaps a touch of staff change and not the friendly vibe of the past...just a business transaction similar to something you would see up north... If you want a gyro hit Aladdin across the street, if you want better food for your $10 Jai Dee Thai is next door...If you just have a $5 to burn McDonalds is next door also.... Still like Gus's....just watch your deal... Hopefully this will resolve with time.... Used to be my first strip choice...now 4th or 5th.... About all I use it for now is a beer & UT game....

I asked for a Buffalo chicken sub, and they obviously didn't give me that. This looks like it just came out of a McDonald's menu, I don't know what this is but it's honestly disgusting. The staff were not wearing masks, They don't realize we're in a pandemic or something, honestly would give 0 stars if possible I don't know how people like this stuff.

I am 60 years old. I have lived and worked in 7 different states and about 20 different cities. With that said I can honestly say this was the absolute WORST cheesesteak sub I have ever eaten in my entire life. There was very little steak or cheese and most of the sub was filled with onions, which I did not ask for extra onions. Now, if that wasn't bad enough the filling was completely burned and tasted horrible, also, the fries were substantially over salted.Best part of the meal was the sprite I had with it, thankfully the restaurant has no control over that.

Perfect dive with awesome food. I had the steak and cheese and my daughter had the patty melt. Slap ya mamma good!

Amazing food! This place has great food for all ages. I recommend to tourists. If you're a fan of Tennessee it's perfect for you - and if not the food is still awesome! It's near the campus so you can check it out after you eat. Great sandwiches, fries, burgers, chicken tenders, and more!!!

Food is ok but the atmosphere is awesome Great for a late night snack Even better on game day

This has been the best hole in the wall since I was in college at UTK. It is a UTK staple and history of the university. The steamed sandwiches are the best. There is nothing Like Gus's and we always look forward to going to Gus's every time we get back to campus

This just isn't a place I would return to a second time. The establishment is dirty, staff does unsanitary things.. for instance the man handling the register also handling the food. The food was not good for the price we paid.

I've always got the Chicken fillet or the Hamburger. And it's always been great.Deli Sandwhich

We stopped here on our way through Knoxville. I had a Reuben and my wife had the philly cheese steak. Both sandos were great. They steamed them both which made them super soft and melty. I'd definitely go back.

I agree with one of the other reviews on here. Stick to the basics here (burger, steamed sandwich, hot dogs). Gus's delivers with the simple items without a doubt. I tried a chicken parmesan sandwich which ended up being terrible. It was three small frozen chicken tenders on steamed bread. The burgers here are fantastic and you MUST get fries with one. I have had friends get hot dogs or one of the sandwiches and they rave about those. This is a great UT campus staple and known for their extended hours and Vols glory days atmosphere. Check out the tweet from Garth Brooks in the picture frame near the front door! They had WWE Raw on during my visit which bumped it up to four stars for me!

Extremly Rude owner, dismissive staff, food use to be good, wouldn't know now because i was ignored, wouldnt know go elsewhere, try gus good times.

Not much has changed in 30 years here...same great smiles, same great food and the same decor which makes this a nostalgic place to stop when in Knoxville. Sorry for the terrible pics...I couldn't wait to sink my teeth in and forgot to post a shot prior to eating more than half my order

Best memories of a deli ever. I was going to this place when I was going to UTK 81-85 and would drop back by at least every few years You can not beat the special for deli sandwich fries and fountain drink for less than $10. It's all you care to eat. Great food. Great memories. I went there in May of 2018 and ran across the assistant head residence assistant of mine when I was a resident assistant at Hess Hall in 1985. So it's just not me. This place has a draw. If it had parking it would be unbelievable Great sandwiches

This place was a staple for me and my husband when we lived in the area. Everything is so relaxed and tasty, and the portions are HUGE--so come hungry! Highly recommend the meatball sub

Solid college sandwich joint... Fairly priced and the owners are extremely nice. Love all of the old-school memorabilia on the walls.

I like this place but it is not as good as Sam & Andy's in Farragut. Gus (the grumpy older man behind the counter, his name really isn't Gus, we just always called him that), likes to put a drunk tax on your food if he thinks you have been drinking. For example, a normal sandwich we"ll say turkey on dark bread with an order of fries should be around $8, well when he puts the drunk tax on you it ends up being more like $18. Sometimes you notice and sometimes you don't. Just make sure you don't seem buzzed when you go in there. I have many memories of eating sandwiches in there and the one that I remember that was absolutely terrible was the chicken parmesan. Everything else I have tried has been quite tasty. I still would not give it 4 or 5 stars though.

Whole in the wall place, husband had beef in a sack which was juicy, I had a phili and was happybwith it. The fries were fresh.

Good food for late night. We had the chicken philly and Chicken gyro. Fries not my favorite. Overall I was glad they where opened we called in and pickuped order no problem. Menu on website,local college food in the wall kinda place!

The greatest deli in all of knoxville!! You honestly cant get a better sandwich anywhere else. My go to is the Ruben on dark and fries with extra seasoning - SOO good! Been going here since i was old enough to chew. You literally cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. The folks are nice and love the Vols! A great small local business to support.

So very overrated. GGTD was a huge disappointment. Maybe the food is better at 2am after lots of drinks but our food was just awful. A burnt cheeseburger that my teenage son barely touched is the only evidence that is needed but I wish I'd taken a picture of it. Its possible that we discovered a new element but I suppose we'll never know. #charcoleum

I used to love Gus's. We've gone for years on game day to get a delicious "deli" (steamed sandwich) before heading to Neyland on game day. It's full of UT memorabilia -- multiple items signed by Peyton Manning and many others gives the place instant credibility. But with my most recent visit, it became apparent the place is headed downhill, sadly. The whole restaurant was dirty and the guy making sandwiches violated numerous health codes, handling money and even wiping the sweat off his forehead with his hand before making a sandwich. The food still tastes great but they really need to up their sanitation game.

The mozzarella sticks and marinara are a dream. Consistently good food, which is hard to find in Knoxville.