Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

THIS is how its DONE folks! Intoxicating! The Fried Chicken is to die for! The seasonings are magical and I would slap my Mama for the recipe! GUS, if you ever want to branch out to Utah or Idaho? I will franchise :) BEST CHICKEN in the WORLD! This was the perfect end to a perfect day at the National Civil Rights Museum.

This is my new favorite fried chicken joint! I'm from Texas up here working. We had a delay on our job site for a day, so the 8 of us went sightseeing and found this place. The crust is delicious with a hint of heat. I could eat here everyday! The sides are like Grandma used to make. The staff was great and the food came out quick for all 8 of us. Memphis is such a cool place! I had no idea.

Everything was so delicious. From outside this place will looked like a hole in the wall but the food will blow you away. The chicken is juicy, crispy and has a kick to it. The service was great and fast. The beer tasted delicious. Overall we had amazing time and amazing food.

Lot of hype. And don’t get me wrong, the food is solid and service is friendly. However, I’ve eaten myself through a fair amount of friend chicken in the south of the US now and this doesn’t stand out notably to me. - Value for money? Yes - Worth a detour? No - Best for (occasion)? Fried chicken cravings - Would I go back? No

They claim to be the world's best fried chicken. I believe they have earned this title. It is absolutely delicious. The Commander's Grill in Boonville, Indiana is close enough that I would have to have them side by side. The service here is excellent. The servers will make sure everything exceeds your expectations. The restaurant is really easy to find using Google Maps and just far enough from Beale St that it is less touristy.

What a great Southern fare restaurant that gives you all the tastes of a family reunion dinner in the park. Coming up the road, I was under the impression it was a to-go type of restaurant as it looked pretty small with its two benches and a smaller storefront. However you walk in and it's a decent size square cinder block room/restaurant. Tables can get a little tight when they have a full house, but they tend to shift tables to help alleviate that. My table of two shared the half chicken plate. Their batter reminded me of a childhood favorite called English's Fried Chicken on the Eastern Shore of MD (IYKYK). It's a very unique crispness, not thick nor heavy at all, with a great blend of seasoning. All the sides (potato salad, greens, and beans) were a perfect compliment to the chicken. I also need to say, I typically stay away from chicken breast because of its stringy dry texture, but theirs was far from those concerns. It almost melted in your mouth it was so tender! Bathroom: Clean: Yes Changing Table: Yes Bonus features: None to mention Add'l Notes: You enter the first door, which is a small dark hallway. The next door is actually a single use stall (although you kinda get the impression it's a multi-stall bathroom). Bathroom is a large minimal gray room.

I was here in 2018 and now 2024, and I could not stop telling my wife about this place. And now, she loves it also. I love the spice and hotness of the chicken. And it is just so juicy and so we'll done. The sweet tea is awesome. Keep up the great work on the food and everything. Whitney H was so helpful and kept everything perfect for us. Always had my drink topped off and made everything perfect for us

We spent the morning visiting the National Civil Rights Museum (must see when in Memphis) and on our way to the hotel we stopped for lunch at Gus. Well, it was FANTASTIC !!! Best chicken we had in a very long time. The staff was very friendly, the place is full of character, but ultimately the best thing is the food. The chicken was super crispy, hot and juicy … tons of flavor. The sides (cole slaw, baked beans and mac and cheese) were also delicious. We ordered the half chicken for two of us and that was more than enough. This was a great lunch and an excellent value for the price. Definitely a memorable meal at a very reasonable price. Now, we’re gonna look for other locations and go back.

The food here great it has great flavor and the place has amazing service and the people are very nice and has a good vibe.

Offering several locations in the south, Gus's chicken is a must have! This location, downtown Memphis, offer easy access with metered street parking. Grab a table and order a pile of chicken! Nice spicy bite, crispy skin deep-fried to the color of bourbon, and offering a hint of heat that will satisfy all! The restaurant is very casual, picnic colored table cloths, mismatched chairs, along with plenty of interesting wall decor, and a tin ceiling is all you need! Orders are taken tableside and delivered piping hot. Wine and beer is available. This location does a very swift to go business as well. Just love those green fried tomatoes as an appetizer which hit the spot every time. Our server was super friendly and pleasant and make sure that we were topped off at all times. This is a mandatory requirement when you're in town.!

Let me tell you something..... I have not experienced proper chicken tenders until I've come to this place. These were phenomenal the baked bean. The coleslaw was amazing as well. The chicken tenders were so juicy with a nice crisp on the outside and had amazing sauce to dip it in. When I head back to the West Coast, I'm gonna be dreaming of this plate right here. If you happen to be staying in Memphis or happen to be driving through, I highly recommend you trying a plate here. The staff is great, it's a nice little hole in the wall kind of joint. The ambience is nice as well, but the food was fantastic, talking about my experience is making me hungry all over again! I highly recommend!

The most delicious fried chicken! The chicken is so fresh and tender, a touch of spicy not over seasoned. I ordered the plate that comes with baked beans, slaw and bread everything so fresh and good. The seasoning fries are also so good. The food is fresh and hot. The service is great, fast and very friendly. The servers and the ambiance is good. Also kids friendly. I definitely recommend it!

This would have been a 5 star review if we did not get charged for a soda that came with the kids meal. I did not catch this until I was writing the review. Quality/Quantity - Made to order fresh, so be patient. Also because it was made to order, wait a little before eating, otherwise you might burn yourself, lol. Fried Green Tomatoes - This was good and fresh. Also piping hot, so wait a few minutes before eating. This also came out quick. 2 Piece Dark Plate, Thigh & Leg - My order, made to perfection. Again, piping hot, so do NOT burn yourself, be patient. Kids 2 Tenders - This included a side and drink (the drink that we got charged for). If you read my other reviews, tenders are the best value, but I like my chicken on the bone. Mac and Cheese - Okay, not as good as your competitors, see other Yelp reviews. Coleslaw - Our favorite, this was made well and with good texture. Had a good crunch. Beans - My daughter enjoyed it, it was just okay for me. Potato Salad - Added a side for $3.50. This was good also. But not as good as their competitor, see other review. Cut and pasted from their website: "Serving made to order, hand-battered fried chicken. Not to be confused with Nashville hot chicken; we serve southern spicy fried chicken." Atmosphere - Small location. About 50% take out business and 50% dine in. Got here at prime lunch time; they had a long line. But we got lucky and got a seat in the back. The men's room needs attention/repair as it did NOT flush correctly; I could not use it... Open 7 days a week from 11am to 9pm or 10pm. As a "prolific" Yelp user, I just noticed some pictures got uploaded here that did not belong here. At times I have duplicate uploads and many missing pictures. I have learned to ONLY upload 10 pictures at a time which is very time consuming. Sorry... Service - Our waitress was a little slow, I am sure that added to our wait time. Other than that, service was good. Price - $35 + tip. Would have been approx $3 less if not for the over charge. Owner Comment - Congrats on your success since 1973 and with your 41+ locations. And congrats to Wendy McCrory in taking this brand nationally.

Now, this place may not look like much....but it's some great great fried chicken! The crust has a crispy fry...but yet has a certain light bite that just works! Sides like the fried okra is decent. Other sides can be on to not so great. But hey, who cares...we're all here for the fried chicken! And let me tell you...it will be one of your top fried chickens you've ever had!

Ahhhmazing! Put it on your list, the best chicken I've ever had in a restaurant. Quick service, seat yourself and alcohol on the menu. We both ordered 2 piece chicken with 2 sides. Cook thought we'd waited too long so he through in an extra piece of chicken. Hubs had a side of mac n cheese and fries. I had baked beans and potato salad. Beans was on point with a little relish and the potato salad was good too. Hubs loved the Mac and cheese. We will be back.

Must eat in Memphis. With our large party, we all had a little bit of everything. Snacks, plates, sides-- all was delicious. Service was super friendly and attentive. Very kind, helpful, and welcoming. Ambiance was chill, busy with lots of patrons. All was good.

As Nashvillian's our annual trip to Memphis always include a trip to Gus's before a Grizzlies game. It was perfect as we were coming off the distillery tour next door and needed some fresh hot fried chicken to sober up. They are exceptional and that mac 'n cheese is chef's kiss. Service was prompt even for a busy Friday night, we got seated quickly & food didn't take long to be served. It can be a bit tight but totally worth the wait! The ambiance is casual and cozy!

We were recommended this restaurant by a family member, and are so glad we gave it a go! We went for lunch on a Sunday and ordered a sweet tea, the friend green tomatoes, 3 tenders with Mac and cheese and baked beans, as well as the daily special which was 2 breasts with 2 sides - Mac and cheese and potato salad. The fried green tomatoes were really good, a bit more sour than both of us anticipated but in a good way! The fried chicken and tenders were delicious, and we both liked the Mac and cheese, but were a little underwhelmed with the baked beans and potato salad (too dill-y), but holy cow it was so much more food than we could eat!

This chicken is world famous! Wowza. It is delicious. They say it is 6/10 spice level. Crispy skin, juicy meat. The sides are delish, too. The chess pie was a nice way to top it off. Our server was great for our larger group. A few local beer selections, too. Nice historic ambiance to the place.

This was our first stop as soon as we got into Memphis. We walked in and were immediately greeted and told it would be about ten minutes until we could get a table. The inside is simple but very cool looking. We ordered some sweet tea and two piece white meat with beans a slaw. The tea is perfectly made and the food is delicious. I was impressed with the flavor of everything especially how moist and flavorful the chicken was. I must say it definitely lives up to the hype and I highly recommend giving them a try.

The place live up to the hype delicious chicken! If you don't like a greasy spoon go somewhere else. But you would be making a huge mistake

I felt like I ate dinner at my auntie's house because it felt like a family meal, made with love. Chicken was flavorful and juicy, and the fried okra did not disappoint. Was very impressed by the chess pie!! That's a must have. Thank you for sharing a taste of Memphis during my trip.

Child Chicken Tender Plate pictured - We went to the downtown location because it was recommended by the locals and it was so worth it! Or does get busy but food is served quick quick quick! Ordered the children's tenders for my son and 10/10. White meat and dark meat plate 10/10. Menu is specific when it comes to pork designations which was super important for us; you do pay extra for substitutions, but honestly worth it, every was DELICIOUS! Must go to if you go to Memphis!

This is the best fried chicken I've ever had. Huge pieces of breast, thighs etc. a beautiful plate of food. Service was great too. Large pay parking lot next door so don't worry about limited street parking.

This was the first place I set out to eat at once I arrived in Memphis and I'm happy to share that it was a solid choice! It's not a fancy place, more of a casual down-home, bar vibe but you can feel the history. I was able to get a seat for lunch without a problem and tried the three-piece fried chicken which comes with baked beans and cole slaw along with collard greens. The fried chicken was terrific and unlike anything I've had before because of the hot and spicy element which was baked in subtlety and not overwhelming. The greens were also pretty stellar as was the Cole slaw which helped balance out the heat of the chicken. The service was good, but nothing special and the decor felt like it was frozen in time, which isn't a negative, it adds some authenticity. Of the many meals I ate in Memphis, Gus's was definitely one of the most memorable and one that I wish I could have again!

Let me start out by saying that I am not a fan of fried chicken. But that's because I've only had West Coast fried chicken, which has WAAAAY to much breading on it! But this place...Holey Moley. The chicken is fried to perfection with the crispiest skin and the most tender meat I've ever eaten. And then there are the sides...greens, Mac and cheese, coleslaw and more. Soooooo good! The staff was so nice, and the place was packed with regulars. Casual restaurant, limited seating...WORTH THE WAIT! (Can also order to-go) Thanks for a great meal!

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, is a popular fried chicken restaurant based in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded in the tiny town of Mason, Tennessee by the parents of Vernon "Gus" Bonner in 1953. This Second location was brought to Front St In Memphis by Wendy McCrory. She was a patron who loved the chicken so much and she has franchised the restaurant but still Keeping the Bonner family recipe the same. The first thing I noticed about Gus's chicken was its exterior: The Golden Bourbon coating starts as a wet batter and it is dipped the moment an order comes through the kitchen. Gus's chicken conceals a kick of chile pepper, pronounced but not overpowering. Nashville hot chicken this is not. The spice applies to every bird part on the menu. But the spice is not the selling point of Gus's chicken, or at least not the main one. The chicken crackles under tooth, its skin crisp and its meat unfailingly moist like it had been poached. Even with multiple visits to almost all their locations, Gus's chicken is a little different each time I've tried it. It's got that handmade character - a little of this, a touch of that, a pinch of love, a dash of hot. Once in a while it'll be so spicy the tears come. Usually, the heat is more gentle, like the touch of an old friend. Gus's Chicken is the perfect, crisp golden-brown on the outside, moist and succulent on the inside, and salted and seasoned with just enough cayenne pepper to let you know it's there.

Gus has some legit fried chicken. It's spicy but not too hot. Fried to crispy perfection. I had a two piece white. The size of the pieces is filling and the chicken is plump and tender. The best side I tried was the Mac n cheese. This is some five star chicken.

Malik was my server and he was awesome. The interior was open, perhaps a little loud but I was close to the kitchen. In my home county of Dane in Wisconsin there isn't a single restaurant that makes palatable fried chicken. Not. A. One. Wisconsin likes their chicken to be "broasted" which is just a way of disgustingly drying out your bird and making people think it's fried chicken. Literally in the Madison area if you ask residents for their favorite fried chicken they point you to the Kwik Trip gas stations scattered everywhere. Anyway. Gus. Their bird is hot. Flavorful. I wouldn't consider it "spicy" but I'll allow it. What it is is served piping to the touch HOT, juicy to the point of dripping and darn delicious. Throw in a side of fried green tomatoes and you found heaven in downtown Memphis. So glad I waited this long to try it. So glad I did. Tied with Rip's chicken in Ladd Illinois for the best fried chicken I've ever had. Delicious! And those fried green tomatoes? Those were similarly better than almost any others. Nice. If I were to suggest one thing-toss that Sodexo Cole slaw and get the recipe from Rendezvous.

Lived up to its reputation. Exceptional fried chicken great service. Pecan pie was especially good. Definitely a keeper. Would definitely go back again.

Oh man. This chicken was phenomenal. Such a perfect spot with a great ambiance. Service was fast and friendly - super attentive to boot. I loved this spot. Local charm and not a big establishment so it didn't feel unauthentic.

Aaaa-mazingly great chicken! We are in town from Fl for ours son's graduation. We popped in for lunch, as my husband is a huge chicken "aficionado"(fancy for the man loves him some good fried chicken) Gus's did not disappoint. We had the 8 piece "snack", greens, fried okra,tea and beer. Everything was as it should be in a good southern chicken joint...spot on delicious! Cindi was our server and she was wonderful. She made us feel welcomed and as if we were friends or family. Matter of fact, everyone working there were great people-nice, informative and friendly. The atmosphere is casual and laidback, just our style. We left with our bellies full and smiles on our faces. We will certainly be back before we head home in 3 days. Thank y'all for the best dining experience we've had thus far in Memphis.

My first time trying the infamous Gus's and it did not disappoint. The seasoning on everything was spot on and the friend chicken... holy cow, look out, you're gonna wanna eat way too much. Such a cool restaurant. The vibe and the atmosphere was on point. Great service too! Thanks, will definitely be looking for it next time I'm in town.

Omg soooo good. We went here twice over a weekend and the waitress recognized us because we were her last table the night before and her first the day after. The chicken is delicious - we love dark meat. The breading is crispy with a sliiight kick and the meat is so juicy. Love the coleslaw and THE CHESS PIE! Get it with vanilla ice cream. It comes out warm and buuuuutttery.

It was the best meal I had while visiting Memphis; dare I say, some of the best fried chicken I've eaten. Mac and Cheese was ok, slaw was good. The fried okra was very. The chicken was cooked perfectly, flavorful and came out quickly. If I end up in Memphis again, without a doubt I'll be visiting a Gus's.

Whenever we travel through a city and spot a Gus's, we can't resist stopping by! Their good old-fashioned fried chicken is simply irresistible, accompanied by tasty okra, coleslaw, and jalapeños. And let's not forget the ooooWEEE amazing Southern sweet tea! The decor may be simple, but the warm greetings and friendly smiles make you feel right at home, like you're visiting family. It's the perfect place to enjoy comfort food and great service!

Memphis Staple. Small and okay service. Gather your patience for a crowd (locals and tourists). Noisy and always fresh food.

Gus is the talk of the town in Memphis. The chicken was juicy with a hint of red pepper in the crust. The pieces were a little big for me but the wait staff was top notch & very friendly.

Had a quick trip to Gus' World Famous Fried Chicken while in Memphis due to a suggestion by my handy Yelp App and a few locals. This location was in walking distance from the Civil Rights Museum and after a morning of filling our brains and hearts with history; it was time to fill our bellies. This location was quaint but bustling. The crowd and smells spilled out of the door and lingered on the sidewalk. After entering, we were greeted by a waitress who dotted us promptly after a table opened up. We bet the afternoon rush and was great full. After ordering a half/half (half iced tea and half lemonade), I ordered the 3piece chicken with okra and macaroni and cheese. Now being a southern, I wasn't a fan of the macaroni and cheese but baby the chicken and the okra.... holds a special place in my heart. The chicken was well flavored, juicy, fresh, hot, crunchy,.... All of the words that one needs to describe the perfect fried chicken bite! If you get a chance to experience Memphis, make your way to Gus's, get yourself a bit of chicken, and enjoy.

Stopped by Beale street, so we had to check out the world famous Gus's. Me and my buddies did a lot of walking earlier in the day, so we were starving. Got there around 11:30 and it was already packed, but still a couple of tables open. I got the 2 breast plate with slaw and beans. We also got a side of fried green tomatoes and mac and cheese. Everything was delicious. Nice and crispy skin and moist and juicy chicken. Had just a little spicy kick at the end. Add some ranch or Louisiana hot sauce to kick it up another level. Slaw and beans were also really good. Whitney was a sweetheart and was constantly checking to make sure our drinks were filled. Total came out to around $80 before tip for 4 guys, so it is a great deal and was a great lunch experience.

We were very happy that our air bnb was only 2 mins away as this place serves some delicious fried chicken! The fried chicken seasoning is just right. I would say the heat level is medium. We ordered fried okra, greens, fries and fried rice for sides. The greens were my favourite. The fried okra was just OK. Overall the chicken is the star of the show and it is tasty! Make sure you get some hot sauce on the side if you like it extra spicy!

Overall: top fried chicken in downtown Memphis! Quick, simple and good! Food: not a super thick fried batter but the chicken is juicy, cooked fresh, and wonderful with the beans and coleslaw sides. The french fries were crispy and perfectly seasoned. Inside: a place to sit but it is busy so expect a wait in the afternoon. Service: they will take care of you, very helpful!

Pretty sure this is the best dang Fried Chicken I have ever had! Hand-dipped in batter, just a touch of spicy and fried to perfection! I say pretty sure because we went to a place in NOLA a few years back ("Willie Mae's") and that chicken was pretty darn good, but Gus' was SO GOOD! Sides were great too: mac n' cheese, cole slaw, fried okra and Fried Pickles appetizer with a side of Ranch - YUM! Finished up with a delicious slice of Coconut pie! Great meal, very good service! And 24oz. Of Siner Bock for ~$7! Highly recommend Gus'!

A true diamond in the rough. Gus's lived up to all the hype and then some. As soon as we walked in we were welcomed with the nicest of greetings and sat immediately. There is definitely no fluff or frills and it is not needed when serving fried chicken as good as this. The dining area is simple with small tables and chairs throughout and pretty standard walls. But we aren't there for decor, we are there for fried chicken! I loved the sweet slaw, not many places do it like that anymore and the Mac was just like home. Now for the chicken, so crispy and seasoned so beautifully. You don't need a ton of batter when you have crisp and some good seasoning. Amazing and 10 stars!! So happy we stopped in!

Chicken was awesome as always. Sienna, my server, gave superb service and was very attentive. This is definitely a MUST VISIT in downtown Memphis.

Had first been to Gus's in Texas and came tonight to the first location in Memphis, TN. The food was better being at the original place!! Shorty P outdone her services making us feel welcomed and appreciated her service. Thank you kitchen and staff for all you do. The atmosphere feels is like your own home. Great hospitality!

Definitely worth a stop while in Memphis. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had in my life, if not THE best. Might need to wait long depending on how busy it is, but you'd be seriously missing out if you aren't patient. There's a reason why there's such a high demand - everyone knows how good the fried chicken is! Whitney H is the bomb and she'll take care of you.

Great service, wonderful Mommas kitchen vibe. Best fried chicken I have ever had. Highly recommend!

So what is it that makes amazing fried chicken? Tasty batter. Moist chicken. Flavor that ties together from the meat to the skin to the batter. Add in friendly staff and a nice atmosphere and you've got Gus's. We happened to come in at a time when we could sit right down but it's definitely one of those "worth the wait" places.

Went here today for lunch. Chicken is fried well it's nice and juicy and spicy. Also like the beans. Fried rice abit hard and root near float was sos so. Service was amazing and price is good. I go again

I'm from Georgia. This was our second time at this chicken place. Different location. Why? Because the chicken was so good, my friend wanted to take some home to her son. When you love chicken you do whatever possible to get the good stuff. We also was leaving Memphis driving back to Georgia. Road trip!!! You cannot do a road trip without some fried chicken. I thought since it was a different location the taste and quality would be different. I was wrong. It was just the same. Made to order, hot, fresh and super juicy. It really is some good chicken. 310 S Front St, Memphis, TN 38103

I'd been to Gus's in Austin TX, and knew for an upcoming road trip, this was the place to hit for my wife to get some good local flair. The chicken was perfectly cooked, moist and juicy. The beans were delicious with just the right amount of kick. The coleslaw perfectly complimented everything and was just right. It looks like a hole in the wall. The place you'd walk or drive right past, but you'd regret doing that. Sienna took great care of us, and had no problems answering our questions and helped us with the ordering process. If you're looking for chicken, this is THE spot.

Atmosphere is awesome. Service was well above average. Food was cooked perfectly and tasted wonderful. Only complaint I would have was I ordered two thighs, one was normal size, the other was smaller than the end of a leg.

Damn! It's a good thing I didn't bring my mom for this chicken is so good it'll make you want to slap your mama. I mean, never have I ever had fried chicken this good, and I have eaten some fried chicken. Fun spot. No line at noon on a Sunday (November)! And both kinds of tea, sweetened and un. I took mine "un" as that is the way I like it. Waitress still brought sweetener, just in case I converted

Great food, Great, friendly service Glad we chose to stop by Will definitely rtn next trip to town! Feels like home . . .

This chicken is worth the hype! It's crispy and well-seasoned, with a kick of spice. I thought the sides were average, so I recommend getting chicken and maybe dessert. The chocolate chess and sweet potato pie were amazing, especially warmed up with ice cream! This location is downtown, so it may take time to find street parking. There is a paid parking lot right next to the restaurant. When you arrive, go right in and sit at an empty table. It is a small place and it will be packed. You don't have to wait for someone to seat you. Enjoy the chicken!

That fried chicken....wow! Amazing! We got the fried green tomatoes...I was not a huge fan but the ranch sauce it came with was delicious We also had the coleslaw, mac and cheese and the potato salad. The sides were acceptable but not my favorite. For dessert we had the chocolate chess pie which was heated up for us...if you order this dessert do not have them heat it up. It tasted like it came out of a microwave. Awful. Our waitress was the sweetest.