Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

BOOIIIIII HOWDY the best dang fried chicken!! THE CRUNCH THE JUICINESS This fried chicken, my husband and I decided to say out loud before discussing said chicken- is the best friend chicken we have ever had. I lost my socks here. And am planning a trip to drive an hour from Cleveland for more. Originally from TX just doing some travel for work- and making it a point to come here again before we leave TN. I don’t like slaw, Mac was good and cheesy and okra was great as well and the potato salad, a bit sweeter side but I devoured it made me especially happy since they make in house - this chicken YALL . Maybe it’s brined ? Maybe it’s just the best chicken ever and we will never know why, I heard it isn’t even breaded that is the SKIN with so much flavor and crunch, how !? WOW. Officially a Knoxville staple. If you’re in the area and don’t stop by I’m afraid you made a mistake. Not to mention the friendly pricing !!!! If I was a student here this would be MY SPOT! Thank you to the masterminds in the kitchen here at Gus’s. World famous is spot on.

Naturally, since this restaurant is in Tennessee, I think it'll will be compared to Hattie B's. After having both this week, I will say that both have their pluses and minuses, and both are very good in their own right. That being said, the fried chicken here is VERY good (we got the half chicken); all the pieces were juicy and were all fried to perfection with a proper crispy crunch. The only thing is that the chicken does pack a kick, which I LOVED, but for people who can't hang with spicy, there's no noted spice levels on the menu, so you're sort of out of luck here. The thing I do think Gus's does very well in is their sides! The fried okra and fried green tomatoes were phenomenal, perfectly fried, and piping hot much like their chicken. Additionally, I saw catfish in the reviews here, and luckily, they had it when I came (it isn't on the menu, so you'll have to ask for it, but you can mix and match with chicken however you choose)! The catfish was delicious; the moment you bite into it, you get that punch of wonderful fish taste and get the textural contrast of the crispy flaky batter against the soft fish meat, overall a very tasty fried fish! Overall, the waitress was extremely attentive and friendly. The food was super fresh and delicious, fried right there and then. This place is definitely worth a try if you want fried chicken or catfish. This place is definitely a solid choice!

Always the best chicken in town! If this wasn't the best fried chicken I've ever eaten it's definitely in the top two or three. I'm not sure what they put on their chicken I didn't see any breading maybe a little bit of dredge but the spices were incredible. The prices were decent and the service was above and beyond! I will be eating here again next time I'm in Knoxville!

Wow! Hands down the best restaurant I’ve eaten at in Knoxville! Everything was super delicious. Sweet tea amazing. Fried green tomatoes were the best I’ve ever had. Fried okra was perfect. Mac n cheese you can tell is homemade and layered with cheese. Cole slaw fresh and has a great base. The chicken was outstanding, perfect amount of heat, fresh, and overall just super good. Paired with top notch service by Kim. She was very attentive and you can tell makes her customers the highest priority. She was very welcoming, never let our glasses even get close to halfway empty. Blown away by outstanding service. The restaurant was also very clean.

The chicken sandwiches everything I was hoping it to be. The chicken was hot and juicy. The flavor of the chicken was front and center. The fried okra was great, the French fries were good and the staff is very friendly. I didn't get the mac and cheese that I ordered but they apologized and took it off my bill. I was so full from the other food that it didn't even really bother me. It was worth the wait.

So glad we stopped at Gus's for lunch while visiting the area. Great down home atmosphere. Antique and old tin signs line the walls. Checkered tablecloths and lots of fried chicken and fried catfish being brought out to the tables or packed up for 'to go' orders. Great open kitchen so you can watch the process. Our server was delightful and helped us know what was best to try for our specific spice likes. We had chicken tenders for three less spicy crowd and regular chicken in the bones for a little more kick. All served with a slice of white bread. We added fried okra and coleslaw as well. Unfortunately the first couple tenders were super dry. Like almost hard to swallow. The last one was tender and juicier. Loved the coleslaw, nice mild creamy flavor and texture. Fried okra was a bit flavorless and mealy. Spice was just right. The bone in was super juicy and great flavor. Thanks so much for the experience.

Every single time I am in Knoxville I Must eat at Gus’s! The chicken is always fresh, flavorful and tender. The employees are always welcoming and friendly. I have been to other locations, but this location is my ultimate favorite.

Service is great. Good food as well. The chicken is just a little bit too hot/spicy. Still it has great flavor. Just wish the heat could be reduced a bit, but I still give them 5 stars. A smiling and kind staff plus a Rootbeer float goes a long way.