Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken

Gus Fry Chicken serves up some of the best fried chicken I ever had grub. Crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. You can really taste the paprika in the batter, which adds a nice kick without overpowering the chicken. The store is spotless, and even the restroom was impressively clean. We dined in, and the service was fast and friendly. Only downside was that parking was a bit tough to find, but it was well worth it. If you love great fried chicken, Gus delivers big time.

The chicken 🐔 was all right nothing to Bragg About. Ordered two chicken breast with potato salad and mac. The fried chicken was decent tasted mediocre. The sides were below average. Ordered the pecan pie not the best had better pecan pie from the gas station. Overall it was all right. Will I return not Really. The Staff were cool though and Helpful

Simply the greatest fried chicken I’ve ever had. I’ve had Gus across a number of cities now, and there’s simply nothing better when it comes to fried chicken. Forget Korean-styled fried chicken, Nashville Hot chicken etc — this is the real deal. Bonus: the coleslaw and beans are ALSO fantastic.

Yum Yum Yum. This is some quality fried chicken. The meat was SO JUICY and tender. I could tell the chicken was fresh because of how hot it was. It felt like it just came out of the frier. We had the 30 piece with a medium side of coleslaw and potato salad. The coleslaw wasnt anything special but it was decent enough to enjoy with the fried chicken. There was ONE piece of chicken that was super dry and almost unedible but other than that one piece this place was very good.

Good juice chicken with some heat in the taste. The fried pickles and green tomatoes were also good. That being said the season fries were under-seasoned, the baked beans were okay, and the coleslaw was decent. I had 2 piece wing and breast dinner and my daughters had the 3 piece tenders meal with drinks. I spent $92.00, the chicken was juice and had good flavor but not $92 worth. Sorry, Gus. You have a cool restaurant with great servers (the young lady who helped us was amazing).

Delicious fried chicken, crunchy batter with chicken so tender and juicy. Has just enough spice to give it a punch of heat without being overpowering. Coleslaw was great, chopped up cabbage in a nice creamy dressing and the beans were super flavorful with pork bits and maybe some bell pepper? Love the fried green tomatoes as an appetizer. Had the chicken breast and wing lunch that came with the slaw and beans. Other options were greens which were collard greens. We got this to take home and they were great too. Chopped up collards with pork had good flavor. Next time will try a slice of their homemade pie.

Gus Santa Ana, a great tasting fried chicken, made to order, flaming hot and comes fresh and warm, the fried pickles were okay, the fried okra was a bit sour, the service is great and our host was very kind and friendly, next time we go we will order breast meat which seemed more juicy than thighs

Hands down, this is the best fried chicken I’ve ever had. The crust is perfectly crispy without being overly breaded, and the seasoning hits that sweet spot—flavorful, with just the right kick. Every bite delivers that golden balance between juicy meat and crunchy coating. For anyone who appreciates the fine art of frying fowl, Gus’s is a must-visit. It’s a masterclass in simplicity done right. Highly recommend

Stopped in for a late lunch take-out. Service was speedy and my chicken tenders, coleslaw and beans order was out in about 15 minutes. Everything was great but the chicken was excellent. Glad I made the decision to stop in! Next time I'll dine in. It's a nice, well appointed dining area.

No wait on a Saturday at 5pm with free parking on the back or meter street parking. Very casual and surprisingly large diner interior. Good for parties and watching sports. Nice staff and food came out super hot. Skin was crispy and chicken was very juicy. Moist and not dry at all. A little bit of spice for that kick. Fried green tomatoes were decent but I think they might be better fresh. Mac & cheese was very rich.

I had heard about this place from a friend who was looking through the AAA magazine. Since this CoViD thing has changed how we do practically everything - it's been a challenge trying to get to anywhere you can enjoy. Not sure how well this chicken travels either. Some fried chicken gets soggy as soon as you place it in a "ToGo" container...have you tried taking something fried chicken from many other places...? It just doesn't travel well. So...eat it there or in your car. If you have to travel more than 5 minutes - it will not be the same.

Really dang good fried chicken! The chicken was juicy and the meat was well seasoned. Possibly the best I've had in quite a while. The coating was thin and not over-breaded, so the skin was crispy and so flavorful. My favorite piece is the leg here, but any chicken cooked here is delicious. The sides are almost just as dang good. The fries were crispy and had an addicting seasoning. The coleslaw was vibrant and paired well with the chicken. The potato salad and mac were also delicious. The dessert was aight. I wouldn't recommend the sweet potato pie; it had a strange aftertaste. The chess pie was decent. Service was attentive, fast, and friendly. Restaurant was spacious, clean, and modest. Parking is minimal. You have to drive around looking for meter street parking or pay to park at a lot. Overall, highly recommend.

R - Found on Yelp, and my son visited Gus's in Atlanta so I gave it a try. We got an 8-piece, large mac & cheese, and fried green tomatoes to go. The décor is nice, there is a Telecaster body painted with Muddy Waters' portrait, and another Strat-type guitar body artwork. We waited at the bar counter. The chicken was placed inside an aluminum container, so it survived the 20 minute drive home - still crispy. The chicken is dark brown in color, and tasted good, not greasy at all with a little kick of spiciness to it. My wife said the fried tomato batter tasted odd, I kinda agreed. The mac & cheese was good though, but pricy at $10 for a medium container (small is $6). Parked on the corner next to the restaurant in the furniture store lot, because "it was just for a few minutes". I think I will need to try Gus's again and reevaluate.

Great & tasty fried chicken. Happened to drive by and was craving for some fried chicken. The place is casual 80s decor but cozy and airy place. Enjoys their friend green tomatoes. Good service overall. Will stop by when in the area and in mood for it.

Came here and was surprised to see it wasn't too busy on a Memorial Day. Our waitress/server was so kind and explained their menu throughly, even to the extent of mentioning what dishes had pork in it. They also offer samples of their sides which was awesome! We tried their collared greens, Mac and cheese, and beans, all were a hit so we got them all with our chicken which was nice and crispy!! Wasn't too spicy, I was happy with my dinner. Thank you for a great experience!

(4.5) If you love fried chicken, then you gotta try Gus's! We both ordered the 3-piece dark meat plate with a cup of sweet tea (which comes with free refills!). By default, the plates come with two sides, beans and slaw, but you can substitute a different side for $0.50 each. So we got slaw, fries, mac and cheese, and potato salad. All the sides were delicious! The chicken comes out fresh and super crispy! It was a little salty for my taste, but it might have just been over-seasoned that day. Either way, I'll definitely be back! Service was very friendly and the ambiance feels vintage and cozy. :)

(4.5) After hearing all the hype about Gus's Fried Chicken, I finally got the chance to try it. The waitress was nice and friendly. The vibe of the place is cozy, with a vintage feel that makes you at ease. Parking can be tough especially towards dinner time Friday-Sundaay. I ordered the three-piece dark meat with mac and cheese and slaw. What really stood out was the batter on the chicken -- it's unlike any other fried chicken I've had. Not that oily greasiness. It's a unique blend, like a cross between a light tempura and the classic flour batter, giving it a crispy yet airy crunch. The seasoning had a nice kick, with bold flavors that kept me going back for more. It was a bit on the salty side, but the mac and cheese and slaw balanced it out perfectly. It is a bit in the pricier side, but you can taste the effort of making the dish. Overall, a solid spot for fried chicken lovers. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving something with a bit of spice and a crispy fried ness. They also had various beer and pies there that would pair perfectly!

Gus' Fried Chicken is probably one of the best fried chicken spots we have in southern California. I'm so sad that we had a location in Long Beach and that we lost it. Losing the Long Beach location is one of the reasons I started writing yelp reviews again after a ten-year hiatus. It highlights how upset I was to lose such a great local business! Nevertheless, for those few of you who miss the LB location, fear not! You can get their juicy, seasoned fried chicken in Santa Ana. Dining in is the way to go as you could enjoy its juiciness, spice, and seasoning to its peak freshness. The chicken is tender and seasoned to the bone. I like to eat it with their sweet baked beans and their seasoned fries. My wife likes their potato salad, which has an eggy and mustardy mayo that lends some nice creaminess. At $21 for a 3 piece chicken meal, the fried chicken meals are not cheap, but I do think that you could taste the quality in the ingredients and that they didn't cut corners with seasoning the meat. I really believe that Gus' Fried Chicken is one of my favorite fried chicken shops in southern California. They have a location here and a location in LA, but I hope they consider coming back to Long Beach in the future.

Friendly and family oriented restaurant. Spacious and not too loud. Chicken was great. It's so hard to find a great fried chicken restaurant that doesn't empty your wallet and or had mediocre fried chicken. Not this place, it honestly doesn't need reviews because the food and service speaks for itself. Word of mouth will bring you here. I will definitely be back and bringing friends. I also tried the pecan pie with ice cream. The ice cream sealed the deal haha next time I'll try the greens and share my thoughts. The potato salad and beans were also very good.

This was hands down, the best fried chicken I've ever had! The breasts were huge and juicy. The skin was crispy and not overly battered, So good! There was quite a kick, which I didn't expect, but loved. I also tried the Mac n cheese and potato salad, and they were both amazing. The mac tasted homemade with lots of cheese, and the potato salad was so flavorful and balanced. I also had a root beer float, which was so nostalgic. The place itself was cute, too. My only qualm, and I'm nitpicking- is that the chicken was a little too salty. But I added some honey, and I loved it!

First time here. The service off the bat was impressive. Super nice employees, very helpful and friendly. Cute, welcoming dining area. Chicken was really tasty. Wasn't dry, great flavor, nice fry. We had all of the sides minus the greens. They were ok. Not quite sure if they're made in house but nevertheless they were good. Worth coming back.

Good friend recommended this joint for some good fried chicken, and man were we impressed! We started with fried pickles, which come as spears btw, not coins. And the hubby loved it! Food: 1. Seasoned fries - came out piping hot and generously seasoned (I think Larwry's). Crispy, fluffy on the inside and good portion for small size. 2. Chicken - these bad bois are battered and it has a good kick! Just enough to tickle your tongue, not overly spicy. Juicy, moist and oh so crispy! I prefer dark meat and the hubby likes white and we were both happy! 3. Beans - not overly sweet! And you can taste the bacon. 4. Greens - garlicky and didn't have that bitter bite some places have 5. Mac n cheese - the winner for best side here! 6. White bread - reminded us of wonder bread and it was nice and soft Service: attentive and quick Ambiance: moderate noise, sports playing on the TVs Parking: street or parking structure; read all the signs and pay your meters! Tickets were given out. Give them a try! You won't regret it.

Service was great! Diana was nice and attentive. Food was delicious, perfectly crispy mildly spicy chicken, beans and Mac & cheese was good and the sweet tea was perfect. It's pretty big inside with plenty of tables and seating, sports tv on with music. I'd come back. Only downfall is parking, there's a parking lot across the street.

I've never had a bad meal at any of their locations and this one is no exception! How can you not love Gus's chicken?! Their chicken is prepared and cooked with love. They actually take the time for the chicken to marinate in their special sauce and then fried to perfection. Their sides are made from scratch and be sure to save room for a slice of pie. Sweet tea, excellent fried chicken meal, and a slice of pie....life is good! They are higher in price than your average fried chicken joint but well worth it IMO. You actually get what you pay for here unlike so many businesses that are just looking to make a quick buck. I'll gladly drive 30 minutes to eat here but do wish they were closer.

It would be a 3.5 but marked down to 3 based on this visit. Perhaps it would be better on another day? Food (4/5): We ordered half chicken ($23) that came with four pieces: breast, wing, drumstick, and thigh. They were not extremely big. The breast was really well-done--spicy, juicy, and crispy. I felt they had the chicken ready and refried it after the order was place. Everything we lukewarm, not hot. We enjoyed the crispiness and the right amount of spice level (not too spicy for me). The plate came with slaw and beans; we swapped the slaw with mac & cheese for an additional $0.50. Mac & cheese was not great; the cheese tasted fake, but it was not overly greasy. We enjoyed the BBQ beans--sweet, smokey, with a hint of spiciness. Service (3.5/5): It was ok, not great, but not "bad" (meaning they were not rude). The soda fountain was out. When we arrived, it was not busy at all, but they were not very attentive. We had to walk up to the counter twice to receive service. Ambiance (4/5): It didn't feel extremely clean, but we appreciated how spacious the restaurant was. They also didn't overcrowd the tables. The space between each table/group was comfortable. Music wasn't too loud or obnoxious. Restrooms were clean as well. Parking: Some Yelp folks mentioned private parking lot, which we were not able to find. There is a small lot adjacent to the restaurant, but all spaces were parked for the furniture store use. We ended up parking on the street (metered).

$26 for a 3 piece meal? Outrageous. No thanks, I don't care how good your chicken is. Have fun going out of business with those prices.

Went here for my first time and I loved it. The menu was simple. We ordered all three of the appetizers. Fried pickles, okra, and green tomatoes. All three were fried just crispy right. My friend who is from Alabama said it reminds him of home. The chicken was crispy, spiceful and moist. I liked the baked beans flavor. A bit sweet and tangy. Coleslaw was ok. We both enjoyed the collard greens. Next time I come back which I will be. I'll have to order extra chicken. Service was friendly and welcoming.

My favorite fried chicken place. Discovered this place at a food festival and have been coming ever since. They have specials like Memphis Midday for $12 you get four drumsticks and two sides. Come and eat here and you will be very happy. Happy Yelping!

Amazing staff....and the sweet...I mean sweet tea. Potato salad is great, fried green tomatoes delicious.....and potatoes salad. Kiddos the staff super attentive and so nice . Definitely come back as soon I can!

I've heard of Gus's for quite some time. Living in Tennessee and being from Los Angeles, fried chicken is something I'm beyond "familiar" with. Now I'm living in Anaheim where soul food is scarce to say the least. But a 20min drive for some southern cuisine was an easy decision to try out Gus's and grab some pie and sweet tea was a bonus. I went relatively early, 4pm, I was hoping I'd find a line full of people and half the seats taken up. The hustle and bustle of a restaurant doing well. Unfortunately it was empty. The music was soulful Jazz and the fo-brick wall and pictures were giving the South a good representation of a local diner. The sign stating that the food was "made to order" and that it's not a "fast food restaurant" made me hopeful that I was in for a treat. The staff were all very friendly and answered my questions regarding how the food was prepped (didn't want to get my hopes up considering there was no cornbread, candied yams etc on the menu). I ordered my 3pc plate and paid extra for mac & cheese and greens. Even grabbed some pie while I waited for my food. So how did it taste? Sweet Tea - Devine! Cold, Sweet and refreshing. Chicken - the batter, from the looks, may be wet. It was crunchy but not flaky. Super flavorful and moist. My only critic was that they didn't have heat levels. However, crystals or Louisiana hot sauce and jalapeños were readily available. Collard Greens - they use bacon grease to cook down their greens. I didn't taste or see bacon in the greens themselves. They were chopped too fine for my liking and they sour spicy kick you get in the juice was missing. Definitely nothing to brag about. Mac & Cheese - so sad. I mean the biggest let down is not to have from scratch Mac & Cheese. It was giving "canned cheese". No roux, no love, more like something you'd fine at KFC or something. I mean Chic Fi Le blows this out of the water. Sweet Potato Pie - Good. Not as rich as I prefer but the only critique is the crust was lacking. Not bitterly and flaky. Definitely not their own crust. For the price I just expected more. For the drive I was hopeful. It's just a good name that fell short.

OVERALL : Hands down the BESTTT fried chicken ever! I love that their chicken is fresh, never frozen, and hand-bettered. Everything is made to order, but the wait is never too long and always worth it. It's super casual and no-frills here, but service is still friendly. The food never takes too long, as I usually come during off hours on the weekends! They specialize in southern spicy fried chicken served with various sides/starters, and homemade pies. PARKING : We found street parking (metered) on one of the side streets not too far from the shop. As a heads up this is in the city, so they don't have a big lot / plaza parking directly next to the shop. FOOD/DRINKS : I got the 3 Piece Plate with 2 thighs and 1 drum + baked beans and coleslaw! It comes with a slice of white bread too. Their menu is pretty simple, but the fried chicken is some of the juiciest, crunchiest chicken I've had. The sides are on the sweeter side, but it helps balance out the savory chicken and tangy hot sauce.

Because they were near closing, I decided to call ahead and place a order, but was immediately placed on hold. After waiting on hold for 15 minutes, I decided to roll a dice and pull up to the establishment, hoping that they would still be open and able to take my order. Once I arrived, I was immediately greeted and had my order taken by a friendly cashier. I was told that it would be a 20 minute wait but it turned out to only be a 10 minute wait, which was a pleasant surprise. As far as food goes the fried chicken was juicy, crispy and flavorful. However, I feel that they dropped the ball when it came to the sides. I've been eating soul food my entire life, and I must say they definitely could have done better with the macaroni and collard greens. The macaroni lacked all the cheesy goodness one would expect in a perfect serving of mac & cheese. The greens consisted of a flavor that I personally didn't find that appealing. They were both pretty much plain and lacked flavor in my opinion.

Gus's has some of the best chicken in the area. Unfortunately, it takes me about an hour to get to this location so I can't visit as often as I would like. A few years ago, Gus's expanded its locations in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, but closed some of the new locations. This Santa Ana location survived the cuts. The chicken here is great. Gus's has figured out to keep the outside crunchy and the inside moist. There is a mild level of spice added, enough to add taste but not too much in the way of heat. The chicken is very tasty. I've sometimes taken some home, refrigerated it, and it was just as good the next day. There are options for dark or white meat, both are equally good. By default, baked beans and slaw are provided as sides. You can change one or both of them to potato salad, greens, mac & cheese, or fries. Starter dishes include Fried Pickles, Fried Green Tomatoes, and Fried Okra. All of them are good. Recently, they added a Fried Chicken Sandwich. Good, but I think I prefer the more simple chicken items. Service has always been polite and inside clean. Parking is a little problematic - some people use the CVS lot across the street, but there are parking meters and a parking structure nearby.

Fresh , HOT, clean. Sounds horrible but good service . Beers ummm maybe. Who's up this weekend be aware or be SQ.

Amazing light and crispy fried chicken. The sides are equally pleasing with flavorful collard greens and refreshing cole slaw. I got the 2pc dark meat and I don't regret it. The ambiance is chill and clean. The service was great. The bathrooms are clean. Overall, one of the best fried chicken spots I've been to.

My all-time favorite fried chicken anywhere. I've been to 6 of their locations for over 100 meals. Only a few times has the chicken been overcooked. But otherwise, it's magical. Crispy, thin skin (I think it must be a wet coating) with a bit of spice. The meat itself is also juicy and since they make it to order, it's almost never overdone or dry. If you like Nashville hot chicken, this might not be your thing. But if you prefer a fried chicken you can actually taste, definitely try this.

The fried chicken here is flavorful and juicy but with a crispy skin. All the right textures. I would have enjoyed my seasoned fries with more seasoning and the slice of white bread is just that; a slice of white bread. The service was friendly and helpful for a first time customer. I would definitely recommend this spot for the chicken alone.

Mother's Day 2025... Business wasn't booming, only 4 persons inside the establishment. there were 4 people behind the counter. Mother, daughter & 2 cooks. We walked in expecting friendly, southern hospitality. Instead we received = rude looks, very little hospitality & horrible management. They definitely, are NOT southern, nor do they come from any parts around that area. Very disappointed to say the least. Will not visit again.

Some of my fav fried chicken I've had. Skin is super crispy and meat isn't dry. Definitely get the dark meat over the tenders. Fried tomato's and all the sides were delicious. Plenty of seating inside but service was below average. Still will definitely be back if I'm ever in the area.

I had been eager to try Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken for ages, and I finally got my chance when I visited the Santa Ana area. I got myself the 3 Piece Dark Chicken Plate, substituting the Baked Beans for Seasoned Fries ($21.50). At first glancec the fried chicken might appear simple, but it's cooked to perfection. The moment you take a bite, you can feel the steam and juices pour out of the chicken. There is a subtle spice embedded into the batter that gives it additional flavor. While the sides were decent, they nicely complemented the meaty chicken. Service felt slow. It took 20 minutes for the food to arrive. To be fair, I was with my family and all of our meals were served together. Word of advice: steer clear of the LA tap water. Let's just say it's better left untouched. Maybe go for their domestic beer or house-brewed iced tea instead. If I return to Gus's, I will be sure to try their starter items and white meat chicken. This was overall a great experience.

This is the best fried chicken I have ever had! First tried it at the Pacific Food and Wine Festival and they were making bone in fried chicken breasts. It was delicious! I love their baked beans and their fries. The fried green tomatoes are great too! Service was great and we were served by an LA Kings fan which was another plus! The inside is very homey like you are invited to the cookout. And what could be better than being invited to the cookout?

$10 for a bag of Medium fries - I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to this price. I probably need $30-$40 of just fries to feed a family. I did not try any other sides or pies. Took my fries for to-go which was packed in a paper bag but noticed a piece of white paper on the bottom when I took out all the fries - not sure if purpose was to catch grease or to make bag look full - interesting. Chickens are definitely crispy outside and soft inside. They tasted fresh as well and flavorful, well marinated. It was very well done that I can chew the bones off which is a plus for me! : ) However, they are definitely salty and does not taste good when you air-fried left-over at home so just order what you can finish. I'm sticking to Korean fried chickens. The inside is very well kept. Staff is very friendly and polite explaining and answerings all your questions. I did not have to wait long at all. Food came out pretty quick. Parkings: Staff shared that there is not any parkings for their restaurant. Customers would have to do street parking/meter/parking garage and walk over. If you're picking up, have another driver wait in the car so you can dash in and dash out or your car will be towed if you parking in nearby business parkings.

I've heard good things about this place so I gave it a try. 2 piece dark meat w Mac n cheese & Cole slaw: 3/5- The skin was crunchy, but personally I like my chicken skin to have more batter and be on the thicker side. It was really salty and not spicy for me. The inside meat was very juicy. The Mac n cheese is on the heavier side. Cole slaw is like your average Cole slaw. I'm not usually a fan of beans, but this one was actually pretty good.

This area used to be my old stomping grounds in college for late night events, so I never thought to come here during the day. What a difference to see Downtown Santa Ana during the day. We've heard about Gus' through word of mouth, so we decided to make a pit shop in while running errands locally. The courtyard had a special event. I think it was called a Vintage Market, so it was quite busy. Parking in the structure was $20! We ended up finding metered parking and only spent $2 to top up the time. We came for lunch and the restaurant was super empty! It was great since we got to spend some time figuring out our options. Decided to share a few plates: 4-piece tender with potato salad and fries + 3-piece Dark Meat with coleslaw and mac n cheese. The mac and cheese was obsessively good. Ooegy gooey richness and absolutely cheesy. Coleslaw was light to counter balance the flavors. Dark meat was juicy with 2 thighs and 1 drumstick. We took the tenders home with the extra sauces we had since they were $0.50 each for ranch and honey mustard. I liked the honey mustard with the tenders tho. Wished we found out about this place sooner, but it's good to return to when we're nearby.

Let's get straight to it...the chicken crispy tender, not dry and seasoned pretty well. The fries were a NO. BBQ beans were cool, but coming from someone who grew up eating southern food, def not up to par. The Mac & cheese, honestly a disappointment. The menu could be much better if they curate a baked Mac n cheese recipe and tweaked the other sides. Either way the meal was still solid. Recommend trying if you haven't but them sides definitely need some work..the service was great. Seating simple. Overall 3.5/5

Everything tastes really good and the service was great. The chicken was a little spicy for some people. It would be nice to order the chicken with no spice at all.

Gus's Fried Chicken in Santa Ana is seriously good. The chicken is crispy, juicy, and has the perfect little kick of spice. Everything tastes fresh, and the sides -- especially the mac and cheese -- are solid.

3.5/5 stars located in downtown Santa Ana near Artists Village is Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. It's an open floor plan with large ceiling but not too big in size. Staff were friendly and nice. Food took a little longer to come out. Decent size but I felt the seasoning wasn't as strong as other fried chicken places. Sides were good.

This is the kind of fried chicken I was craving. The crunch is the best. Going back here for seconds.

Delicious food, the chicken is hot, crispy and juicy the side dish are all delicious. The fried pickles and green tomatoes are was hot and delicious. The staff is always friendly and attentive. Great location there always street parking and the public parking lot is very close. The restaurant has decor and great music. Lots of tables and great lighting from the big windows

We ordered take out after work. Inside is cute, southern style in a historic building. Music fit the venue. It was 5 pm & not busy. We wondered about that. So the important thing is - the chicken is great ! It's medium spicy- no options. Great southern style, crispy outside & juicy inside especially the breasts. If you can't handle ANY heat you won't like it. We loved it. Also Mac & cheese was GREAT. Collard greens were too salty for us. Next time will try Cole slaw & fried okra. Maybe some chess pie !! A couple notes 1) parking is a problem, but not impossible. Park at the meters around the corner. NOT at CVS ( see map) 2) The chicken is a little pricey, really ruling out families & those on a budget. We got a 3 piece white meat meal plus an extra wing & thigh. It was $34. No regrets because the chicken did not disappoint. Give it a try.

1st time visiting this was a nice location on the corner of a semi busy street. We were greeting as soon as we arrived. You can dine in or take out. We order 2 piece lunch plate each. My son had Mac n cheese and fries for gas side and I had baked beans and cole slaw. I tasted the Mac n cheese and if tasted like kraft Mac n cheese or Velveeta. The cole slaw was good and baked beans tasted like pork n beans from when I was a kid. The start of the shows is the fried chicken crispy and moist inside with lots of flavor. Really good chicken. Also ordered as appetizer the fried green tomatoes which were delicious. Breaded with cornmeal, thinly sliced and seasoned.

This is my favorite Fried Chicken spot in OC. And this place is a sleeper. Gus is huge in other parts of the US. But this is their unassuming location. It's never too busy when I come. I order here probably every other month. I get 3 chicken wings, with mac and cheese, and bbq baked beans. It comes with a piece of toast as well. Sometimes I get it with sweet tea. But the chicken here is always amazing. The texture of the skin is amazing. And the chicken is always juicy and has a light spice kick. I hope they stick around here cause I love it.

The chicken here is delicious. I cannot describe the flavor, but it is not Popeyes does not KFC it is uniquely. Its own service was great. The ambience is nice laid-back great food and great prices.

When we're craving hot chicken, no other place will do--we head straight for Gus's! We order the 20 piece special, eat what we can there, and take home the rest. The meat is so juicy that it doesn't even dry out when you reheat it the next day. While every piece, whether white or dark, is scrumptious, our favorite is to bite into a plump, steaming hot drumstick--the juices explode through the crunchy, spicy crust that is just the right thickness, a texture that complements the tender meat without overpowering it. For sides, try the seasoned fries, mac and cheese, and greens. For starters, the fried okra with a light cornmeal batter is a winner. For dessert, don't miss out on chess pie. Add friendly service and a colorful, Nashville-themed country rock atmosphere, and you have a fun place to have a delicious meal with friends or family.

yoooo they are not kidding about some world famous fried chicken! I didnt expect a chicken place to be in Santa Ana that was jam packed with flavors! I will definitely be back to have more. To get a sample of everything we did half a chicken , chicken tenders, mac and cheese, cole slaw, and the potato salad. The chicken itself was amazing. Not the same texture as popeyes or KFC but it was all around CRISPY and hot and juicy inside. how do they do it?! For sides I'm all for the coleslaw and the mac and cheese. The Potato Salad was great but I think out of the three I will go back for the slaw. They had pie options for dessert but we didnt not try that this time. Tenders were whatever, it was good and flavorful but it didnt hit me the same as the chicken. I wish we got extra legs instead of tenders haha. Will be back!

I. Love. This. Place. !!!! I found this place when I moved offices nearby. Had it one day and fell in LOVE! The fresh fried chicken comes out hot and crispy, the meat has a spicy seasoning that is the perfect bite, THE FIIIIIIXINS are out of control, and the SWEET TEA IS SWEET!! My first time I was in love, but knew I had to try this again as maybe I caught them at a good time. I have been many times since and each time it the same high quality perfect chicken. I love the dark meat plate I think dark meat is juicier, however this picture is of the white meat (OC restaurant week deal). The service is amazing I always see the same server and she is fantastic. The picnic table style table cloths are great, clean bathroom. This place IS A GEM!