Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
2965 N Germantown Rd, Memphis, TN, 38133
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Menu
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Address :
2965 N Germantown Rd
Memphis, TN, 38133 - Phone (901) 373-9111
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : Yes
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Amita W.
Excellent food and customer service in each location weve eaten at. We go to Gus' all the time.
(5)Kyungeun P.
What more can I say about Gus's that hasn't already been said... It's just the best fried chicken. Ever. Like I stay awake at night wondering how something can be so good. It robs me of my sleep. Whenever I'm in Memphis, I schedule my itinerary around Gus's because it's like a 3 hour endeavor. Spend an hour at Gus's, then the other 2 napping it off. I will say one minor negative, the last time I was there, their greens were not good at all. It was left mainly untouched. I also highly recommend trying their fried catfish platter! They gave us 4 huge catfish fillets fresh and crispy out of the fryer along with 2 sides - great deal.
(5)Mathew P.
Hands down the best fried chicken in Memphis. Nothing even comes close. Staff is friendly and always helpful. I eat here every week.
(5)Leslie S.
Pretty good fried chicken, but it would take a REALLY outstanding chicken to register much more than 3 for me. It was good but didn't knock my socks off as many had talked it up to be. Maybe they needed to set lower expectations for me. Mac and cheese was tasty!
(3)Miss Jordan L.
Gus was pretty good. I didn't get the fried chicken this go round but ordered fried catfish and chicken tenders and fried pickles. I must say the fried pickles are the best I've had in memphis by far. Two thumbs up to the fried pickles. The catfish was pretty decent. I don't know maybe those fried pickles burnt my taste buds as they were really hot and fresh. I saved most of my food for the next day and it tasted much better the following day. I thought I got a pretty big portion of food with the catfish plate. I got there around two, not too crowded. Overall its a pretty good chicken spot if you like chicken.
(4)Jane P.
With all the hype I've seen on the Food Network about Gus's Fried Chicken, I just HAD to try it, especially since I never go to Memphis. So a few weeks ago I went to Memphis and stopped by on a Saturday. It was awkward coming in initially since I didn't know how they worked. Everyone sitting at the tables were quiet and staring at us and the girl at the register in the back was also staring at us. My husband and I walked to the back, thinking we needed to order there. When we came up, the girl behind the register still didn't say anything to us and then our eyes wandered to the sign next to her that said to seat yourself. Okay, why is that sign not at the front door where people walk in?? Anyways, I ordered a 3-piece dark with fried okra and potato salad. The potato salad was super bland, the fried okra was nothing extraordinary, and the fried chicken was crunchy, spicy, but a tad bit over salted. The chicken is good, but I've had better fried chicken in Texas. The best thing about this place was the price. You can get slightly above-the-average fried chicken for super cheap.
(3)Jermaine S.
Average customer service but professionalism was bad. No servers were in any sort of uniform. I understand it's a chicken joint but the other locations wear uniforms. Not whatever they can scrape up to wear. We could also hear the employees inappropriate conversations they were having at the cashier. I was trying not to listen but they were talking loud so everyone else in the place could hear them. They got my order wrong and another tables order wrong. They let me keep what was wrong. But they also brought our fried green tomatoes and it had some hair on it. We noticed this after we ate a few of the tomatoes. We pointed out the problem and they offered to make us a new order. We agreed to that. When they brought out the new order it was only two slices. I guess they were only replacing what had hair on it. Not good. Even though I only ordered water, my drink was never refilled. I could go on but bottom line is I won't be coming back here.
(1)Lucardious S.
The customer service complaints at this location are justified. There were two poor girls trying to wait on the entire, full, restaurant. To say they were overwhelmed is an understatement. caveat emptor on visiting this location. The food - I've dined at Gus's before, but not this location. I had fantastic experiences at those other locations. Not so much at this one. Chicken Tenders - came out over cooked, dry and some bits like jerky. Was unable to complain due to lack of wait staff. Fried Catfish - over all good, cooked properly. The only negative was the fish oil strip (grey section of meat) was not removed. Minor inconvenience to remove, but should have been caught by the kitchen staff. Cheese and Mac - had been sitting under a heat lamp for a while. Lumpy cheese and lack luster flavor. Baked beans (received these by mistake) - not bad, but did not finish them. Just wasn't feeling the weird tang they had Potato salad - not a fan. Potatoes with sauce over them. I'm not done with Gus's but I am done with this location.
(2)David W.
Wife and I ate here yesterday for lunch on our way from Louisiana to Ohio. We had seen it advertised on one of the Diner shows and went out of our normal route to try it. The chicken was moist and the crust had a slight hot sauce flavor, both of which we really liked. The crust was crunchy but not a traditional texture. Really a little to thick for me. I'd rate the chicken a strong 4. The fried green tomatoes had a good flavor but the crust was way to thick. They get a high 3. The French fries and baked beans were not to my liking. I rate them a 2. Their mashed potatoes were made from real potatoes and were real good - a high 4. Their fish had a nice crust on it. Very well done - a high 4. Would we go out of our way to eat at Guss's again. No, probably not, but if we were near one we might give it another try as the waitress was very nice and I did like that moist chicken!
(4)Sean M.
No more mild chicken at Cordova. Please bring it back! Not for me, but for my kids.
(4)Mitchell M.
Best fried chicken ever. The breasts oozed flavor with a hot spicy added flavor to it. Fries were excellent and the mac and cheese was ok.
(5)Angela M.
Best fried chicken in the south! Try any location.
(5)Tammy C.
The Wolfchase location is a dive. Place is dirty and run down. That being said the chicken and the service is great. Will come again when in the mood for fried chicken but will get it to go because this place is depressing to sit in.
(3)Joni B.
Fried chicken on a paper plate never tasted so good. They batter and deep fry it to a spicy perfection. KFC just cant compete. And if you can order the fried dill pickles. You get a huge plate of pickles fried like no one else does it. It's kind of hard to find, and divey, to say the least, but the food is worth it!
(5)Mick T.
Great crispy, spicy, moist, fried chicken. The sides I tried (fries and turnip greens) aren't quiet as good the chicken, so just get the chicken. If you want your order to go, phone ahead as it takes about 15 minutes! This location is in a strip mall and is lacking some of the charm of the original location, and it doesn't serve alcohol. But the chicken is still good, very good in fact.
(4)Victoria G.
The chicken and fries are so yummy I came here twice during my five night stay in Memphis. It isn't the best fried chicken I have ever had, but it comes close! I suggest making a visit if you don't mind waiting 15-20 min for a take-out order. I'm not sure how long it takes if you eat-in, as the place was packed both times I was there and I didn't feel like waiting for a table. You can call ahead if you don't want to wait. The two girls that work there are very sweet. They are under a lot of pressure to wait on tables, take phone orders, and check-out all customers. I think they do the best they can with very limited resources. Don't come in here expecting to get five-star service and steam pressed white linen tablecloths...it's a fried-chicken place!
(4)Chuck M.
With so many great reviews, you just can't go wrong when choosing Gus's for lunch or dinner. Being from the west coast I thought that I knew fried chicken...we grew up with Shakey's, KFC...oh what a surprise to discover a couple years ago just how different and wonderful southern fried chicken is. Welcome to Gus's...this is the real deal... I ordered the three piece dark with two sides...slaw and greens. OMG...the chicken was battered and pan fried...beautiful, tasty...moist...remarkable. The slaw was perfect...the collar greens were good, but a little shy on seasonings. I know my portion sizes were appropriate, however, I sure wish that I had another piece of chicken.
(4)Chris P.
Chicken was okay, did not live up to the hype. Service was very friendly but extremely slowwwwwww. Sat in restaurant for roughly 1:20 to complete order, eat and get bill. That's way to long to be in a chicken place. 15 minutes to eat the rest was waiting!!!!!!!!
(2)Sarah H.
So OMG this was really fantastic chicken . I am a huge fan of fried chicken and this place has some good chicken . The skin is battered in a unique way and it is seasoned with a little kick to it . Very juicy . I'm pretty excited to hear one is going to open in Fort Worth later this year !! This is a must try for sure .
(5)Garen M.
I've tried several Memphis chicken places and have always been satisfied. I have long wanted to try Gus's and finally had the opportunity when this one was next door to our hotel. The chicken is excellent! A touch of heat in the crispy batter. Hot out of the fryer. I was less impressed with the sides. Had cole slaw and potato salad - both needed a little more flavor. They have removed all of the interesting sides from the menu by crossing them out with a sharpie. I really wanted to try the corn nuggets, but sharpied off the menu.
(4)Rayna L.
Gus chicken is so good but too bad that the service is horrible that it ruins a good meal. I would give the food 4 stars since the sides aren't that good but damn - the service is so bad that I need to warn ppl. Both ladies from the front to the server(08) are horrible. Turned me off so bad that i won't be coming to this location anymore. Please change ppl there!!! Get better workers.
(1)Mekia P.
I was so excited to try Gus's.... but the customer service at this particular location was HORRIBLE. One of the girls kept yelling at the other and basically calling her out in front of customers for messing up orders. Thats what your back room is for. There is a place and a time to discuss issues with your employees and its definitely not in the dining area where customers are trying to eat. After already waiting 20 minutes, the waitress got confused and cancelled all of our orders instead of just cancelling one item. Yup, we were waiting for food that was never going to come out. We finally asked what the hold up was and she stated that she misunderstood and she would put the order back in again. 45 minutes later, we were finally eating. I personally didn't think the food was all it was hyped up to be. I thought the chicken was nice and hot, but it lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was mushy, but the baked beans had a nice flavor. Overall I'm glad I tried it. I came all the way from San Diego to try Gus's chicken but I could have just driven an hour to Roscoes. Just saying...
(3)Arlyn S.
So we arrive and my expectations are through the roof already from all the braggin I heard about this place. It's packed so that's always a good sign. So I get in line and after waiting 10 minutes and reaching the front of the line, I'm able to see the signage instructing dine-in customers to be seated first. No biggie. So we seat ourselves and wait another 15 minutes for someone to take our order. No biggie cause it's going to be worth it. I"m not much of a bone in type of dude so I ordered the chicken tenders. Not complaining but it tasted just like actual fried chicken. Must of been because of the grease but had a unique taste regardless. I order a piece of chicken (thigh) and fish just to say I tried it. The chicken was hot and greasy. I guess that's to be expected but I just wasn't feeling. I really don't even know how good or bad the food was cause I had starved myself all day. I will try again and possibly update this review.
(2)Demetrius B.
What can I say. I have been all over the country eating chicken. I've been to Georgia, Texas, California , Mississippi and other places. This is hands down the best fried chicken I have ever had. We stopped in Memphis and stayed at the Hampton Inn that's in the parking lot. We asked for the best place to eat and we though they would say bbq. Surprisingly they pointed us here. It was AMAZING! If I could give 6 stars I would. Great place!
(5)Theresa L.
The best by far! Food was what we expected. Our waitress emily was kind enough to give us a list of restaurants to also try since we're new to the area.
(5)Don A.
Five Star Chicken! The sides are just OK (beans and slaw), but that's not why you go to Gus'. The chicken was just about perfect for lunch today. Steaming hot and just the right amount of spice. Tender and juicy. Friendly staff. I will be back!
(5)Velnest B.
Great chicken. Always consistent. I have never had a bad piece of chicken since I have been eating here. The sides are definitely one serving, very small. But they are also tasty. I've tried the greens, mac and cheese, okra, fries and baked beans. No complaints.
(4)Jennifer W.
Tonight I discovered this location and got take out 8 peice family chicken, baked beans and slaw. Beans and slaw where just fine but the chicken was fried so hard it was just this side of burnt and VERY dry. I was so excited to learn there was a Gus's in Bartlett but now I know if I want Gus's I'll have to stick to the downtown. I've never been disappointed there. Will not be back and I'm sad about it.
(2)Marcus J.
The prices are great and the menu at this location is actually expanded from the others in Memphis. The fried chicken is still the star, that skin is delicious. Plenty of quality sides and desserts to choose from at this location. And the prices are very very good. You can get two meals for under $10
(5)James S.
Simply the world's best fried chicken, yep I said it, best in the world. There is some heat in seasoning which makes it unique. Fried green tomato's are a must. The potato salad is outstanding and the bean's, yep gotta get the bean's. I am so happy there is one so close to my home. Perfect for Sunday afternoon take out. They say the receipt differ's at each place, but I don't taste much difference. My only warning is that the menu strictly deep fry foods. So if your not in the mood for fried chicken then you should find some place else.
(5)M Scott R.
The chicken was simply outstanding. The crust was crispy and very flavorful. Had the breast and wing platter. Baked beans & greens were my sides. They were good too, but not to the level of the chicken. Shared a single piece of fried catfish and it was as good as the chicken! Can't go wrong with either. Wanted a piece of pecan pie, but they were sold out for the day. I didn't give 5 stars for two reasons: one - if pecan pie is so popular, make more. 2PM is far too early to run out; two - I understand using disposable plates and forks to cut down on expenses, but they used the lowest quality possible. The chicken deserves a better presentation than that. With that said, I've never been to Memphis before and may never again. But if I do! I'll be having Gus's fried chicken!
(4)Rhianna A.
The chicken was amazing. I could have put myself in a food coma eating it. I did not care for the macaroni and cheese though it was just plain. In would definitely eat here again especially since this one was right next door to the Hampton Inn I was staying at while in the memphis area for business. Admittedly it is not fine dining but sometimes you just want some good comfort food.
(4)Aaron S.
The fried chicken is awesome, golden, crunchy and delicious. Sides are good too, French fries and Mac-n-cheese. If you in the area stop by and have some good southern fried chicken. Yummy.
(5)Nicole H.
Maybe a little-over enthusiastic because I can't get anything like this anywhere near where I live, but I loved everything about my meal here. There's a great southern tradition of finding spectacular food in unexpected places - gas stations, roadside stands and in this case, in a half-empty strip mall with one flickering street lamp. This is no frills - the only wall decorations are lots of sports memorabilia and most of it was older than I am. The bottom half of the walls was corrugated aluminum roofing. You know it's going to be a great meal when you order fried chicken and it takes 15 minutes to come out - it wasn't sitting in the kitchen under a heat lamp, but was battered and fried fresh after we ordered it. Don't be scared off by the "spicy" tag - my mom has literally no tolerance for heat and she was fine with this. It's more a warming of your mouth and tongue. The breading is thin but still incredibly crispy. The chicken was moist and juicy and perfectly cooked. The mac was the gooey bright orange style, but still full of flavor and tasty. All around, I'm sad I hadn't had Gus' on any of my earlier trips to Memphis.
(5)Paul F.
So good just yummy in my tummy!! Cooked to order so takes a little bit to make it to the table but so worth the wait. Just a little bit spicy but by no means would I call it hot. They have a non spicy version for those that don't want it and for the kids. I have no idea why you ever go back to a chain chicken place!!!
(5)Luke H.
So Fresh, So hot, So crispy, So delicious. Best fried chicken that has ever touched my lips. It's a shame Im only in Memphis once a year. I was instructed to get the dark meat fried chicken with the hushpuppies, and the corn pockets (i forget what they were called). If you can get past the foam plates, the bread that is under the chicken to prevent the chicken from melting through and the worst tasting tap water in the world then you are in for a wonderful treat. Side note: From their website it looks like they are trying to expand so I will be crossing my fingers for a move to Boston.
(5)Jeff L.
Enjoyed the chicken breast & wing with sides of hush puppies and beans. Had a couple of folks say it was going to be spicy, but for my taste, it was just right. Food is made to order and service is fast and friendly. Definitely worth a try!
(4)R M.
Simply put, it's the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. No hyperbole. And I've had good fried chicken (Strouds has been knocked to 2nd place in my book.) It was awesome. Loved the little bit of spiciness to the coating. The skin was so crispy but not greasy. Already planning my next visit back. Now this isn't fast food. It's not fancy but you do sit to order and there is a wait as they cook the chicken to order. The hush puppies and corn fritters were also pretty good. The mashed potatoes were ok - they lacked seasoning. But Oh... the chicken. It does, indeed, deserve it's fame.
(5)A M.
Good fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles and Mac n cheese. Customer service was good and was able to accommodate our party of 9.
(4)Nuna A.
Today we decided last minute to try this place out for my husband was craving fried chicken. We decided to try Gus's because we have heard so many great things about this place. Now of course I read some of the reviews before making any final decisions on where to go. I agree with one of the reviewers who said that this place is like a 3 hour endeavor because after we finished eating my husband took a 1 hour nap. Now my husband ordered the fried chicken meal and I got the cat fish which was absolutely delicious. We also ordered macaroni and cheese and fries and also coleslaw. The Mac and cheese was okay even though I liked it but my kids(4 and 2) did not. There was nothing special about the fries but the coleslaw was great! I can't wait to go back and try the fried chicken and maybe order something different for the kids. They ended up eating some of my catfish which they enjoyed more than the fried chicken(mostly because it was a little spicy) Overall great place and great service!
(5)James C.
In the Memphis area from Florida. Trying a random yelp location. The pickles were good, fried green tomatoes were average. The baked beans were ok, I would suggest trying a different side. Now the Chicken, I had the two piece white meat meal. The chicken was nice and crispy, done on the inside but not dry. Really good seasoning, I do prefer a little more spice, but I am a fan of real heat. The kind that makes you cry and the tingle on the your younger lasts awhile. Actually I'm a addict that loves the burn. For the average diner the spice is probably great. The chicken maybe world famous but in my opinion it is not world class. I have had better at other places but not many. I would definitely come back if in the area again and not willing to search for another place to eat. Price was reasonable.
(3)Athena G.
Crispy outside layer w/ juicy inside dark meat. It's famous for the right reasons!
(4)Teresa F.
I had a child's meal because I wasn't super hungry. The waitress was super nice and attentive. The corn nuggets remind me of corn casserole and were delicious. I can see why so many people like it here.
(4)Paul B.
Great chicken, bad to go time estimates. Called in a pickup order. Was told 15-20 minutes on the phone and it took 40 which would have been fine had I known. I just would rather have waited home instead of in their store. They need to get better at their estimates. Being off by half isn't good. Gravy was cold when we got home too. Potatoes and Mac were hot and good.
(3)Mina B.
The food was delicious but if you are looking for a peaceful meal, this isn't it. That said, don't miss it! The fried chicken was divine.
(4)Larry P.
This is in a great location. The wait time is great the food is great and service is wonderful. The environment is nice and clean. Prices are fair. Again the food is amazing.
(5)Dawn M.
I saw this location while waiting for Eat Well to open. Although an almost sometimes vegetarian I stopped by yesterday for catfish and a piece of chicken with sides of corn, potatoes and beans. Both were served hot with crispy skin. The chicken was very moist and tender. I took three pieces of catfish home. Lots of carryout here and the decor is dated sports memorabilia. Television in the corner is tuned to sports. Tables and chairs are ancient diner models. A bit of a dive really in a strip center across from Wolfshase Honda, but the draw here is incredible crisp chicken at reasonable prices. I will be back when the urge for fried chicken attacks. No greasy KFC here and the sides are quite good and generous.
(5)Jessica C.
Go to another location! They are lucky the food is so good. We wanted Gus' two Sundays ago and called ahead, it rang and rang and rang and we thought it was closed. We tried at least 5 times because we thought it was our phones. We wanted it so bad we drove up to find it was open.... When sitting we got our order and the food was great as usual, but the phone was ringing off the hook and neither of the two girls working were picking it up. We even overheard one say she wouldn't because "she needed tips" and that they "think they will just stop calling and come in". By the end of the meal we noticed they finally decided they were taking phone orders again. We now just avoid going on our normal Sunday's because its always those two lazy girls working. Such a shame because other workers are so friendly and the food is amazing.
(1)Lisa M.
"The Chicken was Fantastic - The Gal taking the Order needs to get Happy" I had to try this place out, I heard from the locals that it was the place to go. I had the two piece with slaw. The Chicken was sooo good. The sides were very tasty as well. It was really busy, they really needed to have one person manning the register and taking to go orders and two gals just serving the people in the restaurant. The gal who was working both was not too happy. You know I don't care, no-one is holding a gun to your head there are tons of places to work around there, if you are going to service customers then do it, with a smile on your face no matter what, but I think with how busy this place is the management needs to hire appropriately no one should have to wait 1/2 hour or more for two pieces of chicken no matter how great it is. Went once, did not want to hassle with the crowd and time going again, maybe will return if i visit the area again.
(4)The Yelp-inator W.
I just don;t get it. Maybe I went on an off day. Below average fried chicken. The locals tell me there are better Gus's locations. Maybe so.
(2)Unknown A.
Great food! The service was just below average but the food makes up for having to repeatedly ask for more water. I'll come here again or check out the Memphis location.
(3)Bryan L.
Just like the original Gus's but with no lines!!! Ate lunch here on Christmas Eve and loved every minute of it! Server screwed up my order (fries instead of fried Okra) but made it right like Mike Holmes. Wife got the chicken tenders and WOW!! They were way better than I expected!!! I'll get those next time!
(4)Michael S.
For a place that named "world-famous" I found the sides more exciting than the chicken. It's ok...but world famous is a stretch +. Its reasonably priced but you could go to a Chic-fil-a and not feel like you missed something. I give it a 3
(3)Jon T.
Because you can't eat barbecue every meal, Ms T, Aunt Annie and I went to Gus's in G'town for dinner. We wanted chicken for a change. Ms T and I had been to the one on Main and liked it, but this was close to our hotel. The chicken was served piping hot with a light coating, tinged red with chile. It was simply outstanding. The salt was adequate and the heat was nice. It was better than what I remembered from Main Street. They also make very good creamy slaw, which is not over-dressed. It went well with the chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. We also sampled the chess pie and the pecan pie. Both were good, and although the crust is pretty commercial it was not bad. Gus's is not the very best fried chicken I have had, but it is simply plenty good enough. I have to go back.
(4)Angela C.
First timers! Awesome chicken, one piece wasn't completely done a little bloody, chicken should have no blood come out of it...all in all it was good, the desserts were to die for and the girl that waited on us was sweet, the other one with glasses was clueless, A Little Pricey but we liked it so we'll return.
(4)Samantha S.
Came here while in Tennessee on business. Was craving something different than BBQ. I was sure there was another food to help me stay on my (un)healthy kick while still feeling good when eating it . LOL Found this place on Yelp ( thank you)... and at first I missed it, but glad I turned around and found it. It is in a little strip. All their chicken is spicy. But that's ok. I ordered a 3 piece meal, and honestly, as I write this review, I can't remember what my side was, because its overshadowed by the fact that this was some of the best fried chicken I have had anywhere. Yummmmyyyyy!!!!! My experience was just like others on here. :) Thank you Yelp for steering me right this time around!!
(5)Nova F.
Was mildly disappointed. Not the worlds best as they claim. Mrs Polly's downtown had way better chicken. Still decent fried chicken though.
(3)Ashley T.
World Famous!! I mean I have never heard of it until I moved here and that was only because I was looking for stuff about Memphis. I have eaten there twice, I've only been here a week, it's so good!! I absolutely love everything that I've had there so far and I got different things each time save the okra- that is a must on my plate everytime!! I am not sure if I think that it is so good because I mived from Washington and their idea of fried chicken and southern fried is completely different. The okra is fresh! And then fried to perfection. The chicken is so amazing! The couple at a table beside me were talking and she even told him, this place is an institution! I can agree and see why. Tell all your friends and bring your appetite!!
(5)Jinkzz M.
This review is just about this restaurant's fried chicken since I have not actually been inside the restaurant. When we came to Memphis for a visit, we didn't really stay very long...arrived from Tiptonville late the night before, checked into the hotel, and crashed. The following morning, my nephew and his wife picked us up and took us around Memphis to revisit old places that I have missed. My nephew was raving about the fried chicken from this place but since I missed Corky's, we opted to go there for lunch. At around 5pm, we were getting ready to head back to Nashville but my nephew was insisting that we need to try the food from Gus's so he made a quick stop at this location and got us a huge bucket to take with us to Nashville. Arrived in Nashville at past 9pm that night, took out the fried chicken and heated it in the micrwave for a little bit and ate it for dinner. My nephew ordered the food to-go which didn't really take him very long to pick up so that is a plus. He got us the fried chicken only since we were travelling back to Nashville and was just as well since I do not eat beans and slaw. The fried chicken, after heating it in the microwave was still juicy and well-seasoned although it wasn't anything out of this world. Disclaimer: I am not much of a fried chicken (or chicken in general) eater which might have impacted my assessment of the food served from this establishment. My friends, on the other hand, enjoyed the fried chicken and really like how it tasted. Overall, it was a very nice gesture coming from my nephew and the food was okay but I won't be stopping at this place next time I am in town.
(3)Shirley C.
The batter on the fried chicken is nice and spicy, unfortunately the chicken was over cooked and a little dry, the sides were good and the strawberry cake was delicious!
(3)April T.
I normally don't get too excited about fried chicken, but I do have to confess I was sorry for this experience to end. It truly was the BEST I've ever had. I travel alot and always try to locate regional joints and specialties. When we couldn't make it to Gus's downtown, I thought we'd missed the opportunity. WOW - we're we glad we went out of our way for this! Wing and a breast - best combo ever.
(5)Lee M.
Someone else called it 5 star fare in a 3 star setting. Sounds about right to me. Halfway up to the counter I saw the sign that read, "If Eating In, Please Be Seated and Wait For Service". Fifteen minutes later, I got up from my table and went to see if the sign was broken. Two young girls working the tables and one man in the back cooking must have been overwhelmed by the rush of 12 people in the place. One server took my order and quickly brought my drink. . . then disappeared into the time machine. 20 minutes later, my food arrived and I had to wait on a refill. No way I was going to touch that chicken without something cold to chase it. It was piping hot, crispy on the outside, moist and perfect on the inside. Two bites into my meal and all was forgiven for the service. To give it a fair try, I had breast, wing, and thigh. Every bite was better than the last. This stuff is the kind that you just take you time and nibble every morsel off the bone. I also got turnip greens and will pass on those in the future. They were chopped fine, spiced up, and gritty. That did not mesh; gritty as if they were fresh and poorly washed but chopped up and over seasoned as if they had come out of a can, Yankee style. But another bite of that chicken and all was forgiven. I also had the cole slaw and highly recommend it. Southern style is a touchy balance. Most places either go too heavy on vinegar or don't know when to quit with the mayonnaise. This stuff was perfect in the taste department. I do make it a little more course at home than this but their taste is dead on. And the chicken, did I tell you how good that was? I washed it all down with iced tea that I and most everyone else had to keep begging for. But in their defense, the server (the one that stayed out of the time machine) did tell everyone that they were brewing a fresh batch. And it was good. My personal ratings require a 5 to be a place that I just don't want to leave and can't get back to fast enough. Gus ain't a five. But I will be back. And for Pete's sake, don't stop at the Zaxby's or the Popeye's when you have this place on the same street. Plan on taking your time and enjoy. Heck it takes at least 5 minutes for the chicken to cool down enough to pick it up off the plate.
(4)Chain B.
This is a horrible Gus's, The service is slow and bad. They should not be allowed to sully the good name of Gus's chicken.
(1)Ted A.
Our hotel recommended this bit of local flavor, and we appreciated the recommendation. The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist through and through. We had potato salad, fries and mashed potatoes for sides and liked them all. The only bad part that almost cost a star is they were out of most soft drinks and most of the menu dessert items. In the end we weren't too bummed about dessert because it gave us the chance to drive across town and experience Muddy's Bake Shop, but that's another review. (Literally, it is. Go look.) However, running out of fountain soda at a restaurant is like running out of water or napkins. Somebody should lose their job for not keeping that properly stocked. Despite the shortcomings, this place promised world-class fried chicken and we felt like it delivered on that promise.
(5)Shekira W.
The chicken lived up to the hype. We didn't have to wait to be seated and it only took about 15 min to get our food. I will definitely visit again!!
(4)Louie F.
Pretty good fried chicken, worth the wait, Sides ..corn nuggets, good and sweet. The location was in a strip mall but access was easy, Expected, this to be in an old house because of another review. Not so. I've had better. the "you've never tasted fried chicken till you've had it from Guss's.. Don't know about that. Had a lot of fried chicken that was pretty darn close to this.. if not better.
(4)Tin N.
Gus's in Memphis supposedly competes with Prince's in Nashville for the title of best fried chicken in the south (if not America). The chicken is very good. It reminds me of a very flavorful version of Monell's fried chicken. The sides are average, the chicken is less greasy than Prince's, but I'd still give the edge to Prince's. There are a handful of Guss locations in the greater Memphis area and I wouldn't hesitate eating at any of the locations, although the wait at the main/central location can be long.
(5)naga satya v rao n.
Chicken is tender inside and crispy outside, have nice blend of spices. Thats all I can say! Doesn't really worth giving a great rating but for me 3-4* is appropriate.
(3)Jeff B.
Heard all the hype about World Famous Fried Chicken, decided to give it a try. Food was good, actually not much better than KFC, but service was terrible. Ordered two breast dinner, got a breast and drumstick, waitress then told me that she would buy me the breast. I told her I would pay for it, ended up being charged for three piece, plus an extra breast, plus extra toast when I did not even order or eat the toast. Had to get my own drink refill, was not at all impressed. Will not be back, KFC is fine, you don't have to wait 15 minutes for them to cook your chicken either.
(2)Tabitha L.
Sooooo GOOD !!! We will be back !!
(5)Brandon W.
Best fried chicken I ever had. Gus's is in a 2-storey house in the suburbs. The inside is pretty basic - essentially, they have patio-style furniture scattered in various rooms of the house. The chicken is served on paper plate, plastic utensils. But hey, you are here for the fried chicken right!! The chicken is awesome. The skin is light, crispy and not oily with just the right amout of spice (paprika??) for heat and taste. The inside juicy. My friends who I went to Gus with have been kind enough to tell me they have returned several times already. Now if I can find another excuse to visit Memphis again.
(5)Pauline E.
Very tasty chicken! Sides? well just sides.
(3)Philip L.
Having met "Gus" himself at his original location in Mason TN half way between Nashville and Memphis on I40, a true "Chicken Shack" back in the mid-90`s, the rebuilt Restaurant in Mason which came about when the old shack burned to the ground in 15 minutes from an enormous grease fire, go figure, as well as the other Stores opened around Memphis are quite good. Same great tasting unique Spicy Fried Chicken, (BUT) most of the time, it is (not) cooked to order anymore. Gone is sinking your teeth into freshly fried Hot crisp chicken. On a recent visit to both the Front St and Mendenhall locations, I was surprised how "fast" our orders came to our table. No wait, whatsoever. In the past, a minimum of 15 minutes or longer to get your order served. Now, peak into their kitchen. Baskets of recently fully cooked Fried Chicken sitting in Fry Baskets hanging over the deep fat fryers. Still one of the best tasting Fried Chicken you will ever experience, but it (ain`t) what it used to be. If your in Memphis for business or on holiday, try Uncle Lou`s Fried Chicken located just a few minutes from MEM Airport. The regular plain Fried Chicken is somewhere between ok and good, (BUT) their Special Wet and Spicy Fried Chicken will simply blow your socks off, not from the spice or heat , but simply great taste. No, its not Gus`s, but without all the hype, its still damn good. Give it a try.
(4)Brock L.
Pretty good (albeit overhyped) fried chicken, respectable sides, very reasonably priced - absolutely worth a stop if you're needing fried food.
(3)David L.
This place receives a lot of hype, being featured in GQ magazine as one of the 50 places you must eat at before you die. I got the 3 piece dark meat meal. The chicken had great flavor, the meat was juicy, and the skin was fried to the right crispiness and didn't have that extremely thick coating that the fast food places like KFC/CHURCH has. Be prepared to wait a little bit longer, orders are cooked when you place it..
(4)DJ B.
Still best fried chicken, period. Service was prompt and friendly. Would give 5 Stars except the sides were mediocre to awful. Fries, Macaroni & Cheese, Hush Puppies and Fried Okra were all mediocre (looked and tasted like they came off of a SISCO truck). The Greens, however, were awful (how do you screw up greens??). I love and highly recommend this restaurant, just bring your own chips.
(4)Stephanie N.
i was tired of kentucky fried chicken and popeyes so we decided to try this place when we were craving fried chicken. i ordered the spicy version and the kids and hubby ordered originals. we loved it. i didn't thnk my chicken was that spicy but my daughter and husband thought so when they tried mine. corn nuggets was yummy. definitely would come back here again. just no mashed potatoes and gravy next time because we all felt that was on the bland side. everything else was great tho.
(5)Mathew P.
Hands down the best fried chicken in Memphis. Nothing even comes close. Staff is friendly and always helpful. I eat here every week.
(5)Amita W.
Excellent food and customer service in each location weve eaten at. We go to Gus' all the time.
(5)Jermaine S.
Average customer service but professionalism was bad. No servers were in any sort of uniform. I understand it's a chicken joint but the other locations wear uniforms. Not whatever they can scrape up to wear. We could also hear the employees inappropriate conversations they were having at the cashier. I was trying not to listen but they were talking loud so everyone else in the place could hear them. They got my order wrong and another tables order wrong. They let me keep what was wrong. But they also brought our fried green tomatoes and it had some hair on it. We noticed this after we ate a few of the tomatoes. We pointed out the problem and they offered to make us a new order. We agreed to that. When they brought out the new order it was only two slices. I guess they were only replacing what had hair on it. Not good. Even though I only ordered water, my drink was never refilled. I could go on but bottom line is I won't be coming back here.
(1)Lucardious S.
The customer service complaints at this location are justified. There were two poor girls trying to wait on the entire, full, restaurant. To say they were overwhelmed is an understatement. caveat emptor on visiting this location. The food - I've dined at Gus's before, but not this location. I had fantastic experiences at those other locations. Not so much at this one. Chicken Tenders - came out over cooked, dry and some bits like jerky. Was unable to complain due to lack of wait staff. Fried Catfish - over all good, cooked properly. The only negative was the fish oil strip (grey section of meat) was not removed. Minor inconvenience to remove, but should have been caught by the kitchen staff. Cheese and Mac - had been sitting under a heat lamp for a while. Lumpy cheese and lack luster flavor. Baked beans (received these by mistake) - not bad, but did not finish them. Just wasn't feeling the weird tang they had Potato salad - not a fan. Potatoes with sauce over them. I'm not done with Gus's but I am done with this location.
(2)Victoria G.
The chicken and fries are so yummy I came here twice during my five night stay in Memphis. It isn't the best fried chicken I have ever had, but it comes close! I suggest making a visit if you don't mind waiting 15-20 min for a take-out order. I'm not sure how long it takes if you eat-in, as the place was packed both times I was there and I didn't feel like waiting for a table. You can call ahead if you don't want to wait. The two girls that work there are very sweet. They are under a lot of pressure to wait on tables, take phone orders, and check-out all customers. I think they do the best they can with very limited resources. Don't come in here expecting to get five-star service and steam pressed white linen tablecloths...it's a fried-chicken place!
(4)Chuck M.
With so many great reviews, you just can't go wrong when choosing Gus's for lunch or dinner. Being from the west coast I thought that I knew fried chicken...we grew up with Shakey's, KFC...oh what a surprise to discover a couple years ago just how different and wonderful southern fried chicken is. Welcome to Gus's...this is the real deal... I ordered the three piece dark with two sides...slaw and greens. OMG...the chicken was battered and pan fried...beautiful, tasty...moist...remarkable. The slaw was perfect...the collar greens were good, but a little shy on seasonings. I know my portion sizes were appropriate, however, I sure wish that I had another piece of chicken.
(4)Kyungeun P.
What more can I say about Gus's that hasn't already been said... It's just the best fried chicken. Ever. Like I stay awake at night wondering how something can be so good. It robs me of my sleep. Whenever I'm in Memphis, I schedule my itinerary around Gus's because it's like a 3 hour endeavor. Spend an hour at Gus's, then the other 2 napping it off. I will say one minor negative, the last time I was there, their greens were not good at all. It was left mainly untouched. I also highly recommend trying their fried catfish platter! They gave us 4 huge catfish fillets fresh and crispy out of the fryer along with 2 sides - great deal.
(5)Jane P.
With all the hype I've seen on the Food Network about Gus's Fried Chicken, I just HAD to try it, especially since I never go to Memphis. So a few weeks ago I went to Memphis and stopped by on a Saturday. It was awkward coming in initially since I didn't know how they worked. Everyone sitting at the tables were quiet and staring at us and the girl at the register in the back was also staring at us. My husband and I walked to the back, thinking we needed to order there. When we came up, the girl behind the register still didn't say anything to us and then our eyes wandered to the sign next to her that said to seat yourself. Okay, why is that sign not at the front door where people walk in?? Anyways, I ordered a 3-piece dark with fried okra and potato salad. The potato salad was super bland, the fried okra was nothing extraordinary, and the fried chicken was crunchy, spicy, but a tad bit over salted. The chicken is good, but I've had better fried chicken in Texas. The best thing about this place was the price. You can get slightly above-the-average fried chicken for super cheap.
(3)Mekia P.
I was so excited to try Gus's.... but the customer service at this particular location was HORRIBLE. One of the girls kept yelling at the other and basically calling her out in front of customers for messing up orders. Thats what your back room is for. There is a place and a time to discuss issues with your employees and its definitely not in the dining area where customers are trying to eat. After already waiting 20 minutes, the waitress got confused and cancelled all of our orders instead of just cancelling one item. Yup, we were waiting for food that was never going to come out. We finally asked what the hold up was and she stated that she misunderstood and she would put the order back in again. 45 minutes later, we were finally eating. I personally didn't think the food was all it was hyped up to be. I thought the chicken was nice and hot, but it lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was mushy, but the baked beans had a nice flavor. Overall I'm glad I tried it. I came all the way from San Diego to try Gus's chicken but I could have just driven an hour to Roscoes. Just saying...
(3)Arlyn S.
So we arrive and my expectations are through the roof already from all the braggin I heard about this place. It's packed so that's always a good sign. So I get in line and after waiting 10 minutes and reaching the front of the line, I'm able to see the signage instructing dine-in customers to be seated first. No biggie. So we seat ourselves and wait another 15 minutes for someone to take our order. No biggie cause it's going to be worth it. I"m not much of a bone in type of dude so I ordered the chicken tenders. Not complaining but it tasted just like actual fried chicken. Must of been because of the grease but had a unique taste regardless. I order a piece of chicken (thigh) and fish just to say I tried it. The chicken was hot and greasy. I guess that's to be expected but I just wasn't feeling. I really don't even know how good or bad the food was cause I had starved myself all day. I will try again and possibly update this review.
(2)Demetrius B.
What can I say. I have been all over the country eating chicken. I've been to Georgia, Texas, California , Mississippi and other places. This is hands down the best fried chicken I have ever had. We stopped in Memphis and stayed at the Hampton Inn that's in the parking lot. We asked for the best place to eat and we though they would say bbq. Surprisingly they pointed us here. It was AMAZING! If I could give 6 stars I would. Great place!
(5)Theresa L.
The best by far! Food was what we expected. Our waitress emily was kind enough to give us a list of restaurants to also try since we're new to the area.
(5)Don A.
Five Star Chicken! The sides are just OK (beans and slaw), but that's not why you go to Gus'. The chicken was just about perfect for lunch today. Steaming hot and just the right amount of spice. Tender and juicy. Friendly staff. I will be back!
(5)Velnest B.
Great chicken. Always consistent. I have never had a bad piece of chicken since I have been eating here. The sides are definitely one serving, very small. But they are also tasty. I've tried the greens, mac and cheese, okra, fries and baked beans. No complaints.
(4)Jennifer W.
Tonight I discovered this location and got take out 8 peice family chicken, baked beans and slaw. Beans and slaw where just fine but the chicken was fried so hard it was just this side of burnt and VERY dry. I was so excited to learn there was a Gus's in Bartlett but now I know if I want Gus's I'll have to stick to the downtown. I've never been disappointed there. Will not be back and I'm sad about it.
(2)Marcus J.
The prices are great and the menu at this location is actually expanded from the others in Memphis. The fried chicken is still the star, that skin is delicious. Plenty of quality sides and desserts to choose from at this location. And the prices are very very good. You can get two meals for under $10
(5)James S.
Simply the world's best fried chicken, yep I said it, best in the world. There is some heat in seasoning which makes it unique. Fried green tomato's are a must. The potato salad is outstanding and the bean's, yep gotta get the bean's. I am so happy there is one so close to my home. Perfect for Sunday afternoon take out. They say the receipt differ's at each place, but I don't taste much difference. My only warning is that the menu strictly deep fry foods. So if your not in the mood for fried chicken then you should find some place else.
(5)M Scott R.
The chicken was simply outstanding. The crust was crispy and very flavorful. Had the breast and wing platter. Baked beans & greens were my sides. They were good too, but not to the level of the chicken. Shared a single piece of fried catfish and it was as good as the chicken! Can't go wrong with either. Wanted a piece of pecan pie, but they were sold out for the day. I didn't give 5 stars for two reasons: one - if pecan pie is so popular, make more. 2PM is far too early to run out; two - I understand using disposable plates and forks to cut down on expenses, but they used the lowest quality possible. The chicken deserves a better presentation than that. With that said, I've never been to Memphis before and may never again. But if I do! I'll be having Gus's fried chicken!
(4)Rhianna A.
The chicken was amazing. I could have put myself in a food coma eating it. I did not care for the macaroni and cheese though it was just plain. In would definitely eat here again especially since this one was right next door to the Hampton Inn I was staying at while in the memphis area for business. Admittedly it is not fine dining but sometimes you just want some good comfort food.
(4)Nicole H.
Maybe a little-over enthusiastic because I can't get anything like this anywhere near where I live, but I loved everything about my meal here. There's a great southern tradition of finding spectacular food in unexpected places - gas stations, roadside stands and in this case, in a half-empty strip mall with one flickering street lamp. This is no frills - the only wall decorations are lots of sports memorabilia and most of it was older than I am. The bottom half of the walls was corrugated aluminum roofing. You know it's going to be a great meal when you order fried chicken and it takes 15 minutes to come out - it wasn't sitting in the kitchen under a heat lamp, but was battered and fried fresh after we ordered it. Don't be scared off by the "spicy" tag - my mom has literally no tolerance for heat and she was fine with this. It's more a warming of your mouth and tongue. The breading is thin but still incredibly crispy. The chicken was moist and juicy and perfectly cooked. The mac was the gooey bright orange style, but still full of flavor and tasty. All around, I'm sad I hadn't had Gus' on any of my earlier trips to Memphis.
(5)Paul F.
So good just yummy in my tummy!! Cooked to order so takes a little bit to make it to the table but so worth the wait. Just a little bit spicy but by no means would I call it hot. They have a non spicy version for those that don't want it and for the kids. I have no idea why you ever go back to a chain chicken place!!!
(5)Luke H.
So Fresh, So hot, So crispy, So delicious. Best fried chicken that has ever touched my lips. It's a shame Im only in Memphis once a year. I was instructed to get the dark meat fried chicken with the hushpuppies, and the corn pockets (i forget what they were called). If you can get past the foam plates, the bread that is under the chicken to prevent the chicken from melting through and the worst tasting tap water in the world then you are in for a wonderful treat. Side note: From their website it looks like they are trying to expand so I will be crossing my fingers for a move to Boston.
(5)Jeff L.
Enjoyed the chicken breast & wing with sides of hush puppies and beans. Had a couple of folks say it was going to be spicy, but for my taste, it was just right. Food is made to order and service is fast and friendly. Definitely worth a try!
(4)R M.
Simply put, it's the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. No hyperbole. And I've had good fried chicken (Strouds has been knocked to 2nd place in my book.) It was awesome. Loved the little bit of spiciness to the coating. The skin was so crispy but not greasy. Already planning my next visit back. Now this isn't fast food. It's not fancy but you do sit to order and there is a wait as they cook the chicken to order. The hush puppies and corn fritters were also pretty good. The mashed potatoes were ok - they lacked seasoning. But Oh... the chicken. It does, indeed, deserve it's fame.
(5)A M.
Good fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles and Mac n cheese. Customer service was good and was able to accommodate our party of 9.
(4)Nuna A.
Today we decided last minute to try this place out for my husband was craving fried chicken. We decided to try Gus's because we have heard so many great things about this place. Now of course I read some of the reviews before making any final decisions on where to go. I agree with one of the reviewers who said that this place is like a 3 hour endeavor because after we finished eating my husband took a 1 hour nap. Now my husband ordered the fried chicken meal and I got the cat fish which was absolutely delicious. We also ordered macaroni and cheese and fries and also coleslaw. The Mac and cheese was okay even though I liked it but my kids(4 and 2) did not. There was nothing special about the fries but the coleslaw was great! I can't wait to go back and try the fried chicken and maybe order something different for the kids. They ended up eating some of my catfish which they enjoyed more than the fried chicken(mostly because it was a little spicy) Overall great place and great service!
(5)James C.
In the Memphis area from Florida. Trying a random yelp location. The pickles were good, fried green tomatoes were average. The baked beans were ok, I would suggest trying a different side. Now the Chicken, I had the two piece white meat meal. The chicken was nice and crispy, done on the inside but not dry. Really good seasoning, I do prefer a little more spice, but I am a fan of real heat. The kind that makes you cry and the tingle on the your younger lasts awhile. Actually I'm a addict that loves the burn. For the average diner the spice is probably great. The chicken maybe world famous but in my opinion it is not world class. I have had better at other places but not many. I would definitely come back if in the area again and not willing to search for another place to eat. Price was reasonable.
(3)Athena G.
Crispy outside layer w/ juicy inside dark meat. It's famous for the right reasons!
(4)Teresa F.
I had a child's meal because I wasn't super hungry. The waitress was super nice and attentive. The corn nuggets remind me of corn casserole and were delicious. I can see why so many people like it here.
(4)Paul B.
Great chicken, bad to go time estimates. Called in a pickup order. Was told 15-20 minutes on the phone and it took 40 which would have been fine had I known. I just would rather have waited home instead of in their store. They need to get better at their estimates. Being off by half isn't good. Gravy was cold when we got home too. Potatoes and Mac were hot and good.
(3)Mina B.
The food was delicious but if you are looking for a peaceful meal, this isn't it. That said, don't miss it! The fried chicken was divine.
(4)Larry P.
This is in a great location. The wait time is great the food is great and service is wonderful. The environment is nice and clean. Prices are fair. Again the food is amazing.
(5)Aaron S.
The fried chicken is awesome, golden, crunchy and delicious. Sides are good too, French fries and Mac-n-cheese. If you in the area stop by and have some good southern fried chicken. Yummy.
(5)Dawn M.
I saw this location while waiting for Eat Well to open. Although an almost sometimes vegetarian I stopped by yesterday for catfish and a piece of chicken with sides of corn, potatoes and beans. Both were served hot with crispy skin. The chicken was very moist and tender. I took three pieces of catfish home. Lots of carryout here and the decor is dated sports memorabilia. Television in the corner is tuned to sports. Tables and chairs are ancient diner models. A bit of a dive really in a strip center across from Wolfshase Honda, but the draw here is incredible crisp chicken at reasonable prices. I will be back when the urge for fried chicken attacks. No greasy KFC here and the sides are quite good and generous.
(5)Jessica C.
Go to another location! They are lucky the food is so good. We wanted Gus' two Sundays ago and called ahead, it rang and rang and rang and we thought it was closed. We tried at least 5 times because we thought it was our phones. We wanted it so bad we drove up to find it was open.... When sitting we got our order and the food was great as usual, but the phone was ringing off the hook and neither of the two girls working were picking it up. We even overheard one say she wouldn't because "she needed tips" and that they "think they will just stop calling and come in". By the end of the meal we noticed they finally decided they were taking phone orders again. We now just avoid going on our normal Sunday's because its always those two lazy girls working. Such a shame because other workers are so friendly and the food is amazing.
(1)Lisa M.
"The Chicken was Fantastic - The Gal taking the Order needs to get Happy" I had to try this place out, I heard from the locals that it was the place to go. I had the two piece with slaw. The Chicken was sooo good. The sides were very tasty as well. It was really busy, they really needed to have one person manning the register and taking to go orders and two gals just serving the people in the restaurant. The gal who was working both was not too happy. You know I don't care, no-one is holding a gun to your head there are tons of places to work around there, if you are going to service customers then do it, with a smile on your face no matter what, but I think with how busy this place is the management needs to hire appropriately no one should have to wait 1/2 hour or more for two pieces of chicken no matter how great it is. Went once, did not want to hassle with the crowd and time going again, maybe will return if i visit the area again.
(4)The Yelp-inator W.
I just don;t get it. Maybe I went on an off day. Below average fried chicken. The locals tell me there are better Gus's locations. Maybe so.
(2)Unknown A.
Great food! The service was just below average but the food makes up for having to repeatedly ask for more water. I'll come here again or check out the Memphis location.
(3)Bryan L.
Just like the original Gus's but with no lines!!! Ate lunch here on Christmas Eve and loved every minute of it! Server screwed up my order (fries instead of fried Okra) but made it right like Mike Holmes. Wife got the chicken tenders and WOW!! They were way better than I expected!!! I'll get those next time!
(4)Michael S.
For a place that named "world-famous" I found the sides more exciting than the chicken. It's ok...but world famous is a stretch +. Its reasonably priced but you could go to a Chic-fil-a and not feel like you missed something. I give it a 3
(3)Angela C.
First timers! Awesome chicken, one piece wasn't completely done a little bloody, chicken should have no blood come out of it...all in all it was good, the desserts were to die for and the girl that waited on us was sweet, the other one with glasses was clueless, A Little Pricey but we liked it so we'll return.
(4)Samantha S.
Came here while in Tennessee on business. Was craving something different than BBQ. I was sure there was another food to help me stay on my (un)healthy kick while still feeling good when eating it . LOL Found this place on Yelp ( thank you)... and at first I missed it, but glad I turned around and found it. It is in a little strip. All their chicken is spicy. But that's ok. I ordered a 3 piece meal, and honestly, as I write this review, I can't remember what my side was, because its overshadowed by the fact that this was some of the best fried chicken I have had anywhere. Yummmmyyyyy!!!!! My experience was just like others on here. :) Thank you Yelp for steering me right this time around!!
(5)Jon T.
Because you can't eat barbecue every meal, Ms T, Aunt Annie and I went to Gus's in G'town for dinner. We wanted chicken for a change. Ms T and I had been to the one on Main and liked it, but this was close to our hotel. The chicken was served piping hot with a light coating, tinged red with chile. It was simply outstanding. The salt was adequate and the heat was nice. It was better than what I remembered from Main Street. They also make very good creamy slaw, which is not over-dressed. It went well with the chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. We also sampled the chess pie and the pecan pie. Both were good, and although the crust is pretty commercial it was not bad. Gus's is not the very best fried chicken I have had, but it is simply plenty good enough. I have to go back.
(4)Nova F.
Was mildly disappointed. Not the worlds best as they claim. Mrs Polly's downtown had way better chicken. Still decent fried chicken though.
(3)Ashley T.
World Famous!! I mean I have never heard of it until I moved here and that was only because I was looking for stuff about Memphis. I have eaten there twice, I've only been here a week, it's so good!! I absolutely love everything that I've had there so far and I got different things each time save the okra- that is a must on my plate everytime!! I am not sure if I think that it is so good because I mived from Washington and their idea of fried chicken and southern fried is completely different. The okra is fresh! And then fried to perfection. The chicken is so amazing! The couple at a table beside me were talking and she even told him, this place is an institution! I can agree and see why. Tell all your friends and bring your appetite!!
(5)Jeff B.
Heard all the hype about World Famous Fried Chicken, decided to give it a try. Food was good, actually not much better than KFC, but service was terrible. Ordered two breast dinner, got a breast and drumstick, waitress then told me that she would buy me the breast. I told her I would pay for it, ended up being charged for three piece, plus an extra breast, plus extra toast when I did not even order or eat the toast. Had to get my own drink refill, was not at all impressed. Will not be back, KFC is fine, you don't have to wait 15 minutes for them to cook your chicken either.
(2)Tabitha L.
Sooooo GOOD !!! We will be back !!
(5)Brandon W.
Best fried chicken I ever had. Gus's is in a 2-storey house in the suburbs. The inside is pretty basic - essentially, they have patio-style furniture scattered in various rooms of the house. The chicken is served on paper plate, plastic utensils. But hey, you are here for the fried chicken right!! The chicken is awesome. The skin is light, crispy and not oily with just the right amout of spice (paprika??) for heat and taste. The inside juicy. My friends who I went to Gus with have been kind enough to tell me they have returned several times already. Now if I can find another excuse to visit Memphis again.
(5)Pauline E.
Very tasty chicken! Sides? well just sides.
(3)Chris P.
Chicken was okay, did not live up to the hype. Service was very friendly but extremely slowwwwwww. Sat in restaurant for roughly 1:20 to complete order, eat and get bill. That's way to long to be in a chicken place. 15 minutes to eat the rest was waiting!!!!!!!!
(2)Sarah H.
So OMG this was really fantastic chicken . I am a huge fan of fried chicken and this place has some good chicken . The skin is battered in a unique way and it is seasoned with a little kick to it . Very juicy . I'm pretty excited to hear one is going to open in Fort Worth later this year !! This is a must try for sure .
(5)Philip L.
Having met "Gus" himself at his original location in Mason TN half way between Nashville and Memphis on I40, a true "Chicken Shack" back in the mid-90`s, the rebuilt Restaurant in Mason which came about when the old shack burned to the ground in 15 minutes from an enormous grease fire, go figure, as well as the other Stores opened around Memphis are quite good. Same great tasting unique Spicy Fried Chicken, (BUT) most of the time, it is (not) cooked to order anymore. Gone is sinking your teeth into freshly fried Hot crisp chicken. On a recent visit to both the Front St and Mendenhall locations, I was surprised how "fast" our orders came to our table. No wait, whatsoever. In the past, a minimum of 15 minutes or longer to get your order served. Now, peak into their kitchen. Baskets of recently fully cooked Fried Chicken sitting in Fry Baskets hanging over the deep fat fryers. Still one of the best tasting Fried Chicken you will ever experience, but it (ain`t) what it used to be. If your in Memphis for business or on holiday, try Uncle Lou`s Fried Chicken located just a few minutes from MEM Airport. The regular plain Fried Chicken is somewhere between ok and good, (BUT) their Special Wet and Spicy Fried Chicken will simply blow your socks off, not from the spice or heat , but simply great taste. No, its not Gus`s, but without all the hype, its still damn good. Give it a try.
(4)Brock L.
Pretty good (albeit overhyped) fried chicken, respectable sides, very reasonably priced - absolutely worth a stop if you're needing fried food.
(3)Stephanie N.
i was tired of kentucky fried chicken and popeyes so we decided to try this place when we were craving fried chicken. i ordered the spicy version and the kids and hubby ordered originals. we loved it. i didn't thnk my chicken was that spicy but my daughter and husband thought so when they tried mine. corn nuggets was yummy. definitely would come back here again. just no mashed potatoes and gravy next time because we all felt that was on the bland side. everything else was great tho.
(5)Garen M.
I've tried several Memphis chicken places and have always been satisfied. I have long wanted to try Gus's and finally had the opportunity when this one was next door to our hotel. The chicken is excellent! A touch of heat in the crispy batter. Hot out of the fryer. I was less impressed with the sides. Had cole slaw and potato salad - both needed a little more flavor. They have removed all of the interesting sides from the menu by crossing them out with a sharpie. I really wanted to try the corn nuggets, but sharpied off the menu.
(4)Rayna L.
Gus chicken is so good but too bad that the service is horrible that it ruins a good meal. I would give the food 4 stars since the sides aren't that good but damn - the service is so bad that I need to warn ppl. Both ladies from the front to the server(08) are horrible. Turned me off so bad that i won't be coming to this location anymore. Please change ppl there!!! Get better workers.
(1)Leslie S.
Pretty good fried chicken, but it would take a REALLY outstanding chicken to register much more than 3 for me. It was good but didn't knock my socks off as many had talked it up to be. Maybe they needed to set lower expectations for me. Mac and cheese was tasty!
(3)Miss Jordan L.
Gus was pretty good. I didn't get the fried chicken this go round but ordered fried catfish and chicken tenders and fried pickles. I must say the fried pickles are the best I've had in memphis by far. Two thumbs up to the fried pickles. The catfish was pretty decent. I don't know maybe those fried pickles burnt my taste buds as they were really hot and fresh. I saved most of my food for the next day and it tasted much better the following day. I thought I got a pretty big portion of food with the catfish plate. I got there around two, not too crowded. Overall its a pretty good chicken spot if you like chicken.
(4)Jinkzz M.
This review is just about this restaurant's fried chicken since I have not actually been inside the restaurant. When we came to Memphis for a visit, we didn't really stay very long...arrived from Tiptonville late the night before, checked into the hotel, and crashed. The following morning, my nephew and his wife picked us up and took us around Memphis to revisit old places that I have missed. My nephew was raving about the fried chicken from this place but since I missed Corky's, we opted to go there for lunch. At around 5pm, we were getting ready to head back to Nashville but my nephew was insisting that we need to try the food from Gus's so he made a quick stop at this location and got us a huge bucket to take with us to Nashville. Arrived in Nashville at past 9pm that night, took out the fried chicken and heated it in the micrwave for a little bit and ate it for dinner. My nephew ordered the food to-go which didn't really take him very long to pick up so that is a plus. He got us the fried chicken only since we were travelling back to Nashville and was just as well since I do not eat beans and slaw. The fried chicken, after heating it in the microwave was still juicy and well-seasoned although it wasn't anything out of this world. Disclaimer: I am not much of a fried chicken (or chicken in general) eater which might have impacted my assessment of the food served from this establishment. My friends, on the other hand, enjoyed the fried chicken and really like how it tasted. Overall, it was a very nice gesture coming from my nephew and the food was okay but I won't be stopping at this place next time I am in town.
(3)Shirley C.
The batter on the fried chicken is nice and spicy, unfortunately the chicken was over cooked and a little dry, the sides were good and the strawberry cake was delicious!
(3)April T.
I normally don't get too excited about fried chicken, but I do have to confess I was sorry for this experience to end. It truly was the BEST I've ever had. I travel alot and always try to locate regional joints and specialties. When we couldn't make it to Gus's downtown, I thought we'd missed the opportunity. WOW - we're we glad we went out of our way for this! Wing and a breast - best combo ever.
(5)David W.
Wife and I ate here yesterday for lunch on our way from Louisiana to Ohio. We had seen it advertised on one of the Diner shows and went out of our normal route to try it. The chicken was moist and the crust had a slight hot sauce flavor, both of which we really liked. The crust was crunchy but not a traditional texture. Really a little to thick for me. I'd rate the chicken a strong 4. The fried green tomatoes had a good flavor but the crust was way to thick. They get a high 3. The French fries and baked beans were not to my liking. I rate them a 2. Their mashed potatoes were made from real potatoes and were real good - a high 4. Their fish had a nice crust on it. Very well done - a high 4. Would we go out of our way to eat at Guss's again. No, probably not, but if we were near one we might give it another try as the waitress was very nice and I did like that moist chicken!
(4)Sean M.
No more mild chicken at Cordova. Please bring it back! Not for me, but for my kids.
(4)Mitchell M.
Best fried chicken ever. The breasts oozed flavor with a hot spicy added flavor to it. Fries were excellent and the mac and cheese was ok.
(5)Angela M.
Best fried chicken in the south! Try any location.
(5)Tammy C.
The Wolfchase location is a dive. Place is dirty and run down. That being said the chicken and the service is great. Will come again when in the mood for fried chicken but will get it to go because this place is depressing to sit in.
(3)Joni B.
Fried chicken on a paper plate never tasted so good. They batter and deep fry it to a spicy perfection. KFC just cant compete. And if you can order the fried dill pickles. You get a huge plate of pickles fried like no one else does it. It's kind of hard to find, and divey, to say the least, but the food is worth it!
(5)Mick T.
Great crispy, spicy, moist, fried chicken. The sides I tried (fries and turnip greens) aren't quiet as good the chicken, so just get the chicken. If you want your order to go, phone ahead as it takes about 15 minutes! This location is in a strip mall and is lacking some of the charm of the original location, and it doesn't serve alcohol. But the chicken is still good, very good in fact.
(4)Lee M.
Someone else called it 5 star fare in a 3 star setting. Sounds about right to me. Halfway up to the counter I saw the sign that read, "If Eating In, Please Be Seated and Wait For Service". Fifteen minutes later, I got up from my table and went to see if the sign was broken. Two young girls working the tables and one man in the back cooking must have been overwhelmed by the rush of 12 people in the place. One server took my order and quickly brought my drink. . . then disappeared into the time machine. 20 minutes later, my food arrived and I had to wait on a refill. No way I was going to touch that chicken without something cold to chase it. It was piping hot, crispy on the outside, moist and perfect on the inside. Two bites into my meal and all was forgiven for the service. To give it a fair try, I had breast, wing, and thigh. Every bite was better than the last. This stuff is the kind that you just take you time and nibble every morsel off the bone. I also got turnip greens and will pass on those in the future. They were chopped fine, spiced up, and gritty. That did not mesh; gritty as if they were fresh and poorly washed but chopped up and over seasoned as if they had come out of a can, Yankee style. But another bite of that chicken and all was forgiven. I also had the cole slaw and highly recommend it. Southern style is a touchy balance. Most places either go too heavy on vinegar or don't know when to quit with the mayonnaise. This stuff was perfect in the taste department. I do make it a little more course at home than this but their taste is dead on. And the chicken, did I tell you how good that was? I washed it all down with iced tea that I and most everyone else had to keep begging for. But in their defense, the server (the one that stayed out of the time machine) did tell everyone that they were brewing a fresh batch. And it was good. My personal ratings require a 5 to be a place that I just don't want to leave and can't get back to fast enough. Gus ain't a five. But I will be back. And for Pete's sake, don't stop at the Zaxby's or the Popeye's when you have this place on the same street. Plan on taking your time and enjoy. Heck it takes at least 5 minutes for the chicken to cool down enough to pick it up off the plate.
(4)Chain B.
This is a horrible Gus's, The service is slow and bad. They should not be allowed to sully the good name of Gus's chicken.
(1)Ted A.
Our hotel recommended this bit of local flavor, and we appreciated the recommendation. The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist through and through. We had potato salad, fries and mashed potatoes for sides and liked them all. The only bad part that almost cost a star is they were out of most soft drinks and most of the menu dessert items. In the end we weren't too bummed about dessert because it gave us the chance to drive across town and experience Muddy's Bake Shop, but that's another review. (Literally, it is. Go look.) However, running out of fountain soda at a restaurant is like running out of water or napkins. Somebody should lose their job for not keeping that properly stocked. Despite the shortcomings, this place promised world-class fried chicken and we felt like it delivered on that promise.
(5)Shekira W.
The chicken lived up to the hype. We didn't have to wait to be seated and it only took about 15 min to get our food. I will definitely visit again!!
(4)Louie F.
Pretty good fried chicken, worth the wait, Sides ..corn nuggets, good and sweet. The location was in a strip mall but access was easy, Expected, this to be in an old house because of another review. Not so. I've had better. the "you've never tasted fried chicken till you've had it from Guss's.. Don't know about that. Had a lot of fried chicken that was pretty darn close to this.. if not better.
(4)Tin N.
Gus's in Memphis supposedly competes with Prince's in Nashville for the title of best fried chicken in the south (if not America). The chicken is very good. It reminds me of a very flavorful version of Monell's fried chicken. The sides are average, the chicken is less greasy than Prince's, but I'd still give the edge to Prince's. There are a handful of Guss locations in the greater Memphis area and I wouldn't hesitate eating at any of the locations, although the wait at the main/central location can be long.
(5)naga satya v rao n.
Chicken is tender inside and crispy outside, have nice blend of spices. Thats all I can say! Doesn't really worth giving a great rating but for me 3-4* is appropriate.
(3)David L.
This place receives a lot of hype, being featured in GQ magazine as one of the 50 places you must eat at before you die. I got the 3 piece dark meat meal. The chicken had great flavor, the meat was juicy, and the skin was fried to the right crispiness and didn't have that extremely thick coating that the fast food places like KFC/CHURCH has. Be prepared to wait a little bit longer, orders are cooked when you place it..
(4)DJ B.
Still best fried chicken, period. Service was prompt and friendly. Would give 5 Stars except the sides were mediocre to awful. Fries, Macaroni & Cheese, Hush Puppies and Fried Okra were all mediocre (looked and tasted like they came off of a SISCO truck). The Greens, however, were awful (how do you screw up greens??). I love and highly recommend this restaurant, just bring your own chips.
(4)Victoria G.
The chicken and fries are so yummy I came here twice during my five night stay in Memphis. It isn't the best fried chicken I have ever had, but it comes close! I suggest making a visit if you don't mind waiting 15-20 min for a take-out order. I'm not sure how long it takes if you eat-in, as the place was packed both times I was there and I didn't feel like waiting for a table. You can call ahead if you don't want to wait. The two girls that work there are very sweet. They are under a lot of pressure to wait on tables, take phone orders, and check-out all customers. I think they do the best they can with very limited resources. Don't come in here expecting to get five-star service and steam pressed white linen tablecloths...it's a fried-chicken place!
(4)Chuck M.
With so many great reviews, you just can't go wrong when choosing Gus's for lunch or dinner. Being from the west coast I thought that I knew fried chicken...we grew up with Shakey's, KFC...oh what a surprise to discover a couple years ago just how different and wonderful southern fried chicken is. Welcome to Gus's...this is the real deal... I ordered the three piece dark with two sides...slaw and greens. OMG...the chicken was battered and pan fried...beautiful, tasty...moist...remarkable. The slaw was perfect...the collar greens were good, but a little shy on seasonings. I know my portion sizes were appropriate, however, I sure wish that I had another piece of chicken.
(4)Chris P.
Chicken was okay, did not live up to the hype. Service was very friendly but extremely slowwwwwww. Sat in restaurant for roughly 1:20 to complete order, eat and get bill. That's way to long to be in a chicken place. 15 minutes to eat the rest was waiting!!!!!!!!
(2)Sarah H.
So OMG this was really fantastic chicken . I am a huge fan of fried chicken and this place has some good chicken . The skin is battered in a unique way and it is seasoned with a little kick to it . Very juicy . I'm pretty excited to hear one is going to open in Fort Worth later this year !! This is a must try for sure .
(5)Garen M.
I've tried several Memphis chicken places and have always been satisfied. I have long wanted to try Gus's and finally had the opportunity when this one was next door to our hotel. The chicken is excellent! A touch of heat in the crispy batter. Hot out of the fryer. I was less impressed with the sides. Had cole slaw and potato salad - both needed a little more flavor. They have removed all of the interesting sides from the menu by crossing them out with a sharpie. I really wanted to try the corn nuggets, but sharpied off the menu.
(4)Rayna L.
Gus chicken is so good but too bad that the service is horrible that it ruins a good meal. I would give the food 4 stars since the sides aren't that good but damn - the service is so bad that I need to warn ppl. Both ladies from the front to the server(08) are horrible. Turned me off so bad that i won't be coming to this location anymore. Please change ppl there!!! Get better workers.
(1)Jane P.
With all the hype I've seen on the Food Network about Gus's Fried Chicken, I just HAD to try it, especially since I never go to Memphis. So a few weeks ago I went to Memphis and stopped by on a Saturday. It was awkward coming in initially since I didn't know how they worked. Everyone sitting at the tables were quiet and staring at us and the girl at the register in the back was also staring at us. My husband and I walked to the back, thinking we needed to order there. When we came up, the girl behind the register still didn't say anything to us and then our eyes wandered to the sign next to her that said to seat yourself. Okay, why is that sign not at the front door where people walk in?? Anyways, I ordered a 3-piece dark with fried okra and potato salad. The potato salad was super bland, the fried okra was nothing extraordinary, and the fried chicken was crunchy, spicy, but a tad bit over salted. The chicken is good, but I've had better fried chicken in Texas. The best thing about this place was the price. You can get slightly above-the-average fried chicken for super cheap.
(3)Jermaine S.
Average customer service but professionalism was bad. No servers were in any sort of uniform. I understand it's a chicken joint but the other locations wear uniforms. Not whatever they can scrape up to wear. We could also hear the employees inappropriate conversations they were having at the cashier. I was trying not to listen but they were talking loud so everyone else in the place could hear them. They got my order wrong and another tables order wrong. They let me keep what was wrong. But they also brought our fried green tomatoes and it had some hair on it. We noticed this after we ate a few of the tomatoes. We pointed out the problem and they offered to make us a new order. We agreed to that. When they brought out the new order it was only two slices. I guess they were only replacing what had hair on it. Not good. Even though I only ordered water, my drink was never refilled. I could go on but bottom line is I won't be coming back here.
(1)Mathew P.
Hands down the best fried chicken in Memphis. Nothing even comes close. Staff is friendly and always helpful. I eat here every week.
(5)Lucardious S.
The customer service complaints at this location are justified. There were two poor girls trying to wait on the entire, full, restaurant. To say they were overwhelmed is an understatement. caveat emptor on visiting this location. The food - I've dined at Gus's before, but not this location. I had fantastic experiences at those other locations. Not so much at this one. Chicken Tenders - came out over cooked, dry and some bits like jerky. Was unable to complain due to lack of wait staff. Fried Catfish - over all good, cooked properly. The only negative was the fish oil strip (grey section of meat) was not removed. Minor inconvenience to remove, but should have been caught by the kitchen staff. Cheese and Mac - had been sitting under a heat lamp for a while. Lumpy cheese and lack luster flavor. Baked beans (received these by mistake) - not bad, but did not finish them. Just wasn't feeling the weird tang they had Potato salad - not a fan. Potatoes with sauce over them. I'm not done with Gus's but I am done with this location.
(2)Miss Jordan L.
Gus was pretty good. I didn't get the fried chicken this go round but ordered fried catfish and chicken tenders and fried pickles. I must say the fried pickles are the best I've had in memphis by far. Two thumbs up to the fried pickles. The catfish was pretty decent. I don't know maybe those fried pickles burnt my taste buds as they were really hot and fresh. I saved most of my food for the next day and it tasted much better the following day. I thought I got a pretty big portion of food with the catfish plate. I got there around two, not too crowded. Overall its a pretty good chicken spot if you like chicken.
(4)Amita W.
Excellent food and customer service in each location weve eaten at. We go to Gus' all the time.
(5)Kyungeun P.
What more can I say about Gus's that hasn't already been said... It's just the best fried chicken. Ever. Like I stay awake at night wondering how something can be so good. It robs me of my sleep. Whenever I'm in Memphis, I schedule my itinerary around Gus's because it's like a 3 hour endeavor. Spend an hour at Gus's, then the other 2 napping it off. I will say one minor negative, the last time I was there, their greens were not good at all. It was left mainly untouched. I also highly recommend trying their fried catfish platter! They gave us 4 huge catfish fillets fresh and crispy out of the fryer along with 2 sides - great deal.
(5)Leslie S.
Pretty good fried chicken, but it would take a REALLY outstanding chicken to register much more than 3 for me. It was good but didn't knock my socks off as many had talked it up to be. Maybe they needed to set lower expectations for me. Mac and cheese was tasty!
(3)Mekia P.
I was so excited to try Gus's.... but the customer service at this particular location was HORRIBLE. One of the girls kept yelling at the other and basically calling her out in front of customers for messing up orders. Thats what your back room is for. There is a place and a time to discuss issues with your employees and its definitely not in the dining area where customers are trying to eat. After already waiting 20 minutes, the waitress got confused and cancelled all of our orders instead of just cancelling one item. Yup, we were waiting for food that was never going to come out. We finally asked what the hold up was and she stated that she misunderstood and she would put the order back in again. 45 minutes later, we were finally eating. I personally didn't think the food was all it was hyped up to be. I thought the chicken was nice and hot, but it lacked seasoning. The mac n cheese was mushy, but the baked beans had a nice flavor. Overall I'm glad I tried it. I came all the way from San Diego to try Gus's chicken but I could have just driven an hour to Roscoes. Just saying...
(3)Arlyn S.
So we arrive and my expectations are through the roof already from all the braggin I heard about this place. It's packed so that's always a good sign. So I get in line and after waiting 10 minutes and reaching the front of the line, I'm able to see the signage instructing dine-in customers to be seated first. No biggie. So we seat ourselves and wait another 15 minutes for someone to take our order. No biggie cause it's going to be worth it. I"m not much of a bone in type of dude so I ordered the chicken tenders. Not complaining but it tasted just like actual fried chicken. Must of been because of the grease but had a unique taste regardless. I order a piece of chicken (thigh) and fish just to say I tried it. The chicken was hot and greasy. I guess that's to be expected but I just wasn't feeling. I really don't even know how good or bad the food was cause I had starved myself all day. I will try again and possibly update this review.
(2)Demetrius B.
What can I say. I have been all over the country eating chicken. I've been to Georgia, Texas, California , Mississippi and other places. This is hands down the best fried chicken I have ever had. We stopped in Memphis and stayed at the Hampton Inn that's in the parking lot. We asked for the best place to eat and we though they would say bbq. Surprisingly they pointed us here. It was AMAZING! If I could give 6 stars I would. Great place!
(5)Theresa L.
The best by far! Food was what we expected. Our waitress emily was kind enough to give us a list of restaurants to also try since we're new to the area.
(5)Don A.
Five Star Chicken! The sides are just OK (beans and slaw), but that's not why you go to Gus'. The chicken was just about perfect for lunch today. Steaming hot and just the right amount of spice. Tender and juicy. Friendly staff. I will be back!
(5)Velnest B.
Great chicken. Always consistent. I have never had a bad piece of chicken since I have been eating here. The sides are definitely one serving, very small. But they are also tasty. I've tried the greens, mac and cheese, okra, fries and baked beans. No complaints.
(4)Jennifer W.
Tonight I discovered this location and got take out 8 peice family chicken, baked beans and slaw. Beans and slaw where just fine but the chicken was fried so hard it was just this side of burnt and VERY dry. I was so excited to learn there was a Gus's in Bartlett but now I know if I want Gus's I'll have to stick to the downtown. I've never been disappointed there. Will not be back and I'm sad about it.
(2)Marcus J.
The prices are great and the menu at this location is actually expanded from the others in Memphis. The fried chicken is still the star, that skin is delicious. Plenty of quality sides and desserts to choose from at this location. And the prices are very very good. You can get two meals for under $10
(5)James S.
Simply the world's best fried chicken, yep I said it, best in the world. There is some heat in seasoning which makes it unique. Fried green tomato's are a must. The potato salad is outstanding and the bean's, yep gotta get the bean's. I am so happy there is one so close to my home. Perfect for Sunday afternoon take out. They say the receipt differ's at each place, but I don't taste much difference. My only warning is that the menu strictly deep fry foods. So if your not in the mood for fried chicken then you should find some place else.
(5)M Scott R.
The chicken was simply outstanding. The crust was crispy and very flavorful. Had the breast and wing platter. Baked beans & greens were my sides. They were good too, but not to the level of the chicken. Shared a single piece of fried catfish and it was as good as the chicken! Can't go wrong with either. Wanted a piece of pecan pie, but they were sold out for the day. I didn't give 5 stars for two reasons: one - if pecan pie is so popular, make more. 2PM is far too early to run out; two - I understand using disposable plates and forks to cut down on expenses, but they used the lowest quality possible. The chicken deserves a better presentation than that. With that said, I've never been to Memphis before and may never again. But if I do! I'll be having Gus's fried chicken!
(4)Rhianna A.
The chicken was amazing. I could have put myself in a food coma eating it. I did not care for the macaroni and cheese though it was just plain. In would definitely eat here again especially since this one was right next door to the Hampton Inn I was staying at while in the memphis area for business. Admittedly it is not fine dining but sometimes you just want some good comfort food.
(4)Aaron S.
The fried chicken is awesome, golden, crunchy and delicious. Sides are good too, French fries and Mac-n-cheese. If you in the area stop by and have some good southern fried chicken. Yummy.
(5)Nicole H.
Maybe a little-over enthusiastic because I can't get anything like this anywhere near where I live, but I loved everything about my meal here. There's a great southern tradition of finding spectacular food in unexpected places - gas stations, roadside stands and in this case, in a half-empty strip mall with one flickering street lamp. This is no frills - the only wall decorations are lots of sports memorabilia and most of it was older than I am. The bottom half of the walls was corrugated aluminum roofing. You know it's going to be a great meal when you order fried chicken and it takes 15 minutes to come out - it wasn't sitting in the kitchen under a heat lamp, but was battered and fried fresh after we ordered it. Don't be scared off by the "spicy" tag - my mom has literally no tolerance for heat and she was fine with this. It's more a warming of your mouth and tongue. The breading is thin but still incredibly crispy. The chicken was moist and juicy and perfectly cooked. The mac was the gooey bright orange style, but still full of flavor and tasty. All around, I'm sad I hadn't had Gus' on any of my earlier trips to Memphis.
(5)Paul F.
So good just yummy in my tummy!! Cooked to order so takes a little bit to make it to the table but so worth the wait. Just a little bit spicy but by no means would I call it hot. They have a non spicy version for those that don't want it and for the kids. I have no idea why you ever go back to a chain chicken place!!!
(5)Luke H.
So Fresh, So hot, So crispy, So delicious. Best fried chicken that has ever touched my lips. It's a shame Im only in Memphis once a year. I was instructed to get the dark meat fried chicken with the hushpuppies, and the corn pockets (i forget what they were called). If you can get past the foam plates, the bread that is under the chicken to prevent the chicken from melting through and the worst tasting tap water in the world then you are in for a wonderful treat. Side note: From their website it looks like they are trying to expand so I will be crossing my fingers for a move to Boston.
(5)Jeff L.
Enjoyed the chicken breast & wing with sides of hush puppies and beans. Had a couple of folks say it was going to be spicy, but for my taste, it was just right. Food is made to order and service is fast and friendly. Definitely worth a try!
(4)R M.
Simply put, it's the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. No hyperbole. And I've had good fried chicken (Strouds has been knocked to 2nd place in my book.) It was awesome. Loved the little bit of spiciness to the coating. The skin was so crispy but not greasy. Already planning my next visit back. Now this isn't fast food. It's not fancy but you do sit to order and there is a wait as they cook the chicken to order. The hush puppies and corn fritters were also pretty good. The mashed potatoes were ok - they lacked seasoning. But Oh... the chicken. It does, indeed, deserve it's fame.
(5)A M.
Good fried chicken, fried green tomatoes, fried pickles and Mac n cheese. Customer service was good and was able to accommodate our party of 9.
(4)Nuna A.
Today we decided last minute to try this place out for my husband was craving fried chicken. We decided to try Gus's because we have heard so many great things about this place. Now of course I read some of the reviews before making any final decisions on where to go. I agree with one of the reviewers who said that this place is like a 3 hour endeavor because after we finished eating my husband took a 1 hour nap. Now my husband ordered the fried chicken meal and I got the cat fish which was absolutely delicious. We also ordered macaroni and cheese and fries and also coleslaw. The Mac and cheese was okay even though I liked it but my kids(4 and 2) did not. There was nothing special about the fries but the coleslaw was great! I can't wait to go back and try the fried chicken and maybe order something different for the kids. They ended up eating some of my catfish which they enjoyed more than the fried chicken(mostly because it was a little spicy) Overall great place and great service!
(5)James C.
In the Memphis area from Florida. Trying a random yelp location. The pickles were good, fried green tomatoes were average. The baked beans were ok, I would suggest trying a different side. Now the Chicken, I had the two piece white meat meal. The chicken was nice and crispy, done on the inside but not dry. Really good seasoning, I do prefer a little more spice, but I am a fan of real heat. The kind that makes you cry and the tingle on the your younger lasts awhile. Actually I'm a addict that loves the burn. For the average diner the spice is probably great. The chicken maybe world famous but in my opinion it is not world class. I have had better at other places but not many. I would definitely come back if in the area again and not willing to search for another place to eat. Price was reasonable.
(3)Athena G.
Crispy outside layer w/ juicy inside dark meat. It's famous for the right reasons!
(4)Teresa F.
I had a child's meal because I wasn't super hungry. The waitress was super nice and attentive. The corn nuggets remind me of corn casserole and were delicious. I can see why so many people like it here.
(4)Paul B.
Great chicken, bad to go time estimates. Called in a pickup order. Was told 15-20 minutes on the phone and it took 40 which would have been fine had I known. I just would rather have waited home instead of in their store. They need to get better at their estimates. Being off by half isn't good. Gravy was cold when we got home too. Potatoes and Mac were hot and good.
(3)Mina B.
The food was delicious but if you are looking for a peaceful meal, this isn't it. That said, don't miss it! The fried chicken was divine.
(4)Larry P.
This is in a great location. The wait time is great the food is great and service is wonderful. The environment is nice and clean. Prices are fair. Again the food is amazing.
(5)Dawn M.
I saw this location while waiting for Eat Well to open. Although an almost sometimes vegetarian I stopped by yesterday for catfish and a piece of chicken with sides of corn, potatoes and beans. Both were served hot with crispy skin. The chicken was very moist and tender. I took three pieces of catfish home. Lots of carryout here and the decor is dated sports memorabilia. Television in the corner is tuned to sports. Tables and chairs are ancient diner models. A bit of a dive really in a strip center across from Wolfshase Honda, but the draw here is incredible crisp chicken at reasonable prices. I will be back when the urge for fried chicken attacks. No greasy KFC here and the sides are quite good and generous.
(5)Jessica C.
Go to another location! They are lucky the food is so good. We wanted Gus' two Sundays ago and called ahead, it rang and rang and rang and we thought it was closed. We tried at least 5 times because we thought it was our phones. We wanted it so bad we drove up to find it was open.... When sitting we got our order and the food was great as usual, but the phone was ringing off the hook and neither of the two girls working were picking it up. We even overheard one say she wouldn't because "she needed tips" and that they "think they will just stop calling and come in". By the end of the meal we noticed they finally decided they were taking phone orders again. We now just avoid going on our normal Sunday's because its always those two lazy girls working. Such a shame because other workers are so friendly and the food is amazing.
(1)Lisa M.
"The Chicken was Fantastic - The Gal taking the Order needs to get Happy" I had to try this place out, I heard from the locals that it was the place to go. I had the two piece with slaw. The Chicken was sooo good. The sides were very tasty as well. It was really busy, they really needed to have one person manning the register and taking to go orders and two gals just serving the people in the restaurant. The gal who was working both was not too happy. You know I don't care, no-one is holding a gun to your head there are tons of places to work around there, if you are going to service customers then do it, with a smile on your face no matter what, but I think with how busy this place is the management needs to hire appropriately no one should have to wait 1/2 hour or more for two pieces of chicken no matter how great it is. Went once, did not want to hassle with the crowd and time going again, maybe will return if i visit the area again.
(4)The Yelp-inator W.
I just don;t get it. Maybe I went on an off day. Below average fried chicken. The locals tell me there are better Gus's locations. Maybe so.
(2)Unknown A.
Great food! The service was just below average but the food makes up for having to repeatedly ask for more water. I'll come here again or check out the Memphis location.
(3)Bryan L.
Just like the original Gus's but with no lines!!! Ate lunch here on Christmas Eve and loved every minute of it! Server screwed up my order (fries instead of fried Okra) but made it right like Mike Holmes. Wife got the chicken tenders and WOW!! They were way better than I expected!!! I'll get those next time!
(4)Michael S.
For a place that named "world-famous" I found the sides more exciting than the chicken. It's ok...but world famous is a stretch +. Its reasonably priced but you could go to a Chic-fil-a and not feel like you missed something. I give it a 3
(3)Jon T.
Because you can't eat barbecue every meal, Ms T, Aunt Annie and I went to Gus's in G'town for dinner. We wanted chicken for a change. Ms T and I had been to the one on Main and liked it, but this was close to our hotel. The chicken was served piping hot with a light coating, tinged red with chile. It was simply outstanding. The salt was adequate and the heat was nice. It was better than what I remembered from Main Street. They also make very good creamy slaw, which is not over-dressed. It went well with the chicken and mashed potatoes and gravy. We also sampled the chess pie and the pecan pie. Both were good, and although the crust is pretty commercial it was not bad. Gus's is not the very best fried chicken I have had, but it is simply plenty good enough. I have to go back.
(4)Angela C.
First timers! Awesome chicken, one piece wasn't completely done a little bloody, chicken should have no blood come out of it...all in all it was good, the desserts were to die for and the girl that waited on us was sweet, the other one with glasses was clueless, A Little Pricey but we liked it so we'll return.
(4)Samantha S.
Came here while in Tennessee on business. Was craving something different than BBQ. I was sure there was another food to help me stay on my (un)healthy kick while still feeling good when eating it . LOL Found this place on Yelp ( thank you)... and at first I missed it, but glad I turned around and found it. It is in a little strip. All their chicken is spicy. But that's ok. I ordered a 3 piece meal, and honestly, as I write this review, I can't remember what my side was, because its overshadowed by the fact that this was some of the best fried chicken I have had anywhere. Yummmmyyyyy!!!!! My experience was just like others on here. :) Thank you Yelp for steering me right this time around!!
(5)Nova F.
Was mildly disappointed. Not the worlds best as they claim. Mrs Polly's downtown had way better chicken. Still decent fried chicken though.
(3)Ashley T.
World Famous!! I mean I have never heard of it until I moved here and that was only because I was looking for stuff about Memphis. I have eaten there twice, I've only been here a week, it's so good!! I absolutely love everything that I've had there so far and I got different things each time save the okra- that is a must on my plate everytime!! I am not sure if I think that it is so good because I mived from Washington and their idea of fried chicken and southern fried is completely different. The okra is fresh! And then fried to perfection. The chicken is so amazing! The couple at a table beside me were talking and she even told him, this place is an institution! I can agree and see why. Tell all your friends and bring your appetite!!
(5)Jinkzz M.
This review is just about this restaurant's fried chicken since I have not actually been inside the restaurant. When we came to Memphis for a visit, we didn't really stay very long...arrived from Tiptonville late the night before, checked into the hotel, and crashed. The following morning, my nephew and his wife picked us up and took us around Memphis to revisit old places that I have missed. My nephew was raving about the fried chicken from this place but since I missed Corky's, we opted to go there for lunch. At around 5pm, we were getting ready to head back to Nashville but my nephew was insisting that we need to try the food from Gus's so he made a quick stop at this location and got us a huge bucket to take with us to Nashville. Arrived in Nashville at past 9pm that night, took out the fried chicken and heated it in the micrwave for a little bit and ate it for dinner. My nephew ordered the food to-go which didn't really take him very long to pick up so that is a plus. He got us the fried chicken only since we were travelling back to Nashville and was just as well since I do not eat beans and slaw. The fried chicken, after heating it in the microwave was still juicy and well-seasoned although it wasn't anything out of this world. Disclaimer: I am not much of a fried chicken (or chicken in general) eater which might have impacted my assessment of the food served from this establishment. My friends, on the other hand, enjoyed the fried chicken and really like how it tasted. Overall, it was a very nice gesture coming from my nephew and the food was okay but I won't be stopping at this place next time I am in town.
(3)Shirley C.
The batter on the fried chicken is nice and spicy, unfortunately the chicken was over cooked and a little dry, the sides were good and the strawberry cake was delicious!
(3)April T.
I normally don't get too excited about fried chicken, but I do have to confess I was sorry for this experience to end. It truly was the BEST I've ever had. I travel alot and always try to locate regional joints and specialties. When we couldn't make it to Gus's downtown, I thought we'd missed the opportunity. WOW - we're we glad we went out of our way for this! Wing and a breast - best combo ever.
(5)David W.
Wife and I ate here yesterday for lunch on our way from Louisiana to Ohio. We had seen it advertised on one of the Diner shows and went out of our normal route to try it. The chicken was moist and the crust had a slight hot sauce flavor, both of which we really liked. The crust was crunchy but not a traditional texture. Really a little to thick for me. I'd rate the chicken a strong 4. The fried green tomatoes had a good flavor but the crust was way to thick. They get a high 3. The French fries and baked beans were not to my liking. I rate them a 2. Their mashed potatoes were made from real potatoes and were real good - a high 4. Their fish had a nice crust on it. Very well done - a high 4. Would we go out of our way to eat at Guss's again. No, probably not, but if we were near one we might give it another try as the waitress was very nice and I did like that moist chicken!
(4)Sean M.
No more mild chicken at Cordova. Please bring it back! Not for me, but for my kids.
(4)Mitchell M.
Best fried chicken ever. The breasts oozed flavor with a hot spicy added flavor to it. Fries were excellent and the mac and cheese was ok.
(5)Angela M.
Best fried chicken in the south! Try any location.
(5)Tammy C.
The Wolfchase location is a dive. Place is dirty and run down. That being said the chicken and the service is great. Will come again when in the mood for fried chicken but will get it to go because this place is depressing to sit in.
(3)Joni B.
Fried chicken on a paper plate never tasted so good. They batter and deep fry it to a spicy perfection. KFC just cant compete. And if you can order the fried dill pickles. You get a huge plate of pickles fried like no one else does it. It's kind of hard to find, and divey, to say the least, but the food is worth it!
(5)Philip L.
Having met "Gus" himself at his original location in Mason TN half way between Nashville and Memphis on I40, a true "Chicken Shack" back in the mid-90`s, the rebuilt Restaurant in Mason which came about when the old shack burned to the ground in 15 minutes from an enormous grease fire, go figure, as well as the other Stores opened around Memphis are quite good. Same great tasting unique Spicy Fried Chicken, (BUT) most of the time, it is (not) cooked to order anymore. Gone is sinking your teeth into freshly fried Hot crisp chicken. On a recent visit to both the Front St and Mendenhall locations, I was surprised how "fast" our orders came to our table. No wait, whatsoever. In the past, a minimum of 15 minutes or longer to get your order served. Now, peak into their kitchen. Baskets of recently fully cooked Fried Chicken sitting in Fry Baskets hanging over the deep fat fryers. Still one of the best tasting Fried Chicken you will ever experience, but it (ain`t) what it used to be. If your in Memphis for business or on holiday, try Uncle Lou`s Fried Chicken located just a few minutes from MEM Airport. The regular plain Fried Chicken is somewhere between ok and good, (BUT) their Special Wet and Spicy Fried Chicken will simply blow your socks off, not from the spice or heat , but simply great taste. No, its not Gus`s, but without all the hype, its still damn good. Give it a try.
(4)Brock L.
Pretty good (albeit overhyped) fried chicken, respectable sides, very reasonably priced - absolutely worth a stop if you're needing fried food.
(3)David L.
This place receives a lot of hype, being featured in GQ magazine as one of the 50 places you must eat at before you die. I got the 3 piece dark meat meal. The chicken had great flavor, the meat was juicy, and the skin was fried to the right crispiness and didn't have that extremely thick coating that the fast food places like KFC/CHURCH has. Be prepared to wait a little bit longer, orders are cooked when you place it..
(4)DJ B.
Still best fried chicken, period. Service was prompt and friendly. Would give 5 Stars except the sides were mediocre to awful. Fries, Macaroni & Cheese, Hush Puppies and Fried Okra were all mediocre (looked and tasted like they came off of a SISCO truck). The Greens, however, were awful (how do you screw up greens??). I love and highly recommend this restaurant, just bring your own chips.
(4)Stephanie N.
i was tired of kentucky fried chicken and popeyes so we decided to try this place when we were craving fried chicken. i ordered the spicy version and the kids and hubby ordered originals. we loved it. i didn't thnk my chicken was that spicy but my daughter and husband thought so when they tried mine. corn nuggets was yummy. definitely would come back here again. just no mashed potatoes and gravy next time because we all felt that was on the bland side. everything else was great tho.
(5)Tin N.
Gus's in Memphis supposedly competes with Prince's in Nashville for the title of best fried chicken in the south (if not America). The chicken is very good. It reminds me of a very flavorful version of Monell's fried chicken. The sides are average, the chicken is less greasy than Prince's, but I'd still give the edge to Prince's. There are a handful of Guss locations in the greater Memphis area and I wouldn't hesitate eating at any of the locations, although the wait at the main/central location can be long.
(5)Louie F.
Pretty good fried chicken, worth the wait, Sides ..corn nuggets, good and sweet. The location was in a strip mall but access was easy, Expected, this to be in an old house because of another review. Not so. I've had better. the "you've never tasted fried chicken till you've had it from Guss's.. Don't know about that. Had a lot of fried chicken that was pretty darn close to this.. if not better.
(4)Mick T.
Great crispy, spicy, moist, fried chicken. The sides I tried (fries and turnip greens) aren't quiet as good the chicken, so just get the chicken. If you want your order to go, phone ahead as it takes about 15 minutes! This location is in a strip mall and is lacking some of the charm of the original location, and it doesn't serve alcohol. But the chicken is still good, very good in fact.
(4)Lee M.
Someone else called it 5 star fare in a 3 star setting. Sounds about right to me. Halfway up to the counter I saw the sign that read, "If Eating In, Please Be Seated and Wait For Service". Fifteen minutes later, I got up from my table and went to see if the sign was broken. Two young girls working the tables and one man in the back cooking must have been overwhelmed by the rush of 12 people in the place. One server took my order and quickly brought my drink. . . then disappeared into the time machine. 20 minutes later, my food arrived and I had to wait on a refill. No way I was going to touch that chicken without something cold to chase it. It was piping hot, crispy on the outside, moist and perfect on the inside. Two bites into my meal and all was forgiven for the service. To give it a fair try, I had breast, wing, and thigh. Every bite was better than the last. This stuff is the kind that you just take you time and nibble every morsel off the bone. I also got turnip greens and will pass on those in the future. They were chopped fine, spiced up, and gritty. That did not mesh; gritty as if they were fresh and poorly washed but chopped up and over seasoned as if they had come out of a can, Yankee style. But another bite of that chicken and all was forgiven. I also had the cole slaw and highly recommend it. Southern style is a touchy balance. Most places either go too heavy on vinegar or don't know when to quit with the mayonnaise. This stuff was perfect in the taste department. I do make it a little more course at home than this but their taste is dead on. And the chicken, did I tell you how good that was? I washed it all down with iced tea that I and most everyone else had to keep begging for. But in their defense, the server (the one that stayed out of the time machine) did tell everyone that they were brewing a fresh batch. And it was good. My personal ratings require a 5 to be a place that I just don't want to leave and can't get back to fast enough. Gus ain't a five. But I will be back. And for Pete's sake, don't stop at the Zaxby's or the Popeye's when you have this place on the same street. Plan on taking your time and enjoy. Heck it takes at least 5 minutes for the chicken to cool down enough to pick it up off the plate.
(4)Chain B.
This is a horrible Gus's, The service is slow and bad. They should not be allowed to sully the good name of Gus's chicken.
(1)Ted A.
Our hotel recommended this bit of local flavor, and we appreciated the recommendation. The chicken was perfectly cooked and moist through and through. We had potato salad, fries and mashed potatoes for sides and liked them all. The only bad part that almost cost a star is they were out of most soft drinks and most of the menu dessert items. In the end we weren't too bummed about dessert because it gave us the chance to drive across town and experience Muddy's Bake Shop, but that's another review. (Literally, it is. Go look.) However, running out of fountain soda at a restaurant is like running out of water or napkins. Somebody should lose their job for not keeping that properly stocked. Despite the shortcomings, this place promised world-class fried chicken and we felt like it delivered on that promise.
(5)Shekira W.
The chicken lived up to the hype. We didn't have to wait to be seated and it only took about 15 min to get our food. I will definitely visit again!!
(4)naga satya v rao n.
Chicken is tender inside and crispy outside, have nice blend of spices. Thats all I can say! Doesn't really worth giving a great rating but for me 3-4* is appropriate.
(3)Jeff B.
Heard all the hype about World Famous Fried Chicken, decided to give it a try. Food was good, actually not much better than KFC, but service was terrible. Ordered two breast dinner, got a breast and drumstick, waitress then told me that she would buy me the breast. I told her I would pay for it, ended up being charged for three piece, plus an extra breast, plus extra toast when I did not even order or eat the toast. Had to get my own drink refill, was not at all impressed. Will not be back, KFC is fine, you don't have to wait 15 minutes for them to cook your chicken either.
(2)Tabitha L.
Sooooo GOOD !!! We will be back !!
(5)Brandon W.
Best fried chicken I ever had. Gus's is in a 2-storey house in the suburbs. The inside is pretty basic - essentially, they have patio-style furniture scattered in various rooms of the house. The chicken is served on paper plate, plastic utensils. But hey, you are here for the fried chicken right!! The chicken is awesome. The skin is light, crispy and not oily with just the right amout of spice (paprika??) for heat and taste. The inside juicy. My friends who I went to Gus with have been kind enough to tell me they have returned several times already. Now if I can find another excuse to visit Memphis again.
(5)Pauline E.
Very tasty chicken! Sides? well just sides.
(3)