Off to Memphis: Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

I finally had a chance to visit Tennessee and decided to stay in Memphis for a couple nights. My downtown hotel was right next to the famous bar-lined Beale Street. It was a beautiful sunny day and after checking into my hotel, I headed out for lunch.

I was told that you can’t visit Memphis without having a meal at Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken. The original location is in Mason, Tennessee and now there are several locations throughout the country. It’s popular and touristy, but I had to try it. I took the short walk to the downtown location on Front Street.

The place is very laid-back and casual. I sat at a small table near the entrance.

The server gave me a few minutes to go over the menu. You obviously come here for the fried chicken. You just need to decide between white, dark, or tenders. There are also a few sides to choose from. I ordered a Sweet Tea with my meal because I only have sweet tea when I’m in the south. It wasn’t super sweet either which was nice.

I went with the 3 Piece Dark Plate. The plates usually come with baked beans, coleslaw, and white bread. I substituted the baked beans with mac & cheese.

The food didn’t take very long at all. I gotta say I wasn’t expecting much, but the fried chicken was really good! The skin was hot and crispy. The meat was tender. This is the perfect example of a simple dish done really well. Everything is fried in peanut oil.

The sides were pretty good too. I polished off those 3 pieces of yummy fried chicken easily, washing it all down with the cold sweet tea. It was a classic Southern meal for my first meal in Memphis.

I’m glad I stopped by Gus’s and would definitely recommend trying it if you’re in town. Afterwards, I walked back towards my hotel. I was also given a cover for my drink to take with me. There were several people walking around with the same cups which didn’t surprise me.

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Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken
310 S Front Street
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 527-4877
Website