Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

Stopped by because I had a 6 hour layover in ATL. Oh. My. Gosh. I cannot explain to you how amazing Gus’ is. The chicken is juicy and spicy… All of the sides are amazing. If I could give them 10 stars, I would. Definitely planning to go back to Atlanta just to eat this meal again.

About once every two weeks, my colleagues and I treat ourselves to Gus’s fried chicken. The restaurant is conveniently located in Atlanta’s downtown, just a five minute walk from our offices. Whenever the situation calls for soul food and a relaxing atmosphere, Gus’s is our place to go.
I am in general a fan of Southern food, and I like it spicy, too, so Gus’s fits my tastes. The chicken is juicy, the batter not to thick and somewhat spicy. Frankly, it is the best fried chicken I have ever had! The sides are so-​so: regular coleslaw, regular fries, not as outstanding as the chicken.
Service is lacking, though. Although the servers are friendly, they are kind of slow, especially as refills are concerned. Also, if you do not pay by credit card or have exact cash, make sure the change you get back is correct. More than once, this was not the case.

When you’re stuck downtown studying and need a good, greasy study break, this is your place.
Gus’s is a great, casual dining option downtown where most restaurants are either stuffy hotel restaurants or quick grab and go places.
The interior is surprisingly modern and clean, which I wasn’t necessarily expecting from a fried chicken joint.
They cater mostly to tourists, but are always pleasantly surprised to have some locals in there. Staff is super friendly and attentive. I was with a group and when we mentioned that we went to GSU, our server told us they’d happily cater school events and brought us a brochure on their catering program.
Order a family meal for the table and a bunch of sides – the mac and cheese, fried okra, and collards are some of my favorites, stock up on napkins, and keep passing everything around until you finish it all, which you will.
The chicken is served on a big tray and the sides come in Styrofoam cups and its all perfect for the food and atmosphere. Oh, and it’s super affordable.

BEST FRIED CHICKEN HANDSDOWN.
5 stars means service is good, food is AMAZING, and overall a great experience.
*The chicken did have this sauce within the skin (kind of a like a BIGGER hot wing) but oh my, it’s the best chicken I’ve ever had in my life*.
Side note: get their fried pickles and get a scoop of their vanilla ice cream (+ sweet potato pie)!
I HIGHLY recommend this place!

I decided to try Gus’s again recently while downtown. I’m not sure what changed, but it was really delicious this time! Chicken was juicy and batter was the perfect level of spice!
It’s still a little pricey and lacking any good parking, but it’s definitely worth the try especially if you’re downtown!

So a friend of mine kept harping on good Gus’s fried chicken was so I made it my destination one starving day. First off, the service was great and friendly. The food didn’t take a long time to get to the table although my waitress advised that it might. The food was fresh and was beyond what I expected for fried chicken. The sides I got were equally tasty (mac and cheese and cole slaw). I deemed it the best fried chicken I’ve ever had (besides my mom’s of course!)
Since my first visit, I dream about eating Gus’s Chicken lol. I’ve probably been back at least 3 or 4 times since my first visit, all within a 2 week timeframe. I’ve advised all my foodie friends to make it a point to make a trip here. I don’t think they’d be disappointed!

Tonight was my second time at this location. I had dinner with family tonight and it was a nice little outing. I ordered my go to which is the Tender Plate. My 2 side items were fried okra and mac & cheese. My chicken was piping hot and juicy, just the way I like it. My aunt and one of my sister’s ordered the catfish. It wasn’t much «fish» as it was batter. The size of the pieces were small. They should do better with the fish. Overall I would say it was a good choice. I’m sure I will be back. If you haven’t tried them out yet… go (if you like fried chicken). It’s not s fancy spot so don’t go there expecting too much. Your food comes on a paper plate with plastic flatware. Drinks are served in a plastic souvenir cup which is cool. Lol I have a few of their cups now.

«Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken» — Talk about a misnomer, I was DISAPPOINTED!
First of all, the gentleman that sat me pointed to another gentleman talking to two women and told me he’d be my server. That was fine, but 10 minutes later he was still standing over there just talking… Eventually another woman walked over and asked if anyone had been over to help me and took my order, that was the last I saw of her…
I ordered fried green tomatoes, fried chicken, baked beans, mac and cheese, and greens.
The fried green tomatoes were your basic fgt and served with ranch dressing for dipping.
The baked beans were good, they didn’t taste canned, so I was fine with that.
The mac and cheese came out sprinkled with shredded cheese (not melted, weird) and covered in paprika. It tasted like something that came out of a grocery store freezer.
The greens were HORRIBLE. I took two bites and pushed them to the side, they were extremely bitter and gross.
And last, the fried chicken…
The flavor was good, spicy and seasoned properly, but soggy. Who actually enjoys soggy fried chicken? It clearly wasn’t fresh and I couldn’t get over it, couldn’t enjoy my chicken.
Then I sat there, and there waiting on someone to collect payment for my food so I could leave and when no one came over, I went walking around looking for someone to take my money. The worker who was supposed to have been my server initially came over and said, «You don’t ever have to get up (for payment), we’ll come to you…» Apparently not.

The chicken is amazing and my Mac and cheese was so good they put cayenne pepper on top!
The service was excellent as well

Growing up in the Midwest on a diet of fried chicken and mashed potatoes and having a mom who was an expert chicken fryer herself, I consider myself an expert in fried chicken. So when I say the chicken I had at Gus’s may have been the best I ever tried I think I know what I am talking about. Crispy and spicy on the outside and unbelievably moist on the inside. It was truly outstanding. The slaw was delicious and the fried pickles were the best I ever had. I also like the mac and cheese but mashed potatoes would make it perfect. All in all I can not wait to eat at Gus’s again.

The best fried chicken I’ve ever had hands down. The skin is so crispy and they put a spicy seasoning that gives it kick so it goes well with the chicken. When you first look at the fried chicken it looks dried out cause of the color but even the breast are juicy. The mac n cheese and coleslaw were both very good as well. Fries could be better but that’s not what they’re known for. Staff was amazing and very friendly. When a friend and I went they took awhile to cook our breast so they actually gave us extra chicken along with our breast. Worth the price and I now have trouble eating fried chicken anywhere else.

I’ve been a fried chicken fan from way back. For me it has to have a great crust with a lot of crunch to it and of course the meat has to be tender and juicy! Flavor also helps out a lot. The chicken here was pretty flavorful, definitely juicy and tender. The crust was not as crispy as I like it and maybe a little too much salt. I’m guessing it is made from a batter instead of being dredged in flour.
They offer a pretty decent selection of sides. They come with «baked» beans and coleslaw but you can substitute for $.50 other sides. I noticed that they had macaroni and cheese as well as fried okra.
Service was very quick and friendly and have to say the place was very clean. It is not a bad place to go for a quick meal.

I saw a sign advertising Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken while pondering one of life’s great imponderables — what should I eat for dinner? I initially wanted to try Willy’s Mexicana Grill, but some places apparently close at 4 PM. Ah well, unlike Gus’s, Willy’s isn’t world famous.
I ordered the 3 piece white meal with mac n cheese and baked beans. The chicken was moist, delicious, and cooked perfectly. The sides were unremarkable, but still tasty. That’s not too big of a problem given that it’s Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, not Gus’s World Famous Mac n Cheese or World Famous Baked Beans.
The true highlight of the experience was the service. Gus’s is a true beacon of Southern hospitality. Every single employee was incredibly friendly and helpful.
While Gus’s was initially a second choice, I am glad I had the opportunity to dine there. Good food and service is a combination that I’ll always welcome.

Spicy fried chicken. This is fried chicken with a «BAM.» i always thought it was a Nashville staple but Gus’s says they are from Memphis. Okay, make it a Tennessee tradition.
I usually eat this in Nashville and think it is better there. Places I go have more levels of spice and better sides. That being said, Gus’s is pretty good. Dark meat was flavorful, had just enough heat to make itself known, and crunchy. Fried pickles, good. Gus’s offers a basic plate with 2 standard sides. Add $ 0.50 and you can substitute any side. Their greens were good. baked beans, meh. Did not do desert, but they offer several traditionally southern pies.
The staff was friendly and used to people not knowing about spicy fried chicken (lots of warnings about spice).
Good place for a sit down lunch. I also recommend taking some home for a picnic sometime.

Nice ending to my first night in the ATL. It says that it was the world famous, but I have never heard of it until I can here.
The fried pickles were nice with a slight heat to them. I had the dark chicken meal and it was good, not great. I suppose this is really a personal preference thing. I like thickener crunchy skin on my fried chicken. This was a thinner skin, but very tasty. It has a nice heat that builds as you eat.

This is by far the best fried chicken I’ve ever had in terms of pure crispness and flavorful meat/​skin. The outer skin is cooked and battered differently than the typical fried chicken. Their side dishes are alright but the main focus here is their chicken. Individual pieces can be a bit pricey but it’s totally worth it. If I were to choose a side, I’d go with their baked beans; it contains hints of cinnamon and other spices which makes it tasty and unique.
Their sweet tea is refillable and is totally worth it. It’s super sweet and refreshing so it’ll def cool you down.
Service is excellent and they cook their chicken right from scratch so expect a longer wait time. This place is a must when traveling to ATL!

What do you think I had here? A salad? Perhaps soup? No and No
I got the world famous fried chicken, hello. For the sides I got the coleslaw and potato salad. The chicken was great, slaw was nice, but the potato salad was not impressive.
I wasn’t done yet. Got the Pecan Pie Ala Mode (with ice cream on top). The pie was fresh and delicious.

Tried my best to fight the hype going into this place. Had been looking forward to it for some time as my Tennessee friends rave about the original. These are the people you will find saying the original is better but I’d venture to say those are comments of bias rather than truth. In the realm of fried chicken, it’s hard to find something that really stands out.
I would guess that Gus’ uses a corn starch-​type batter. You get a crispy skin but not overly greasy that most fast chicken places serve. It’s a little thinner but the spice and seasoning are well done. The chicken was moist, and fried perfectly while the seasoning offers a subtle kick. Remember to eat your chicken with HONEY! The sides, beans and slaw, are standard fare. Nothing to write home about but good enough. We started with the fried pickles which were delicious. Most friend pickles have a thin batter that’s barely hanging on but Gus’ is much thicker and goes well with honey mustard. The meal for two comes with two slices of white bread if you need it. Lastly, the chess pie dessert was good. Not overly sweet and a nice brûlée top.
Four stars, for sure, but our server was on point. Recommended at least once!

Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken opened its first Georgia location on August 20, 2015 at the Mall at Peachtree Center. This well known fried chicken restaurant from Memphis is opening several locations across the country. Unfortunately, after dining here, I don’t see why the chicken is «world famous» nor «chicken worth dying for.» It’s not bad, but it didn’t blow me away or at least want me coming back for more.
The Peachtree St address for Gus’s is confusing. The map pins on both Unilocal and Google Maps weren’t accurate when I went. The exterior storefront of the restaurant actually sits at 235 Peachtree Center Ave NE. Type that address into your GPS instead of the official Peachtree St address. The restaurant faces Truva Turkish Kitchen and is next door to Benihana. There’s no free parking in this part of town, but plenty of pay parking decks. Gus’s does not validate.
This is a casual sit-​down restaurant. It’s got a country feel to it with tables covered in checkered pattern tablecloths. I guesstimate the place can seat roughly 80 – 100 customers. In addition to lots of tables, you can sit at the bar at the center of the restaurant. It faces the open kitchen. This is also where takeout orders are placed. (Note: They don’t serve alcohol.)
For a restaurant in downtown Atlanta, I think Gus’s prices are fair. At the time of writing this review, two-​piece plate orders of chicken are $ 7.30 and $ 8.70 for dark (thigh and leg) and white (breast and wing) meats, respectively. Three-​piece plate orders are $ 9.25 and $ 11.50 for dark and white, respectively. Plates by default include baked beans, slaw, and a slice of white bread. You can sub in sides such as potato salad, fried okra, greens, mac & cheese, and fries each for 50 cents extra. You can also order individual pieces of chicken for as little as $ 2.40 for a tender and $ 2.75 for a thigh, leg, or wing all the way up to a 20-​piece family meal for $ 59.
Desserts include traditional Southern favorites like chess pie, coconut pie, pecan pie, and sweet potato pie. They’re $ 2.95 a slice and $ 14.50 whole.
All food and beverage is served on/​in Styrofoam plates and cups with plastic cutlery. They want to give you the authentic Gus’s fried chicken joint experience. A napkin dispenser is located on every table.
A couple of us ordered two-​piece dark plates (no subs) and another ordered a two-​piece dark «snack» ($ 5.50). A snack contains chicken and bread, but no sides. The chicken was served piping hot straight from the fryer. I had to wait a few minutes to let it cool down. The chicken was both greasy and juicy. As I bit into a thigh, I could see the oils and juices bubbling and dripping out between the cracks and strands of chewed meat.
The batter was crispy, oily, and mildly spicy. I liked the seasoning and overall, I thought the chicken was flavorful. However, it was just too greasy for me. Two pieces was about all I could take in one sitting. Any more than that and I would have started feeling sick.
The sides were fine. The slaw was very runny — *lots* of dressing. The baked beans were par for the course. No meat, smoky, pretty straightforward.
We went on a busy Sunday night and service was slow. It didn’t help that there appeared to be a shift change and servers switched on us after we placed our orders. Our server forgot one of our drink orders twice. It took a good 20 – 25 minutes for our food to arrive. Once it did, the bread was missing from the two-​piece dark snack. Our server also went MIA for a bit and was hard to find and flag down. Service could definitely use some improvement here.
In the end, I thought Gus’s fried chicken was alright. If you’re in the immediate vicinity, it’s worth checking out, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to come here. Honestly, I get just as much enjoyment (if not more) from Popeyes.

The only place to try Gus’s is Memphis. We tried Little Rock and it was overcooked and dry just like it was tonight in Atlanta. In fact, the wing wasn’t even crispy, just greasy. This is the last time I try one of their franchise locations. We tried to eat at one other in another city but it was closed for a private party.
They’re pumping these franchises out thoughtlessly. What about all the cheap plastic and styrofoam? Even McDonalds is showing some responsibility in this regard.
The Mac and cheese is a pass. The greens are good here. If you’re in town, Mary Mac’s or the Colonade for Fried Chicken. At least you won’t be served chicken that you can’t chew plated on styrofoam. Popeyes has better fried chicken! Just move along.