Ready for Gus's Famous Fried Chicken

As was confirmed in late April, Gus’s Famous Fried Chicken will be opening a restaurant in Oxford, next to Soulshine Pizza on South Lamar. As a franchised chain, the Gus’s concept has spread its wings and expanded across multiple states—with locations in Memphis; Collierville; Little Rock; Southaven; and Austin Texas.

The original Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken in Mason, Tennessee. Photo from www.foodieadventureshsb.blogspot.com

But the flavor all started in Mason, Tennessee, which is still the only location I’ve had the pleasure of visiting—hopping over in search of their fried chicken while staying with friends in Brownsville. The first time, we got it to go and carried it in styrofoam boxes back to Brownsville, 20 minutes or so away. It was good, but it got slightly soggy from the steam trapped in the box. The next time, we dined at the restaurant, and it was perfect. If not the best fried chicken I’ve ever had, it at least ties with the best.

Wendy and Matt McCrory purchased the franchising rights from the Bonner family, who founded Gus’s in Mason. The downtown Memphis location is perhaps the most well known restaurant and perceived as the “original” by many.

The prospect of being able to stroll around the corner from my office to a Gus’s restaurant makes me drool. Ready to nibble it to the bone.

— Tad Wilkes, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com