Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken Now Open

A serious craving has been developing among Oxonians since around April, when it was announced Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken would be opening a restaurant in Oxford, next to Soulshine Pizza on South Lamar. Curious passerby have monitored the progress as best they could as renovation of the building has progressed, all licking their lips in curiosity. Gus’s finally held a soft-opening Saturday night for friends and family and is now open to the chicken-loving public.

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. 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.

— Tad Wilkes, tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com