HYPE CHECK : Gus’s World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken

Let's kick this party off with a Hype Check on Gus's World Famous Hot & Spicy Fried Chicken. As of the time of this writing, there are 28 Gus's Fried Chicken locations from California to Birmingham, AL so I truly hope there's one within driving distance of you. They are known for one thing and it is this deliciousness right here. Let me just waft this at you real quick: 

The Little Rock location is located at the River Market so plan for parking accordingly. With COVID restrictions in place right now, there's even more limited seating than normal but overall they did a pretty good job keeping patrons separated and employees masked. Points for the accessibility ramp to access the raised seating area for our wheeled friends.

The walls aren't overflowing with tchotchkes which I appreciate, and I love the high ceilings and skylight which make it feel bright and open where they could have easily gone in the other direction of narrow-dark hole.

Here's the menu if you needed the reinforcement that they do C H I C K E N.

KETO NOTE - sorry Keto Friends, there's not really anything here for you unfortunately. It's all basically fried delicious carb things here, so probably best to stay away from the temptation.

Alright, let's get at the meat of it - look upon this field of fried chicken and see that it is full. It's in the name, but you can tell the spice definitely flows when you bite through the skin. But even our heat-hating friend loves this chicken because it's so dang good. The perfectly crispy hot chicken skin contrasts well with the meat which is moist and juicy throughout. You can forget all the sad, dry, unseasoned chicken breasts that hurt you in the past. Leave that baggage behind. This is new, fresh start chicken that you can build memories with.

While it's obvious that the chicken is the star of the show, it's supporting cast of sides really help it to shine in different ways. There's the iconic white bread that sits underneath the chicken and soaks up any of the chicken juice that might fall, which is a throwback to the original chicken sandwich roots. By default the plates come with slaw and beans which are cool and sweet respectively, and the texture notes mix up the experience when you need a break from the building heat. The fries were hot and crispy, the okra was perfectly fried so they weren't slimy or burnt out like some okra can be. The mac and cheese is how I prefer it, with a smooth creamy cheese sauce and tender but not overcooked noodle. Every element was on point, seasoned well, and cooked perfectly. While you won't be surprised by anything on the menu, it's also reassuring to know that no matter which location you end up at it's going to be delicious regardless.

We ended the meal with chocolate chess pie which I've never had before. It was very much like a brownie with some Karo on a pie crust, which I have 0 problems with. It wasn't overwhelmingly sweet, and was a cool chocolaty treat to finish on.

GRADING

Vibe: southern comfort

Value: 5/5 - great value for what you get. Less than $10 for a 3-Piece dark plate is *chefs kiss* for the budget conscious. If you have a Gus's anywhere near you and you have the time to wait, why would you ever go to KFC when there's a GUS'S RIGHT THERE?

Service: 2.5/5 - We were seated promptly and the server was polite, but it took ~30 minutes to receive our food, and long waits to get refills and the check knocked this down. I would write this off as a one-of, but having been to other Gus's it does seem like long wait times are a persisting issue.

Comfort: 4.5/5 - Great place to sit back and chill with company

Food: 5/5 - if chicken is in the name, it better be good and Gus's delivers on that promise. They nail every note of this chicken song.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Absolutely worth the hype. The key is consistency, and having been to several Gus's throughout the south each has yielded a consistently tasty experience every time. It's a great place to bring friends, family, and coworkers and not worry about breaking the bank. If you like fried chicken at all, make one of the many Gus's across the country a priority to stop at.