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Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken Brings Memphis-Style Eats to Fulton Market

By Stephanie Lulay | November 3, 2015 2:09pm
 Serving up Memphis-style fried chicken, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken opened Monday at 847 W. Fulton Market in the West Loop.
Serving up Memphis-style fried chicken, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken opened Monday at 847 W. Fulton Market in the West Loop.
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Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken Facebook

FULTON MARKET — There's a new chicken game in town.

Gus's World Famous Friend Chicken, specializing in hot and spicy Memphis-style fried chicken, opened Monday at 847 W. Fulton Market next to The Betty and across from the future Brooklyn Bowl in Fulton Market.

Zach Goodman, managing partner of the Chicago franchise, said that while there's other great chicken options nearby — including Harold's Chicken on Washington, Nando's Peri-Peri on Randolph and Leghorn Chicken in Ukrainian Village — Gus's spicy variety fried up in peanut oil brings something new to the table.

"It's lightly battered, it's got a little bit of heat, a little bit of spice, which gives it a nice kick. And every piece is juicy," Goodman said. Even the white breast chicken meat, which can be dry, is juicy at Gus's, he said. "We sell more breasts than anything."

Serving up Memphis-style fried chicken, Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken opened Monday at 847 W. Fulton Market in the West Loop. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]

Goodman fell in love with Gus's fried chicken on a business trip in Memphis three years ago.

"Originally I hated fried chicken, I never liked it. But this one, it's not too battered, it's got incredible flavor," the 29-year-old said. "I knew this is something I had to bring to Chicago."

Goodman liked it so much that he ditched his career in finance to open up the Chicago location.

"I hated sitting at a desk and I was looking for something where I could interact with people because that's what I love," Goodman said.

Zach Goodman left a job in finance to open the new Gus's World Famous Friend Chicken in Fulton Market. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]

Besides fried chicken plates ($8.20 for two dark meat pieces and $9.75 for two white meat pieces) with white bread, coleslaw and beans, Gus's menu features a variety of sides, including mac & cheese, fried okra and greens ($2.50 each for a small portion) and homemade slices of pie ($2.95).

The restaurant, which Goodman hopes will become a destination for happy hour, also features a full bar. Drinks are priced cheap — beers are $2-5 and cocktails are $6-10 — and the bar's cocktails are designed to pair well with the spicy fried chicken.

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, at 847 W. Fulton Market, is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 11 a.m.-Midnight Thursday-Saturday.

Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken is now open in Fulton Market. [DNAinfo/Stephanie Lulay]

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