Mia Patel
Knoxville, Tennessee has a plethora of restaurants serving fried chicken, a Southern-style staple in the state. From spicy to sweet, gravy-covered to crunchy, Knoxville has it all. Some popular spots include Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, Jackie's Dream, Camp's Chicken, and Myrtle's Chicken and Beer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the restaurant | Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken |
| Location | 3101 Sutherland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37919 |
| Phone number | (865) 200-5468 |
| Website | gusfriedchicken.com |
| Price range | $ |
| Recommendation rate | 88% |
| Outdoor seating | Yes |
| Dine-in | Yes |
| In-store pickup | Yes |
| Chicken specialties | Southern fried chicken, chicken and waffles, chicken tenders, chicken wings |
| Other menu items | Mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, baked beans |
| Name of the restaurant | Myrtle's Chicken & Beer |
| Location | Market Square, Knoxville, Tennessee |
| Menu items | Chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, deviled eggs, baby-back ribs, chicken pot pie, soups, salads, wraps |
| Other features | Cocktails, craft beer, Southern hospitality |
| Name of the restaurant | Jackie's Dream |
| Menu items | Hot chicken |
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What You'll Learn
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Guss World Famous Fried Chicken is a popular fried chicken restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee. The restaurant has a simple menu that offers customers the option to choose their chicken by cut (breast, thigh, leg, wing, and tender) or by number (two, three, or four-piece plates). The chicken is prepared using a recipe that was developed over sixty years ago by the Bonner family, offering a combination of crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. The spices add a kick without overwhelming the senses.
The restaurant's side options include classically Southern dishes such as mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, and baked beans. The restaurant also serves ice-cold beer and homemade pie. Guss World Famous Fried Chicken has a full-service dining option, as well as carry-out, delivery, and catering services. The restaurant's atmosphere includes walls adorned with vintage and neon signs, tables covered in blue and red checkerboard patterns, and blues music.
Guss World Famous Fried Chicken was established in 1984 and has expanded to multiple locations across the United States, including Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, and California. The original recipe was created by Napoleon "Na" Vanderbilt in Mason, Tennessee, a small community where residents of different racial backgrounds united over their shared love for his fried chicken during an era of divisive racial attitudes. Vanderbilt refused to share his recipe, famously stating, "This is a dead man's recipe [and] I ain't telling."
The restaurant has received positive reviews, with some customers claiming that it serves the best fried chicken in the world. The Knoxville location, in particular, has been praised for its delicious food and convenient options for carryout or dining in. The restaurant's popularity is evident in the willingness of some customers to wait about an hour to get a seat. Guss World Famous Fried Chicken has also been recognized as the Winner 2022 Best Fried Chicken.
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Jackie's Dream
One of their most popular dishes is the Knoxville Hot Chicken, which has gained a reputation for its unique flavour. The chicken is carefully prepared with a secret blend of spices, giving it just the right amount of heat to tantalize your taste buds. The juicy and tender meat, with its crispy coating, will leave you craving more.
In addition to their famous hot chicken, Jackie's Dream also offers a range of other delectable chicken preparations. Their menu includes classic Southern fried chicken, with a crispy golden exterior and moist, flavourful meat. The chicken tenders are perfect for those who want a more indulgent experience, with a crunchy bite that gives way to a tender and juicy centre.
The restaurant also offers a variety of sides to accompany your chicken. From classic options like mac and cheese, collard greens, and coleslaw to their signature sauces, you can create your own perfect combination. Their sides are carefully crafted to complement the flavours of the chicken, enhancing your dining experience.
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Myrtle's Chicken and Beer
Myrtle's Chicken + Beer is a restaurant in Knoxville, Tennessee, specialising in fried chicken dishes and local craft beer. The restaurant, located at 13 Market Square, offers a range of innovative fried chicken dishes, including their original fried chicken sandwich with General Neyland's Hot Honey Aioli and a crunchy pickled Fresno chile and lime slaw on their signature brioche bun. Their brunch menu features Southern classics such as chicken and waffles, and their bar showcases local craft beers, artisanal whiskeys, and specialty cocktails.
The restaurant was established in 2018 and is a tribute to the heroes of Southern cooking, elevating classic comfort food to a culinary art form. Myrtle's culinary creations are described as "treasured and timeless", with a range of Southern comfort food on the menu, including chicken and waffles, cheddar drop biscuits, fried pimento cheese fritters, chicken wings, deviled eggs, bone-in plates and tenders, and chicken sandwiches.
Myrtle's Chicken + Beer is open seven days a week, with slightly earlier closing times on Sundays. The restaurant has received positive reviews, with 466 reviews on Yelp giving it an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars as of July 2025.
Another popular fried chicken restaurant in Knoxville is Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, which has been serving its world-famous Southern fried chicken recipe for more than 60 years. Their chicken is known for its signature spice, and they offer a range of classic Southern sides, including mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, and baked beans.
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Camp's Chicken
Knoxville, Tennessee is home to several restaurants serving fried chicken. One such place is Camp's Chicken, a local favourite known for its delicious food and welcoming atmosphere. With a focus on quality and flavour, Camp's Chicken has become a go-to destination for residents and visitors alike.
For those who prefer a heartier meal, Camp's Chicken offers a variety of plated dinners. The Camp's Chicken Plate features their juicy, fried chicken served with a choice of two sides, such as creamy mashed potatoes, crispy coleslaw, or buttery corn on the cob. For those with a bigger appetite, the Big Camp's Plate is a popular choice, offering a larger portion of chicken and an additional side. Camp's Chicken also offers a variety of sauces and dips to accompany their meals, including their famous Camp's Chicken Gravy and their spicy, signature Camp's Sauce.
In addition to their classic offerings, Camp's Chicken also provides a range of creative options for those looking for something unique. The Camp's Chicken Waffle is a sweet and savoury delight, pairing their crispy chicken with a fluffy waffle, topped with syrup and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. For those who enjoy a spicy kick, the Camp's Chicken Tenders are tossed in their signature spicy sauce and served with a cooling ranch dip. Camp's Chicken also offers periodic special promotions, such as their popular Chicken and Beer Nights, where customers can enjoy a fried chicken dinner paired with a local craft beer.
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Chicken and waffles
Knoxville, Tennessee has a lot of options for classic Southern food, including fried chicken and chicken and waffles. One of the most popular places for fried chicken in Knoxville is Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken. Gus's has a simple menu where you can choose your chicken by cut or number, and then select your sides, which include mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, and baked beans. The signature spice blend does have a kick, so this might not be the spot for those who don't enjoy spicy food.
Another popular spot for fried chicken in Knoxville is Myrtle's Chicken & Beer. Myrtle's offers classic Southern comfort food, including chicken and waffles, cheddar drop biscuits, fried pimento cheese fritters, chicken wings, deviled eggs, bone-in plates and tenders, and more. They also have a full bar with craft beer and imaginative cocktails.
While Gus's and Myrtle's do not specifically mention chicken and waffles on their websites, reviews on Yelp mention chicken and waffles at both Gus's Fried Chicken and Myrtle's Chicken & Beer. Additionally, Tripadvisor reviews from May 2025 mention chicken and waffles at a restaurant in Market Square in downtown Knoxville, which is where Myrtle's Chicken & Beer is located.
Other restaurants in Knoxville that serve chicken and waffles, according to Yelp and Tripadvisor reviews, include Jackie's Dream and an unnamed restaurant that serves a chicken/waffle sandwich with onion rings as a side.
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Frequently asked questions
Knoxville has many spots serving tasty fried chicken. Some popular options include Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken, Jackie's Dream, Camp's Chicken, and Myrtle's Chicken and Beer.
Gus's chicken is Southern fried chicken with a slight sweetness to offset the spiciness. You can choose your chicken by the cut (breast, thigh, leg, wing, and tender) or by the number (two, three, or four-piece plates).
Many restaurants in Knoxville serve Southern-style sides with their fried chicken. Sides can include mac and cheese, collard greens, coleslaw, and baked beans, as well as grits and waffles.
Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken has received positive reviews, with some people calling it the "best fried chicken in Knoxville" and praising the cleanliness of the restaurant. However, others have found the chicken to be overrated.
In addition to fried chicken, Knoxville offers a variety of chicken dishes such as chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, and chicken wings.
