Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken is a southern fried chicken restaurant based in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. It was founded in the town of Mason, Tennessee by Napoleon Vanderbilt an Afro American 62 years ago . [1] It has been featured on Food Channel television shows including The Best Thing I Ever Ate , $40 a Day with Rachael Ray and Man v. Food . [2] As of March 2020, there are 30 locations in 14 states across the United States, there are plans to start franchising locations in China . The business is known for the hearse out front advertising "chicken worth dying for", also travel channel rated Gus's as the 12th tastiest place to chow down and GQ Magazine rated it as a "top ten restaurant in the world worth flying for." [3] A red rooster also frequented the business. [4]