There are some things that can be fairly difficult to get in Los Angeles. Monogamy, free all day street parking, and great barbecue just to name a few. If you happen to have a loyal significant other, your car hasn’t moved in the last two days, and you have a delicious rack of ribs in your hands then please know that I really don’t like you. Why, because I’ve only managed to find one of those. By the title of this review, I think you have an idea that it’s the barbecue.

I’ve put my search for Mr. Right on the back burner and no longer circle the block repeatedly for parking, but the hunt for legitimate barbecue is something I haven’t been able to let go. After experiencing a few LA barbecue joints that could be best summed up as “a waste of time” I didn’t know where to turn. Thankfully, I was invited to Gus’s BBQ in South Pasadena and a little ray of optimism made its way into my heart.

Prior to walking in to Gus’s I read a bit about them. It was nice to see that the restaurant has a history that went back to 1946. Taking inspiration from southern barbecue, Gus’s serves racks that are seasoned overnight and smoked on pecan logs upwards of 16 hours. In its early days, the location was originally a diner but once it was bought, it was quickly renovated. Seventy years later, Gus’s brings in crowds of people eager to dine on meats coated in the homemade rubs and sauces that the restaurant is known for.

It only took a few looks over the menu for TJ and I to know what to order. We started with drinks. While TJ got his, I was more focused on mine. With the waitress’ suggestion, I went with the Southern Spirit ($11). The description sounded like a perfect cocktail for me. It was made of a strawberry infused buffalo trace bourbon, simple syrup, lemon, and mint. The sight of bourbon initially made me think the drink would be strong and tough on the way down, but thankfully the strawberry made it very easy to drink and semi-sweet. Add to that it was paired with a vibrantly citrus lemon and a refreshing mint and the cocktail was a pleasant start to the dinner.
Prior to the arrival of our entrees, we got a piping hot Cast Iron Cornbread ($6.95). This is the type of cornbread that your mother and her mother wish they knew how to make, but struggle to perfect. Served in a skillet, the cornbread has a thin layer of sugar sprinkled across its golden brown crust and is served with a jalapeno jelly and honey butter. Cutting into it let out a break of steam and a scent that drew us in. The bread is soft, warm, and feels like home. It was almost easy for me to devour this and forget that entrees were on the way, but luckily the waitress came with out plates!

As I quickly began to make my way to the bottom of the skillet, our entrée’s arrived. I ordered the Southern Fried Chicken Combo ($17.95) with a side of BBQ Baked Beans and Mac N’ Cheese. I ordered this instead of anything barbecued because the general manager raved so highly about it. Plus, I already knew that TJ would get ribs so I wanted something different. When the fried chicken came to the table, it was massive. Biting into the boneless helping, the skin of the chicken was immensely crunchy and seasoned impeccably well. If you’re the type of person who shies away from crispy skin then this is clearly not the plate for you. Once I got deep into the chicken, it was moist and juicy as if the skin had been marinating the flavor even more. The fun part about it, was I thought I had made a serious dent and devoured the majority of it, only to realize that there was still half of the chicken left. It’s such a great portion for the price that it can easily serve as lunch for the next day.

Alongside the chicken, I really liked the sides. The baked beans had such a nice barbecue coating to them and were a deliciously hearty serving. As well, the mac and cheese took me back to my days of school in the New Orleans where each pasta noodle was covered in a delectable melted cheese that it felt like my fork was going back for more. I really liked what I ordered!

Our table, although large, was quickly filling up with all the plates as TJ’s was now front and center. He ordered the Full Memphis Baby Back Ribs ($26.95) with a side of Greens and Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes. It was huge! To get a good grip of the whole rack required both hands, but I had no concern about being messy. The ribs tore apart from one another with little to no effort and they came off the bone as if they didn’t belong there. When I licked the sauce from the meat, it was as if you could taste each hour they spent smoking it. It was tangy, smokey, and rich, but most of all it tasted the way barbecue should taste. The accompanying sides of greens and soft whipped mashed potatoes only made the entire dinner better. TJ really had to put up a fight for me not finish his plate for him. Well, for the both of us actually.

Last to the table was dessert. Why we ordered dessert was beyond me but for some reason we thought that after the feast prior, we still had room for one last dish. We decided to split the Blueberry Biscuit Cobbler ($6.95). The name alone was enough for me to loosen my belt and pick up my spoon. The cobbler was covered with a vanilla bean ice cream, a lemon blueberry sauce, and an oatmeal crumb topping. The lemon sauce gave it a nice warmth, the mountains of blueberries made it incredibly tart, and the cobbler itself melted the moment you tasted it. It was very sweet and I had to throw in my towel as I could not finish it without being rolled out like Violet in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. It wouldn’t be the first time though.

Dinner at Gus’s was everything I wanted. Thanks to them I can rest assured knowing that there’s authentic and delicious BBQ in the Los Angeles area. The plates are incredibly hearty and eating them will make you feel like you’re in a restaurant deep in the south. I’m so glad that I got to find Gus’s because each dish was one that made me happy that I didn’t quit my search. Since I can find amazing barbecue in this city, maybe there’s a chance that I can find great parking and a boyfriend too.

Woah, Danielle, don’t get crazy now.

Follow Them.
Address: 808 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030
Phone: (626) 799-3251
Hours: Monday to Thursday – 11:00am to 10:00pm, Friday – 11:00am to 11:00pm, Saturday – 8:30am to 11pm, and Sunday 8:30am to 10:00pm.
Social: Website, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.