Gus's BBQ

Great BBQ doesn't always have to come from a hole-in-the-wall shop in the middle of nowhere. At Gus's BBQ, a South Pasadena landmark that's been around for almost 70 years, you might find some of the best cornbread you've ever had. Arriving in a cast iron skillet, the bread is both creamy and crumbly, with a heavenly sugar glaze on top that is perfect for pairing alongside Gus's St. Louis spare ribs. Or maybe you'll go for the Texas brisket, smoked for 16 hours using pecan wood and with your choice of two sides (the braised greens are killer with a little hot sauce on top, while the mac n' cheese is made with truffle oil, bacon and four different types of cheese). But the real star is the boneless Southern fried chicken, a juicy slab of meat that is enveloped in a spicy crust. You'll take a bite and declare that this chicken is life-changing. Sure, you may be sitting in a comfy booth in a quaint suburb of LA, drinking Southern sangria out of a mason jar, but good BBQ is good BBQ, no matter where you are.