Mr Rusty's Taste of Chicago — Restaurant in Memphis

This may be the most difficult review I’ve written. Mr. Rusty’s Taste of Chicago has been my go-to for seven years of living in the Memphis area and as such, I’d hate to see this owner-operated business inundated with newfound traffic and become a different version of itself but after speaking with Mr. Rusty himself for quite a while today, I’d be remiss to not offer the Memphis area my candid take on my favorite restaurant in the city. Chicago is top three in weekend getaway cities for my wife and me, Mr. Rusty’s is not a taste of Chicago, this food is Chicago. The hot dogs taste like a better version of the ones you get walking to the pier and about half the price. Before I’m even able to take a bite, the nostalgia is overwhelming. At under five dollars, this is an absolute must especially with two or more people dining. The peppers are fresh, the hot dog is substantial, not the bologna-esque cheap ones that some restaurants attempt to pass, and the sesame-covered buns merge and you’re taken back to that first Chicago hot dog you ever ate. The Italian beef is untouchable. This isn’t good for Memphis, I would pit any one of the at least fifty I’ve eaten from this establishment against any Italian beef in Chicago. I stand by that and my full name is in the review. The giardiniera is unlike any I’ve ever had with each flavor married but somehow distinguishable. I prefer mild with a touch of hot oil for a very manageable kick. Good lord, the tacos were otherworldly. You’re given three choices for meats but I’ll never be able to get anything other than the steak. I’ve personally never seen any flavor combinations like the tacos so this review stands on its own, try the tacos for yourself. In the same vein as movie spoilers, I’ll leave it at that. Absolutely everything on Mr. Rusty’s menu will be one of the best versions of that food item you will have ever eaten but the one in my mind that will forever remain synonymous with Mr. Rusty is the gyro. The meat is fresh off the spit, something I rarely see in restaurants specializing in gyros. It’s perfectly marinated and flavored exquisitely. They are incredibly generous with portion sizes so I order an extra pita and have two gyros every time. The tzatziki is phenomenal and that’s coming from a Greek man. This single dish has been the opportunity cost I couldn’t miss out for years and delayed me trying others on the menu. If you have two or more people dining, get the gyro just for a bite or two, there isn’t a better one in Memphis. With everything else so masterfully done, Mr. Rusty would get a pass on a subpar burger but even that is amazing! If you want a no-frills burger with fresh ingredients, this is it. I have left tons of items out but I hope I have included enough to help at least one or two people decide to stop in for the friendly environment, amazing food and a version of customer service that died around twenty years ago everywhere else. This is without a doubt one of the best eateries in Memphis, thank you to Mr. Rusty for being a staple in the community for almost...

I've been going to Mr. Rustys since I discovered them about a year ago. I was searching for an authentic tasting italian beef & Gyro here in Memphis. Mr. Rusty was spot on & there prices then seemed reasonable. I recently visited Mr. Rusty's and it has caused me to revise my previous 5star review. In recent months prices seems to be getting higher & portions are getting skimpy. The taste is still Chicago strong but to really get what you have in mind you will most likely need to add extra of everything except bread. Unfortunately until they get back to what they were doing to get me as a loyal customer I'm going to have to slow down on Mr. Rustys. I paid $18 for 2 Gyros only! A Gyro meal is now $11-$12 without tax. That's not too bad if the portions are fair but I felt both my Gyros were on the light side so I didn't feel I got my monies worth. I thought about getting the italian beef but on my last visit I felt it was on the light side too...nothing worst than a stingy italian beef with a bunch of soggy bread, so I didn't even bother trying to order that this time. Also they charge a whole $1 for a spoonful of gardenia peppers on the side...I felt that was a bit over priced too. Over all the food is still good but the prices are going up & portions going down. So on that note I'm giving 3Stars until...

Yes yes yes, if the question is how close is it to actual Chicago food, the answer is yes. So far I've only had the Italian beef. It's been so good that I went back the next day for another. Idk about the rest of the menu but if you from the Windy City and looking to reconnect this is currently the best place I can recommend. Update December 2021 Still amazing if you haven't been yet you are missing out. I've now had the gyro, the Polish, the hotdog, the pizza puff, the wings, the.. well you get it I've been exploring the menu and have never been disappointed. If I could I'd give Mr Rusty 10 stars I would. Oh did I mention the mild sauce 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Update It's still 🔥🔥🔥 but you gotta get there early. They are only open until 3p and that's the days they are open There have been some price increases and apparently fries no longer just come with every sandwich there is a charge now (which I wasn't told until I arrived to pick it up). You can't sit and eat here but I recommend picking something up, it's still...