About Lu's Fried Chicken

Over 60 years ago in a small community of Memphis, Lu Vanderbilt created something amazing – fried chicken that could unite a community. In an era of divisive racial attitudes the residents of Mason found that they could all – black and white – agree on how much they loved Lu’s fried chicken.

Such an amazing feat did not occur overnight. After experimenting for several years in a local tavern, Lu began selling her chicken, sandwiched between two slices of white bread, out of the back door of the tavern. As demand grew, Lu and was encouraged by local residents to build a freestanding restaurant. Unfortunately, Ms.Vanderbilt’s was of modest means and could not afford such an expansion; however, generous, chicken loving locals offered to supply her with the materials necessary to build her own restaurant. Lu, a skilled taylor, built the restaurant on a piece of land she owned on Highway 70 in Mason.

No matter how many Lus’s locations open or how far across the globe she expands, Lus’s family remain dedicated to the recipes and traditions originated in Mason, Tenessee. Note the slightly sweet beans and slaw served with every meal. Lu perfected these recipes, allowing their slight sweetness to offset the spiciness of the fried chicken. Notice too the slice of white bread that accompanies every plate, a tribute to those original chicken sandwiches Lu served her clients over 60 years ago. As Lus’s continues to grow, we will honor these traditions and serve up some of the world’s best fried chicken. And, before you ask, no, you cannot have the recipe. As Lus once quipped, “This is a dead woman’s recipe [and] I ain’t telling.”