The name alone earned Potterville, Michigan a spot in the Triple D history books. Joe’s Gizzard City appeared in Season 2, Episode 8 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives — “One of a Kind,” aired November 19, 2007 — and Guy Fieri got a quick lesson in what a gizzard actually is (a chicken’s second stomach, for the uninitiated) before diving into a basket of them. The Bristol family has been running this place since 1960, and the world famous deep-fried chicken gizzards — made with a proprietary batter mix they will not be sharing — are still the reason people drive to a town of 2,000 people in mid-Michigan.
The show also produced one of the more unique menu additions in Triple D history: the DDD Burger, a one-third pound cheeseburger with pickles, onions, and a slice of tomato, deep-fried in Joe’s Famous Batter Mix. Guy Fieri developed it during filming and it’s been on the menu ever since.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Joe’s Gizzard City
City: Potterville, Michigan
Cuisine: American / Bar Food
DDD Season: 2
DDD Episode: 8
Episode Title: One of a Kind
Original Air Date: November 19, 2007
Address: 120 W. Main St., Potterville, MI 48876
Phone: 517-645-2120
Website: https://www.gizzardcity.com/
Status: Open
About Joe’s Gizzard City
Joe’s has been family-owned by the Bristol family since 1960, with ownership passing down through the generations. The building is a classic small-town bar setup — cash preferred, stools at the bar, flat screens for the game, and a kitchen that has been deep-frying chicken gizzards in the same batter mix for over 60 years. The annual Gizzard Fest eating contest draws competitors from across the region every summer, which tells you everything about the kind of community this place has built around a very specific food.
It’s not a fancy operation. It is genuinely one of a kind, which is exactly why it ended up on that episode.
What to Eat at Joe’s Gizzard City
Start with the Gizzards — a hearty portion of deep-fried chicken gizzards in Joe’s famous batter, served with cocktail sauce. Get the sampler if it’s your first visit so you can try the different preparations: garlic and herb, cajun, and traditional. They will be the best gizzards you’ve ever had, which is either a low bar or a high one depending on your history with gizzards.
The DDD Burger — the one Guy Fieri developed on camera — is the other must-order: a one-third pound cheeseburger, battered and deep-fried, served with all the fixings. The Frinkies (deep-fried Twinkies) are the dessert. The Three-Layer Fries — fries loaded with cheese, bacon, and sour cream — are the side that makes everything else seem reasonable by comparison.
Plan Your Visit
Joe’s Gizzard City is open Monday through Saturday 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM, Sunday noon to 10:00 PM.
Address: 120 W. Main St., Potterville, MI 48876
Phone: 517-645-2120
Website: https://www.gizzardcity.com/
Status: Open
Flavortown Approved
Joe’s deep-fry philosophy is its own art form, but if you want to get serious about outdoor cooking at home, Guy on Fire covers everything from the grill to the fryer. And Guy’s Flavortown Dry Rub Variety Pack brings the seasoning game home.
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Joe’s Gizzard City appeared in Season 2, Episode 8 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “One of a Kind,” originally aired November 19, 2007.