Gas station food

SC Maintenance

SC Maintenance

Joined
Jun 8, 2022
Messages
16,193
Location
Lowcountry South Carolina
Gas station food in the South used to mean fried Chicken. Depending on the place it could be good - but was only usually served around lunch time. Not many left. Parkers Kitchen serves OK tenders - but its sort of a regional thing.

I recently went to WaWa for the first time - in Georgia - had a breakfast burrito. I was quite underwhelmed. I had heard here they have the best Hoagies so I might need to try them next time.

I have done Buc-ee's 3 times - twice the brisket sandwich, once a salad. All three were poor at best - 3 different stores. I fail to see the hype honestly, which is why I gave them 3 chances.

Best so far at a chain - QT turkey wrap - excellent for gas station grub. My bride likes soft serve and there soft serve cone is OK as well.

Others opinions?
 
Been using QT in one form or another since the 1980's. Back then they served roller grill and microwave products. We stopped mostly for drinks and gas. Their fresh kitchen has upped their game considerably. Still don't eat there much. Soft serve cone is generally a good deal and generous serving.

Been to Bucee's a total of three times. One on a bus trip in 2017 or so, and twice to hand off "stuff" to someone who lived near one and we needed to deliver said "stuff" to them on the way to BIL's house near Fort Worth. Never saw much reason to stop at Bucee's since I couldn't tell what their gas pricing was like.

Springfield, MO location is too far east for me to consider, when a Costco is directly on the way to my sister's house. The upcoming KCK location under construction will be almost as inconvenient, but near the speedway & Hollywood casino near the speedway.
 
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This is not the first time WAWA subs/grinders/heroes/hoagies have been mentioned here.

A big hunk of property which was once under a slipper factory was turned into a large WAWA.
When I visited, the look of the "deli case", the premade sandwiches and, frankly, the clientele was off-putting.

The best gas station food I've ever had was in Bergen, Norway at a ferry dock. I was there for a Nordlic (dance fest) and lived on their smoked salmon and caviar sandwiches.
 
Way back in my youth I pumped gas at a Texaco station. There was an onsite deli that was privately owned. The station owner had its own employees, the deli its own employees, both groups becoming friends over time. I got friendly with one of the young women who worked there and, OMG, the things she told me. I was surprised there wasn't an epidemic of deaths caused by that deli.

This reminds me of a later job I had as a warehouseman at an industrial supply company. This business had several sales reps. One of them had a territory on the Monterey California Peninsula. A beautiful area. John Steinbeck country. $$$$$. I remember him saying how horrible the conditions and cleanliness of some of the kitchens were in some of the areas finest restaurants.

That was 50 years ago and his comments have stuck with me to this day. I am very particular where I dine out.

Remember the old "24 hour flu" that people used to get years ago? In hindsight I think it was food poisoning.

Scott
 
When I'm traveling and can't eat super healthy I go with mostly dried food. On the road I eat more fresh, on the trail I eat more dried.

Dates, nuts of some type, pumpkin seeds provide a lot of calories. For carbs I use whole wheat bite size shredder wheat and rice cakes. Then as much fruit as possible depending if I'm on the road or trail: bananas, apples, citrus maybe.
 
#18FAN said:
Hit up a Circle K I'm just saying.
Click to expand...
The Circle K's around here aren't very good. In general they are older properties who started out as independent convenience stores and Circle K bought them out. Nothing about them improved. Bathrooms not very clean, food selections barely there, gas pumps not printing out receipts.

I have stopped at other Circle K's outside Mo/Ks and they seem much better. Some appear to be purpose built like the QTs.
 
I do a lot of driving, so I stop at a lot of gas stations. 99% of the "food" available is high carb, highly processed junk. I have learned to look for the tiny display of not junk food. Usually you can find hard boiled eggs, fruits, nuts, etc. I see what people buy at these places and it's no wonder we have a diabetes epidemic.
 
Around here the gas stations and convenience stores have roller food as I call it. I tell you it’s some good stuff man lol. They also have good nachos too. 7-11 pizza is pretty mid but not bad. I personally am a fan of most gas station food. For me the one thing I love finding in these places is the boiled peanuts, they are so good.
 
Wawas started as convenience stores/delis and then got in the fuel game.
I, occasionally, eat their sandwiches(hoagies) when I am solo at the bay house or going out
on the boat.
Not the greatest but always made to order and rolls baked on-site. 7/10 overall, IMO.
 
When I lived in Hamburg, NY/Buffalo, Noco gas stations were everywhere, but not like Tim Horton’s. The one in Orchard Park, had Charlie the Butcher. It was beef on Weck. I loved beef on Weck but just didn’t want gas station beef on Weck. Casey’s started selling pizza 7-8 years ago. I know people that think it’s fabulous. I tried it once. It’s not horrible but it’s gas station pizza.
 
Randy_R said:
When I lived in Hamburg, NY/Buffalo, Noco gas stations were everywhere, but not like Tim Horton’s. The one in Orchard Park, had Charlie the Butcher. It was beef on Weck. I loved beef on Weck but just didn’t want gas station beef on Weck. Casey’s started selling pizza 7-8 years ago. I know people that think it’s fabulous. I tried it once. It’s not horrible but it’s gas station pizza.
Click to expand...
The Wichita Eagle newspaper food editor did an article on Casey's pizza about a year or two ago about how it compared to other pizza. Overall she liked it and thought it was fine. I had a piece less than a month ago, and think it is barely average. I have eaten a decent amount of pizza at different places in Wichita since my daughter lives there and I have two medical specialists there. I think all of the pizzeria pizza I have eaten is much better......
 
SC Maintenance said:
Gas station food in the South used to mean fried Chicken. Depending on the place it could be good - but was only usually served around lunch time. Not many left. Parkers Kitchen serves OK tenders - but its sort of a regional thing.

I recently went to WaWa for the first time - in Georgia - had a breakfast burrito. I was quite underwhelmed. I had heard here they have the best Hoagies so I might need to try them next time.

I have done Buc-ee's 3 times - twice the brisket sandwich, once a salad. All three were poor at best - 3 different stores. I fail to see the hype honestly, which is why I gave them 3 chances.

Best so far at a chain - QT turkey wrap - excellent for gas station grub. My bride likes soft serve and there soft serve cone is OK as well.

Others opinions?
Click to expand...
There was a gas station near I-25 that an Indian family owned. They had a great lunch buffet that was mentioned in several papers. Quite a surprise
 
I work with a guy who eats this stuff for break and lunch. One day he was too trusting of some infectious gastrolitus and had a blowout because of their pizza. How appetizing.
 
Here in the Midwest you have a couple standouts IMO.

We are lucky to have Casey's for their pizza. They also make breakfast pizza, breakfast bowls and chicken tenders.

We also have Kwik Star/Trip. They have excellent chicken tenders. They also offer burgers on their sourdough buns for those who can't eat regular bread. My wife has a gluten intolerance and sourdough doesn't bother her.

All are very good but obviously not the healthiest choices.
 
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