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Baltimore Sun columnist checks out gas station fare

cheesy hot dog with onions
With gas prices rising, travelers are doing what they can to reduce their costs elsewhere as they journey to the vacation destinations. One way to cut costs is to buy your meals at the same place you fuel your car, at the service station. John Lindner of the Baltimore Sun, noticing that gas stations were starting to offer more elevated fare, has conducted an unscientific study of gas station dining.

Using a five tire ranking system (one tire is the lowest and five is the best), he and his wife noshed at five stations in the Baltimore region. Their approach was to eat a hot dog at each location (as a control) and additionally have one of whatever the station's "signature" dish was. They ate at High's, Wawa (although they should have had a hoagie, not the salad), Royal Farms, BP and the Sunshine General Store at a local Chevron station. Overall, they were pleased with the offerings, with Sunshine garnering a solid 4 1/2 tires for their bacon cheeseburger and hot dog.

Personally, I'm particularly partial to Wawa (even though they recently closed the one a block from my apartment). What are your favorite service station eats?

[via The Hungover Gourmet]

Gas Station Food(click thumbnails to view gallery)

Exxon Food BarnPre-fab SandwichesPulled Pork Sandwich7-11 hot dogsSheetz sign

Source

Filed Under: Newspapers, Fast Food
Tags: Baltimore Sun, BaltimoreSun, Gas station eats, GasStationEats, John Lindner, JohnLindner, The Hungover Gourmet, TheHungoverGourmet

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 2)

Colin

5-22-2008 @11:56AM Colin said... Wawa food is *okay* I just hate supporting them because their business model, like all convenience stores, is to gouge the hell out of people.
Reply

corjas

5-22-2008 @12:01PM corjas said... I'm embarrassed to say it, but when forced to eat on the road, I've always enjoyed El Monterey Tornados (gas station taquitos):
http://www.elmonterey.com/mexicanfood/tornados/
They even come in breakfast varieties, and they're all easy to eat while driving.
Reply

Grace

5-22-2008 @12:03PM Grace said... When I lived in Virginia, we used to get lunch from Sheetz (http://www.sheetz.com/main/) quite frequently. I loved their egg salad sandwiches (which they made to order). Alas, in Texas, there is no Sheetz - but most gas stations do have breakfast tacos.
Reply

Red Icculus

5-22-2008 @6:16PM Red Icculus said... It has been years since I have had one, but my local gas statio had a burrito called "The Bomb" that packed 750 calories for a buck. What a deal (and heartburn)!
Reply

Zach S

5-22-2008 @9:11PM Zach S said... Wawa definitely has awesome hoagies!!
Reply

Trisha

5-23-2008 @1:38PM Trisha said... If you're in the mid-atlantic, its Sheetz all the way!
Reply

chrissy

5-27-2008 @8:37AM chrissy said... KG Chevron gas station in Hernando,Fl has the best fried chicken you'll ever have the nuggets (they r real chicken) are the bomb and its really cheap and the service is great
Reply

Mark

5-27-2008 @7:04AM Mark said... I've been getting burgers at Sunshine Service for 20 years - not because it's convenient, but because they're the best damn burgers in the region. Just tell Robin or Sue you want a cheeseburger and tell her what you want on it. It's made to order. Corner of Georgia Ave and New Hampshire Ave in Sunshine, Maryland. Check it out!
Reply

Agrhhhhh

5-27-2008 @7:55AM Agrhhhhh said... Eating while driving is as bad as driving and using a cell phone........ Both hands on the wheel and be in control of your vehicle........

5-22-2008 @ 12:01PM

corjas said...
I'm embarrassed to say it, but when forced to eat on the road, I've always enjoyed El Monterey Tornados (gas station taquitos):
http://www.elmonterey.com/mexicanfood/tornados/
They even come in breakfast varieties, and they're all easy to eat while driving.

Reply

Todd

5-27-2008 @8:04AM Todd said... Sheetz has great burgers and fries....and you can get a TON of stuff on the burgers, too!
Reply

Rick

5-27-2008 @8:26AM Rick said... Charlottesville, Virginia has the best gas station food. 3 or 4 places called The Market are gas stations with full-size kitchens and cooks inside. from their specialty sandwiches to salmon, grilled chicken, homemade salads and desserts these are the best spots.
Reply

mindi84

5-27-2008 @8:28AM mindi84 said... Definitely 7-11! Fresh sandwiches, hot dogs, taquitos and even breakfast make for a fantastic gas station variety of food. I think they even have salads too. I also like their bakery items -- great cookies and donuts. And I don't think their prices are that high, their milk is usually cheaper than my local grocery store.
Reply

Marcia

5-27-2008 @8:31AM Marcia said... Speedway has iced flavored coffees now,extremely reasonable and lots of good food.Their grilled chicken is delicious.
Reply

Jack Schneider

5-27-2008 @8:33AM Jack Schneider said... I don"tknow about the baltimore area but here in Arizona the hots dogs are ok But the women at the Circle K in Marana Exit 236 I-10. are built like brick Houses
Reply

Minnie

5-27-2008 @12:45PM Minnie said... Sheetz is the best. And they have a big selection to chose from on their MTO (made to Order) menu.
Reply

Buzz

5-27-2008 @8:56AM Buzz said... I'm on the road alot for my job. I've tested most gas station food available in SW Ohio and have to say the Jalapeno and Cheddar from Speedway is the best followed by the Jumbo Hot Dog....lol. There is a Speedway in Sidney Ohio that will cook yours on a grill if you choose and the girls there are very pretty as well.
Reply

Bob Bohannon

5-27-2008 @9:08AM Bob Bohannon said... I've traveled all over the US for the Army Corps of Engineers, and have to say that Sheetz are probably the best (with the exception of a few independents in the South of Georgia (near Macon) and just South of Monroe, LA).
Reply

Nicole

5-27-2008 @9:53AM Nicole said... http://www.thesierraweb.com/tiogagasmart/default.html
Tioga Gas Mart near Mono Lake in California has fantastic food. They have a whole gourmet deli inside!
Reply

Katie

5-27-2008 @9:59AM Katie said... I'm surprised nobody's mentioned Country Cookin' at Town & Country service stations. Maybe it's only in Texas, I haven't been exposed to much else. I *LOVE* their chimichangas, even better with taco sauce. They also offer several meal deals, though I have yet to try any.
Reply

Mark

5-27-2008 @10:06AM Mark said... I kinda like Royal Farms' stuff. Having just moved to the area in the last few months, I have to say it's a shame AM/PM isn't out here... they have hands down the best convenience store food of all time.
Reply

38 Comments / 2 Pages

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