Gas stations across the country are stepping up their food game, so you’re in for a delicious surprise on your next summer road trip. Forget soggy pizza and heat-lamp burgers, and look instead for smoked brisket in Idaho, poke bowls in Maui and Spanish tapas tucked behind a Mobil station in Miami. This isn’t the food you’re used to eating on the road, but it will turn a boring drive into an unforgettable adventure.
From fill-up to sit-down
“People don’t expect it,” said owner Carlos Fonseca, speaking about his Spanish restaurant, El Carajo, that’s hidden inside a Miami, Fla., gas station. El Carajo serves top-notch tapas, wine flights and seafood paella.
“Outside it’s a gas station, but as they walk in, it’s nice … and people feel like they are in a Tosca in Spain,” Fonseca told CBS Miami. Mostly, they can’t believe they’re eating jamón Ibérico just steps away from a gas pump.
In California’s Eastern Sierra region, a Mobil station in Lee Vining houses the Whoa Nellie Deli. Their impressive menu, with options like seared ahi and lobster taquitos, has earned mentions in The New York Times. Plus, it’s right on the way to Yosemite National Park, making it an ideal stop for road trippers in need of a real meal.
In the tiny coastal town of Pescadero, California, Mercado & Taqueria De Amigos serves fish tacos, shrimp tostadas and enchiladas from inside a Chevron. “Anyone who told you to not trust burritos from a gas station needs to not be trusted. That is, if the gas station in question is the Alliance in Pescadero, California,” writes Michael L. of Cupertino, Calif., on Yelp. “This taqueria and market has all of the essentials and some really good Mexican food to boot.” It’s not just good-for-a-gas-station good; it’s worth driving out of your way for.
And in Maui, the small regional chain Minit Stop is known for local-style plate lunches and fried chicken that rivals any sit-down restaurant. Locals and tourists alike flock here to devour the crunchy skin and tender, moist meat.
Why the upgrade?
There’s a business case behind the trend. With cigarette sales declining and electric vehicles reshaping how and where people fuel up, gas station mini marts are leaning into fresh food as a way to stay relevant and profitable. According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, foodservice is one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry, and prepared food is the superstar. In 2022, it generated 68.4% of foodservice sales with year-on-year sales growth of 13.8%. Consumer demand is driving companies to invest in fresh and prepared foods.
Chains like Dash In, which has stores throughout much of the Southeast United States, showcase chef-designed menus and sleek new store layouts, aiming to attract customers who want convenience without sacrificing quality. “Convenience stores have been upping their food game for a while,” wrote Business Insider ‘s Nancy Luna recently, “But Dash In’s transformation shows how many are making food – freshly prepared food, specifically – a draw for patrons.”
Texas-born chain Buc-ees now has outposts across the Southern U.S., as it turns out, people will pull in for great food. “Buc-ees has it all, from a bakery serving fresh-baked goods like kolaches and cinnamon rolls to a BBQ counter with house-made brisket and pulled pork,” says Amanda Luhn of Simply Awesome Trips. “A morning stop gets you fresh biscuits and their famous brisket egg tacos.”
Open kitchens, app-based ordering and expanded seating areas are becoming more common, especially at newer or remodeled locations. These aren’t the grungy gas station marts of 20 years ago. They’re clean, modern and increasingly focused on offering real meals made on site.
Not just for vacationers
The shift isn’t just happening on scenic vacation routes, either. Blue Hour in Brooklyn serves halal smashburgers and chopped cheese sandwiches out of a BP station in Bushwick. In Manhattan, Smacking Burger has taken over a Mobil station, flipping fresh patties onto the griddle a few feet from the windshield wiper fluid.
Some of the most memorable gas station meals are found in the small towns that dot the roads from point A to point B. In Fruitland, Idaho, Rustic Pig BBQ serves up smoked meatloaf and pulled pork sandwiches from a Shell station parking lot. In Southern Illinois, Huck’s Convenience Stores have gained a loyal following for their king cake donuts and rotating menu of hot foods.
In Vermont, the P&H Truck Stop in Wells River draws crowds for its house-baked pies, homemade cinnamon raisin bread and diner-style breakfasts. For a lot of folks, it’s a regular stop, not because they need gas, but because they’ve just got to have a slice of that chocolate cream pie.
A shift in expectations
The idea of eating well at a gas station used to be the setup for a joke. Now, it’s part of the plan. As travelers take to the roads this summer, many want meals that don’t feel like a compromise. Convenience may still be king, but quality is closing the gap.
It helps that some of these spots are genuinely fun to visit. El Carajo has its own wine cellar. Whoa Nellie Deli overlooks Mono Lake and serves beer on tap. P&H has a wall of homemade bread and a case full of pies. These aren’t just pit stops, but an integral part of the journey.
Forgo fast food chains, fill up at the pump instead
The rise of gourmet gas station dining isn’t a gimmick. It’s a real shift in how and where we eat on the road. Not every gas station is slinging gourmet tacos or wood-fired pizza, but if you’re hitting the road this summer, you’ve got more food options than ever. Plan your route carefully, or just get lucky, and you might find that the best meal of your trip comes from a place that sells motor oil on aisle three.
Robin Donovan is a food and travel writer and the founder and creator of All Ways Delicious, a website loaded with easy recipes from around the world. Her writing is featured in major media outlets including Chicago Sun-Times, Huffington Post, MSN, Associated Press, Cooking Light, PopSugar, Fitness, Mercury News and many others.
