Sweet blueberry bread, Cuban sandwiches, sour cream raisin pie, sherry vinegar-laced gazpacho and much more. These are a few of the menu items worth planning a trip around, according to Food & Wine’s “The Best Gas Station and Truck Stop Food in America.”
For writer David Landsel, inspiration began with a meal at Dysart’s Restaurant in Hermon, Maine, years ago. Ever since visiting that restaurant, where offerings include freshly baked muffins and corned beef hash, Landsel has been “scouting the country for equally memorable experiences,” he wrote.
The experiences at these independent stores include Cajun, Cuban, Lebanese, Punjabi, Serbian, Somalian and more.
A few highlights:
- Gary, Indiana’s Balkan Grill just off Interstate 80 offers Serbian food including a popular stuffed burger, or pljeskavica, which includes mozzarella cheese and is served on Serbian-style somun bread.
- The Czech finger-food koblasnek, with is filled with an array of sausages and cheeses, at the Little Czech Bakery in West, Texas.
- Possum pie at the Hillbilly Hideout in Ozark, Arkansas, which includes “chocolate and cream cheese and vanilla custard on a crumbly crust made with nuts.”
- The meatloaf sandwich, with plenty of hot gravy, at the Keystone Restaurant and Truck Stop in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It comes with large scoops of mashed potatoes.
- The noodle soup saimin, which includes fish cake, pork and a soft egg at Unko’s Kitchen in Silverdale, Washington.
Previously, Landsel created a separate ranking for convenience-store chain food. It included Buc-ee’s Wawa, Stewart’s Shops, Sheetz, Parker’s, Casey's, Maverik, United Dairy Farmers, Allsup’s and Rutter’s.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.