The Spots You're Probably Overlooking For Cheap Fast Food
As many across America continue to struggle with the affordability crisis, finding an inexpensive place to eat has become an increasingly pressing concern. Yet while mounting costs have forced menu prices to increase throughout the fast food industry, there is one near-ubiquitous venue for cheap fast food you might have overlooked — your local gas station.
The culinary fare available at gas stations has not always been highly regarded. Gas station sushi, for example, suffers from a particularly grim reputation, and you can read our advice on which gas station hot foods to avoid at all costs. However, many have come to realize that the kind of fast food available while refueling can be both budget-friendly and of surprisingly high quality, leading them to social media to let the rest of the world know.
One thread on Reddit proclaimed, "Gas stations are now the new fast food value meal." The thread's author noted that they have supplanted fast food restaurants that now charge what were once fast-casual prices. Many of the respondents chimed in with their personal low-cost favorites from gas stations near them. One customer of a Buc-ee's location enthused that the gas station makes fresh fudge on site and carves fresh brisket, saying, "It's reasonably priced, great quality, and great service." Another voiced their love of QuickChek, where they reported a "decent sized" sandwich cost only $5. "Tastes a million times better than Subway," the commenter added.
While some parts of the U.S. have always had good gas station grub, some chains have stepped up their game
This enthusiasm for the low-cost delights that can be found at gas stations can be partly explained by the increasingly onerous costs of fast food elsewhere, as anyone who has frequented the six most overpriced fast food chains will already know. It can also be attributed to an increase in quality, with some arguing that gas station fast food has improved considerably in recent years. However, others have observed that, in certain parts of the U.S., affordable and appetizing gas station food is not a new development. One Redditor wrote: "Gas stations in the South have had full on cafeteria style food for about 60 years or more now." One example is Parker's Kitchen, a gas station chain where Southerners have enjoyed biscuits and fried chicken since it first opened in 1976.
Nevertheless, it has been argued that gas stations are taking over the position once held by fast food franchises in America by addressing customers' frustrations and placing focus on value and quality rather than branding. Another reason is falling demand for products like lottery tickets, tobacco, and gas itself. This has prompted many gas stations to pivot away from what were once their big sellers and instead introduce more elaborate menus. Whether you're keen to sample these new additions or just want a classic roller-grill hot dog, make sure you read up on the six gas station chains that have the best hot food, according to their customers.