CHICAGO, May 21, 2025 — If you’re looking for the best place to grab a meal while tanking up the SUV, head for a Kwik Trip convenience store. 

At least that’s what USA Today found in drafting its annual 10Best report, a ranking of consumers’ options in a wide array of categories, including gas station food. The list was apparently limited to c-store brands that also sell gasoline. 

WaWa and Sheets, the c-store chains usually hailed for their foodservice operations, did not even make the 2025 list. Topping the roster was Kwik Trip, which was praised in particular for its fresh-baked bread, cookies, muffins, doughnuts and other bakery items. 

The brand was also lauded for the high quality of such grab-and-go options as fried chicken, salads, burritos, and soups. USA Today noted that the selections were "fairly priced." 

In second place is Royal Farms, a regional brand with a cult-like following for its fried chicken. But the menu also extends to burgers, packaged snacks and even milkshake bars in some stores.
Casey’s, the concept known for its strong pizza sales, finished third.

Rounding out the Top Five were QuikTrip/QT, which features made-to-order sandwiches and tacos, and Maverick, a regional powerhouse with an in-house restaurant called BonFire Foods, which offers a variety of handheld foods. 

Completing the list in ranking order were Weigel’s, Spinx, Rutter’s, Buc-ee's, and Allsup’s/Yesway.

A common feature among the Top 10 finishers was an emphasis on freshness and customization.

The brands were selected through a two-step process. The field was first narrowed down by what USA Today described as "a panel of seasoned road warriors” and editors. The news medium’s readers then determined the Top 10 by voting for their favorites among the semifinalists.

Foodservice has been a rare bright spot for c-stores, which are suffering an erosion of sales from such sector staples as cigarettes and gasoline. Transactions involving the former have fallen because of health concerns, while the latter have dropped as more consumers switch to hybrid and electric vehicles.

As Managing Editor for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Romeo is responsible for generating the group's news and feature content. He brings more than 40 years of experience in covering restaurants to the position.

Cover image courtesy: Closed Loop Project