The Best (And Worst) Foods To Order At Sheetz

In the U.S., gas stations are so much more than just a place to fill up the gas tank. Here, we revel in squeaky-clean bathroom glory, top off our abnormally large coffee cups with too-strong joe, and gather to break bread. While few things are more American than dinner at the gas station, not all chains are known for cranking out hot and fresh meals. Enter Sheetz, a Pennsylvania-based, one-stop-shop for all your gas, food, and clean bathroom needs. Those of us who live in Sheetz's sphere of influence always declare it our favorite fill-up spot by a mile (sorry Wawa).

I recently stopped by my local Sheetz to explore a few of the best gas station road trip foods, plus the nastiest, greasiest snacks this side of the Mississippi. I made sure to snag the foods with a cult following and some famously egregious "shnacks," so that you can use this list to hit the freakishly extensive menu like a seasoned pro. So, grab your shfork, shnapkins, and shantacids as we take a peek into the delicious (and the dastardly) world of Sheetz food.

The Big Mozz is easily the most beloved Sheetz meal to date, and it's pretty plain to see why this gas station magnum opus is a fan favorite. It starts with a burger patty doused in melty provolone, then it's topped with three entire mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce. That's all it takes to be a gas station dinner that's just outside the norm enough to be worth forgoing an actual restaurant meal for.

I'll be perfectly honest and admit that the Big Mozz isn't a pretty sight. The beef patty is grey, the provolone looks like plastic left out in the sun too long, and the marinara is way too thick and sticks to the burger like a bad paint job. The mozzarella sticks give it all its heft and appetizing aesthetic appeal. The contrast in texture between the squishy bun, meat patty, and chewy mozzarella sticks was shockingly satisfying. Despite the burger patty looking like a hardened puck of old porridge, the texture and salty, slightly spicy flavor was on point (you just have to close your eyes as you go in for a bite).

Ahh, the humble gas station dog. Few things hit the spot in the same way as this famously greasy snack, but the Sheetz version of the American classic doesn't come close to doing it justice. I topped my Sheetz dog with some standard onions and sauerkraut, plus the Holy Trinity of hot dog condiments: ketchup, yellow mustard, and relish. You can also opt for pico, chili, guac, and a slew of additional condiments, but I wanted to keep this one classic, so the flavor of the hot dog itself could shine.

The condiments did virtually all of the flavor heavy lifting in this hot dog. The paper-thin bun got soggy almost instantly from the tiny bit of kraut, and the ultra-bland, teensy sausage was lost in the sea of zesty veggies and sauces. It didn't have the umami flavor that a good hot dog should have — instead, it tasted like a mushy salt log drenched in low-quality condiments.

I'm a sucker for some French toast, but I'm not being biased when I say that these sweet, toasty breakfast sticks might be my favorite thing on the Sheetz menu. They come as an order of five with optional (at no additional cost) cinnamon sugar, which is obviously a necessity, especially if you prefer your French toast sans syrup. They can also be served with a side of Cinnabon-branded cream cheese frosting alongside the syrup for, shockingly, no additional charge. So, obviously, I snagged some of that and have no regrets about dipping the sticks in half cream cheese frosting and half maple syrup.

Unlike the tough, stale French Toast Sticks that I remember from the middle school cafeteria, these Sheetz sticks (shticks?) were extra-large and perfectly golden-brown, with a fluffy inside and crispy exterior (although they didn't technically taste like real French toast). Their texture was soft and slightly chewy, but still stable enough to support a hefty load of frosting and syrup. My only qualm is that they cool down quickly, so be sure to only get a box only if you plan to eat them on the spot.

Look, there's nothing objectively wrong with fried, breaded macaroni and cheese. That's not what this is about. There is, however, something wrong with the way Sheetz does it. Each order comes with four triangular, cheesy nuggets that amount to about two small bites each. You can get a dipping sauce, but it might not be enough to save these little morsels.

The exterior of the Mac N' Cheese Bites is excellent. It's not too thick, but not thin and flimsy, and it's evenly browned with a delicate crunch. But the interior of the bites, where the macaroni and cheese sauce lies in ominous wait, was so artificial tasting that it was hard for me to believe that I was biting into something edible. The noodles themselves were fine, albeit a little too soft, but the neon-orange sauce coated my taste buds with a chalky texture and weirdly earthy flavor that was surprisingly not salty enough.

I had low expectations for Sheetz's Shnuggetz (previously known as Chicken Nugz), but they taught me that being judgmental will get you nowhere. You can grab an order of Shnuggetz as four, eight, 12, 20, or an astounding 40-piece box, and they come with one (or more, for an extra cost) of any of Sheetz's acclaimed dipping sauces. I recommend either Boom Boom sauce or Buffalo Garlic Blitz. You can elect to have your nuggies seasoned with ranch dust, nacho cheese powder, or surprisingly versatile Old Bay seasoning, among other options, but I kept mine pure, the way the fast food gods intended.

Like the Mac N' Cheese Bites, the exterior of the Shnuggetz was crispy in all the right ways. The coating was layered evenly over the nuggets, so every bite guaranteed that iconic crunch. Inside, they were meaty and soft, but not so soft that they disintegrated in my mouth (looking at you, Burger King). The breading was crunchy and textured enough that they held onto the sauce nicely, which was necessary because they were a little too bland to be tasty on their own — but then again, who eats dry nuggets?

I really wanted to like this unique macaroni and cheese dinner creation from Sheetz, but it wound up looking a lot more appealing than it tasted. The Boom Chicka Mac consists of spicy breaded chicken on top of macaroni and cheese with Boom Boom sauce and pico de gallo. I was initially surprised by the hefty portion size, considering it only costs about $6, but as it turned out, I would have preferred less of this dastardly dinner.

The breaded chicken strips had just the right amount of fiery heat and punch of peppery flavor, and were juicy, crispy, and all-around pretty darn delicious. It was the mac and cheese, which was steeped in the same egregious sauce that ruined the Mac N' Cheese Bites, that completely wrecked this meal. The Boom Boom sauce didn't help at all. The gross cheese flavor drowned out the sauce, which ended up making the dish extra liquidy. The pico seemed out of place, with cold chunks of minced tomato and onion floating in a sea of cheese goop like the wreckage of the S.S. Tex Mex.

Normally, I always go savory when the mood for a giant soft pretzel — otherwise known as a Twister Dipper, in the weird lexicon of Sheetz — strikes, but I had heard good things about Sheetz's Cinnamon and Sugar Pretzel. This extra-large pretzel was sprinkled with a substantial amount of cinnamon and sugar mixture, but not so much that it was candy-sweet. It was sweet enough to be enjoyed on its own, but it's made much better with some dips (all of which cost extra, unfortunately), like the aforementioned Cinnabon frosting or white chocolate sauce.

The texture of the pretzel caught me off guard. It was soft and fluffy, kind of like an extra-dense angel food cake. It was less chewy than the giant pretzels you'd normally find at a mall or carnival, but I kind of enjoyed that, especially paired with the sweet dessert flavors. I even took half of my pretzel home and saved it in the fridge, and the next day it somehow tasted just as fresh — after a quick nuking to warm it up, that is.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that plain ole fries from Sheetz are among the worst food options, especially amidst all of its much more creative concoctions. At first glance, the plain fries look innocent enough, but they're harboring a nefarious secret that isn't visible to the naked eye: they're insanely salty. As in, "can't-possibly-enjoy-without-access-to-a-cold-drink" salty. I could barely stomach more than one, but for the sake of this round-up, I powered through and ate almost all of them so I could deduce that it wasn't just one or two particularly salty outliers in the mix.

On top of their unforgivable saltiness, the fries are also soft and spongy, like miniature pool noodles floating in the Dead Sea. They didn't really have any crispness to speak of, and their extra-soft texture made them taste wet. Dipping them in sauce didn't help, because it just amplified their salty moistness, although a light dose of tangy ketchup distracted from the saltiness enough to make them at least somewhat palatable.

It might not be the healthiest way to start your day, but a Sheetz Breakfast Quesadilla hits the spot when you're really, really hungry — more so than the acclaimed Sheetz Breakfast Shmagel. Sure, it might be loaded with an entire day's worth of sodium and cholesterol, but that's neither here nor there. The breakfast 'dilla is made-to-order, so you can get one with whatever fixings your heart desires. I loaded one up with my go-to: sausage crumbles, jalapeños, bell peppers, caramelized onions, and extra Boom Boom sauce, for good measure.

The cheese is in no short supply here — legend has it that Sheetz uses an entire cup of shredded cheddar per quesadilla. The tortilla was cooked long enough for the cheese to fully melt, but was pulled from the flat-top just before it started to burn; in other words, it was cooked perfectly. The meat and fixings were plentiful without making the quesadilla fall apart when I picked it up, although it got close. This meal might be a little too much for the morning, but as a late-night, shareable snack, you can't beat it.

When I stop for gas station coffee I always opt for a hot coffee with just a splash of cream — that's it. So I was giddy about trying my first ever sweetened Sheetz espresso creation. I snagged an Iced Caramel Vanilla Latté, because I'm told that's the go-to for those that like their coffee chilled. I appreciate that you can add whip at no additional cost, but the whipped cream proved to be the only enjoyable thing about this coffee.

The first thing that assaulted my taste buds were the flavor syrups. They had the unmistakable flavor of sugar-free sweetener — that strangely tangy, chemical-like taste — despite not containing a sugar alternative (at least, they weren't supposed to). The espresso tasted burnt, but at least the potent, gross syrups masked most of the burnt coffee taste. The coffee looked as weirdly grey as the burger patty, so I should have known I was in for a low-quality brew.

I didn't think I'd like this drink as much as I did. It looks like it would shock your senses with a sugar overload, but the sweetness was mild enough to let the fruit flavors stand front and center. The mango and peach concentrate is mixed with either water for a juice-like drink or sparkling water for a fizzy soda alternative — the choice is yours. You can also add some extra syrups or tapioca bubble tea pearls for an additional charge.

You wouldn't guess that Sheetz's Refreshers have any caffeine, but they actually contain a light amount from green tea — about ⅙ of the caffeine in a cup of coffee for a regular-sized drink. If you need a little midday pick-me-up but aren't too keen on a strong cup of joe mid-afternoon, Sheetz's Refreshers are an obvious choice, especially when the weather is hot and you're looking for something light, cold, and crisp.

I absolutely love the idea of a burger in a wrap, but not the way Sheetz does it. The sad, grey burger was OK on the Big Mozz because there was enough going on to distract from it, but the Shnack Wrap only lets you add so much. I got mine how I always order my burgers: onions, pickles, ketchup, and extra mayo.

The burger peeked out at me menacingly from its tortilla confines, looking so disturbingly mushy and pale that it was hard to go in for that first bite. It tasted a bit better than it looked, but that really isn't saying much. The flavor was fine, but the mushy, chunky texture of the patty ruined this snack. I probably could have upgraded the wrap with some more crunch and sharp flavors — maybe some lettuce and peperoncini would have done the trick — because allowing this Sheetz burger to act as the main feature of a snack is a fast food war crime.

I've always felt a bit of an allegiance to QuickChek — the Hudson Valley's regional convenience store chain of choice — but Sheetz really gives QuickChek a run for its money in the sub department. The Turkey Sub is among the more popular sandwiches at Sheetz, and I can see why. The sandwich-crafters here don't shy away from piling on the meat and toppings, and although I forgot to ask for extra condiments on my sub, it was like they knew what my heart desired. I decked my turkey sub out with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, mayo, and mustard to keep it simple, but the possibilities are nearly infinite.

It's not pretty to look at (I'm learning that this is the case for most of Sheetz's food) but it still makes a worthwhile lunch — I just needed some extra napkins. The turkey was cut thick and lightly seasoned for a salty, peppery bite, and the toppings were distributed evenly all over my sandwich. Ask for yours toasted, because I've found that the bread is too chewy otherwise.

Wings from the gas station give me the heebie-jeebies, and I was right to be wary of the Shwingz. You can get your chicken as an order of a half-dozen or a dozen with optional seasoning (the same options that are available for the Shnuggetz) and one sauce — I went seasoning-free with classic Buffalo for dipping.

Unlike the Shnuggetz and Sheetz's other fried fare, the Shwingz didn't have the delectable, flavorful crunch that's necessary in good chicken wings. They weren't nearly as greasy as the other fried foods on this list — which was like a breath of fresh air after housing over a dozen different gas station foods — but that wasn't enough to overshadow their mushiness. I couldn't tell if they were just undercooked or if their outer coating was naturally sad and floppy. Without any added seasonings, these wings were incredibly bland, so I'd opt for some ranch powder or Old Bay if I were ever going to go back for round two — but I doubt that's happening.

A flatbread pizza really hits the spot when you're craving some cheesy, saucy, Italian-American goodness but don't want to pay pizzeria prices or wait 30 minutes. Sheetz's Pizza Flatz aims to fill this void, and it does a heck of a good job. I was trying the Pizza Flatz for the first time, so I picked classic pepperoni and left it as-is, with just meat, marinara, mozzarella, Parmesan, and provolone.

I was shocked by the amount of cheese on my pepperoni pizza flatbread — there was so much that the pepperoni was completely invisible. After biting into a slice, I found the extra large pepperonis, which were covering the entirety of the flatbread so that every bite was meaty and salty. The thin layer of marinara wasn't overpowering whatsoever, but it was thick and extra tangy. Copious amounts of mellow, creamy cheese balanced out the tang and the saltiness from the meat to create a hearty, balanced snack — I only wish they were bigger so I could host a Pizza Flatz party.

To create this round-up of Sheetz's best and worst foods, I visited my local Sheetz in Northeastern Pennsylvania and ordered an assortment of the most popular food items. I chose some foods that I had tried before and knew to be either particularly delicious or astonishingly egregious, and some that were new to me but had either a positive or negative reputation. For the made-to-order items, I dressed them with classic fixings in order to get a clear idea of what they would taste like to the average Sheetz snacker.

The Sheetz foods with the "best" designation were those that either appeared to be higher quality, more nuanced, and bold in flavor, or had a more appealing texture than other items on the menu. Those that were dubbed "worst" were either blatantly low-quality, bland, excessively salty, or unpleasant in texture. While taste is always subjective, I put aside any of my personal biases in flavor to judge these Sheetz foods as fairly and objectively as possible.