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If you are looking for the best gas station food in the country, you’ll have to road trip to Baltimore. The Royal Farms gas station chain has repeatedly been hailed as having the best food around. No, this isn’t some gimmick restaurant with a gas station attached. This is a real gas station that just does food right.

Royal Farms is a Baltimore area gas station chain, first launchedi n 1959. Today it is owned by Cloverland Farms Dairy, but still going strong with nearly 300 stores. It is centered in Maryland but has branches as far away as Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

So what are these awards? The latest is the USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for “best gas station food.” But it doesn’t stop there. Royal Farms also took home first in Food & Wine’s 2017 list of “10 Gas Station Foods Across the Country That Are Worth the Detour.” Even Garden & Gun magazine jumped in, naming one specific dish in “An ode to Gas Station Fried Chicken…from a place that might surprise you.”

The fuel pumps at a Royal Oak gas station.
Royal Farms gas station | Idawriter via Wikimedia Commons

Yup, it’s Royal Farms’ fried chicken that is getting so much attention. Its signature recipe includes breading the chicken in the store, then pressure-cooking it. But Royal Farms doesn’t stop at chicken. It also serves breakfast all day. Some locations even boast a milkshake bar. Overall, it sounds like you can get a fantastic meal of comfort food while you fill up.

After the USA Today award, Royal Farms public relations manager said the first place finish was thanks to, “the persistent dedication and unwavering commitment of our team members who strive to provide exceptional food and service to our valued customers.”

Baltimore natives, however, may be over Royal Farms’ chicken. When the Baltimore Banner conducted a blind taste test, its writers preferred the fried chicken from Raising Cane’s chicken fingers chain. But next time I am hungry and need gas while driving down the Eastern Seaboard, I know what station I’m trying.

Next, read why Alabama is rating gas station food like Michelin Star restaurants, or learn more about Royal Farms’ food award in the video below:

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari joined MotorBiscuit in 2021 and brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. Henry is also an avid attendee at local car shows and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts.

Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont. He has since incorporated his love of the written word with his admiration of classic cars. While Henry is interested in vintage cars, he believes the golden age of cars is yet to come. He is confident journalists will play an important role in this revolution by exposing the industry as it is now and envisioning its possible future.