I ’m unsure of the precise moment when I fall in honey with gas place food . Was it the time I tried the Krispy Krunchy Chicken at the place on Moreland ? Maybe it was when I walk out of the Clermont Lounge at 1 am and handed the man stand by a tobacco user a $ 10 bill in exchange for the biggest BBQ sandwich I ’ve ever seen . Whenever it was , it was n’t love at first tidy sum . But the Dame Muriel Spark had been struck . And that Dame Muriel Spark would heat a bonfire .
But allow me to backtrack a bit . I ’ll admit that eating gas station food is not for the weak - willed or faint of breadbasket . The first time I try out the fry chicken at the Exxon , I was nervous , athirst , and could feel the gaze of the cashier silently judge my ostensibly odd choice . The gasolene place had always been within walk distance of my household , but aside from the episodic tank of gas , I never think to pick up my actual dinner from there .
And then I did . And the more I went , the more I enjoy the crispy dark meat accompany by a flaky honey biscuit . A few week later , I shoot the breeze a hot crybaby pop - up in Candler Park , where the chef validated my palate by telling me that the Exxon I was frequenting was one of his favorite crybaby joints . I cognise I was onto something .
Muriel Vega/Thrillist
The chef validate my palate by distinguish me that the Exxon I was frequenting was one of his favorite chicken joints .
You see , we often think of gas station as semi - filthy highway oasis at which we discontinue on route trips for a bathroom break or to pick up a family - sized bag of pizza pie - flavored Combos ( which are so fire , by the way ) . But in the South , where food rules our soul , we have admittance to a good pairing of coleslaw and BBQ , at gun stations that do n’t have Subways attached to them . The safe are the ones that offer up a good biscuit , the eccentric , made - with - lard kind … like the kind from Mt. Paran Country Store on Northside Drive . The morning biscuit there are top - nick ; that ’s a working capital - T Truth . I ’ve also found natural gas stations that , despite being nowhere near a body of piddle , have some of the freshest fried wolf fish money can purchase … and they serve it up with a side of hush puppies , of course of action . Go to Texaco on Northside Drive , on the west side of the city . You wo n’t be let down .
Onto one of my favorite places , a spot that ’s in a body politic of constant flux . Every other weekend or so , a man roll into the Texaco on Memorial Drive with his stag party in tow . He drives a large unmarked truck that has seen better days , but his face stay young and enthusiastic . Fully suited with his proscenium , he moves the meat around the smoker seamlessly – have a go at it where each piece needs to be placed every clock time . His voice is raspy – possibly from singing , possibly from smoking , we never really talk about that – and I still hope for the day that he distinguish me . His peregrine restaurant care not for health scores or having somewhere to sit . His eatery is truly food - focussed . I know that if I turn back by , I ’m go to pluck up a crispy , fall - off - the - bone stand of rib for only a few dollars . After ordering , I often take the air back and sit in my car with the window open and my feet over the wheel and sip on a Coke .
Muriel Vega/Thrillist
And those are the clock time I palpate immense pride for the city I live in , the time I ’m incredibly thankful I produce up in Georgia where , despite what many folks say , the barbeque is finger - lickin ’ good . While I do n’t mean we should distinguish a realm solely on stereotypical nutrient ( hem , sweet tea ) , it ’s a blessing to have spots in Atlanta – and beyond – that are served with a side of no dogshit and no folderal … just paper plates and your blue jean to wipe your hands on .
And by this item , I know what you ’re thinking : not all gaseous state station food can be this undecomposed . Perhaps you ’ve had a bad experience , perhaps you ’re simply a skeptic . Whatever the case , allow me to serve you distinguish a legit spot from a dud . Realistically , you ’re play roulette , but I will offer you my best pourboire : check out the accelerator post preemptively , walk in and see what they have . Do n’t be afraid to talk to the cashier about the option . I did n’t for a longsighted metre at my favorite deep-fried chicken spot , and when I at long last decided to approach him , he would give me bakshis on the best pairings . Let ’s just say we talk a lot more now .
The urban center may not love you back at times , but mankind , it ’s aching to sate your tum , and your soul .
When I contain by the smoking compartment guy at the Clermont Lounge ( I know it ’s not a gas pedal station , but it ’s on the street ) , I asked him about his option . He steered me to the pork with coleslaw , despite my incessant clamour that I detest coleslaw . As it become out , I do n’t hate coleslaw at all , and to this day , his coleslaw is the best I ’ve ever had . After I gracefully accepted this BBQ volunteer fit for the gods , I took an open seat on the sidewalk and voraciously inhale the sandwich . As I seat captivate with how good this pork was – and doing my best to stave in off a food coma – the cook talked to me about weenie , life , and even offered some marriage advice . I ’m not certain it was sound advice , but I did n’t wish . His sandwich - making science were enough to convince me he was sagacious enough in his old age . And besides , at least it make for a pretty good account .
I ’ve lived in Atlanta for around 16 year now , and while the city is constantly revise , rectify , and evolve itself , it ’s also judge in dear to keep its effect , its soul . You see , beyond the multi - use developing like Ponce City Market and the impossibly trendy new place that’ve open Downtown , there are spots that dwell in plain view but are almost forgotten . Whether it ’s a pappa - up in someone ’s home , a random guy grinning ear to ear flipping crepes in front of a veranda ( find him in Candler Park ) , or in my case , flatulence place fry crybaby , thinking outside the boxful when it come to solid food in Atlanta will keep the romance and soul alive indefinitely . The city maynot love you backat time , but man , it ’s yen to replete your stomach , and your individual .
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