The travelers' guide to tasty convenience-store cuisine in North Dakota and Minnesota

FARGO — A few years ago, when my former job required frequent jaunts through rural North Dakota, convenience stores became my restaurants.

I learned quickly that not every tiny town had a cafe, but almost every community has a gas station or convenience store.

And while one doesn't expect to find decent food at a place that sells air fresheners and ice scrapers, the quality of the menu at some of those places surprised me. After all, today's Quickee-Mart also often serves as the local deli, pizzeria and neighborhood market all in one.

So I turned to Facebook friends, along with some other frequent travelers, to find any roadside gems they'd recommend for on-the-go grub.

The list below captures some highlights.

Note: This is by no means a definitive list. It’s just a sample of a few better-known stop spots for grab-and-go sustenance. So if you feel one of your faves desperately deserves a mention, let me know at tswift@forumcomm.com .

Landers' Shell & Northside Market, 2210 N. 12th St., Bismarck, I-94 Exit 159 — Grinders: This isn’t a huge convenience store, but it’s locally run, immaculate and offers a nice array of house-made grab-and-go foods. Drop by between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays and you’ll find freshly made soups like knoephla. But the real stars are the grinders, as Landers bought the recipe when a beloved Bismarck institution, The Grinder, closed. Although the grinder counter is only open during the week, you can always grab a wrapped sandwich, salad or homemade bar or cookie to go.

Simonson Station Store Deli, 124 Dakota Ave., Wahpeton, North Dakota — Chicken-bacon-ranch panini, fresh coffee, baked raised doughnuts: While there are Simonson delis offering good food across the region, one Facebook friend made a point of giving the Wahpeton store a shout-out. “Cleanest gas station in the state,” she raved, before pointing out her favorite food item: the chicken-bacon ranch panini, a toasted sammy layered with grilled chicken, bacon, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion and ranch dressing.

While convenience store coffee sometimes brews so long it has to be cut with a hacksaw, Simonson’s coffee tastes great “because the machines are cleaned often,” she said.

The Tower Travel Center,  101 Maiden Lane, Tower City, North Dakota, I-94 Exit 307 — Pie:  The original Tower View Cafe and Fuel Stop, which opened in Tower City in 1960, was famous for its incredible homemade pies, in flavors like walnut cream or sour cream-raisin.

So when the dilapidated eatery shut its doors in 2009, it was sorely missed by I-94 travelers.

Fortunately, the people of Tower City banded together to build and open the new Tower Travel Center in the summer of 2010. Wisely, they included a from-scratch bakery.

Although the bakery seems to have more limited hours these days, you can pre-order a pie or select from an assortment of pies-to-go when you get there. We recommend the Apple Caramel Crumb.

TA Express/Coffee Cup Travel Plaza, 620 Mitchell Ave. N., Steele, North Dakota, I-94 Exit 200 — Cinnabon rolls: This sprawling travel center has many grab-and-go options, as well as three different kiosks for popular food chains: Caribou Coffee, Pizza Hut and, most recently, Cinnabon. Most menu items from the iconic cinnamon-roll giant are available, including the wickedly gooey “center of the roll” bites.

If your arteries slam shut at the thought of such decadence, there’s a decent refrigerated section which offers healthier options like cut-up fruit or vegetables or the keto-centric summer sausage-and-cheese cup.

Casey’s, Fargo-Moorhead (or wherever the chain convenience stores can be found) — Pizza: The Casey’s General Store chain should advertise this as: “I can’t believe it’s convenience-store pizza.” It is cheesy, perfectly seasoned and contains just the right amount of toppings — all atop a flavorful, chewy crust. People who live more exciting lives than I do claim that the breakfast pizza — a mix of breakfast meat, scrambled eggs, mozzarella and cheddar cheese atop sausage gravy or cheese sauce — is perfect hangover food.

David Samson/The Forum

M&H Gas Station, 510 Main Ave., Moorhead — Broasted chicken: Those who scoff at the notion of finding great fried chicken at a convenience store have never been to M&H in Moorhead.

Their pressure cooker-fried chicken has even won the lofty praise of Michael Stern, who, along with wife, Jane, won James Beard Awards for their columns highlighting the country’s top dining spots for road warriors.

David Samson/The Forum

Here’s what Michael had to say about M&H’s best-known item: “The hot-oil bath under pressure somehow forces extra lusciousness into the crisp skin as well as into the meat below, resulting in thighs, breasts, and drumsticks that are to ordinary fried chicken what baby back ribs are to spare ribs: more tender and easier to eat, albeit lacking rugged personality. For comfort food, this stuff can’t be beat.”

Kwik Trip, 10510 Radisson Road N.E., Blaine, Minnesota — French toast tornadoes, breakfast sandwiches, rib sandwiches:  No sooner had I published the post asking for favorite convenience store cuisine than the Kwik Trippers began singing its praises.

One friend wrote that her daughter’s family — including four boys, ages 7 to 13 — lives in Blaine, Minnesota, and survived a prolonged kitchen remodel during COVID with daily trips to Kwik Trip.

Over those eight months, they became expert Kwikologists. “The employees were wonderful,” my friend wrote. “The foods they had were exactly like a restaurant.”

She listed their faves, which included: French toast tornado (sausage wrapped in a maple-glazed French toast shell), waffle breakfast sandwich (chicken breast and maple waffle), barbecued rib sandwich, chicken tenders and their fruit and yogurt parfaits.

(Fargo-Moorhead folks will be reassured to know there are plans for future Kwik Trips to open here .)

Clearwater Travel Plaza/Nelson Bros. Bakery, 950 Minnesota Highway 24, Clearwater, Minnesota — Baked goods: If you’re heading to the Cities for the weekend, it’s practically a requirement to take I-94 Exit 178 to the Clearwater Travel Plaza/Nelson Bros. Bakery for a Frisbee-sized doughnut, a loaf of apple fritter bread or a caramel apple so big and shiny you could look in it to apply your makeup.

Personally, I’m partial to the gargantuan, gooey, soft cinnamon rolls and the fritter bread, which makes next-level French toast.

Worth noting:

• Fargo Petro Travel Plaza, 4510 19th Ave. S.W. (off I-94 Exit 348): Won mentions for its cheese curds, mini corn dogs and mozzarella sticks. “Petro has bomb food,” a Facebook friend noted.
• The Petro Serves in Casselton (102 Langer Ave., I-94 Exit 331)  and Valley City (1020 8th Ave. SW., I-94 Exit 292): Both received mentions for their hot breakfast items and homemade lunches.
• Cenex Convenience Stores, which contain the Hot Stuff Pizza kiosk: Also got a shout-out for its reliably tasty pizza, featuring plenty of cheese and a fluffy, flavorful crust. 
• Rothsay (Minnesota) Truck Stop, 544 Center Street N., off I-94 Exit 38): Although this food doesn’t technically come out of the convenience store, this small-town truck stop got several shout-outs for its diner’s friendly and accommodating staff, homemade caramel rolls and from-scratch pie.