Buc-ee's is probably the Greatest Convenience Store in America.
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Actually, to hell with that!
Buc-ee's IS America, pure and simple!
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First of all, it is as big as America.
To get across the store, you need a covered wagon.
It takes sixty days with a team of four.
Fortunately, they have provisions as you make your crossing.
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Secondly, America loves junk food and this place has every kind of junk food you can think of.
Entire wall sections full of gummies.
Entire aisles full of cheddar and caramel popcorn.
Trivia Question: How many candy bars are in current commercial production?
If you don't know, go to Buc-ee's. They have them all.
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Thirdly, America likes clean toilets and lots of toilets.
If a successful American buys a big suburban house,
Each bedroom has its own toilet.
Plus there is general upstairs toilet.
They also have a main downstairs toilet and an extra toilet just for the guests.
If they have a basement, there are two toilets down there so you don't have to climb the stairs to do your business.
Buc-ee's understands this.
If you go into the men's room or ladies' room of Buc-ee's
You will see door after door going on forever.
The doors extend all the way to the horizon.
Each door has a toilet behind it.
Your entire high school graduating class could all go to the bathroom at Buc-ee's at the same time and nobody would have to wait.
While your party is waiting for you to finish,
Your non-graduating friends can browse a virtually limitless supply of Kitsch Americana for sale.
There really are people who decorate their house with things bought at Buc-ee's.
In their house it actually looks good.
In my house, if I brought that stuff in the door,
my wife would serve me with divorce papers the next day.
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Okay, Yelp does restaurant reviews and not bathroom reviews.
How's the food at Buc-ee's?
a) If you need virtually any national brand convenience store food in America, Buc-ee's has it.
They have every energy drink you can think of in every flavor you can think of.
They have everything Coca-Cola, Mars, and Frito-Lay have in current production plus all the goods from all their competitors as well.
b) Buc-ee's store brand items are variable, but they are generally good.
c) You can get made to order hot food.
(See the bank of computers on the left hand side of the store if you want to order.)
Certain items like BBQ sandwiches they put out on a grab to go basis.
If you are in town for serious barbecue, you probably want to go to South Side Market farther west on 71, and have yourself a legendary meal.
But the Barbecue at Buc-ee's is way way better than any convenience store food has any right to be.
I am always happy after a Buc-ee's BBQ sandwich.
Better yet, Buc-ee's is one of the few places around where you can get a freshly made real deal hot dog.
I am a man who likes his hot dogs.
d) Healthy food eaters will struggle but not come up empty. They have little containers full of diced ready to eat fruit. They have fresh salads. The selection leans towards Cobb Salads and Chicken Salads but there are a few more vegetable-y options.
e) The house specialties are their own brand megabags of snack food carbs, their own beef jerky, and their own fudge.
Of these three, I have only had the beef jerky.
Buc-ee's house jerky is highly variable.
I have had some that was utterly divine.
I have had some that was so acrid it had to be thrown out.
No one flavor is better than the others.
The issue is freshness.
Look for little white dots on the jerky.
If the dots are on, the stuff is old, and you are best passing on the merchandise.
If you don't see dots, you could be in for a treat.
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Overall, Buc-ee's blows away any Circle K or 7-11 you can find in America.
In the U.S., only a small number of one-location unique character convenience stores can even think of competing.
Is Buc-ee's the best convenience store in the world?
Sorry, folks, but Buc-ee's does not even come close.
For the best convenience stores in the world, go to Japan.
In Japan, the food in convenience stores is absolutely wonderful.
Fresh bento boxes to die for.
Fresh rice balls in all sorts of intriguing flavors.
Dozens and dozens of highly entertaining beverages both hot and cold.
Lots of yummy cans of interesting fish products
And fresh Japanese candy blows away American candy.
But if you are driving down Highway 71 and,
You are running out of gas,
You need a caffeine fix and
Your bladder is sending you red light signals ...
You probably don't have time to drive to Japan.
In Texas,
Buc-ee's is as good as a gas station ever gets. read more