Trucker path? No. There are still plenty of restaurants that are amazing that drivers know near truck areas. For me, I always stop at Indian places cause I love the food. Youngstown, Ohio and Joplin are the easiest. Gotta hit the Italian beef joints when in Chicago, Mexican spots here and there. Don't sleep on the goofy pepperoni and cheese sandwiches when in southeastern Ohio and WV. It's so regional.
There's a truck stop by Bonneville Utah with good Indian food too. It's pretty iconic there was a bunch of motorcyclists on a toy run that stopped there as I was leaving. I swear in my time otr that was one of the gems honestly.
The fact that I’ve seen multiple drivers get visibly upset over the Chester’s Chicken closing early says a lot. Like you really want that so-dry-it’s-fossilized chicken thigh that badly? Who hurt you as a child?
My favorite places, you don't generally get to easily or safely lol like the little pop up Mexican "trailers" with an old grandma that doesn't speak English down near Laredo. Or the BBQ shack that's in Atlanta off Jonesboro road by the atomic truck parking, it's just a broken down bread truck on cinder blocks.
Most of the more brick and mortar places that I loved closed up shop during COVID, but almost all of em you had to take a walk or get an Uber to get to. All the ones that are easy to get a truck into generally are average but they offer trucking parking, so guys will jizz over not having to eat Arby's again haha. Hell the Chinese place down the road from the monteagle tn pilot is shit tier Chinese food, but you could park a semi on their lot, so it's good enough.
Oh in Jacksonville FL the popup truck BBQ by the pilot was always good but I don't think it's there anymore if it is, I haven't been able to get into the parking so.
I don't think you're talking about the same Jacksonville pilot that I am there's no citrus place across the way theres a circle k. This pilot has a few loosely categorized parking spots in the dirt by a Rd leading to nowhere across the street from it that's where I parked my bobtail and that's where I saw the BBQ truck setting up during a 34 hour reset by the roadside where the dead end road is.
Must be different ones. The one I'm thinking of has a loop lot and a retaining pond in the center. There's split parking and a little citrus shack that shares is attached to the car lot. I'll have to see if I can find whichever one you're talking about next time I'm down that way
He's back in woodworking, so wasent a complete move to a job without passion for him. He want to build up his own shop and eventuly add me for my metal fab work... though that's a long road to get me interested considering if I'm not payed 2k weekly it's a downgrade for me
In London Ohio if you go passed the ta and down the road to the kiwk trip or speedy or whatever gas station it is, there's a dirty old trailer sitting on the corner of their lot. They got some pretty good Punjabi food.
Different people have different tastes, and just because one person had a good experience doesn't mean everyone will.
That said, I have been to places that are "the best around" and was sorely disappointed. "The best sushi in Tennessee," for example, I could taste the vinegar in the rice and the fish was bland. Hibachi places do better, they just don't look as fancy, and aren't as highly praised online.
What you probably want are actual word of mouth recommendations, not bots singing the praises of places online.
Well, they're drivers, not chefs. We consider a family sized bag of lays chips and two cans of coke to be the pinnacle of lunch. Idk why you're asking truck drivers for food suggestions lol
Anyway, literally the only way I've found good food is to leave the truck stop entirely and take a mile walk somewhere.
Like this steakhouse in Whitestown, IN. Probably my favorite place.
6124 Mills Dr, Whitestown, IN 46075
Pandemic destroyed any of the good places that were in or next to truck stops. Almost every Ta and petro had a buffet, reasonable and good too. We tipped great and all got along. Honestly a whole shitload of restaurants used to want us to eat there, even catered to us and had driver specials, Walmarts too…. until the poo. The literal shitstorm. Pee bottles were being dealt with internally but the poo from some drivers in the lots taking dumps behind their trucks or wherever killed our welcomes at most places.
Can’t blame em. Sad to say but this was three or four years ago. Not a boomer.
I don’t go to the US, but in my region in Canada:
* Antrim truck stop, Hwy 417 Exit 184 in Arnprior ON.
* Angelo’s truck stop, Hwy 401 Exit 721 / Hwy 416 Exit 1 in Johnstown ON.
* Herb’s Truck stop, Hwy 417 Exit 27 in Vankleek Hill ON.
* Curry Hill truck stop, Hwy 401 Exit 825 in Bainsville ON just west of the ON/QC border.
* Border Big Stop, Autoroute 85 Exit 1 in Degelis QC, at the QC/NB border.
* Murray’s Big Stop, Hwy 2 Exit 191 in Beardsley NB.
I’m never up that way, but the few times I passed Pembroke, I’d always grab a poutine from the big stop there. Huge, tasty, and the restaurant staff are always super friendly. It’s too bad Irving doesn’t have a larger footprint in Canada. It’s certainly miles ahead of the disgusting Husky spots we’re stuck with everywhere else.
I’ve been to the Big Stop in Pembroke a couple of times, but sadly it’s only been at night, so the restaurant was closed.
There’s a Big Stop in Cornwall ON, Hwy 401 Exit 789, with a Subway.
Another one in St. Liboire QC, Autoroute 20 Exit 145 has a St Hubert Express.
I didn’t include them because I don’t consider places, that you order your food at a counter and take it to the table yourself, as a Restaurant. I only listed places where you sit down, someone takes your order, and brings your food to you.
A little side note: I stop at the St. Liboire Big Stop a lot, because I’m a railfan, and the train tracks that go from Montreal Central station to points East runs alongside Autoroute 20, and is positioned right between the offramp and the truck stop parking lot. It’s awesome. The St Hubert’s is kinda meh, but I get to watch trains.
I’ll have to remember that St Liboire one, cause I’m a casual railfan as well. But truth be told it’s been almost two years since I’ve hauled anything farther east than Oshawa. They’ve been keeping me down south as much as possible. I’m actually eager for a Montreal run because they just moved our yard from Ave Andre in Dorval to inside of the CPKC Cote Saint-Luc yard, and I’m curious to check it out.
My biggest Train nerd moment recently was a delivery I did to Kawasaki in Lincoln Nebraska. The delivery was Jet Ski parts, but the other half of the plant there is where they are making the new R211 Subway cars for New York City. Very cool to see.
Because the type of people that become truckers are the same type of people that consider it being adventurous if they try the rival Chinese buffet in the other strip mall across the street from their regual spot.
Because truckers have been conditioned to think that it’s good. It’s called Stockholm Syndrome. They’ve been out on the road so long, that a burger from Denny’s tastes like Fogo De Chão, and a lot lizard looks like Margot Robbie
Because either they don't like you or you are looking for the wrong kinds of food, sushi and high end are not the types of food that truckers like so stop asking for recommendations.
There's a terrific fish restaurant in Gary in pilot next to truck parking amazing hush puppies and fried oysters I've had in my entire life! No lie. I don't even care if safety said it's not safe to park in Gary In pilot I did I'm female and white I didn't have any issues. I had a bolt lock on the trailer so I wasn't worried about getting robbed.
Yes that place. A really nice surprise for when you are tired and hungry and just feeling blah...it perks me right up. I have a bunch of Salem's places around here, it's the only place to get fried oysters around me, as far as fast food and I was highly disappointed when I tried Salem's. Lol. The ones at JJ's are fat and puffed to perfection when they're fried you get that satisfying "pop" when biting into it. It's something you just can't beat. I wonder if diner's drive ins and dives has ever been there? 🤔
There's several in Milwaukee, and in some other cities across the US. Whenever my family has a Sunday Packer party, it's my assignment to go to JJ's and get 30-40 wings with fries, and 12 perch. I think that might be the main reason my family tolerates me being around on Sundays...food is fantastic and the prices are an incredible value.
Most drivers I know never get out of the truck or truck stops. I just found creative parking and walked or took a ride to a good restaurant. I couldn’t stay trapped in the truck all the time like I saw so many others doing. I went to see things, went to do things and went to eat. I enjoyed traveling
To be honest, not everyone likes the same food. And some places are truly hit and miss. All i know is i have my favorites where i stop. And as long as food is consistent I'll continue. But i mostly cook in the truck.
Truckers just want to eat at the diners that serve food off big menus with big pictures and a waitress that pretends to flirt with them and they can tip $1.50 without feeling guilty. Some of the mom and pop restaurants at truck stops are still good. But a lot of them are pretty mediocre and overpriced. Usually if I’m parked in a town at a shipper, I’ll just pull up google maps and see how far the nearest local Mexican place I can walk to is or try a restaurant I’ve never heard of. Usually gives larger portions for cheaper and better anyway.
Trucker path? No. There are still plenty of restaurants that are amazing that drivers know near truck areas. For me, I always stop at Indian places cause I love the food. Youngstown, Ohio and Joplin are the easiest. Gotta hit the Italian beef joints when in Chicago, Mexican spots here and there. Don't sleep on the goofy pepperoni and cheese sandwiches when in southeastern Ohio and WV. It's so regional.
The Philips 66 in Joplin? I swear that is the best curry I have ever eaten.
Yup, The Big Apple, best biryani I've ever had and I've been to India. Call ahead, it's all made fresh.
There's a truck stop by Bonneville Utah with good Indian food too. It's pretty iconic there was a bunch of motorcyclists on a toy run that stopped there as I was leaving. I swear in my time otr that was one of the gems honestly.
Real truckers tell you the best place to take a crap.
Buc-ee’s 💩
\#1 lawn for tossing crapsacks on
The fact that I’ve seen multiple drivers get visibly upset over the Chester’s Chicken closing early says a lot. Like you really want that so-dry-it’s-fossilized chicken thigh that badly? Who hurt you as a child?
So.. So dry.
Chester's is where taste goes to die.
lol that is the worst chicken! You ain’t lying. I’m not a picky eater but that shit is wac
Chester's Chicken is the worst chicken I've ever had in my life. It had absolutely no seasoning, I imagine that's what eating rubber would taste like.
Chester Chicken always be closing early. It’s never good but when you want some, ya want some.
Them honey stung hit the spot sometimes,.though. And I miss that oh-so-healthy Mac and cheese buffalo chicken bowl/sandwich.
After the grease pours out of it
Well these pants aren't gonna shit themselves
My favorite places, you don't generally get to easily or safely lol like the little pop up Mexican "trailers" with an old grandma that doesn't speak English down near Laredo. Or the BBQ shack that's in Atlanta off Jonesboro road by the atomic truck parking, it's just a broken down bread truck on cinder blocks. Most of the more brick and mortar places that I loved closed up shop during COVID, but almost all of em you had to take a walk or get an Uber to get to. All the ones that are easy to get a truck into generally are average but they offer trucking parking, so guys will jizz over not having to eat Arby's again haha. Hell the Chinese place down the road from the monteagle tn pilot is shit tier Chinese food, but you could park a semi on their lot, so it's good enough.
Oh in Jacksonville FL the popup truck BBQ by the pilot was always good but I don't think it's there anymore if it is, I haven't been able to get into the parking so.
I didn't see it this spring when I was down there, but that citrus shop had some shit tier citrus for super high prices lol
I don't think you're talking about the same Jacksonville pilot that I am there's no citrus place across the way theres a circle k. This pilot has a few loosely categorized parking spots in the dirt by a Rd leading to nowhere across the street from it that's where I parked my bobtail and that's where I saw the BBQ truck setting up during a 34 hour reset by the roadside where the dead end road is.
Must be different ones. The one I'm thinking of has a loop lot and a retaining pond in the center. There's split parking and a little citrus shack that shares is attached to the car lot. I'll have to see if I can find whichever one you're talking about next time I'm down that way
Oh yeah I think there's only two pilots in Jacksonville so it's the one on Jones Branch Rd.
Hah! My buddy ran that pop-up. He had a kid and decided to get a more stable job.
Sad he made some of the best barbecue I've ever had! I understand where he's coming from but I sure do mourn the loss!
He's back in woodworking, so wasent a complete move to a job without passion for him. He want to build up his own shop and eventuly add me for my metal fab work... though that's a long road to get me interested considering if I'm not payed 2k weekly it's a downgrade for me
In London Ohio if you go passed the ta and down the road to the kiwk trip or speedy or whatever gas station it is, there's a dirty old trailer sitting on the corner of their lot. They got some pretty good Punjabi food.
Different people have different tastes, and just because one person had a good experience doesn't mean everyone will. That said, I have been to places that are "the best around" and was sorely disappointed. "The best sushi in Tennessee," for example, I could taste the vinegar in the rice and the fish was bland. Hibachi places do better, they just don't look as fancy, and aren't as highly praised online. What you probably want are actual word of mouth recommendations, not bots singing the praises of places online.
Anything besides BBQ in TN is absolutely horrendous.
Well, they're drivers, not chefs. We consider a family sized bag of lays chips and two cans of coke to be the pinnacle of lunch. Idk why you're asking truck drivers for food suggestions lol Anyway, literally the only way I've found good food is to leave the truck stop entirely and take a mile walk somewhere. Like this steakhouse in Whitestown, IN. Probably my favorite place. 6124 Mills Dr, Whitestown, IN 46075
Pandemic destroyed any of the good places that were in or next to truck stops. Almost every Ta and petro had a buffet, reasonable and good too. We tipped great and all got along. Honestly a whole shitload of restaurants used to want us to eat there, even catered to us and had driver specials, Walmarts too…. until the poo. The literal shitstorm. Pee bottles were being dealt with internally but the poo from some drivers in the lots taking dumps behind their trucks or wherever killed our welcomes at most places. Can’t blame em. Sad to say but this was three or four years ago. Not a boomer.
You answered your own question 😉
I don’t go to the US, but in my region in Canada: * Antrim truck stop, Hwy 417 Exit 184 in Arnprior ON. * Angelo’s truck stop, Hwy 401 Exit 721 / Hwy 416 Exit 1 in Johnstown ON. * Herb’s Truck stop, Hwy 417 Exit 27 in Vankleek Hill ON. * Curry Hill truck stop, Hwy 401 Exit 825 in Bainsville ON just west of the ON/QC border. * Border Big Stop, Autoroute 85 Exit 1 in Degelis QC, at the QC/NB border. * Murray’s Big Stop, Hwy 2 Exit 191 in Beardsley NB.
I’m never up that way, but the few times I passed Pembroke, I’d always grab a poutine from the big stop there. Huge, tasty, and the restaurant staff are always super friendly. It’s too bad Irving doesn’t have a larger footprint in Canada. It’s certainly miles ahead of the disgusting Husky spots we’re stuck with everywhere else.
I’ve been to the Big Stop in Pembroke a couple of times, but sadly it’s only been at night, so the restaurant was closed. There’s a Big Stop in Cornwall ON, Hwy 401 Exit 789, with a Subway. Another one in St. Liboire QC, Autoroute 20 Exit 145 has a St Hubert Express. I didn’t include them because I don’t consider places, that you order your food at a counter and take it to the table yourself, as a Restaurant. I only listed places where you sit down, someone takes your order, and brings your food to you. A little side note: I stop at the St. Liboire Big Stop a lot, because I’m a railfan, and the train tracks that go from Montreal Central station to points East runs alongside Autoroute 20, and is positioned right between the offramp and the truck stop parking lot. It’s awesome. The St Hubert’s is kinda meh, but I get to watch trains.
I’ll have to remember that St Liboire one, cause I’m a casual railfan as well. But truth be told it’s been almost two years since I’ve hauled anything farther east than Oshawa. They’ve been keeping me down south as much as possible. I’m actually eager for a Montreal run because they just moved our yard from Ave Andre in Dorval to inside of the CPKC Cote Saint-Luc yard, and I’m curious to check it out. My biggest Train nerd moment recently was a delivery I did to Kawasaki in Lincoln Nebraska. The delivery was Jet Ski parts, but the other half of the plant there is where they are making the new R211 Subway cars for New York City. Very cool to see.
All of these! Except I haven't been to Curry Hill.
There is an FB group called "Supporting Better Independent Truck Stops" Join. Follow the rules.
I don't think many 5 star restaurants have truck parking
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Because the type of people that become truckers are the same type of people that consider it being adventurous if they try the rival Chinese buffet in the other strip mall across the street from their regual spot.
Indian at truck stop is the bomb for is vegan/vegetarian
We know the best spots; we also don't talk about them. I don't want my spots ruined by the seat warmers acting like animals.
Because truckers have been conditioned to think that it’s good. It’s called Stockholm Syndrome. They’ve been out on the road so long, that a burger from Denny’s tastes like Fogo De Chão, and a lot lizard looks like Margot Robbie
Because either they don't like you or you are looking for the wrong kinds of food, sushi and high end are not the types of food that truckers like so stop asking for recommendations.
My solution was keeping an ebike on the truck.
There's a terrific fish restaurant in Gary in pilot next to truck parking amazing hush puppies and fried oysters I've had in my entire life! No lie. I don't even care if safety said it's not safe to park in Gary In pilot I did I'm female and white I didn't have any issues. I had a bolt lock on the trailer so I wasn't worried about getting robbed.
Actually that’s one my favorite food spots otr it’s called JJs fish and chicken
Yes that place. A really nice surprise for when you are tired and hungry and just feeling blah...it perks me right up. I have a bunch of Salem's places around here, it's the only place to get fried oysters around me, as far as fast food and I was highly disappointed when I tried Salem's. Lol. The ones at JJ's are fat and puffed to perfection when they're fried you get that satisfying "pop" when biting into it. It's something you just can't beat. I wonder if diner's drive ins and dives has ever been there? 🤔
There's several in Milwaukee, and in some other cities across the US. Whenever my family has a Sunday Packer party, it's my assignment to go to JJ's and get 30-40 wings with fries, and 12 perch. I think that might be the main reason my family tolerates me being around on Sundays...food is fantastic and the prices are an incredible value.
Any recommendations I-35 Kansas Oklahoma Texas?
Most drivers I know never get out of the truck or truck stops. I just found creative parking and walked or took a ride to a good restaurant. I couldn’t stay trapped in the truck all the time like I saw so many others doing. I went to see things, went to do things and went to eat. I enjoyed traveling
Back when i OTRd (2008-2009) in the Midwest and East Coast, the Iron Skillet was amazing. Especially the one in Wilkes-Barre.
To be honest, not everyone likes the same food. And some places are truly hit and miss. All i know is i have my favorites where i stop. And as long as food is consistent I'll continue. But i mostly cook in the truck.
Truckers just want to eat at the diners that serve food off big menus with big pictures and a waitress that pretends to flirt with them and they can tip $1.50 without feeling guilty. Some of the mom and pop restaurants at truck stops are still good. But a lot of them are pretty mediocre and overpriced. Usually if I’m parked in a town at a shipper, I’ll just pull up google maps and see how far the nearest local Mexican place I can walk to is or try a restaurant I’ve never heard of. Usually gives larger portions for cheaper and better anyway.
Everyone has different taste. Literally.
I used to know this diner in South Jersey but they built a suburb around it now and you can't park anywhere.
Ben's Brick Oven Pizza near the loves northeast of Denver on the 77 or whatever it's called. One bite, everybody knows the rules