LUTSEN, Minn. – Convenience stores have come a long way from being a joke when it comes to food. Recently, Conde Nast Travel took a road trip and found five convenience stores that serve exceptional food. 

At the Lockport Marketplace in Lusten, Minnesota, visitors can munch on sourdough pancakes, caramel breakfast rolls and seasonal pies. Its fresh pastries are stuffed with meat and potatoes, a traditional dish in those parts.

Near the Sonoran Desert National Monument, take a pit stop at Dateland Travel Center and Date Gardens in Dateland, Arizona, for some of its famous date shakes. The shake and numerous other date dishes—including bread, cookies and pies—all contain fresh dates from the company Medjool’s date grove.

Stop by the Sewee Outpost in Awendaw, South Carolina, for some homemade cheese biscuits and key lime pies, which also come in frozen packages for take home enjoyment. Meanwhile, at the Brazos BBQ in Cresson, Texas, customers can sample some of its smoky brisket in breakfast tacos or with coleslaw. Sweet banana pudding finishes the tasty meal.

Whoa Nellie Deli in Lee Vining, California, serves up a berry-glazed pork loin, lobster taquitos and fish tacos, in addition to live music. NACS’s Ideas 2 Go interviewed the Whoa Nellie Deli about its best practices in 2009. What all of these gas station gourmets have in common is a desire to serve fresh, delicious food to a hungry clientele.

For more gas station gourmet, read the NACS Magazine department of the same name. The February 2016 column, Cajun Cookin’, details the Louisiana Shop Rite convenience store chain.