If the idea of eating food prepared at a gas station makes you shudder, we’re here to change your mind. It’s time to banish those nightmare visions of greasy hot dogs, soggy sandwiches, bland pizza and stale doughnuts.

Tasty gas station food can be found in Alabama, if you know where to look, and some of it is downright delectable. When folks on the road need sustenance, a bag of chips and a cold soda simply won’t do. Ideally, we want a quick stop that fills the tummy and feeds the soul, fortifying us for the journey ahead, no matter how long or short the trip may be.

Here are five of our favorite places for gas station food in the Birmingham metro area, all serving fare that’s reliable, yummy and made in house. Some of them provide chairs and tables for your dining pleasure, while others are strictly grab-and-go. Now, let’s gas up the car and start noshing.

READ: AL.com’s top 5 picks for barbecue, pizza, burgers, barbecue chicken, ice cream, hot dogs, doughnuts, breakfast, fried chicken, Mexican restaurants, chicken wings and meat-and-three in Birmingham.

5. MAC’S ONE STOP

400 19th St. South in Birmingham. facebook.com/macsonestop

This place is a hidden gem in Birmingham, tucked into a Chevron station near the UAB campus in Southside. Visitors might easily pull in, buy gas and zoom away without ever walking into a small brick building that’s located behind the pumps. But folks in the know are happy to trumpet the virtues of Mac’s One Stop, an efficient little eatery that serves satisfying breakfast sandwiches, biscuits, burgers, patty melts, grilled cheese, chili, chicken fingers and more. It’s a family-owned business with a devoted following and a busy grill that prepares “everything made fresh to order,” as the menu says. It’s best to get there early, because cooking starts at 6 a.m., Mondays through Fridays, and shuts down at 2 p.m. But even if you find yourself at Mac’s when the kitchen is closed, you can still pick up sandwiches, desserts and other house-made items from a refrigerator case near the cash register.

Side note: Mac’s One Stop was the subject of a 2019 documentary short film by Ava Lowrey, “One Stop,” that made its debut at the 2019 Southern Foodways Alliance Winter Symposium in Birmingham. You can watch it here.

Order this: Go for the gusto with a bacon double cheeseburger, paired with onion rings or potato wedges. If you’re feeling especially decadent, try the banana pudding for dessert. Portions tend to be generous here — one order of banana pudding is like a meal in itself — so we suggest sharing this sweet treat with a friend.

4. J&J GROCERY AND DELI

8169 Dickey Springs Road in Bessemer. facebook.com/jjgroceryanddeli

J&J Grocery and Deli has several claims to fame, adding to the list this year when Matthew McConaughey arrived in June to film a movie, “The Rivals of Amziah King,” at the tiny country store and gas station in Bessemer. Regulars will tell you, however, that J&J’s delicious burgers are the real stars of the show, served Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the down-home grill. “All we do is salt and pepper ‘em and put ‘em on the grill,” Sherry Harding, one of the cooks at J&J’s, told Bob Carlton of AL.com in 2022. “That’s it. That grill has been here for umpteen years, and it’s just seasoned.” Burgers can be ordered with different fixings, from a chili cheeseburger to a mushroom Swiss burger to a jalapeno bacon cheeseburger. The menu also includes hamburger steak, fried bologna, chili dogs, chicken wings and more. Breakfast starts at 5:30 a.m., if you’re an early bird, and you can dine in or get your meal to go.

Order this: The classic cheeseburger is scrumptious in its simplicity, topped by lettuce and tomato and paired with crispy fries. Take one bite and you’ll see why J&J’s burgers have appeared on plenty of “best” lists, including AL.com’s recent ranking of the top 10 burgers Alabama.

3. BLUE PACIFIC AT HOOVER FOOD MART

3219 Lorna Road in Hoover. facebook.com/bluepacificathooverfoodmart

Word of mouth is powerful in the dining world, and it helped one Thai restaurant become a popular mainstay in Hoover. We’re talking about Blue Pacific, founded in 2015 by Sam Aroon and his family. The locale is nothing special — Blue Pacific sits inside the Hoover Food Mart, former site of a gas station and convenience store — but the cuisine is outstanding, prepared with care, authenticity and fresh ingredients. “Whatever they cook at the restaurant in Thailand, we cook here,” Aroon said in a 2015 interview with Birmingham magazine. “We haven’t changed a thing, other than if maybe an ingredient isn’t available here.” Standouts on the menu include a flavorful coconut soup, fiery curries, Pad Ka Tem-Prik Thai (stir-fried meat with garlic, topped by a fried egg) and an exceptional pad Thai. But don’t just take our word for it. In 2022, celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern pointed to Blue Pacific as one of the best restaurants in Birmingham,calling the food “incredible.” Hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays, by the way, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 5-8:30 p.m.

Order this: Pad Thai is a must, especially for newbies and diners who shun Americanized versions of the dish. Blue Pacific’s pad Thai is savory and sublime, offering a pile of rice noodles stir-fried with your choice of meat — we recommend the shrimp — topped by green onions, chopped bean sprouts and egg. A wedge of lime and crushed peanuts are served on the side.

2. BAYOU FRESH SEAFOOD AND DELI

217 N. Walston Bridge Road in Jasper. facebook.com/BayouFreshSeafood

We know what you’re thinking: Sushi from a gas station? It sounds like a gastronomic disaster. But fear not. Bayou Fresh Seafood knows exactly what it’s doing, thanks to owner Zhu Jianjun, who expanded the menu offerings to include made-to-order sushi about 11 years ago. Bayou Fresh Seafood, a small restaurant attached to a Marathon gas station, was known for hearty American fare such as grilled, fried and blackened fish. Although you can still get such things there (and many folks do), the eatery has forged a new reputation for its elegant and crave-worthy sushi. About 30 sushi items are on the menu, prepared in rolls or nigiri (simple pieces of fish over rice balls). Evocative names are part of the appeal: Dragon Roll, Alabama Roll, Spider Roll, Crazy Roll, Super Crunch Roll and more. The eatery also offers various combos of rolls and nigiri, served with miso soup and ginger salad. The atmosphere is no frills — dine in, and you’ll be using disposable plates and utensils — but the food is mighty impressive. Hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Order this: We’re all about the Super Crunch Roll, made with shrimp tempura, cucumber, avocado, tempura crunch and eel sauce. Get the combo with two pieces of shrimp nigiri, if you’re extra hungry. Also, the Alabama roll is a popular option, created by wrapping California roll (a concoction of crab mix, cucumber and avocado) in fresh tuna.

1. BUC-EE’S

6900 Buc-ee’s Blvd. in Leeds. buc-ees.com

Buc-ee’s is like the Six Flags of convenience stores: huge, colorful and entertaining. True, the Texas-based chain can be overwhelming for newcomers — there’s just so much stuff! — but Buc-ee’s can be blissful for folks who relish a supersized experience. We have four Buc-ee’s locations in Alabama thus far, including one in the Birmingham area, off Interstate 20 in Leeds. It covers more than 53,000 square feet and boasts 120 fueling spots. Walk through the doors — Buc-ee’s is open 24/7 — and you’ll find a massive cornucopia of snacks, including what we like to think of as the Big 5: barbecue brisket sandwiches, jerky, sugared nuts, fudge and Buc-ee’s famous Beaver Nuggets. (Watch AL.com staffers taste and rate the Big 5 snacks here.) If the marquee items don’t appeal to you, not to worry. Buc-ee’s sells several different types of sandwiches, plus salads, burritos, hot dogs, cheese fries, wraps, kolaches, muffins, cookies, hot apple pies, cinnamon rolls and more. And here’s the kicker: Most of it is pretty darn good. Buc-ee’s excels when it comes to abundance and quality. What’s not to like about that?

Order this: Grab a barbecue brisket sandwich at the Texas Round Up station, opting for chopped brisket instead of sliced. Each sandwich contains a savory mound of brisket soaked by a spicy-sweet barbecue sauce. And if you’re in the mood for something sweet, the rich-and-creamy chocolate fudge is guaranteed to provide a sugar rush.