Food and Drink

My favorite gas station eats in Charlotte include a deli that’s a hidden gem

By Samantha Husted

I’ve eaten a lot of Charlotte gas station food in the last few weeks. If you’re concerned about my cholesterol, don’t worry — I am, too.

Charlotte has a decent amount of gas station food options, from seasoned fried chicken to full-blown delis. Yes, I visited the infamous Quik Shoppe on the corner of South and East Boulevard and its location on Eastway Drive.

In my quest for quick, yet tasty gas station bites, I was delighted to find options like a savory homemade breakfast sandwich from Oakhill Deli and Grill located inside the Oakhill Mini Mart.

I opted for a sausage, egg and American cheese served on buttery toast. It was greasy and salty, and just what I needed to start my day. It’d be an excellent hangover cure.

A close-up, eye-level shot of a stainless steel, self-serve hot food counter. The counter holds deep metal trays, one containing seasoned, grilled meat and a row of browned sausages, and an adjacent tray holding thick, round slices of pan-fried meat. “CAUTION - HOT” / “ATTENTION - CHAUD” warning labels are visible on the front of the unit.
Looking for a flavorful breakfast sandwich? Stop by the Oakhill Deli and Grill, located inside Oakhill Mini Mart. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

Of course, I had to stop by the aforementioned Quik Shoppe, too. I ordered the crispy fried chicken (with a side of hot sauce, of course) and the potato wedges the convenience store is best known for. Alongside fried chicken, the gas station also serves Southern sides like mashed potatoes with gravy, mac and cheese, and corn.

The Quik Shoppe was even recently recognized by Southern Living as having some of the best fried chicken in the South.

A tight, extreme close-up shot focusing on the textures of golden-brown, crispy fried chicken pieces and seasoned potato wedges, all packed together in a white to-go container under bright, direct light.
Fried chicken and potato wedges from the Quik Shoppe. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive
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A hidden gas station gem

My favorite discovery, however, was Blanchard’s Deli, a hidden gem tucked inside a convenience store that’s attached to a Shell Station. The deli has been open for 37 years, serving Southern classics and made-to-order cuisine.

“It works out having it connected to a convenience store,” Tracey Blanchard told CharlotteFive. Blanchard is the daughter of owner Jim Blanchard, and she runs the day-to-day operations at the deli.

“People will come in and pump gas,” Blanchard explained. “A lot of people know that we’re here because we’ve been here for so long.”

Blanchard’s grandparents opened the convenience store back in 1953. Her father, Jim, now 84, bought it in 1988 and opened the deli alongside it. The original Blanchard’s Deli was torn down and rebuilt in the ‘90s. It’s been operating at the same location ever since.

“We had to tear down the old store because they widened Carmel Road, and we built this one in the ‘90s,” Blanchard explained.

The menu features recipes from Blanchard’s mother and grandmother, including its tuna and chicken salads. Everything is made to order, from the eggs to the burgers. You won’t find any hot dog rollers here.

“We make everything fresh to order,” Blanchard said. “We’ll do your eggs scrambled, fried or over medium, or we’ll make an omelet however you want it.”

A high-angle, close-up shot of a burger and crinkle-cut fries served in an open white styrofoam to-go container. The burger is on a sesame seed bun, and the golden-brown fries are piled next to it. The container rests on a light-colored table, with a white styrofoam cup partially visible in the top left.
Blanchard’s Deli, located inside Shell station, has been open for 37 years. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

The deli also offers homemade chili and slaw to go on its burgers and hot dogs, livermush — if that’s your thing — and fresh salads.

“You don’t really find livermush in too many different delis,” Blanchard said.

While the deli has been operating for nearly four decades, Blanchard says new people are still discovering it.

“Sometimes even the neighborhood people don’t know we’ve been here for that long,” Blanchard said. “I guess, because we’re just in this little nook.”

Blanchard’s Deli is quintessentially quaint. It’s welcoming and homey, exactly what you’d expect from a Southern-style deli.

“We’ve met a lot of friends coming through here, a lot of the local neighbors,” Blanchard said. “It’s like a little ‘Cheers’ but with food. You get to know everybody.”

My favorite spots to get gas station grub in Charlotte

Blanchard’s Deli

Location: 5721 Carmel Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Located inside a Shell station, Blanchard’s Deli is a hidden gem with a ton of old school charm. The deli has been open for 37 years and serves everything from burgers and hot dogs to tuna salad, breakfast and fresh-brewed Southern-style sweet tea.

Blanchard’s is open Monday through Friday and is closed on the weekends.

A straight-on, eye-level shot of the brick exterior of “Blanchard’s Restaurant” on a sunny day. The restaurant appears attached to a gas station, with a red and yellow canopy visible on the far left. A large white sign on the brick wall lists the restaurant’s name, its offerings (”BREAKFAST - LUNCH”, “DAILY SPECIALS - DELI - SANDWICHES”), phone number, and hours. A small black metal table and two chairs sit on the sidewalk in front, next to the glass entrance. The building is topped with a white upper level featuring two distinct dormer windows under a blue sky.
Blanchard’s Deli is a hidden gem tucked away in a convenience store. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

Oakhill Deli and Grill

Location: 3709 Oakdale Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216

Oakhill Deli and Grill is located inside Oakhill Mini Mart. The gas station serves savory breakfast sandwiches that are made to order using fresh eggs, as well as the classic gas station lunch offerings of fried chicken and potato wedges. It’s the perfect place to start your day and also fill up your tank.

A wide, eye-level shot of a tall “OAKHILL” gas station price sign on an overcast day. The red, white, and blue sign displays red digital prices for “UNLEADED CASH” at “$2.79” and “UNLEADED CREDIT” at “$2.89”. The sign is located at the edge of a gas station, next to a utility pole and a two-lane road, with a background of trees in autumn colors.
Oakhill Deli and Grill is located inside Oakhill Mini Mart. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

Quik Shoppe

Location: 201 East Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Location: 1500 Eastway Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205

On the corner of South and East Boulevard, you’ll find the holy grail of fried chicken. The Quik Shoppe is a go-to for many late-night fried chicken seekers.

A close-up, angled shot looking down into a glass-and-metal hot food display case. The display features two large, paper-lined metal trays: one in the foreground filled with large, golden-brown pieces of fried chicken, and one to the right filled with a large pile of seasoned potato wedges.
From crispy fried chicken to potato wedges and mac and cheese, The Quik Shoppe is an iconic gas station spot to grab lunch. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

The salty chicken is succulent, and the potato wedges are perfectly seasoned. You can also grab mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes and gravy.

A straight-on, eye-level shot of the exterior of a “Market Express” convenience store on a sunny day. The one-story building is made of white painted brick and has a large, yellow, weathered sign for “THE CHICKEN STORE” on its right wall. In front of the store, on the sidewalk, are a FedEx drop box and two blue newspaper vending machines, all under a clear blue sky.
The Quik Shoppe in South End is renowned for its fried chicken. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

I also stopped by the Eastway Drive location, which serves breakfast. The potato wedges weren’t as crispy, but the chicken was just as juicy.

A straight-on, eye-level wide shot of the “J & U Express” gas station convenience store entrance. The white building, set under a large canopy with an orange stripe, features large glass windows and “J & U Express” printed in blue text. An “ICE” merchandiser is visible to the far left.
The J&U Express gas station is another spot to find the famous Shell station fried chicken in Charlotte. Samantha Husted CharlotteFive

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