10 Ordering Mistakes You Might Be Making At Buc-Ee's
Have you ever been to a Buc-ee's? If so, you know that locations of this chain usually consist of a massive travel center, complete with food stations, restrooms, a gift shop, gas pumps, and more. If you've never been to Buc-ee's — and one is being built in your area, or you're planning a road trip where you'll drive by one — prepare yourself for the experience that is waiting for you.
Buc-ee's is unlike any other type of rest area that you've been to. Once you arrive, you'll immediately notice the massive amount of food options available to help you refuel your body, before refueling your vehicle for the next leg of your trip. However, if you don't know what you're doing, it is easy to become overwhelmed or make an ordering mistake at one of these locations. Even if you've been to several Buc-ee's over the years, you may be guilty of some of these mistakes as well. Read on to learn more about what you should and shouldn't do on your first or next trip to Buc-ee's.
1. Thinking that hot food won't be available
The first Buc-ee's ordering mistake that you can make is related to hot food. Don't make the error of thinking that you can't order hot food based on the time of day that it is. If you're driving overnight, it is easy to assume that there will not be hot food options available at Buc-ee's. After all, many other restaurants — even several fast food ones — stop serving food in the hours just before or just after midnight. Fortunately, this isn't the case with Buc-ee's. The travel centers are open 24 hours a day. This includes the hot food stations. You can come in whenever you happen to drive by one and need a little pick-me-up to keep you on your way.
Not only is Buc-ee's open 24 hours a day, but they are also open 365 days a year. That's right, they never close. Even if you are traveling somewhere on a major holiday, such as Christmas, Buc-ee's will be there to keep you going.
2. Not visiting the Texas Round Up station
No trip to Buc-ee's is complete without a visit to the Texas Round Up Station, which serves barbecue. Buc-ee's is a Texas-based company, they know what they're doing when it comes to barbecue. Chopped brisket — one of the most popular items in the travel center — can be found at the Texas Round Up Station. You'll want to make sure to add it to your order. While there will be some pre-packaged brisket sandwiches ready to go, the trick is to wait for a hot, fresh serving. Keep your ears listening: there will be an announcement when the hot brisket is ready.
While the chopped brisket sandwich may be one of the best things to pick up at the Texas Round Up Station, it is far from the only delicious option. You might also want to try a pulled pork sandwich or sausage on a stick. These can both make a nice lunch, dinner, or even a hearty snack.
3. Not realizing the chain offers made-to-order meals
The Texas Round Up Station is just one place where you can find hot food at Buc-ee's. While the chain's sandwiches are rather incredible, you may be in the mood for something else. Lucky for you, Buc-ee's does offer several other hot food items, such as hot dogs, tacos, and chicken sandwiches. If you want to order one of these, find the "Order Here" signs or kiosks. From there, you can browse through the available options, select what you want, and place your order.
After you place an order at the kiosk, make sure that you don't forget to grab the receipt confirming your purchase. It will have your order number, which you'll need to listen for your food to be ready. Look for the counter near the bakery and jerky station, that's where you will need to go to pick up your order.
4. Not applying for the Buc-ee's credit card
Let's face it. Once you've been to Buc-ee's once, you're going to want to go back. There is just too much there to see, do, and eat in just one visit. Plus, it makes a really convenient pit stop during a road trip. If you're going to be stopping in several times in the future, why not save money every time you go? The Buc-ee's Platinum Mastercard from the Texas Dow Employees Credit Union (TDECU) can help you do just that.
With this credit card, you will get a 5% discount on fuel and in-store shopping at all participating Buc-ee's locations. Given today's cost of food and fuel, any savings are always welcome and can have a big impact on your available cash. While 5% may not seem like a lot, if you figure that it is the equivalent of saving $5 for each $100 you spend, it may be easier to see how quickly the savings can add up. You'll be saving a few bucks on each tank of gas, and minimizing eating out costs on Buc-ee's already reasonably-priced food.
5. Not picking up some sweets
Is it really a road trip if there are no sweets involved? We don't think so. Before you leave Buc-ee's, make sure you grab some candy or other sweets for the road. Buc-ee's isn't lacking when it comes to sweets, so the most difficult decision you'll need to make is what you want to get. The wall of snacks features favorites such as sour bites, licorice, rock candy, cookies, gummies, cotton candy, cherry sours, pecan logs, peanut brittle, and many more.
If you want some snacks — but prefer more savory options over sweeter ones — don't worry, Buc-ee's has you covered as well. The snack wall also includes options such as pork rinds, popcorn, trail mix, sunflower seeds, and pretzels. There really is something for everyone. Pick up a few different options to keep you and everyone in your vehicle happy for the remainder of your drive.
6. Failing to grab some Beaver Nuggets
There's one more sweet snack available from Buc-ee's that deserves special attention: the Beaver Nuggets. Buc-ee's mascot is a beaver, and these Beaver Nuggets are the perfect treat to keep him — and you — smiling ear to ear. The nuggets are perfectly crunchy and sweet. Don't let their plain appearance fool you, these bites are incredible. There are many flavors of Beaver Nuggets available. Some flavors you might want to try include Sea Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Sweet, Milk Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate.
There are also savory options of a similar snack item, called Nug-ees. These include flavors like White Cheddar, White Cheddar Habanero, and Bold N' Sorta Spicy. You'll be kicking yourself if you don't give some or all of these a try. Just make sure you open your bag and take a taste before you drive away. This way, you can have access to your snacks while you are driving.
7. Not trying the kolaches
If you've never heard of a kolache, you're not alone. If you fail to try one when you're at Buc-ee's, well, that will be a huge mistake. Kolaches are a traditional Czech pastry first introduced into the state around the 1880s, when Texas welcomed thousands of Czech immigrants. Buc-ee's has several sweet kolache flavors to choose from. Some options you might find include cream cheese, pecan pie, and peach.
In addition to these sweeter offerings, Buc-ee's also sells more savory kolaches — which should technically be called klobasniky. A few of the flavors and filling options include jalapeño cheddar sausage, cajun boudin, and green chile and sausage. The kolaches stored are in the bakery cases near the Texas Round Up Station. After you grab your chopped brisket sandwich, make sure you stop by to pick up a kolache to enjoy for dessert, or for a snack later on.
8. Ordering something you can't eat in the car
This may sound a bit crazy after reading about all of the food options available at Buc-ee's, but there are no tables where guests can sit and eat a meal. We recommend you avoid purchasing anything that you — or anyone who is with you — won't be able to eat in the car without making a huge mess.
For many travelers, this won't alter their plans in any way. However, if you were planning on taking a leisurely lunch break, you might want to come up with a plan B. Perhaps you'll be able to find a picnic area nearby where you can sit down and eat the food you pick up at Buc-ee's. The exact reason why Buc-ee's doesn't offer seating isn't clear, but it is likely to keep people moving through the store and avoid too much congestion, with all the visitors that come in on a daily basis.
9. Walking past the jerky
We've already covered several food items that you should order from Buc-ee's. But there is yet another item that it would be a major ordering mistake to let slip through your fingers: jerky. Whether you could live on jerky, or enjoy it as an occasional snack, you'll want to make sure you visit Buc-ee's jerky station. Just be prepared for what you're about to encounter. If you're expecting two or three different options, you are sorely mistaken.
Buc-ee's selection of jerky is probably not something you're used to seeing. Each location is equipped with a huge counter full of nearly any flavor of jerky you could think of. Want to try ghost pepper jerky? It should be there. How about some cherry maple jerky? Yep, they've got that too. Of course, there are more classic flavors, such as mild beef jerky and turkey jerky. In addition to the options available at the meat counter, Buc-ee's also sells pre-packaged jerky. This is also a huge display with several options to choose from.
10. Skipping the fudge counter
Who doesn't love fudge? It is so sweet, smooth, and delicious. If you agree, then you'll also want to make a point of visiting Buc-ee's fudge counter. Here, you'll find some of the most scrumptious fudge you've ever had. If you couldn't guess based on all the different varieties of the other foods they offer, Buc-ee's has way more than just plain chocolate fudge.
While there is always room for a classic milk or dark chocolate fudge, you may want to veer from the ordinary to try some of the more unique flavors offered by Buc-ee's. While some flavors are seasonal or rotate in or out, some of the different options you might find available include cookies and cream, rocky road, peanut butter, salted caramel, red velvet, blueberry cheesecake, caramel pecan, and key lime. With so many options, you might just have to buy some extra to bring home with you.