The Best Gas Station Food Is in Hawai’i | Eater

"This Oahu-focused convenience-store chain transformed island convenience food after a Tokyo-based acquisition in 1989, adopting a Japan-influenced model of daily fresh foods and frequent new-product rollouts. Locals line up for dark chocolate–glazed mochi doughnuts, warm manapua stuffed with lap cheong, takoyaki corn puffs, award-winning Spam musubi, and newer items such as tonkotsu ramen with fresh noodles and sold-out bowls of beef pho brightened with Thai basil and sliced red onions. The operation continually develops products—often debuting one to three dishes weekly—and has collaborated with local culinary schools to create items like sinigang noodle soup and an ’ulu (breadfruit) stew; earlier introductions include pork hash, kimchi pork, and mapo tofu. While many locations are attached to gas pumps, the emphasis is squarely on locally tailored, made-daily convenience foods rather than fuel." - Martha Cheng