The results of the Register's convenience store online poll are in, andwhile this is an unscientific exercise,two gas stations stood out in the voting for go-tofood and drink offerings.
We asked our readers to pick their favorite Iowa gas stations to get coffee, tea, pizza and roller dogs, as well as which c-stores have the best soda fountain and snack collection. More than 2,600 votes were counted.
QuikTrip, the Tulsa-based chain that's had a presence in Iowa since 1974,rated as readers' favorite across four categories. Casey's General Store, founded in Des Moines in 1959, won in three of the categories.
Here's how the votes came in for each category:
Casey's is the king of pizza and it's not even close
Iowan's love Casey's pizza, which has been well-documented. Casey's has been a pioneering force in the development of gas station pizza and has become iconic for Iowa-specific pizza varietieslike taco and breakfast. Competition has increased over the years with pretty much every gas station offering itsown take on the quick-made pizza.
But Iowans love the classics, and 85% of poll respondents said Casey's offers the best pizza, eclipsingsecond-place Kum & Go(7%) and third-placeQuikTrip (4%).
► Mila Kunis says Casey's has 'delicious breakfast pizza'
►Casey's is fifth largest pizza chain in U.S.
►Barstool Sports tried Casey's legendary breakfast pizza. The verdict: 'too bacony'
QuikTrip has got the tea
When it was announced that QuikTrip would be closing four locations in the Des Moines area, there was some outcry among readers: What would they do without QuikTrip tea? The results of the gas station poll support this idea, with QuikTrip receiving 35% of the vote in favor of itstea.Avid tea drinkers in Iowa prefer QuikTrip's fresh-brewed QTea and the several flavors available comparedto other gas station's offerings.
Casey's General Store was the second-most preferred with 24% of the vote followed by Kum & Go with 20% of the vote.
► More:Iowa's official food: Convenience-store cuisine
►More:Kwik Star expanding into Des Moines metro
QuikTrip rolls over the competition when it comes to roller dogs
Upon findingthemselvescraving, sometimes againstbetter judgment, a hot dog glistening from its time rolling gently between the warm metal rods, most Iowans (46% of poll respondents) think of QuikTrip roller dogs. Whether it's the classic all-beef, a corn dog or a taquito, Iowans have made QuikTrip the destination for their quick lunch-time fix.
Kum & Gohas some support with 26% of the votewhile third-place Kwik Star racked up 13% of the vote in the only category where Casey's didn't rank in the top three.
Casey's is the best gas station for coffee
When looking for the bean juice to gas them up while they gas up their cars, 31% of poll respondents voted Casey's General Store as their preferred choice. Casey's Arabica beans, multiple flavor choices and cappuccino varieties put them a cut above the rest in the eyes of Register readers.
The second-most popular choice for coffee was Kum & Go (25% of the vote) followed by QuikTrip (22% of the vote).
► When you gotta go, Casey's is the place
Iowans prefer Casey's doughnuts, too
Apparently, Casey's General Store owns the market when it comes to dough-involved foods in Iowa gas stations. Casey's doughnutshavethe right texture, the right sweetness in the glaze and maintain their freshness just long enough to make a day-old box worth it at the discounted price.
Once again, Casey's towered over the competition in this category, receiving 55% of the vote over second-place QuikTrip (16%) and third-place Kum & Go (12%).
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The soda fountain at QuikTrip is unmatched
QuikTrip takes quite a bit of pride in itssoda fountain offerings. How is any gas station soda fountain different from another? According to the convenience store chain, it isn't just a funnel for syrup and water, but a place where "each drink is a perfect combination of elements carefully calibrated to produce the crispest and most refreshing fountain drink possible."
Voters in our poll appreciated that dedication to soda quality, giving QuikTrip 39% of the voteover second-place Kum & Go (29%) and third-place Casey's (15%).
Everyone has their own personal favorite when it comes to snack selection
Nowhere were the poll results more split among Register readers than when it came to snack selection. Everyone seems to have their own preference among the state's most recognizable gas stations when it comes to who's carrying their favorite variety.
QuikTrip placed first in this category, but just barely, with 26.4% of the vote. Neck-in-neck with QuikTrip was second-place Casey's General Store with 25.6% of the vote and nearly tied with third-place Kum & Go, whichreceived 25.3% of the vote.
Follow the Register on Facebook and Twitter for more news. Aaron Calvin can be contacted at acalvin@dmreg.com or on Twitter @aaronpcalvin.
