Last night on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” Tina Fey settled a beef with Roots’ drummer ?uestlove by eating a giant hoagie. As much as I want leave this post at that and hit publish, I will explain. The other night on the Bravo talk show “Watch What Happens Live,” ?uestlove had called out Fey, saying she was “never nice to The Roots” even though they’re both from Philadelphia. When she appeared on “Fallon,” she brought this up, saying her initial reaction as a Philly girl was to “key his car, drag him behind the Wawa” and kick his ass. Instead, they made up in the traditional Philadelphia way: they shared a huge hoagie.
As Uproxx’s resident Philadelphian, my official analysis of the whole situation is this: Wawa is the best. You don’t even know. It’s like the Wonka factory of convenience stores. (NOTE: If you try to come at me with some “So, what, it’s like a 7-Eleven?” bullsh-t, I swear to God I will cut you with a broken Yuengling bottle. Same for any of my fellow Eastern PA residents who bring up Turkey Hill or Sheetz. You would be unwise to test me.) They have delicious hoagies and coffee, as well as their own line of ice cream and ice teas. Without exaggeration, I would estimate that I went to Wawa for one thing or another no less than four times a week during college. It’s a little less frequent now, but BARELY. Usually, I get my standard order of one (1) foot-long chicken salad hoagie and one (1) half-gallon of ice tea. Sometimes I get chocolate ice cream, too. Seriously, YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW. Good Lord, now I’m getting hungry.
In conclusion, all you Californians with your In-N-Out Burgers can go jump in a lake. Wawa, son. Philly stand up.
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Word, bitch. South Jersey Wawa meatball subs like a muh-fucka.
I don’t mind Turkey Hill. Their ice cream is usually the cheapest at the supermarket. I don’t live in PA, so I don’t know any better.
As much as I don’t like Philly/South Jersey, I’ll admit Wawa does kick ass.
So it’s like a much smaller Wegmans?
Is running afoul of Questlove anything like running afoul of Marvin Harrison? Because I’ve grown to like Tina Fey.
So like a Circle-K basically.
how dare you
My mom is from Philly, so I spent a good amount of my childhood up there. And I totally agree about Wawa. Also, they have Tastykakes, which are waaay too rare down South.
There is a random Wawa in VA, though. I think it’s somewhere around Richmond? IDK.
My brother’s Christmas gift is always accompanied with Butterscotch Krimpets.
I think Wawa vs. In N Out would be one of the most lopsided matchups of all time (think Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland) but when you throw Tastykake peach pies into the mix, it turns into a bit more of a debate.
There are a ton of Wawas in VA…and they are all terrible.
As someone who used to travel too much in Northern VA, I can probably find every hidden WaWa between here and Richmond. There are quite a few thank god.
Butterscotch Krimpets are the best. I sometimes find the little individual packs at convenience stores and HAVE to buy them.
Rick’s Steaks closed at its’ third different location in Philly. As far as I’m concerned this whole city and its inability to support my particular brand of cheesesteak cholesteroliside can go right to hell, Wawa or no. I grew up in Sheetzslvania anyway.
/just found out today, still bitter.
I remember calling apartment complexes before I moved to Philadelphia for law school. One lady said “Oh we have great location, we’re right behind a Wawa” and I swear to God I thought she had a stroke on the phone.
I remember the first time I heard of the place. I asked a guy if there was anywhere nearby where I could grab a coffee, and he said “Try the Wawa.” To which I said, “The Whatwhat?”
As a Pittsburgh guy that also lived in Philly for six months, can I then say that Sheetz kicks Wawa’s ass six ways to Sunday?
DANGER ATTACK.
MTOs!!
You are insane people.
Wawa has MTO too, except it doesn’t try to force a Z at the end of every item and the sandwiches don’t taste like cardboard covered in three pounds of lettuce.
WAWA does not do fries. Advantage Sheetz
No, you can’t. It’s close if anything, but there’s no way I’m saying a place where I can’t get soup or low-cal ice cream at all is better than one where I can. NEVER.
I can’t be a full judge as I haven’t been to Wawa, though I have heard incredible things. But I really enjoy going a place I can get donuts, meatball subs, a wall of Icees, cookies, beer, and lottery tickets in one place.
But does Wawa have their own brand of beer like they do at Stewarts Shops up here in upstate NY? Didn’t think so.
/pounds a can of Mountain Brew Beer Ice
Stewart’s is making their own beer now? I miss stewart’s.
Genesee Beer out in Rochester makes it for them.
Quickcheck > or = Wawa
But, Sheetz sells pizza now. And they’re leading the fight to get PA to allow beer sales in convience stores.
The thing you miss most about Texas after moving to PA is grabbing multiple 12 packs when you fill up your car.
You can’t buy beer at a convenience store up there? UNAMERICAN.
So you’re arguing that a store which can’t sell beer is “Great”?
lol-ing
Circle K has the best grab-and-go coffee I’ve ever had. It’s a required stop every day when we visit family in eastern Ohio.
Salsa chicken flatbread for dat ass! Don’t forget my sour cream packet, either!
You’re picking Wawa as the best food place in Philly? Yeah, it’s better than most convenience stores but it’s still a goddamn convenience store.
Tony Luke’s or GTFO.
Also, it’s ?uestlove.
Admit it, you’re not from Philly. Camden, maybe.
Watch it, bub.
A) I wrote it with a Q because that’s a little better for SEO purposes.
B) Of course Tony Luke’s is delicious. But Wawa has a much wider variety of stuff: cold cut hoagies, ice cream, coffee, a full deli, snacks, etc.
C) I grew up outside the city, but I lived in the city limits for both college and law school.
D) Never question me again.
Also, it’s ?uestlove.
Seriously. WTF, DG.
Also Wawa being the shit doesn’t mean its FOOD is the best, just that . . . it is the best. Or something. Four times a week is low-balling it.
I stand by my “meh.”
I will, however, die on any hill you name to defend the honor of Yuengling.
You know what? Fuck it. Changed.
This is the one time I will allow you to question me about my business.
I will stick with Questlove. Questionmarkuestlove doesn’t roll off the tongue.
Is there a place called like…Joe’s Roast Pork in south philly? If so, that was the best sandwich I had in that town. Name completely eludes me though.
I would never ?uestion you, DG
Tony Luke’s is WAY overrated, especially in the cheesesteak department. John’s Roast Pork or Jim’s, all the way.
In and Out can suck a bag of dicks.
Before I moved to California that’s ALL anyone would talk about “OH YOU HAVE TO TRY IN AND OUT!” “OH, IN AND OUT IS SO GOOD!! THEY HAVE A SECRET MENU!!” and all the other bullshit those west coast idiots spew.
Such a fucking let down. It’s a fast food burger with pretty good fries.
Ok, so the food is all fresh. Neat. it’s still just a smallish fast food burger with pretty good fries.
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE SECRET MENU!
Neat, I can tell them how many patties and cheese I want in code, or I can get them to cook my burger with mustard and put thousand island on it. It’s not really a “secret” if every motherfucker in California knows about it.
Ugh…
I can’t help but get worked up into a rage when I think about how mediocre that place is and what a cult following it has.
Preach. The “secret menu” thing is ridiculous. You know how to get a different dressing on your burger. You’re not part of the Illuminati.
Fatburger kicks its ass, and Five Guys is close behind. Hell, I’d put Whataburger over In’n'Out as well.
Goddamn it, now I’m hungry.
Resident Californian here. In N’ Out blows big time. It’s good fast food, but it’s still fast food. There are literally dozens of places I’d go to get a burger before considering In N’ Out.
Super Duper Burger is the place to go in SF.
Five Guys would take In N Out hands down if they would just serve a shake.
Fuddruckers. Five Guys, Culvers, Fatburger, shit anything other than In and Out. It’s so annoying that they’re always packed, it’s an average burger. Average. Okay fries, average burger with no other fucking choices. I can get a fucking meatloaf at Culvers! Fuddruckers has buffalo burgers! Five Guys has fries that taste like a magic carpet for your tongue! Fatburger has massive burgers! Only hippies and hipsters like In and Out and most of those jack asses are vegans anyway. Like Ron Swanson already figured out, don’t let vegans cook your meat.
Five Guys is seriously overrated. My wife is a goddamn burger conn-o-suer, I myself am not far behind. The burger is entirely too greasy and the much-lauded fries are shit. They taste like I cut the potatoes myself, tossed them in grease and counted to 100. If there’s one thing I DON’T want to taste like it was home-made, it’s my fast food. In its defense, the bun was pretty good, but not much different than a Wendy’s bun.
It wasn’t the worst burger and fries ever, by far…I’ve eaten Sonic, mind you. Sorry, it was one of those things that was all built up and then…wonk wonk.
Jesus Christ on a cracker. You people (yeah, I said “you people”) are insane and wrong and unholy. In N Out kicks the ever-loving shit out of Fatburger, Fuddruckers, and Whataburger. Five Guys is close, but falls short. Fat-fucking-burger? Otto, I’m with you on all PoFlaWa topics, but you and your midwestern ilk are just plain wrong about this. In N Out serves the best burger (especially under $4) and I will die (from clogged arteries) defending this fact.
So the Democratic circular firing squad extends to burgers? Damn.
For the record, I’m not a midwesterner, but rather a southerner transplanted to NYC. Everyday is like a wacky sitcom!
Except the time I asked a friend if he knew what hushpuppies were and he said, “Do you mean the dogs or the shoes?” There was a lot of crying that day. Because I stabbed him with a fork.
Five Guys cajun fries are fucking amazing
I’d kill a bus full of nuns for Five Guys cajun fries right now.
In-N-Out followed by Whataburger and Shake Shack. Five Guys is over priced and over rated.
Wawa’s touch-screen, self-serve hoagie ordering thing is the best thing to happen to stoned people since Doritos
Yup.
WawaFlaWa!
So glad they squashed the beef before batteries started being thrown.
And Wawa is indeed “the shit.” I’m in north NJ and all we got are Quick Checks and 7-11′s. The Khloe Kardashian and Shawn “SW-1″ Wayans of convenience stores.
I like the big Wawas with 24 gas pumps. No waiting ever, plus their gas is pretty cheap.
“Super Wawas” as they’re called. Not just a nickname, actual company naming.
Also watching Tina Fey eating a hoagie. Kinda turnin’ me on.
Wawa like a motherfucker, YO! F- those other places like Heritage (a poor man’s Wawa), SheetZ, Country Fair (thinking man’s WaWa), Stop N’Go, and 7-11!
Though I’ll have to say WaWa definitely does not beat Yuan’s Seafood and Beer in West Philadelphia, especially since the owner took my word that I was legal enough to purchase a 40 oz bottle of Steel Reserve, no ID needed! And seafood and beer, what a great combination! Great customer service behind a bulletproof glass!
Also, the WawaTurkey Gobbler is the bee’s knees. And nothing beats Late Night Drunk (Wawa Touch Screen) Dialing
The Gobbler is the greatest sandwich ever in the history of convenience stores. If anyone even tries to argue I will beat them unmercifully with a sack full of lightbulbs
With all this discussion of a secret menu at In-and-Out burger, I wish there was a secret code on the Wawa Touch Screen that will grant me access to a Wawa Gobbler after the Thanksgivng Holiday Season is over. i guess i’ll try the Contra code next time i’m there, lol.
@kwyjibo – The Gobbler was great when I first had it as Capriotti’s Bobbie
You’ve never experienced frustration until you try to explain to the rubes out here in the midwest what Wawa is. I think I almost got expelled from Wisconsin for arguing with people freshman year about this. Worth it.
You’re not wrong. Native Wisconsinite rube here and I had many an argument with my South Jersey friend about this back in the day. I’m still not 100% on how it’s different from a Kwik Trip or PDQ but I’ve long conceded the fight on this.
Wawa’s (non-meatball) hoagies have been sliding by purely on the strength of the Amoroso roll since they replaced delicious Dietz & Watson lunchmeats with that waterlogged Wawa brand imitation meat product lunch stuffs. But, as a convenience store the place is stoner Mecca.
WaWa > In-N-Out > Tim Tebow > Sheetz
Lifelong Philadelphian here, I’m sorry but Wawa hoagies absolutely suck. Actually their entire food side has gone to shit with the exception of the rolls, which aren’t even their own. The lunch meat is a slimy mess, I never understood why that happened until I just read TubDope’s comment about them switching out D&W for their own brand and now it makes sense. They also did away with their delicious grilled and breaded chicken sandwiches, now everything is based on their chicken tenders which are the ground up and re-packed kind that you can find in your supermarket freezer. Yum! The coffee is still pretty good but even that’s going downhill now that they’re brewing it in the giant drums and leaving them sit for hours on end instead of brewing fresh glass pots every half hour or so like they always used to.
My point is this…it’s time to stop talking up Wawa food as being awesome because it hasn’t been for at least 5 years now and when people who aren’t from here eventually have it they’re going to be massively disappointed. The same principle applies to TastyKakes by the way, we fucking love them and we act like they’re special (because to us, they are) but when someone who doesn’t live here has them for the first time their response is usually…”so what?”
As someone who subsisted entirely on Butterscotch Krimpets for the better part of his childhood, I would submit the Tastykakes raised me more than my own parents. SO DON’T YOU TALK ABOUT MY ICING’D FATHER THAT WAY.
It will never be time to stop talking up Wawa food as being awesome. Truth of that caliber is eternal.
Hiptser scum. “It was cool before YOU got here”
You can’t even imagine how happy this thread is making me. Even you idiots who disagree with me.
I’m impressed no one has brought up Geno’s or Pat’s, both of which can suck it.
Campo’s (on Market) or Delassandro’s (somewhere, I dunno, I was drunk) kick the crap out of Pat’s and Geno’s.
It’s D’allessandro’s, it’s in Roxborough and them and Chubby’s are the muhfuggin GOATs of the cheesesteak game (when John’s roast pork isn’t an option).
D’allessandro’s. Damn, I haven’t been there in years. So good.
Any place that will sell you a 40 that you can non-judgmentally drink at the counter while you eat your steak is worthy of being in my will. Which probably contains more debt than riches, but this is a thought that counts type of situation.
Jesus Christ, D’alessandro’s? Really? You mean the place where the meat has no flavor? You people love picking the most overrated cheesesteak places in Philly to prop up, don’t you? DON’T YOU?
Although yeah, Pat’s and Geno’s can both sit on railroad spikes, Geno’s especially for their “No ordering in Spanish, THIS IS AMURKA!” stance.
Jim’s like a motherfucker!
Agreed.
Srsly, Jim’s is the best. Tony Luke’s can eat a dick. South Philly ain’t good for nothin’ besides strip clubs and strip malls.
Fucking A! That said, I ain’t standing outside in the fucking cold for an hour to get a goddamn cheesesteak. I’ll just go across the street to Ishkabibble. And no ketchup!
I also would like to clarify, when I say “South Philly” I mean deep, dark South Philly. Not Passayunk/Italian Market South Philly. Many times has a Pat’s cheesesteak passed through my drunken lips. Always ketchup.
For real, Jim’s way overcooks the meat. Plus, standing inside for 20 minutes while every fiber of you being absorbs the old grease smell is dumb. It’s an appetizing scent when you’re eating, or about to eat, but not 3 hours later, when you’re home/in the bar/back at the office. Plus, it’s only It’s “freezing cold” for like, 2 months in Philly.
Jim’s is only passable when it has a slice of Lorenzo’s wrapped around it. Try it sometime, if you live, you’ll thank me.
That may be the best picture of Jimmy Fallon I’ve ever seen. He had that look on his face the entire time he interviewed Alison Brie.
I’ll give you this Danger…Wawa ice cream is pretty awesome and it’s half the price of Breyers and 1/3 the price of B&J.
Anyone who eats a hoagie at Wawa during regular business hours is an idiot. Any deli – seriously ANY deli – makes a better sandwich. The rolls are garbage. The meat is… off. Look, if you’re hammered at 2 AM, it’s passable. But before that? No.
And Jim’s stinks, too. Literally. Waiting inside for a cheesesteak is for the birds. John’s (when it’s not crowded), Tony Luke’s, or Shank’s.
Everyone must be gay because it appears I am the only one imagining Tina Fey gobbling my Jackie D while ticking my funbox when I see this picture.
I really hope that the (1) half gallon of iced tea was some fucking Artic Splash.
kenzo
This will be a controversial statement, but oh well. Jim’s, maybe Larry’s in West Philadelphia for best Philly Cheesesteak…..in Philly. Best Cheesesteak ever: White House Sub Shop off the boardwalk and right in the middle of the poverty stricken warzone of Atlantic City. I’ll show my way out..
Best West Philly Cheesesteak: Ethiopian cheesesteak from Gojjo’s.
I’ll have to try that out one day.
Ethiopian Cheesesteak? That’s one of the most ironic foods I’ve ever heard tell of.
The food is good, but the portions are incredibly small.
No, no. I’ll punch myself for that one.
Larry’s FTFW…the belly filler is CRUSHING.
Am I the only one who knows about Gooey Louie’s cheesesteaks? It’s tucked into a shitty shopping center on Moyemensing, but for $5 they give you a sandwich as big around as Trent Cole’s thigh.
I don’t know much of anything about this, but I do know that the sandwiches they show on the Food Network of cheesesteaks and the one with pork and broccoli rabe look fucking delicious.
That’s a roast pork Italian, and it’s as good as it looks. Better.
I’m a Tony Luke’s man, but some people like Jim’s better. They are wrong.
If you can’t make it to Philly, here’s a decent recipe for them.
I think Maj passed this on to me, so you know it’s delicious.
Just spent 2 weeks in Philly for the Holidays and am now living in DC. Its gonna be depressing not having a buffalo chicken hoagie and Tea Cooler at 2:30 am all strongdrunk.
Damnit, I really want some Yuengling and Cheez Waffies right now.
If somebody mentions Sheetz I will go Raylen Givens on their ass.
*in Russian accent* you Ameeeericans with your conveeeeeenient stores.
Ha. Reminds me of a Russian student I knew in high school talking about some lunchroom brawl.
“Americans, you fight like poosy, you don’t do real fight. You ponch, you poosh…poosies. I crack you bones.”
Wawa pales in comparison to Old Nelson’s. It replaced a Wawa in my parents town and it’s fucking awesome.
Oh and I worked at a Wawa and they had a strict no facial hair policy. Screw that. I want people to enjoy my beard hairs in their homestyle roastbeef
.”I want people to enjoy my beard hairs in their homestyle roastbeef.”
When I make my porn directing debut, I’m going to work this one into the script somewhere.
Whatever, Wawa. Sheetz RULES!
My only question is when and where is the Warming Glow Philadelphia Meetup going down?
At Geno’s, 4 am, next tuesday. BYOGasoline.
Hot Dougs and Pequods Pizza is all I need
wawa coffee is good as shit for how cheap it is when you get one of those mugs. especially when you fill it, drink half of it and refill it again. the gas stations always have the nicest fucking people too.
also wawa brand blue raspberry soda is the best shit in the world to mix with vodka when you’re trying to get your drink on on the sly.
Jim’s is ok. Tony Luke’s is pretty awesome. The best cheesesteak in the world is Chink’s on Torresdale Ave in the North East. No joke, I’ve never taken anyone there who has not agreed. Plus they have milkshakes!
They also have hot cuz waitresses and a hilariously unintended racist name! But yeah, the steaks are legit.
I can only hope more posts will have a Wawa tag.
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If I can’t find a delicious hoagie or cheesesteak there, then frankly you can go fuck yourself spamyang. However, if you can offer those things, I will totally do you and your spyware right in the can.
Wow, no mention of Chickie and Pete’s.. Though I guess it’s more about their fries and wings.
wait…they sell cheesesteaks?
Yup, I thought the steaks were good, but not so much. Fries kick ass though.
So some friends and I were driving through Pennsylvania one time, and we saw the signs for Wawa. The entire day, I kept saying, “We’ll go a little later, we’ll go a little later…” I passed out in the van, and when I woke up, they told me we just left PA. And when I asked the driver guy if we’ll ever come back again, he said he didn’t know. Well, I’m never going to let something like that happen again!
So glad to see so many of you guys bagging on Sheetz. That place is always packed enough as it is. Good to know there’ll be less mooks standing around in there next time I go out for a REAL sub. THAT’S RIGHT- I said it!
Woo hoo! Go Red and Gold and…fuck it: lime green!?!?!
From a South Philly resident who lives in the hideous shadow of Pat’s and Geno’s, in reference to some of the above:
Otto Man is right – Tony Luke’s is tops. Pat’s and Geno’s are strictly for the rubes.
The roast pork sammich mentioned is from John’s Roast Pork, and it is a religion around here. Probably the best food item in the city.
One sleeper not mentioned – Nick’s roast beef. Gotta go into the deep south nether regions to get it, but holy hell it is amazing. Toss in an order of fries (which come slathered in the roast beef drippings and extra bits of meat), a pitcher of Lager and a game on the janky ass projection screen and you’ve got a perfect day.
everything this guy said. TRUST.
This food post def needs a Guy Fieri graphic stat
The best cheesesteak place in Philly, bar none, is John’s Roast Pork. It also has bangin’ ass breakfast sandwiches. The only drawback? It’s not open on weekends and closes at 3PM on weekdays, so it’s a HASSLE to get to.
Also, Philly has PYT for burgers which I’ve never been to, but I’ve heard is AMAZING. I need to get there.
AS for Wawa being overrated, obviously, so many other hoagie shops in Philly smoke it nowadays, but that’s because Philly IS a sandwich down. Primo’s, Capriotti’s and a lot of other corner places make better hoagies because that’s what they do. That being said, try ordering a “sub” from somewhere outside of Philly. Then you’ll go crawling back to Wawa with your tail between your legs, yelping and yipping and begging for forgiveness.
Massachusetts has nothing awesome like this. All we get is Cumberland Farms and the poorly named Cumbies and CumZone nicknames.
@DG I can never get up the nerve to eat a sandwich from a gas station…and there’s a gourmet sandwich shop here in D.C. that is located in a gas station.
My vote for Turkey Hill overall, but the Wawa Gobblers (thanksgiving dinner on a bun) are the best seasonal food.
I’m going to Orlando next week, can someone give me a thumbs up/thumbs down on Steak N Shake?
Mmmm…Yeungling Porter and Black & Tan. I miss you – Dirty Frank’s and McGlinchey’s and Doc Watson’s. Geno’s at 2:30am. Mummers. Cheese steaks. Why is it so damn hard to make a cheese steak?
omg wawa mac n cheese chocolate banana smoothies coffee state minimum cigarettes most open 24/7 for convenient drunk munchies = heaven,