7 great restaurants you can find at Madison-area gas stations

Madison is losing a popular restaurant, with the closing Monday of House of Flavas.

Jodie Jefferson opened the restaurant in 2021 at 4905 Commercial Ave., inside Capitol Petro Mart. She's open until 5 p.m. if food doesn't run out first.

But even after House of Flavas is gone, you can find other great restaurants inside or attached to gas stations.

King of Falafel

King of Falafel is at 1129 S. Park St., inside an Amoco gas station.

A Downtown restaurant of the same name closed in 2009 and the gas station location opened in 2014, said co-owner Adel Benmeftah, who took it over three years ago.

It's open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 608-709-5500

McGee's Chicken

McGee's Chicken, 2702 E. Washington Ave., was formerly called Gyro House, and operates out of a Capitol Petro station.

It bills itself as a fast food/soul food restaurant and offers at least a dozen ways you can order chicken, including gizzards.

Owner Esperdell McGee, in a 2016 Wisconsin State Journal review, said the breading for his chicken is just flour, "chicken seasoning," salt and pepper, but the secret is using a good grade of chicken.

McGee's menu goes beyond fried chicken, with hamburgers, gyros, Italian beef, barbecued rib tips and Philly cheese steaks. Sides include macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, collard greens and candied yams.

It's open from noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 608-442-0220

JD's Taste of Chicago

JD's Taste of Chicago, in the Capitol Petro Mart, 2570 Rimrock Road, Fitchburg.

Owner James Davis said the restaurant has been in its location since 2021, serving American food: Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago hot dogs, Polish sausages, chicken wings, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, pizza, fish and shrimp.

It's open Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 608-230-6471

Granny's Kitchen

Granny's Kitchen opened in February 2021 on Madison's North Side in the back of a Citgo at 1423 Northport Drive.

It has gained a reputation for its Soul Food Sundays, and catfish and chicken wings are its biggest sellers.

The restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day but Tuesday. 608-590-7082

Pikkito is a Peruvian restaurant that opened last year in the same building as a Citgo gas station, now a BP, at 3301 Parmenter St. in Middleton. In that space was formerly Tucumã, a short-lived Brazilian cafe and bakery.

Highway Café

Highway Café, on Highway 51 off Interstate 90, serves classic diner fare and excellent baked goods, but what sets it apart is its exceptional service.

It's at 6162 Highway 51, DeForest, connected to a Shell service station. 608-298-7244

Garden Asian Market

Garden Asian Market, 6136 University Ave., in Middleton, isn't exactly a restaurant but serves some prepared foods to go. It's in a gas station of the same name.

The market on the corner of Allen Boulevard sits next to the longstanding Chinese restaurant Imperial Garden, but doesn't serve its food. The market does offer some prepared Chinese dishes to go like barbecue pork.

It's open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. 608-238-7889

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