I lived in Saline County for just over four years, and during that time I learned that there are a few surprising places to eat. One of the most surprising isn’t a restaurant at all, but rather a deli tucked away in a Shell station just off I-30 right as the interstate exits Benton. The store is called Bullock’s Superstop, and while you can get the typical food, candy, and soda pop there, it’s what’s behind the counter that makes the place a must-stop every time I find myself heading that way: delicious smoked meat.
- JESS ROBERTS
- Smoked turkey sandwich
This discovery was something of an accident: Jess and I were heading down toward Hot Springs one day and decided to stop and fill up our tank. Seeing some tasty looking sandwiches in the cold case by the cash register for only a couple of bucks, we grabbed some turkey sandwiches and went on our way. Imagine our surprise when we took the first bite and found that nestled between two pieces of ordinary light bread was a pile of thin-shaved smoked turkey as good as any we’d ever had. Moist, tender, and redolent of hickory smoke, this sandwich was a shocking revelation that there might be more to Bullock’s than meets the eye.
We paid a little more attention to the place next time we were through, grabbing another one of those turkey sandwiches but also getting one of the smoked ham variety. Again, the meat was shaved wafer thin and piled thick, its only companion a slice of deli-style American cheese. Subsequent visits saw us trying some of their other non-smoked sandwiches — pimento cheese, egg salad, and tuna — as well as some of their more typical gas station fare like burgers and burritos, but it’s that smoked meat that keeps us coming back. We asked the folks at Bullock’s what their secret was, and all they’d tell us is that they start with Petit Jean meat and then smoke it in their own particular way. I can certainly understand the desire for technique secrecy when the food is this good.
Bullock’s Superstop is located at 15536 Interstate 30 in Benton, right before Ed & Kay’s cafe. I know I’ve written about gas station cuisine before with tongue planted firmly in cheek, but believe me when I say that the smoked meat at this place is the real deal.