Tulsa's coolest independent gas station gets a taste test

If you are a regular reader of Oklahoma Today or a fan of our weekly podcast (give us a listen if you haven’t), you know we have been hyping up Reeder’s Auto and Tire in Tulsa for a while. To me, the press is well-earned: This is a family-owned, independent fuel, auto service, and convenience store that far exceeds the national chain standard.

As exciting as a place like Reeder’s is (they’re located in Tulsa at the intersection of South Lewis Avenue and East 21st Street, by the way), as an Oklahoma City resident who has only been aware of Reeder’s for the past few months, I have not had the chance to actually visit . . . until now. I had to visit Tulsa for a story I’m working on this week, and I knew I wasn’t going to leave the city until I’d picked up several goodies from my new favorite fuel vender.

Below is the list of all the food items I bought on my first trip, plus a short review. I’ll definitely be back for more soon—there is so much more to try.

Pretty much any gas station drivers stop at these days will have a roller grill. Aside from hot dogs and sausages, the most common item on these grills is a pepperoni and cheese rollup of some kind. These taquito-like wraps tend to get tough after spending who knows how many hours in the slow spin cycle. The Reeder’s answer for pizza-in-a-pinch, by contrast, is a significant upgrade.

You might actually need two hands to eat the sizable Reeder’s Pepperoni Pizza Pocket. It doesn’t roll endlessly on electric heat. Instead, the product appears fresh baked with flaky, discernible crescent layers to its pastry shell. There is a very light snap in biting through the buttery outer breading and into the layers of warm cheese, tomato sauce, and mini pepperoni cups. Don’t forget to ask for a cup of ranch dressing at checkout for a creamy and herbaceous boost, but the flavor of the pocket is definitely good enough to be enjoyed on its own.

Pepperoni Pizza Pocket

Not to get too morbid, but my ideal last meal would be a barrel full of salty tortilla chips and an array of a dozen or more different dips. And, my friends, I think the Reeder’s Take N Bake Crack Dip may have just, erm, cracked that lineup of dunk sauces. It’s that good.

Customers will find the crack dip in the frozen foods section, which means the defrosting will take away any hope of instant gratification. Remember though, Reeder’s isn’t like other gas stations. At this place, good things come to those who wait. Give it thirty to forty-five minutes to thaw at room temperature and about a fifteen minute bake in the oven at 375 degrees and you’ve got a rich, savory, creamy concoction sure to please a crowd with diverse tastes. This dip dazzles with a mix of cream cheese, sour cream, ranch dressing, bacon, corn, green onions, and various blended cheeses. This is such a hefty dip that just a little bit can go a long way, so we definitely recommend it for sharing with family or friends.

Take N Bake Crack Dip

One of the most exciting things about Reeder’s is that their selection of snacks and take-away meals is always changing. There is no getting bored because there is always something new to try. While one day you might be munching on a chicken apple walnut salad, the next you could be pigging out on turkey tetrazzini.

A favorite custom creation on the ever-rotating Reeder’s menu is the meatloaf. This is a classic favorite done right, all the way up to the cherry-red tomato sauce topper. Joined in the container by whipped mashed potatoes and freshly cut green beans, this is a hardy meal that could easily be turned into two, depending on appetite. I might say it’s just like Mama used to make, but my mama isn’t a trained gourmet chef. If the meatloaf happens to be on offer during your visit, it’s a must-grab.

Reeder's Meatloaf

Who amongst us, while at the movies, has not mixed the entirety of our concession-stand bounty directly into the popcorn bag? The mix of sweet chocolate candy and buttery, salty popcorn is a true case of a thing being greater than the sum of its parts. This is a special mix most people only have in the theater, unless they’re regular Reeder’s customers.

The Movie Theater Popcorn Bar is exactly what it sounds like, a sugar-glued popcorn brick with candy-coated chocolates, pretzels, and more mixed in with chocolate and caramel drizzle. It’s a barrage of textures and flavor sensations worthy of any 30-minute reel of preview trailers. As is a common theme for Reeder’s, this sweet and salty chunk of goodness is a lot for one sitting, so plan on munching this one when the craving hits throughout the next few days, or cut off smaller pieces and share with friends.

Movie Theater Popcorn Bar

Written By

Ben Luschen

Luschen joined the *Oklahoma Today*’ staff as Research Editor in 2021 and currently works as the magazine's Web Editor, managing the website and social media fronts. His past *Oklahoma Today* stories have ranged in content from the state's bee and quail industries to its vibrant art and music scenes. Not adverse to a road trip, Luschen is always on the lookout for the next big adventure. He is never out of opinions about the current state of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.