In May 2024, I returned to Cincinnati following my undergraduate days at the University of Delaware. As I sorted through Mid-Atlantic tchotchkes packed away in my storage bins – shells from Delaware beaches, brochures from the DuPont estates, magnets from Philadelphia museums – I found a coupon for a free Wawa hoagie set to expire in a few months. I promptly chucked it, reasoning I’d have no need for it now that I was back in the Midwest.
While it would have been worth nothing at this point, I wish I hadn’t been so quick to toss it. In April of this year, Ohio got its first Wawa. Needless to say, I was ecstatic.
Wawa – a gas station/convenience store with a cult following on par with Sheetz and Buc-ee’s – got its start as a dairy purveyor in 1902 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania (“Delco,” to the locals). Yours truly got her first taste as a humble undergraduate, and my appetite for its coffees, sandwiches and bountiful breakfast menu has never been fully satisfied. I’ve been in Wawa’s before sunrise and after sunset. I’ve turned to them for sudden milkshake cravings and “healthier” food when my options were limited (do not sleep on their salads).
When Wawa opened its first Ohio location in Liberty Township, not only did it mean I could revamp my Wawa Rewards account and start getting those targeted YouTube ads once more – I could finally get those tastes I’ve long been craving.
I realize I might very well be speaking to an audience who has believed that the only reasonable sustenance one could get from a gas station was a healthy scoop of rainbow sherbet. And I should note here that the Liberty Township Wawa unironically stands right across the street from a UDF.
So, perhaps you don’t think the scent of gasoline can whet the appetite. It’s possible you just don’t like eating in your car. Maybe you decry the whole chain convenience store cult phenomenon in general.
All is fair, but hear me out – the Wawas I knew in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and D.C. were all reliable locations for delicious, consistent and fresh food at all hours (they cater, for goodness’ sake). I’m happy to report that the Ohio Wawa turned out to be no exception.
Walking in on an early evening, I was greeted by many familiar sights – self-serve kiosks for food orders, a coffee station, a standalone section for freshly baked goods. At Wawa, you have the option of pre-made grab-and-go fare or made-to-order items, from boxed wraps from the fridge to breakfast quesadillas handed to you by staff working the food counter.
Maybe it was for the sake of research, or maybe I’m just a glutton for nostalgia, but I spent a good 10 minutes tapping away at my kiosk to get a true sampling of this Wawa’s offerings (while the Wawa menus I’ve encountered over time have varied, they never fail to be extremely jam-packed with options). It also didn’t help that Wawa thrives on customization – tap on any given menu item, and you’re prompted to pick all your preferred spreads, spices, toppings and more.
Here’s what I sampled, paired with a chocolate chip cookie and a Wawa brand bottled lemonade, all for which I paid just about $40:
Cheesesteak
Wawa enjoys great renown for its hoagies (just you wait for Hoagiefest 2025, Cincinnati). Succumbing to a real East Coast craving, I opted for a cheesesteak. Jam-packed with meat and runny cheese sauce – as any respectable cheesesteak ought to be – it was a surprisingly solid sandwich. As I’ve mentioned, Wawa has never done me wrong in the freshness category, but I was unexpectedly impressed by how good the bread was.
Fries
Well-seasoned and served in adorable Wawa-branded packaging, these were a great little side dish.
Honey Hot Bacon, Egg White Omelet & Cheese Snack & Go Wrap
I’m not usually the type to eat breakfast outside of morning hours, but I saw “hot honey,” and the rest is history. It being a member of the “$2, $4, $6 Menu” didn’t hurt either. The hot honey sauce was a great touch to the overarchingly savory flavors, but it could have done with a little more seasoning. However, for just a couple bucks, it was hot, fresh and surprisingly ample with protein.
Dill Pickle Ranch Crispy Chicken Sandwich
It’s a pickle party at Wawa this season – at the time of writing, they’ve got a whole menu section devoted to dill (their pizzas have not been spared). Myself unabashedly partial to pickles, I could not leave the premises without trying this sandwich. While loaded with crispy pickles, I could have done with more of the ranch Wawa is so fervently hyping – in short, it just wasn’t pickly enough for me. Niche toppings aside, however, the sandwich itself exceeded my expectations in terms of size and taste. The generous cut of chicken and fresh bun were probably the highlight of my inaugural Ohio Wawa run.
Toasted Coconut Pineapple Pie Milkshake
I’m not usually one for sweets – especially 16 oz of them – but I couldn’t resist this menu item. I’m glad I was weak. The rich, creamy milkshake hit a perfect coconut-to-pineapple flavor ratio, with crunchy pie pieces swirled in. With humid, muggy weather doubtlessly around the corner, I appreciated this paradisiacal taste of what summer’s supposed to be.
Iced Cold Foam Latte
Let it be known that I will support independently-owned coffee shops ‘til the day I kick the bucket. But, when road-tripping or in a particular rush, it’s hard to beat a Wawa coffee. And this creamy coffee was a dream. Despite it being on the sweeter side – i.e., not something you want to pair with a dill pickle menu item with – I couldn’t stop sipping throughout my meal. I’m not ashamed.
Ham Egg White Omelet
Consuming a Wawa quesadilla in the car – even a stationary one – is no easy feat. They, for lack of a better verb, ooze, and just so happen to be massive. I wish I could say this quesadilla was worth the ordeal, but it was a little underwhelming flavor-wise for all the pivoting I had to do to avoid staining my upholstery. However, I’ll concede that the aforementioned protein generosity rang true here as well.
Wawa, 7198 Cincinnati Dayton Road, Liberty Township. More info: wawa.com.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 14 print edition.
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This article appears in May 14-27, 2025.