World Cup Visitors Are Discovering Buc-ee’s, And It’s Actually Really Heartwarming
Tourists are experiencing the Texas favorite for the first time.
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Scrolling through Instagram over the past few days, I’ve noticed something very strange happening: My feed radiates joy. Every other post shows tourists coming to the United States for the World Cup and experiencing everyday American food culture for the first time, with eyes and hearts wide open. It’s touching, honestly.
Scottish soccer fans are injecting new energy into Boston nightlife (and drinking all of the city’s beer). Japanese visitors are experiencing bottomless chips and salsa at Tex-Mex restaurants with a sense of awe, as shared in a viral post on X. A Swedish woman called for ranch dressing to make its way to Europe. (Hidden Valley is way ahead on this one: The company is sending ranch-bassadors to travel the continent this summer and spread the word.)
And, notably, travelers from around the world are making their way to Buc-ee’s, the cult-favorite travel stop that proves everything really is bigger in Texas.
How are World Cup travelers reacting to Buc-ee’s?
Buc-ee’s is already a source of excitement and culture shock for other Americans. I'm from the Northeast, and I remember the wonder I felt when friends from Texas brought me for the first time. Now, travelers in the South visiting for the World Cup are eager to check it out.
“I came to America for the World Cup, but honestly, I feel like this might be the main attraction for me,” British TikToker @greengirlarsenal says in a recent video. “I came in for fuel, and now I’ve left with enough stuff to survive an entire zombie apocalypse.”
“My first stop in Texas: It has to be none other than Buc-ee’s,” another British visitor says.
“I was driving between Austin and Dallas and there was a whole tour bus of Europeans in matching shirts inside Bucc-ee's, filming on every aisle with their phones,” a Reddit user reports in r/Texas. “They were cheering every time the employees do that yell and put out fresh sandwiches like it was a game.”
Trinity Metro has even introduced shuttles to take World Cup visitors to attractions around Dallas and Fort Worth — including Buc-ee’s. It’s become such a sensation that Americans are hopping into the conversation to explain.
“Buc-ee’s dares to ask the question: Can you have too much beef jerky? The answer is no,” American Bo Ballew says on TikTok. “If you’re thinking this seems like a lot for a gas station, you’re wrong. Calling a Buc-ee’s a gas station is like calling a football pitch a grass field. You’re missing the soul, the essence. Think of Buc-ee’s as a temple, a place of worship.”
What should you try at Buc-ee’s?
Whether you’re visiting Buc-ee's from another country or another state, there are some things you shouldn’t miss, including the beef jerky wall, the brisket sandwiches and the beaver nuggets.
However, if you aren’t able to make your way to a Buc-ee's this summer, you can still enjoy our copycat version of its famous Paddle Tails (formerly known as Beaver Tails) at home.
Copycat Buc-ee's Beaver Tail
A road trip through Texas isn’t complete without a stop for a beaver tail pastry from Buc-ee's, the wildly popular country store chain. Inspired by the delicious frosted treat, we created a copycat version that’s great for an indulgent breakfast or snack and can easily be made at home with storebought puff pastry, cinnamon and sugar.
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