Casey's General Store pizza

If you're not a native Midwesterner and you find yourself out in that region, there are, in my opinion, two sources for pizza that are required for you to sample: Happy Joe's, and Casey's General Store.
 
Happy Joe's has been mentioned here before  but Casey's is rather less well-known.  It's certainly not the same tier as Happy Joe's... but it's remarkably good all the same, even more so considering where you obtain it: Casey's gas stations.  Higher quality ingredients than you might expect, especially the pork-based ones (they'd better be, considering Casey's is Iowa-based); the pizza itself is on the saltier side.
 
Here's one I got a few months ago while I was visiting Des Moines - half sausage, half Canadian bacon:
 

 
 
 

Agreed.  Casey's pizza has un-hungried me a few times over the years and the pizzas are even available made to order, which in some small towns is the only way to get one.

Looks strangely like a Dominoes...and that's NOT pizza!!!

Leethebard is correct -  it is about the same quality as Domino's.  I'm not a fan.  Happy Joe's is still good, but Casey's is something called pizza in most places where there are no pizza restaurants, so they tend to have a monopoly for miles.  I guess if you're drunk on a Friday night, anything you can get your hands on will seem good.

I agree, that pizza doesn't look very good.
Honestly the only place in the Midwest I would consider eating pizza is Chicago (deep dish only)
I couldn't even imagine traveling to the midwest and wasting a meal on pizza when there are so many other great things to have, however as a local you would  have to settle for what you have available

Never order tenderloin sandwiches in New York! Nuff said
 

I kinda like midwestern pizza. It ain't supposed to be Eye-talian.

I think the Native Iowan chain Breadeaux Pizza makes a better slice in this part of the country.

1bbqboy


I kinda like midwestern pizza. It ain't supposed to be Eye-talian.

 
Not exactly being respectful to us Italians....midwestern accent or not!!!!

Plenty of Italians in KC, including many of my former employers, but I would claim Midwestern pizza as a separate reality, and stand by my statement.
Lots of flatbreads with a meat and toppings on them, all around the world.

Casey's General Store is to small town Iowa what Dairy Queen is to small town Texas: the only choice. They have their own supply chain and use their monopoly on groceries in their tiny locations as well. Im not gonna name names and places, but important people in rural Iowa get really angry when the local Gas Station closes. Its the last straw for some towns when people can't buy gas, worse than school consolidations.
 
The Canadian Bacon or Breakfast slices are the way to go.

wanderingjew


I agree, that pizza doesn't look very good.
Honestly the only place in the Midwest I would consider eating pizza is Chicago (deep dish only)
I couldn't even imagine traveling to the midwest and wasting a meal on pizza when there are so many other great things to have, however as a local you would  have to settle for what you have available

I would agree that I wouldn't waste a meal on Casey's Pizza but you would be remiss to pass up the opportunity to have something other then deep dish when you are in town.
Great Lake Pizza
http://www.lthforum.com/b...hilit=Great+Lake+Pizza
Candlelite
http://www.lthforum.com/b...ic.php?f=14&t=1612
 
 
 

trzhotel


Casey's General Store is to small town Iowa what Dairy Queen is to small town Texas: the only choice. They have their own supply chain and use their monopoly on groceries in their tiny locations as well. Im not gonna name names and places, but important people in rural Iowa get really angry when the local Gas Station closes. Its the last straw for some towns when people can't buy gas, worse than school consolidations.

The Canadian Bacon or Breakfast slices are the way to go.

I was in Des Moines, where I know there are better places (such as Fong's!) but, even there, I still think Casey's is a perfectly respectable go-to for convenience's sake - certainly more respectable than, say, Fazoli's, whose pizza ranks even below the big three...

Wow, Casey's?  I've been to Casey's a number of times over the years but never considered getting a pizza from them.    I'm just not sure about getting a pizza from them.

where is Happy joe's? not a Caseys fan.

I've read some rave reviews about pizza from Casey's.  Unfortunately the nearest restaurant to me is in Indiana (was Greenfield (or was it Alexandria?  No, it was Hartford City!) until recently, until one opened in New Castle).  That hasn't stopped me from getting gas from them in my travels.  Do they offer in-store dining, or are they carry-out only?
 

kennyb


where is Happy joe's? not a Caseys fan.

 
http://www.happyjoes.com/
 
Looks like its restaurants are mostly in western Illinois and Iowa.

I don't recall ever seeing customer seating in a Casey's unless you count the restrooms.  And speaking of restrooms, the ones in the Casey's on the eastern side of Grundy Center, Iowa, are extremely nice.

ScreamingChicken


I don't recall ever seeing customer seating in a Casey's unless you count the restrooms.  And speaking of restrooms, the ones in the Casey's on the eastern side of Grundy Center, Iowa, are extremely nice.

all the newer caseys have in side seating. most even have a deli in them.  

kennyb


where is Happy joe's? not a Caseys fan.

If you feel like taking a trip to the KC area, there's a place in Independence called Tim's Pizza that was started by a former Happy Joe's manager.  He brought some aspects of Happy Joe's to his pizza, to the point where it could be termed an excellent knock-off.  Similar crust, similar sauce, same diced Canadian bacon... it's not quite HJ, but it's quality pizza in its own right and well worth a look!

Ketteract

kennyb


where is Happy joe's? not a Caseys fan.

If you feel like taking a trip to the KC area, there's a place in Independence called Tim's Pizza that was started by a former Happy Joe's manager.  He brought some aspects of Happy Joe's to his pizza, to the point where it could be termed an excellent knock-off.  Similar crust, similar sauce, same diced Canadian bacon... it's not quite HJ, but it's quality pizza in its own right and well worth a look!

i'll give it a try. i'm in kc about everyday.

I know a guy who opened a pizza shop directly across the street from Casey's. He loves Casey's pizza.

We have a Casey's here in town, I've not tried their pizza.  I did have the below pizza delivered the last night.  It's a thin crust with extra cheese, pep and sausage.  It has a nice amount of grease....I'm not ashamed, I like it.