HUNTSVILLE, AL -- On the run and hungry? Here in Huntsville, you can stop at a gas station, a trailer and even a bus.

Sure, the Rocket City has plenty of restaurants. But there's also a lot of good eats in odd locations.

Taqueria El Cazador serves fresh-made tacos out of a big white bus on Governors Drive. Soul Burger is housed in the Huntsville Athletic Club. And Rice & Rice Fish and Wings Grill on Alabama 53 set up shop near a car wash, so you can pig out on barbecued ribs while your automobile gets a waxing.

Check out Huntsville's 10 odd eateries where wait staffs are nonexistent, silverware is unheard of and plates are usually plastic.

The corner store

Alabama Super Market, 712 Triana Blvd.

Specialty

: Fried livers and gizzards

Lowdown

: Don't let the steel-gated doors and windows scare you away from fried goodness. Alabama Super Market, which is also a gas station, serves up some of the best fried food plates in town. And whatever you order, don't forget to grab a cup of hot sauce. Everything tastes better with hot sauce.

Health rating:

89

The car wash

Rice & Rice Fish and Wings Grille, 3113 Alabama 53



Specialty

: Ribs and fried catfish

Lowdown

: Hungry and your Cadillac is a mess? You're in luck. James and Fonda Rice's eatery is located next to the couple's car wash business. While your rims get a shine, grab a rack of ribs, a plate of chicken or a fried catfish sandwich. All items, from the baked beans to the mac 'n' cheese, are made fresh every morning.

Health rating:

99

The convenience store

Clinton Avenue Grocery, 2310 W. Clinton Ave.



Specialty

: Pork chops

Lowdown

: The sign outside Clinton Avenue Grocery proudly declares "8 Meats. 10 Vegetables. Everyday." Inside, it's down-home cookin' at its finest with boiled cabbage, mac 'n' cheese, mashed potatoes, cornbread, banana pudding and more.

Health rating:

91

The health club

Soul Burger Cafe, 3250 Leeman Ferry Road



Specialty

: Burgers

Lowdown

: At Soul Burger Cafe, which is now housed on the second floor of the

, patrons are able to munch on greasy burgers while watching others play tennis and lift weights. How American. And according to owner Cathy Briggs, "everything is made with love."

Health rating:

93





The gas station

Exxon Station, 8150 Whitesburg Drive

Specialty

: Brownies

Lowdown

: Head cook Robin Collier is in the kitchen at 4 a.m. preparing a batch of her famous brownies. Moist and rich, the inch-and-a-half thick brownies are so good, they're usually gone by noon.

Health rating:

92

The mill

,

, 2211 Seminole Drive

Specialty

: Gourmet on the go

Lowdown

: Owned and operated by Catherine Shearer, the Happy Tummy is gourmet on the go. Besides the usual tasty sandwiches and burgers, the Happy Tummy also has weekly specials, such as this week's Asian chicken salad. Vegetarians can also enjoy black bean burgers, jerk tofu wraps and cheesy apple quesadillas.

Health rating:

97

The bait shop

Hobbs Island Grocery and Beverage, 981 Hobbs Island Road

Specialty

: Egg rolls

Lowdown

: Bait, beer and egg rolls. Owner Young Pak offers all three at his shop near Ditto Landing. Fresh-made each morning, the hand-rolled egg rolls are filled with cabbage, pork, beef, carrots and onions, then fried and served piping hot.

Health rating:

93

The bus

Taqueria El Cazador, 3414 Governors Drive

Specialty

: Tacos and burritos

Lowdown

: The Taqueria El Cazador bus houses both the kitchen and dining room, which seats up to 10. The menu has all the Mexican favorites - tacos, burritos, quesadillas - and also offers several meat choices, including chicken, stewed beef, beef cheek, beef tongue, spicy pork and tripe.

Health rating:

97





The country store

T&L Grocery, 1332 Cave Spring Road in Owens Cross Roads

Specialty

: Souse sandwiches

Lowdown

: T&L Grocery makes all types of sandwiches, but the souse sandwich is one of its most popular. Usually ordered with hoop cheese and mayo and served on white bread, the souse sandwich will run you a whopping $1.60.

Health rating:

95

The used tire shop

Rogers & Rogers Bar-B-Que and Grill, 1919 Jordan Lane



Specialty

: Barbecued chicken, ribs and burgers

Lowdown

: In a black trailer near Bridges Used Tires, husband-and-wife team Alfred and Debra Rogers create heaven in a Styrofoam box. The couple's barbecued chicken, smothered in sauce and placed on two slices of white bread, is better than a new set of whitewalls.

Health rating:

89

Here's seven more places to check out good food in odd places:

Dodge Store, 2211 Whitesburg Drive: Chicken, egg rolls

HQ Fuel & Food, 14311 U.S. 231 in Hazel Green: Biscuits

Conoco Food Service, 2614 Governors Drive: Gyros

Huntsville Hospital, 101 Sivley Road: Japanese stir-fry

Black's Smokehouse, 2923 Jordan Lane: Barbecue

Toney's Food Mart, 11856 Pulaski Pike in Toney: Hankster burger (a burger with three

cheeses and three strips of bacon)

Triangle Grocery, 9501 Moores Mill Road in New Market: Fresh-made pizza

If you know of anymore odd place with good eats, send them to jon.busdeker@htimes.com or post them in the comments below.