Chevron

Review: Pizza Hut at Salton Traveler City Plaza — $22+ tax for a Medium Pizza and a Free Existential Crisis So there we are — on the way home from vacation, emotionally sunburned and physically holding it together with vending machine snacks and caffeine. We’re cruising through the scenic route past the Salton Sea, a.k.a. “Desert Waterworld,” when the toddler in the back seat begins to unravel like a dollar store yo-yo. Screaming, squirming, throwing Cheerios like confetti. It’s time to STOP before someone (me) jumps out of a moving vehicle. Enter the Salton Traveler City Plaza — a cute little pit stop oasis in the middle of the land that time forgot. It’s got everything: gas, snacks, restrooms that don’t smell like death, and a mini food court with five food stalls. We walk in, stretch our legs, release the tiny beast (a.k.a. our two-year-old), and go hunt for something to eat that doesn’t come in a plastic wrapper. 🍕 Pizza Hut: We Believed in You We spot the Pizza Hut, and our tired brains scream, “YES. Safe choice. Pizza is love. Pizza is life.” So we roll up, ready to refuel. That’s when they hit us with the plot twist: “We only have individual and medium pizzas.” Okay… fine. We’re flexible. “A medium is $22+ tax.” I’m sorry, TWENTY TWO. DOLLARS. FOR A MEDIUM?! This isn’t downtown L.A. This is “middle of the desert, next to a gas pump and a cactus.” A large pizza back home is $13. But sure, let’s pay desert-inflation pricing. Maybe it comes with free AC and a neck massage? We cave. We order. The pizza lady goes full chef mode: slapping the dough, saucing it up, sprinkling cheese like it’s parmesan confetti at a wedding. Into the oven it goes. Ten minutes later — boom — pizza’s ready. We’re thinking: “Okay! Maybe it’s worth it.” Then we took a bite. And immediately started rethinking every life decision that led us to this moment. 🧻 The Pizza Tastes Like Regret… and Cardboard Friends, I cannot stress this enough: This pizza had all the personality of wet drywall. It tasted like someone described pizza to a robot and asked it to recreate the flavor using memory foam and sadness. You know those frozen pizzas you keep for emergencies? This was like the knockoff version of that. One bite and the entire family collectively said, “Nope.” Even the toddler took one bite and gave me a look like: “You expect me to eat this?! I have standards, father.” Three slices were left to die in the box like forgotten soldiers. 🍗 KFC: Our Savior in Greasy Armor One of my daughters — usually a pizza ride-or-die — handed her slice back and quietly asked, “Can I get the chicken?” Like it was a mercy mission. We pivot to the KFC counter next door. The lady opens the oven like she’s revealing the holy grail of fried chicken. It’s in there, clearly cooked, glowing like golden treasure. She still says, “Five more minutes.” Okay. We wait. Five minutes later: hot, crispy, crunchy, and delicious. KFC did what Pizza Hut could not: feed our souls. ⸻ 🔥 Final Thoughts: • ✅ Plaza itself: Solid stop. Clean, air-conditioned, not haunted — A+. • ✅ Toddler got to run around and burn off his rage. • ✅ KFC: The MVP of this pit stop. • ❌ Pizza Hut: $22for a medium pizza that tasted like betrayal and cardboard crusts. Honestly, if you’re in the middle of the desert and debating this Pizza Hut, do yourself a favor: eat a granola bar and wait it out. Or at least bring your own hot sauce, seasoning, and therapist. 🌟🌟☆☆☆ — 2 out of 5 stars (One star for the effort. One star for being warm. That’s it. The rest went in the trash with the three leftover slices.)

We always stop here for gas before heading into Ocotillo Wells, and it is always the perfect choice. They offer Chevron fuel, and the convenience store/travel plaza is well-equipped and spotless. The restrooms inside are clean, and there’s a small food court featuring options like Pizza Hut, Subway, and Cinnabon, to name a few. They also have a propane fill-up station, which is super convenient. The entire plaza is clean, well-maintained, and perfectly located for off-roaders. It’s always a reliable and enjoyable stop!

Food gas excellent place to reloads when you in route to Glamis sand dunes

I'm giving 5 stars solely based on one factor: Kim. Very polite, very efficient, helpful, always working, I'm a local, here, been here about 6 years but she was hustling here before that…super nice but something about her says she'd have something big ready when she popped up from behind the counter.

We came from Borrego Springs, across the Anzo Borrego State Park, gas was about 1/8 of a tank. I should have looked at Gas Buddy or put in gas station near me on Google Maps – but I pulled in and filled up. 4/15/25. Reg was 5.49 a gal. got back on the road in the direction of Palm Springs and less than a mile down the road was a station. 4.19 a gal.. almost $15 cheaper for the tank. Be aware!!!! I won't make this type of mistake again.