The Best Indian Cuisine Stop in Wyoming: Akal Travel Center

Unique Atmosphere at the Travel Center

At Akal Travel Center, a 24-hour truck stop nestled in the Wyoming highlands, the enticing aroma of fried garlic and curry spices fills the air. On this chilly, windy day at the end of January, Ediquis Brown parked his truck at the gas station along Interstate 80, about 20 miles from downtown Laramie.

He navigated through shelves filled with candy and quirky souvenirs to reach the counter, where he ordered without glancing at the faded menu. His go-to meal is tandoori chicken, garlic naan, a mango lassi, and two bottles of soda.

A Fan of Indian Cuisine

Brown, hailing from Fort Lauderdale, drives coast to coast every week in his 18-wheeler. He often works up to 11 hours a day and eats in his truck to stay on schedule. He is among the many drivers who stop by Akal each day to enjoy the golden naan, buttery chicken, and biryani with carrots and peas.

“We attract customers with the cheapest diesel prices—and the food too,” says Gurjot Singh, the travel center's manager since 2014. All 10 staff members here are from Punjab, India, having moved to Laramie and currently residing in the housing behind the gas station.

Signature Dishes at Akal

Popular dishes at Akal include buttery chicken served with naan, tandoori chicken, and samosas. Brown, often accompanied by his Rottweiler, frequently seeks out Indian restaurants as a nutritious alternative to fast food while transporting goods across the country.

In Wyoming, where less than 2% of the population identifies as Asian, Akal has become a rare hub for Indian food and culture along the I-80 route: a vibrant Punjabi kitchen nestled among a series of gas stations. Right here, there's even a Sikh gurdwara serving staff and anyone who wishes to visit or worship.

Truck Driver Stories

In the dining area with four wooden tables, Brown chats with fellow driver Anthony Masonar while waiting for their food. They often stop by Akal two to four times a month to refuel and enjoy a hot Indian meal, which they find to be a more delicious and healthier option than the fast-food chains dominating the countryside.

For them, it's a routine, a place that offers rare slow-cooked meals near the highway. “I don’t like Wendy’s,” Brown says. “This is my spot. A place to enjoy fresh food.”

Longtime Customers of Akal

The main clientele at Akal primarily consists of truck drivers, who describe this stop as cleaner and better maintained than similar chains. Ron Tucker, a freight driver from Bend, Oregon, mentions that he can’t eat out all day and often prepares meals in his truck, which is equipped with a freezer and a Keurig coffee maker.

However, he is always willing to stop by Akal because he knows the butter chicken here is much more nutritious than the $12 meals he finds elsewhere and completely worth the cost. “It’s $16,” he says, “so I can’t eat here every day, but it’s not too expensive.”

Fresh Ingredients at Akal

Akal also serves a variety of vegetarian dishes, including matar paneer. Chef Kalbinder Kaus prepares 10 to 12 gallons of hot chai tea each day. However, the weather isn't always favorable for Akal, especially when the road near the travel center is closed.

Bunty Singh, the self-taught chef behind the smooth curries and fragrant tandoori chicken, notes that ingredients are prepared in bulk throughout the day and always cooked fresh upon request.