Pops Hot Chicken, which was originally a food truck, is setting up shop in the spot that previously housed TallBoys on Fourth Avenue.
The spicy Nashville-style chicken joint plans to be completed with the move by mid-January 2021, and with one move comes another, meaning that the chicken sandwiches are moving out of the southside food hall, American Eat Co.
With the new opportunity, Peter Yucupicio, owner of Pops Hot Chicken, has some big plans for his first brick and mortar restaurant.
“We’re expanding our menu, too,” said Yucupicio. “We’re going to be offering more breakfast and brunch items at the new location, which will still have our southwest take on southern-style flavors.”
Aside from the new menu items, he plans to have a full bar to accompany the spicy cuisine — a lovely way to douse the flames inside your mouth during the late-night hours of wandering around on Fourth Avenue.
The original Pops Hot Chicken food truck went up in flames back in February, but Tucupicio says he’s got plans to make another attempt at going mobile in addition to the brick and mortar.
“We’ll looking to get back to it,” said Yucupicio. “Maybe a new truck with fewer problems.”
To keep up with Pops Hot Chicken Truck on Instagram.
Stay in the Tucson Foodie Loop
Weekly digest of new openings, events, and guides. No spam.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
