I wanted to start this article with a clever pun but all of my ideas were too cheesy…

Anyway, the Florida-based restaurant chain I Heart Mac & Cheese is coming to Tucson with plans of moving in at 1495 E. Tucson Marketplace.

The team behind the restaurant has their sights on opening up before the end of the year in the area that also houses national chains like Dutch Bros, Dave & Busters, Dirty Dough Cookies, Culvers, etc.

With a name like I Heart Mac & Cheese, you better believe they have cheese on the menu — there’s loads of it. The restaurant specializes in customizable macaroni and cheese bowls and grilled cheese sandwiches. If you can’t decide which to order, they have a grilled cheese sandwich filled with macaroni and cheese named The Best of Both Worlds.

With a focus on comfort food made to order, they offer a variety of toppings and mix-ins, allowing customers to create their own personalized cheesy creations.

The chain has expanded rapidly, with locations across several states, offering a modern twist on the classic comfort dish. The menu has at least six sandwiches and then several macaroni and cheese bowls like the Classic Mac & Cheese, Short Rib Philly Mac & Cheese, Lobster & White Truffle Mac & Cheese, and a build-your-own option.

If you’re like me, you may be thinking that this is way too much cheese for your tummy to handle in one sitting. Luckily, there are a few vegan options on the menu like the Vegan Delight Mac & Cheese — your choice of tots, pasta, broccoli, cauliflower, or quinoa as your base with Beyond sausage, vegan cheese sauce, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and scallions.

There’s also a Vegan Melt Grilled Cheese, which is made with sourdough bread, a Beyond Burger patty, vegan cheese, onions, tomatoes, and a vegan cheese sauce.

There are more than 40 locations across the U.S. and was once named one of the “Top 100 Best Growing Franchises” by Entrepreneur magazine in 2021.

As mentioned earlier, the restaurant is expected to open by the end of 2024 but stay tuned for an actual opening date.

I Heart Mac & Cheese will be located at 1495 E. Tucson Marketplace. For more information, visit iheartmacandcheese.com.

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