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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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.
