After a couple weeks of national love for Tucson’s dining scene courtesy of New York Times, NY Magazine and even Playboy, it seems that even our fast food is drawing the admiring gaze of national media outlets. On Monday, June 29, lifestyle listicle website Thrillist released a round-up of single-city restaurant chains that they wish would expand their delicious reach and one Tucson institution made the cut.
I’ll admit, before I clicked, I had a strong feeling the anomalously-in-just-Tucson Eegee’s would pop up on the top 12 list, and there it was. That’s because it seems most people, including the chichi “foodies” and even the governor (who seems to hate most good things like education and human rights), dig the occasional visit to Eegee’s.
Thrillist had this to say of our favorite place to grab a flavored icy treat with a side of crinkle fries:
A sandwich chain with the same density in the Tucson metro area as Subway has in… well, the rest of the country, eegee’s is a sandwich & slushie chain with an extensive menu of subs and frozen fruit drinks (or “eegees”) to wash them down with, even though the consistency of the slushies makes them more like a dessert than a drink. It’s also famed for its ranch-topped fries, which are crowned with imitation bacon bits and more than inspire imitation.
However, Tucson has other chains worthy of expansion. After all, even Phoenix decided it was time to adopt El Guero Canelo and we can’t blame them. What other Tucson chains do you think should’ve made the list?
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2015.
Lucky Wishbone!
Bahahaha Eegee’s and now Lucky Wishbone put on a pedestal. This whole town is a joke. There is no science to making slushy’s with crappy sandwiches or fry frozen chicken fingers and everything else there frozen.
El Pollo Feliz, but I think they may be down to just one store. Most of their sites have been taken over by El Pollo Loco, but last I checked, Loco didn’t have the yummy corn cob or green beans options.
@Jason Wong: You are so right; steak fingers are like beef jerky meets bar food. Bliss. And I’m not even much of a carnivore these days. You either get it or you don’t. The craving comes on, and you’re headed to the ‘Bone :):):):):):)
@Tucson is a joke: MOVE
It would be nice if El Molinito salsa was able to be purchased nationwide, because the stuff most of the nation considers salsa is either tomato paste or some terrible attempt at making a fruit salad. (Yes, Rosa’s and a dozen other places also have great salsa, but I’d guess if someone was going to go wholesale, it would be ElMo’s.)
oh wait. Mariscos Chihuahua
Tucson isn’t the most “glamorous” city like our ugly capital up North, but it’s home to a lot of us desert dwellers. We love our mild Winters, tolerate our hot Summers, and just enjoy the small town feel of a big city. If you hate it here so much, then, like Proud to Teach said above “MOVE”. I’ll even help you pack! Totally agree with Lucky Wishbone.
Eegees isn’t known for its sandwiches, even though I really like them. But their ranch and drinks are totally better than any competitors’ in my opinion. Long live Orange Dream!
Bet only a small handful of Weekly readers even know how the name “eegee’s” came to be.
ei and gg
Proud to teach eegees sucks ,wishbone sucks and so does Tucson. Tucson is a joke is totally right. Bahahahahah
I moved from Tucson 11 years ago and still miss pina colada eegees! (and Tucson in general)
Nice, thank you for this: “…and even the governor (who seems to hate most good things like education and human rights)” chuckle, chuckle. 🙂
grow up proud to teach is an idiot and then pack your bags and get out of town.
I have a secret addiction to Hogie House…..I think they’re local.
@Tucson is a joke, Why don’t you hook up with Linda Ronstadt and you two can bitch all day. Why are you here? Now to the subject: Tucson has the best hangover cures: Winter-Menudo
Summer-Lemon Eegees
Although I hate and it hurts me to admit it, LW is not it’s old self. Not terrible, but not the same.
Actually, Eegee’s is an expansion of Del’s Frozen Lemonade from Rhode Island. Where all the sandwiches are called grinders, milkshakes are cabinets, and the Quahogs are stuffies.
What did trolls do before we had the internet?
Hid under bridges & got pwned by goats.
Before the internet trolls would call stores and ask them if they had Prince Albert in the can.
Long live Watermelon!! The best part of July in Tucson. And you know, haters gonna hate. I don’t see any suggestions for what they consider the best, oh yes, because everything sucks in Tucson, I forgot. Hahahahaha! I bet everything always sucks, where ever those folks are, and you know what that means, right? “Wherever you go, there you are.”
I guess Tucson is great if you live in a gated community in Oro Valley. Since one of my friends was shot to death in the Triple T pumping gas in his bike. And in the 80’s listened to the gunfire at 18th and Park while at work. Than lived in a apartment complex and listened to the south side gun fire and the circle k where they changed people behind the counter like I change socks because they either got shot or scared to death. But sadly all Arizona has got more violent of course the influx of liberals, shit paying jobs and drugs dosen’t have nothing to do with it. But Tucson has always had some good food places just don’t forget your body armour and 45