5 Must Visit Restaurants Near the University of Arizona

By Zy Mazza

You don’t always feel like eating at home, and the Student Union, while cheap, tends to have pretty unhealthy options and get’s old fast. You want to go out on the town, get out of the house, maybe go on a date? If you’re a Tucson native, you’re set, but if not? I got your back. Read below, these are some of my favorite places around the University of Arizona…

5. Gentle Ben’s

Located conveniently on University blvd, Gentle Ben’s makes the list for one reason: the wings. Seriously, order the Tequila Cilantro wings and then thank me later. They have some other great dishes too, but they’re a bit expensive. So wings. Get them.
Address: 865 E University Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719

4) eegees

So, okay it’s a chain, but here’s the thing: any article about eating in Tucson can’t be trusted unless it includes eegees. Tucson gets hot, and there’s no better way to cool off than with a nice lemon eegee. I mean, they make other flavors, but lemon is the best–objectively speaking. They make pretty great sandwiches too. Sometimes I go in just for a cup of their house dressing because it’s just worth the 50 cents.
Address: 2510 E Speedway Blvd Tucson, AZ 85716

3) Bison Witches

I’m not sure if this is a Tucson original or not. I know they have a few in other towns, but this place is too great to not make the list. It’s cheap, located super conveniently on 4th ave., and, most importantly, it’s delicious. They make sandwiches (the name sounds like “buy sandwiches”) and soups. Here’s the thing about the soups: they come in bowls made out of bread. You have to go at least once just for the soup experience–it’s worth it.
Address: 326 N 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705

2) Brooklyn Pizza

Don’t let the name fool you. This place is in Tucson–I promise. It’s on 4th, and they deliver to most apartments in the University area. The pizza is delicious, reasonably priced, and they serve delicious gelato–which they will also deliver. Brooklyn has been a favorite of mine for years. Order by the pie or order by the slice. Just make sure you order something!
Address: 534 N. 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ 85705

1) Miss Saigon

Full disclosure: I’m biased. I eat here almost every day. You’d think Tucson would be too hot for a soup place, but it’s never too hot for Pho. Usually a good sign of ethnic food places is ethnic patrons, and half the customers here order their food in Vietnamese, so you’re in good hands. Make sure to squeeze lots of lime and and Sriracha into your bowl and you’ll be a happy camper. If it’s too hot for you (and I promise it’s never too hot), you can always cool down with a nice Boba tea. This place is kind of a hole in the wall so it’s hard to find. It’s right behind the Aloft hotel, and you have to park in that back lot and walk around to the front, but the journey is worth it. So worth it.
Address: 1072 N Campbell Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719

One word of caution: while all of these places are great, if you’re going on a date, don’t go to eegees. Unless it’s really, really hot like it is most of the time around here. In that case, totally go to eegees, and maybe try out the iced teagee.

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