FREEDOM OF SPEECH

GET OUT AZ MAGAZINE

By Albert Ching | Get Out AZ Magazine
Published: February 6, 2007

Cheba Hut’s toasted subs, like the Afgahni (left) and the Kush (right) are both tasty and also much cheaper than national chains like Quizno’s.

Joe Trevino Special to Get Out

2 for $20: Cheba Hut rolls up a pretty good sandwich

If you want delicious toasted sub sandwiches that are named after drugs or drug paraphernalia ... well, you’ve got very specific tastes. Also, you should go to Cheba Hut, an Arizona and Colorado chain with two stores in the East Valley (Mesa and Tempe). Their slogan is “Where the only thing fried is the occasional customer,” which should give you a good idea as to what you’re getting into.

THE MOOD
As you’d expect, Cheba Hut has a definite hippie vibe — don’t be shocked if more employees than not are sporting dreadlocks and/or Rastafarian hats. At the Mesa location, you’ll see a mural of beach scenes, a painting of Bob Marley, Cheech and Chong posters and, most inexplicably of all, a Canadian flag with a marijuana leaf instead of a maple leaf. While all of this might intimidate some, it’s actually a clean place with a friendly atmosphere. The servers are all genial. The sandwich line is similar to chain joints like Subway.

THE FOOD
Sandwiches at Cheba Hut come in three sizes: the 4-inch “nug,” the 8-inch “pinner” and the 12-inch “blunt.” I opt for a sandwich I’ve never had — an Afghani pinner on wheat, which is turkey breast, pepper jack cheese and jalapeños ($4.79) and add chips and a soda for $1.89. It’s maybe the best sandwich of the several I’ve had there (all of which I enjoyed). My lunch buddy, who in the past had reservations about the place, went with a nug-sized Kush on white, which is a BLT with provolone cheese. She comments that she’s “finally” found a sandwich she likes there, pointing out the toasted bread as her favorite part. The place also serves salads and several vegetarian subs.

THE DRINKS
I go for Mug Root Beer; she gets a Pepsi.

THE DAMAGE
$12.60. In general, the place is much more reasonably priced than toasted sub giant Quizno’s. Plus, when Cheba Hut says “toasted,” it’s got a hilarious double meaning.

JUST THE FACTS
Cheba Hut
WHERE: 1710 W. Southern Ave., Mesa, or 960 W. University Drive, Tempe
HOURS: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily
PRICES: $2.59-$6.99 sandwiches, $4.39-$6.69 salads
INFO: (480) 649-7827 (Mesa), (480) 446-0088 (Tempe) or chebahut.com

Contact Albert Ching by email, or phone (480) 898-5688