Chopped Cheese: Best Bodega Food in NYC

Have you heard of this local secret?

What is it?

The Chopped Cheese, also known as "Chop Cheese" is the unsung hero of Bodega cuisine. It's origins go back more than 20 years ago at Hajji's deli. The sandwich is mostly known in Harlem, the Bronx, and pockets of Brooklyn and Queens and can be hard to find at certain spots. It's comparable to Philadelphia's cheesesteak but just not the same. It's more like a cross between a Philly cheesesteak and Sloppy Joe.

The sandwich comes on a portable roll or a hearty hero, depending on your mood. In place of thinly sliced steak, ground beef is grilled on a flat-top with peppers, onions, and seasoning, chopped with a metal spatula, covered with cheese slices, and dressed with standard-issue condiments like lettuce, tomato, hot sauce, and mayo. Learn more here!