The Chopped Cheese Of NYC: An Iconic Bodega Staple

A Chopped Cheese with onion, lettuce, and tomato ordered from Farmer In The Deli located between 1st and 2nd on 56th street in Manhattan. Photo by The Empire City Wire.

The Chopped Cheese

Few sandwiches capture the essence of New York City quite like the chopped cheese. A true bodega classic, this no-frills, flavor-packed sandwich can be found across the city, from the Bronx to Brooklyn, serving as a go-to meal for locals in the know. Affordable, satisfying, and deeply tied to the culture of NYC’s corner stores, the chopped cheese is more than just a sandwich—it’s a piece of the city’s identity.

The chopped cheese is made on a grill using ground beef, often pre-formed patties, which are cooked with onions, seasoned with adobo or other spices, and chopped together with melted cheese. Once the mixture is perfectly combined, it’s piled onto a hero roll and topped with lettuce, tomatoes, and condiments like mayo, ketchup, or hot sauce, depending on preference. The result is a sandwich that’s crispy, juicy, and bursting with bold, savory flavor.

How It All Started

The exact origins of the sandwich are somewhat disputed, but it’s widely believed to have first been created at Hajji's Deli—also known as Blue Sky Deli—in Spanish Harlem. Some suggest the sandwich was inspired by an Arab dish called dagha yamneeya, a mix of cooked chopped meat and vegetables served with Yemeni bread. According to Hajji's, a former employee came up with the sandwich for his own meal sometime in the 1990s, and the idea gradually caught on at other bodegas across the city.

While often compared to a cheeseburger, the chopped cheese has a distinct character all its own, shaped by the city’s immigrant communities and the bodegas that serve as neighborhood hubs. What started as a Harlem and Bronx specialty has since gained cult status, with food lovers and influencers bringing it into the national spotlight. Despite its growing popularity, the best chopped cheese sandwiches are still found in the heart of NYC’s bodegas, where the grill sizzles behind the counter and the sandwich is served up hot, fresh, and packed with city flavor.