If you go into any bodega or deli in New York City, you are almost guaranteed to never see a sandwich called chopped cheese anywhere on the menu. However, just because it’s not written, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist! A Chopped cheese is a sandwich very similar to a Philly cheesesteak with a twist. Instead, a chopped cheese uses ground beef as opposed to slices of beefsteak, but it still has delicious sauteed onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, and melted American cheese on a hero.
While the history of the chopped cheese is fuzzy, it’s definitely a New York item, and most people say it was probably created in the Bronx or in Harlem, upper Manhattan. Your best chance of nabbing one of these New York delicacies is in either of these places, but you can get lucky in Brooklyn as well. Go anywhere in lower Manhattan and you might not get as lucky, so explore a new place and try something brand new!
If you want to experience one of the most famous places for chopped cheese, go to Harlem and visit Hajji’s Deli. This place is frequented by several rappers and other famous people for their insanely delicious chopped cheese. But, wherever you go, getting a chopped cheese will certainly make your trip to New York even more authentic.
