Chopped cheese is a dish that you can almost guarantee never to see on any menu in New York, even though they’re actually all over the place! Essentially, it’s like a Philly cheesesteak but ground beef instead of slices of beefsteak, with onions, peppers, lettuce, tomato, and melted American cheese on top all served on a hoagie.
No one really knows who created the chopped cheese, but your best chance of getting one is at a bodega. However, for some reason no places will actually put it on the menu, so you usually just have to ask and pray that it’s your lucky day! In Manhattan, you might not get as lucky, but in Brooklyn, the Bronx, and especially upper Manhattan and Harlem you shouldn’t have too much trouble.
One of the most famous places to get a chopped cheese is a place called Hajji’s Deli. This deli is located in Harlem and is probably the best known chopped cheese joint in the city. A lot of famous wrappers and other icons will go there for a chopped cheese, so if you happen to be in New York, stop on by and get a chopped cheese at as many other delis and bodegas as you can!
