The chopped cheese originated in Harlem, New York City, with many accounts pointing to the bodega Hajji's (now Blue Sky Deli) as the birthplace, likely in the early or mid-1990s.
While the exact story varies, it's believed that a worker created the sandwich by chopping ground beef, onions, and cheese on a grill and serving it on a hero roll, possibly as an adaptation of Middle Eastern cuisine or a creative solution for fitting burger components into the roll.
Key aspects of its origin and spread:
- Location: The sandwich is a staple of New York City bodegas, but it is most closely associated with Harlem and the surrounding Bronx.
- Hajji's (Blue Sky Deli): Many stories name this Harlem deli as the place where the chopped cheese was first created, with some attributing it to a former worker named Carlos Soto.
- Possible influences: One theory suggests it was inspired by the Yemeni dish dagha yamneeya (chopped meat and vegetables), while another suggests it was a practical adaptation of a cheeseburger for a hero roll.
- Cultural Significance: Chopped cheese is seen as a symbol of New York's diverse food culture and working-class communities, especially within Black and Latino populations.
- Recent Popularity: It gained wider recognition in the 2010s, partly due to media coverage and social media, though it had been a local favorite for years
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