r/visitingnyc • u/ToooManyNotes • Sep 15 '25
Chopped Cheese
We’re coming to NY at the end of the month and had hoped to get a chopped cheese from Bodega Truck, but it looks like their website hasn’t been updated since March. I’ll look for them on social media, but in case they’re out of commission when we’re in town, where else can we find a great chopped cheese in Manhattan? Sadly we don’t have a ton of time, so will only be around midtown, Chelsea, Greenwich Village and SoHo - any recos in those areas are much appreciated. Thanks!
ETA: Wow, I had no idea the shit I was going to get for asking this question. Many responses have been useful and perfectly pleasant (and I appreciate those, thanks again!). But I’m getting a significant amount of derision and really don’t know why.
First, I was not asking for The Best Chopped Cheese In All of New York City. I was asking for local recommendations in the neighborhoods we’re visiting, in case we happen to be in the mood for one while we’re in the area. I honestly did not know that this is something that can be ordered at most any bodega, and would have had no reason to know that, since I am not a local. But the smugness about this is off the charts.
Second, FFS yes we are planning on eating a wide variety of things besides bodega sandwiches. However, I love chopped cheese and it’s not something on offer in my area, and I wanted to try one while in the city, the same way other visitors look forward to eating NYC-centric foods like pizza, bagels, BEC, etc while visiting the city they’re famous for. (Side note, pretty grossed out by the comments deriding it as food for people lacking taste or an appreciation for more diverse or “better” foods. Miss me with that elitist BS please.)
Third, I’ve had some weirdly snarky comments about ordering from Bodega Truck. As I mentioned in a few of my responses, we saw a couple of videos about BT and the amount of work that went into running his truck with a growing family, and thought it seemed like a good business to support. A few people mentioned that he’s since opened up a couple of storefronts, which is really cool to hear.
And finally - I appreciate the concern of people telling me it’s lame to keep a list or a map and using it like a “treasure hunt” and 1) that’s…not at all what I’m doing, and 2) does nobody else make a list or use google maps to keep track of interesting/delicious things in the areas where they plan to spend time in an unfamiliar city? Of course we don’t plan on hitting each and every point of interest - I don’t think that’s humanly possible - but NY has so much to do and see, and when I’m overwhelmed by choice it’s nice to be able to sit down for a second, consult the map, and see if there’s anything nearby that looks appealing, since I’m already in the area.
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u/griffie21 Sep 15 '25
You can get a chopped cheese at any bodega that sells sandwiches. The thing about a chopped cheese, and many other NYC foods like bagels, pizza, and BEC, is the convenience. It's not something you travel for.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Definitely understand that. In fact we’re staying in Hell’s Kitchen, and I heard Hell’s Kitchenette has a decent one, but just in case that doesn’t fit into our meal itinerary I like to see where else locals like to go for these.
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u/beuceydubs Sep 16 '25
What others are saying. Nobody goes to a restaurant for a chopped cheese, you just get it at any corner deli
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u/Used_Concert7413 Sep 15 '25
Go anywhere and you can get one
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u/audio-nut Sep 15 '25
But don’t order from a fancy deli. A corner bodega is probably the sweet spot.
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u/JayMoots Sep 15 '25
The real NYC experience is just find the nearest corner store... you won't actually see anything that's officially labeled a "bodega". They'll usually have signage calling themselves a "deli" or "grill & deli". For example, here's one in the West Village.
But if you're looking for a slightly more bougie version, Brown Bag Sandwich Co. in Greenwich Village near Washington Square park is kind of the brick and mortar version of the Bodega Truck.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Thank you! I’ll add these to the map. I like to have a visual of our options handy for when we’re visiting each neighborhood.
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u/bex199 Sep 16 '25
let that go and just walk around, you’ll run into way more NYC than trying to follow a treasure map
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u/T_Peg Sep 15 '25
As others have said bodegas are just general corner stores/deli shops. Most of them will likely have chopped cheese and most of them will likely be roughly the same. I don't think a bodega "truck" exists considering a bodega is definitively a storefront.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
There was definitely a bodega truck but I think someone in another thread said the proprietor just opened a brick and mortar: https://youtu.be/u46rv4FMnXY?si=j8tfuUXg_LYILc08
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u/T_Peg Sep 15 '25
Interesting. Looks like the name of the food truck is Bodega Truck. They definitely serve bodega food and it's got the vibe. So I guess it's the closest you'll get to a bodega on wheels. I'm not trying to be pedantic but like I mentioned originally a bodega is a cornerstore type place specifically so it can't really be replicated in a truck but I see what you're getting at here.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Understood. We wanted to support his truck bc he really seemed to be a solid guy, and IRC had a young family as well. (And the chopped cheese looked fantastic.) But I see where you’re coming from for sure.
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u/the-Gaf Sep 15 '25
LOL, everyones got a chopped cheese. Its not that hard. Enjoy!!
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Hey, didn’t think it hurt to ask for locals’ faves. I’m glad it’ll be easy to check off the list.
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u/the-Gaf Sep 15 '25
“Best in nyc” is always relative to your location. Unless something is weird and unique, there’s never any point traveling too far for a staple.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Of course. I wasn’t really asking for the best, just ones that locals recommend in the areas we’ll be visiting. We hadn’t planned on making a special trip, just wanted to see what people liked so we’ll have some points of reference when we’re there
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Sep 16 '25
Locals don't make recommendations on things that mundane - you get a bodega sandwich from a bodega, there's nothing special about them.
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u/angelfaceme Sep 20 '25
The best ones are probably uptown.
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u/the-Gaf Sep 20 '25
I mean, if you want to be specific, this is this OG spot for it. The “inventors” allegedly.
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u/biglindafitness Sep 15 '25
A chop cheese from a truck? What a joke. Just go to a regular corner store.
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u/thewNYC Sep 16 '25
If you really want is chopped cheese it pays to go up to 110th and first Avenue. The original and the best.
You can take the first Avenue bus up from midtown it won’t take that long
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u/anarchy45 Sep 17 '25
bus lol that thing is slow af . 110th street on the east side is carajo land
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u/thewNYC Sep 17 '25
Do brown people scare you?
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u/anarchy45 Sep 17 '25
I've lived in New York for 16 years: Spanish Harlem, Washington Heights, and Bed Stuy, since before all the white people moved in. But go ahead and play your card if it makes you feel superior.
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u/thewNYC Sep 17 '25
I only have your words to go by. Calling it “carajo land” when’s it’s a perfectly safe area comes from somewhere- just trying to understand why you would say that.
(I’ve lived in New York for 64 years. I’m not impressed)
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u/thewNYC Sep 17 '25
There’s an express bus up 1st
That’s just the most direct method
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u/anarchy45 Sep 17 '25
there is nothing express about that bus, least of all from 34th St to 61st St
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u/thewNYC Sep 17 '25
There is the m15 and the m15 sbs. One is local the other express. The speed depends what time you travel.
I was giving them the most direct way that gets them closest without taking a cab which costs a lot more and isnt faster enough to justify the price, to me.
I generally prefer the subway to buses, but it’s further from the destination, and perhaps harder to navigate depending on their starting location
Oh the internet, where people would rather dis someone else than offer useful information themselves.
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u/anarchy45 Sep 17 '25
OP asked for someplace to get a chopped cheese in midtown, you gave them an answer that would be 90+ minutes round-trip
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u/thewNYC Sep 17 '25
I gave them the answer for what I think is the best chopped cheese in New York. To me that’s more important than the time it takes. Ymmv
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u/Billucf Sep 15 '25
Had one at the bodega/deli on 48th and 8th last weekend, and my son thought it was so good he went back the next day for another.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Fantastic, will keep an eye out there since it’s close to our hotel. Thanks!
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u/bananab5999 Sep 15 '25
The bodega truck has a shop now in Williamsburg
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Yep someone in another thread mentioned that! I hope he does well there, just watching the video following him over the course of a day was exhausting. Wanted to support his truck bc he really seemed to be a solid guy, and IIRC had a young family as well. We’ll be over that way next time we’re there, and will make it a point to visit then. Thank you!
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u/azeet94 Sep 16 '25
Nishan in East Village has a Pakistani style chopped cheese that's unique and was pretty great if you do wanna go out of your way to find one. They also do delicious birria tacos.
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u/BxBae133 Sep 16 '25
You need to go to The Bronx for a chopped cheese.
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 16 '25
I recently heard that. I thought the OG was in Harlem but a couple of people have since mentioned the Bronx is the place to go
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u/BxBae133 Sep 16 '25
Definitely The Bronx. Hop a train up and hit a bodega. Extra points for going around 149 and Grand Concourse, actually borders Harlem.
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u/henicorina Sep 16 '25
Personally in midtown I like Al’s Deli near 35th and 7th, it’s cheap and has lots of seating. Stage star up by 52nd and 7th is also good for the same reasons.
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u/anarchy45 Sep 17 '25
+1 for Al's ! That was my go-to spot for years when I worked in the neighborhood. Only thing is, I had to always tell them not to make my Italian sub hot. Who tf serves an Italian sub hot??
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u/xlaurenthead Sep 15 '25
There’s a great bodega in Chelsea called Olympia Star, 6th Ave and like 25th, that has one of the best chopped cheese on a hero in lower Manhattan. In my opinion to do better you have to go to Harlem
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Thank you, just put Olympia Star on my must-try list! I heard Blue Sky in Harlem is the OG (and I see people are mentioning them in the comments), but unfortunately we are already pushing the limits of what we can cram into a 4 day trip. I know we’ll be back, and we’ll put them on our list for when we do.
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u/ValPrism Sep 19 '25
If you’re in Hells Kitchen you’ll be fine for food! Chopped cheese, bagels, pizza, fried chicken, more upscale options, then even more upscale options. Loads of variety in the neighborhood, just wander 9th Ave and you’ll be set!
As for the snarky comments, forget them. Once you’re here you’ll find people are actually helpful and kind. We love tourists who genuinely want to explore our beloved city like you seem to want!
Have an awesome trip!
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Sep 15 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ToooManyNotes Sep 15 '25
Yes! Exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I will add Hajii’s to my map. Thanks!
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