(upbeat sync music)
- [Narrator] This, myfriends, is the story
of the real New Yorker's sandwich
and the people who keep the legacy alive.
- I've been eating here for 20 years.
(upbeat jazz music)
- [Narrator] On 110th and 1st Avenue,
inside the bodega best knownas Hajji's, we meet Salah.
- Yo, boss, let me get two chopped cheese
with everything on it.
- Lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup.
- Put bacon on it, too,salt, pepper, and vinegar.
(upbeat jazz music)
- [Narrator] Hajji's islocated in a part of New York
that's made up of various kinds
of people with a variety of incomes,
so keeping chopped cheese at a price point
everyone can afford hasbeen a top priority.
In fact, the chopped cheese has only
gone up a dollar in the last decade.
- [Narrator] That's why the chopped cheese
has spread beyond Harlem andinto bodegas far and wide,
attracting loyal New Yorkerseverywhere it appears.
But in the end, it all comesback to Hajji's and Salah.
(mellow rock music)
(contemplative synth music)
Forget your street cart hot dogs and deli pastrami, the *real* New Yorker’s sandwich is the chopped cheese, a beautiful conglomeration of chopped ground beef, melted cheese and secret seasoning, all served on a hero or a roll. The birthplace of the chopped cheese is Hajji’s Deli in Harlem, where Salah has been managing the joint for the past 15 years. Inspired by an Arabic dish, the chopped cheese has now become a New York staple, with fans in everyone from Jay-Z to Cam’ron. SUBSCRIBE: https://goo.gl/vR6Acb #Sandwich #ChoppedCheese #NewYork This story is a part of our Flavors series, where we do so much more than play with our food. Come with us as we dive into deliciously different and tastefully off-beat stories in the culinary world. Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: http://goo.gl/2KABeX Make our acquaintance on Facebook: http://goo.gl/Vn0XIZ Give us a shout on Twitter: http://goo.gl/sY1GLY Come hang with us on Vimeo: http://goo.gl/T0OzjV Visit our world directly: http://www.greatbigstory.com