Blue Sky Deli (Hajji’s)
Deli · East Harlem ·
Birthplace of the chopped cheese sandwich, a New York staple
Birthplace of the chopped cheese sandwich, a New York staple
"I’d argue the chopped cheese is to New York as the hot dog is to Chicago, or the taco is to LA—and if you want the OG, this is the spot for the sandwich that started a phenomenon. Expect a wonderful, hot mess: ground beef, onion, and American cheese chopped and scrambled together on the griddle, then thrown onto a hoagie and topped with lettuce, ketchup, mayo, and whatever else you want folded in—from barbecue sauce to Blue Takis. The ubiquity of chopped cheeses is part of the charm, but the one here is the benchmark." - Kat Chen
"At this East Harlem spot — where the chopped cheese was allegedly invented — the sandwich currently costs $8.50 before tax, and with beef prices remaining high, an uptick is expected." - Melissa McCart
"Credited as the origin point for the chopped cheese sandwich; the shop is said to still make one of the best versions, linking the deli to a widely copied city sandwich tradition." - Eater Staff
"While the exact history of the chopped cheese is up for debate, Blue Sky Deli, formerly known as Hajji’s, does have the strongest claim for inventing the sandwich. And they’ll let you know. Inside the East Harlem bodega, there are TVs playing on a loop several Youtube video essays that food publications have done on this place. If you’re going to seek out a bodega for a chopped cheese, you should make it this one. It’s simple, classic, loaded with sazón, and best eaten around the corner at a table in Thomas Jefferson Park with a soda and a bag of red hot chips." - will hartman
"If there’s one bodega chopped cheese to go out of your way for, it’s the one at Blue Sky Deli (also known as Hajji’s). We can’t substantiate their claim to be the inventors of the chopped cheese, but we can confidently say that this East Harlem bodega makes a damn good version. Theirs is gooey and tastes like nothing but beef, sazon, mustard and ketchup, and is as classic a version of the sandwich as you can find. If you live in the neighborhood, chances are you’re taking lunch back to your apartment, but if you’re a chopped cheese enthusiast making a pilgrimage here, you can always take your lunch—alongside a bag of red hot chips and a Diet Coke—to the picnic tables in nearby Thomas Jefferson park. photo credit: Will Hartman" - Will Hartman
