BRONX, N.Y. — If he had to choose what to have for lunch, Jeremy Batista says there’s only one option.

What You Need To Know

  • The Bronx Bodega food truck is designed to resemble a typical New York City corner store

  • The Bodega Truck's specialty is the Chopped Cheese sandwich, which was first discovered in Harlem

  • Bodega Truck owner Jeremy Batista bought the vehicle right before the pandemic and waited a year to start business

“I love chopped cheese. I’d have one every day if I could," Batista said.

The gooey, cheesy, flavorful sandwich known as the chopped cheese gained popularity at bodegas in Harlem and became a staple at stores in all five boroughs.

“There’s an O.G. coming out. That’s the original chopped cheese. That’s ground beef, American cheese, salt, pepper, ketchup, mayo, lettuce, tomato, on a roll,” Batista said.

Batista grew so enamored with chopped cheese, he started to create different versions of it at home. The self-described foodie also worked as a food photographer for city restaurants. Then he got the idea to break out on his own.

With the help of his family, he bought his very first food truck just a week before the pandemic started. For over a year, it sat unused in a storage facility. His dreams were put on pause. Now, he’s living out his dream with the Bodega Truck.

“I wanted to put something very nostalgic for New York City. A lot of bodegas around New York are slowly getting modernized,” Batista said.

“He wanted to have everything very New Yorkish so he has the time. He has a pigeon. He has a cat. Every time you go in a bodega there’s a cat sitting on the bread,” said girlfriend and co-founder Angela Espinal.

There are different types of chopped cheeses concocted, each with Batista’s secret recipes and unique names. Customers can track down the location of the restaurant on wheels on Instagram at @bodega.truck.

“I got the Schmegular yesterday. I love the names that they came up with here,” said customer Henry Kal.

Batista, who was raised in the Bronx, comes from a family of food vendors. He is hoping to build on that tradition with more food trucks in the future.