The New York City burger made with chopped beef, melted cheese, and toppings on a hero roll is called a chopped cheese.
A chopped cheese is traditionally prepared on a flat-top griddle in a New York City bodega. Ground beef is cooked and chopped together, cheese is added so it melts into the meat, and the mixture is placed in a hero or hoagie roll. Lettuce, tomato, onions, and condiments are common additions.
The sandwich is strongly associated with the Bronx, Harlem, and other New York neighborhoods. Its exact origin is disputed, and different bodegas use different techniques and proportions. The uncertainty does not change the sandwich’s recognizable identity as a griddled chopped-beef-and-cheese roll.
Chopped cheese is often compared with a cheesesteak because both use chopped meat, melted cheese, and a long roll. The main difference is that a traditional chopped cheese uses ground beef, while a Philadelphia cheesesteak uses thinly sliced steak.