Eddie Wutangsy was the first to open a Fresno-based sandwich shop dedicated to the East Coast classic of the chopped cheese deli sandwich with his My Guy market. Photo via My Guy market
Fresno restaurants are serving up the trending New York-based chopped cheese deli sandwich to Valley foodies.
Often described as a hybrid between a cheeseburger and a Philly cheesesteak, the chopped cheese sandwich is a popular choice for followers of viral food trends.
The sandwich was created in 1999 by Frankie Frank of Blue Sky Deli a.k.a. Hajji’s, located in Harlem, New York, in response to a shortage of hamburger buns. The chopped cheese became an instant fan favorite and is now available across the country — including here in The Central Valley.
The traditional chopped cheese sandwich is made by cooking ground beef on a griddle using a chopping motion. Onions are added to the mix, followed by cheese, which melts into the beef. The melty mixture is layered onto a hero roll that’s been dressed with lettuce, tomato, condiments and a signature sauce.
Though the sandwich style is now over 20 years old, the flavors are proving to have a timeless appeal. Chopped cheese sandwich videos receive millions of likes and views on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube Shorts.
Several Fresno-based restaurants offer chopped cheese sandwiches — including the newly-reopened Chop Cheese Bodega, The Manhattan Deli, My Guy Market and others.
Eddie Wutangsy was the first to open a Fresno-based sandwich shop dedicated to the East Coast classic.
Before opening My Guy Market as a ghost kitchen in 2022, owner Eddie Wutangsy took a trip to New York where he explored Manhattan and Brooklyn, tasting selections from every bodega he and his business partner could find for four days straight, he said.
Two weeks later Wutangsy made his first traditional chopped cheese.
The product’s popularity has led to several variations popping up across the web, including chopped cheese “The Ocky Way” — which is made with bacon, pepper, spinach and tomatoes, all stuffed into a Jamaican beef patty.
My Guy Market also offers variations of the original formula — including its most popular sandwich “The Checkmate” which replaces the typical ground beef with a bone-in short rib. They also released a smoked mushroom sandwich for vegetarians.
Its offerings earned the local eatery the title of best sandwich in Central California by The Fresno Bee in 2024 and 2025 consecutively. Proof that the chopped cheese sandwich is still a fan favorite.
The sandwiches fanbase continues to grow and local sandwich shops show no signs of slowing.
“I’ve been here for four years,” said Wutangsy, “I’m not close to stopping or slowing down.”