The first chop cheese sandwich originated in East Harlem, New York, in a bodega called Blue Sky Deli, known as "Hajji's" to the locals. However, the popular hero roll sandwich is also popular in the Bronx and Brooklyn. There are some stories on the web that attribute the origin of the chopped cheese sandwich to dagha yamneeya (دقة يمنية) which is a Yemeni dish prepared with ground beef, liver or chicken hearts, tomatoes, onions, chili peppers, potatoes, and Middle Eastern spices. This mixture is fried in a pan and served with pita bread.