Bacon Egg and Cheese
"The BEC (Bacon Egg and Cheese) is the quintessential bodega breakfast sandwich: fried eggs, bacon, and American cheese on a roll (never toast), wrapped in foil. It's efficient, greasy, salty, and cheap ($4-6). Order it as one rushed word at the bodega counter: 'Baconeggandcheese.' Add 'saltpepperketchup' (SPK) for the full working-class NYC experience."
Logistics
Affordable
Vibe
Working-class, rushed
Duration
5 minutes
Best For
Breakfast
The Backstory
The BEC emerged in the 1950s-60s as bodegas (corner stores run by Puerto Rican and later Yemeni/Dominican immigrants) added griddles. It became the fuel of construction workers, cab drivers, and office workers. The roll vs. bagel debate is eternal—roll is traditional, bagel is bourgeois.
Local Secret
"The key is the bodega griddle technique—eggs fried in butter with crispy edges, cheese melted directly on the eggs. Order on a 'roll' (Kaiser roll) for authenticity. Ask for 'SPK' (salt, pepper, ketchup) to sound like a local. Eat it hot and immediately—the foil keeps it warm for exactly 10 minutes."