I’m a lifetime fan of cheap eats and cheap tastes. I consider myself a connoisseur of the cheapest New York bites. After moving to New York City, and coming from my much more budget-friendly hometown of Denver, I acquired an appreciation for bodegas. These are the true gems, the diamonds in the rough.
Having moved four times in the span of my two years spent in the city, I have been exposed to bougie areas that I never expected to find myself in. My first stop was the Upper West Side, courtesy of my aunt and uncle, who let me crash at their place for a summer. But the summer came to an end, and I scrambled to find another place to live. I went to the bank to take out some loans, then off to a dorm that was too pricey for me. Being then located in Brooklyn Heights, my bank account had screamed at me enough. So I decided to relocate to a short-term stay in Flatbush the following summer. I now live in Williamsburg, and I’ve been here since fall of this year. With another move approaching, in an attempt to escape terrible management, and my new rat guests, I am starting to get burnt out with moving. But there’s always one single element of each move that excites me: finding a new bodega to frequent. The thrill of the hunt, paired with the possibility of a new bodega cat keeps my quest alive. It is for all of these reasons that I bring to you, as your Bodega Queen, the Bodega Reviews.
Upper West Side
New K.C. Market
301 Amsterdam Ave
Hours: 6am-1:00am
Stars out of Five: 4
New K.C. Market, commonly known from the green street signs as “HOT AND COLD SALAD BAR” is a severely underrated gem of the Upper West Side. Its hours extend up until 1am. This is a lucky charm amidst the quiet, residential streets of the Upper West Side when everything else is closed. The market is tidy, and it never seems to have that typical unpleasant “this is definitely a bodega” smell. They have a very good selection of both junk food, and natural produce options, if you’re into that. Fruits range from apples to pineapples, and the chips range from the “I’m pretending this is healthy, because it’s Sun Chips” scale all the way up to Flamin’ Hot Jalapeno Cheetos. The Cheetos are nicely complemented by their diverse condom display. You can also find it from the street easily, due to their large and beautiful fresh flower selection.
Testimony: The staff seems respectfully removed from your unusual late-night purchases. I have purchased three candy bars, a pint of ice cream, and a package of dairy relief pills all at the same time at this location. It was 12:30am, and I did not feel judged.
Flatbush, Brooklyn
Cortelyou Gourmet Deli
1622 Cortelyou Rd
Hours: Unknown
Stars out of Five: 4.5
Cortelyou Gourmet Deli is the all-time best bodega in Brooklyn, although I have never seen many “gourmet” options. This bodega is the perfect fit if you’re looking to grab some ramen with a side of Twinkies, but not for produce or healthier alternatives. For that, your options are Original or Tropical Skittles. They treat you right, and have no credit or debit card minimum whatsoever. This location does not have very effective refrigerators though, aside from the first column on the left. If you’re looking for an extra cold soda, or good air-conditioning, this may not be the spot for you. However, the employees and the ramen flavor selection do much to make up for this.
Testimony: If you go any day after 6pm, you will be greeted by a very tall man with a beard and a wonderful patterned shirt collection. No joke, this guy wears a different eccentric button-up shirt every day, and some of them are cool as hell. After becoming a regular, I was always greeted and asked about my day. This bond extended to them providing me with spare boxes when I moved away from the neighborhood. Having a bad day? Feeling lonely? Go to Cortelyou Deli and get uplifted. They’ll even give you a nickname. I’ve given this location 4.5 stars, primarily because of the glorious shirts.
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Express Deli & Tobacco
132 Graham Ave
Hours: Unknown-Midnight (currently closed as a result of a violent crime investigation)
Stars out of Five: 1.5 (3.5, if you count the cat)
Express Deli & Tobacco is not one of my most beloved bodega locations. They have minimal soda selection, and seem to primarily profit off of selling cigarettes. They do have a good bottled juice selection, as well as a surplus of beer; however, you won’t find any trendy options—they prefer Bud Light. If you’re looking for that authentic New York City vibe, this place is for you! Rarely do they speak, and they also avoid eye contact at all costs. They’re as friendly as an MTA worker on a Monday.
Testimony: This place kinda sucks, and the only reason I continue visiting is because of the in-store cat. I’m pretty sure it’s a purebred Scottish Fold, with one ear that has a tatter in it. His name is Kong, like King Kong, apparently. Regardless, Kong is always friendly and well taken care of. So, hats off to you bodega men! P.S. I bet you have mice.
Alphabet City
Sunny & Annie Gourmet Deli
94th Avenue B (6th St)
Hours: 24 Hours
Stars out of Five: 5
Sunny & Annie is a deli known for their kooky late night options, particularly for their unusual but tasty sandwich menu. Seriously, google this place and you will see swarms of reviews on their sandwiches, which one customer even described as “life altering.” They offer the “Pho Real,” a sandwich combining the flavors and ingredients most typically found in a bowl of Pho. On top of this, they offer a late night special of a $3.00 pizza bagel. Unbeatable. Don’t be overwhelmed by the sloppy smattering of menu options when you arrive: no matter what route you go, your bank and your buds are bound to be blessed.
Testimony: If you’re looking for a late night eat, or you happen to be intoxicated, this is the place for you. The food selection is wide enough to satisfy any random craving, and the prices are low enough for you to avoid realizing you spent too much when you wake up the next morning.
Brooklyn Heights
Penny Bridge Store
82 Clark St
Hours: 24 Hours
Stars out of Five: 3
Penny Bridge is small, but much nicer than a typical bodega, probably because this deli is located in Brooklyn Heights. They are open 24 hours a day, and they do not push straws on you with every beverage purchase, which is cool for the turtles. They have a large candy and artificial pre-packaged baked goods selection. If Hostess brand is your shit, go here. I didn’t even know Hostess had that large of a selection until seeing theirs. If not, or if you’re claustrophobic, maybe pass on this one.
Testimony: They offer deli sandwich options, so I tried a chicken cutlet sandwich from there once, which is not what I ordered. It tasted how I imagine a sponge to taste. No thanks. The staff is super sweet and peppy though, so pick your battles, I guess.