‘Eggs on a Roll’ Part II

After my post from a few mornings ago, I went to a bodega near the office yesterday to get a bacon, egg and cheese on a roll, and it was good, but I have to agree with Josh Fruhlinger, who mentioned in the comments that what really made it good was the bacon part of it, because: bacon! It’s also good because the eggs are cracked and cooked fresh, instead of the weird circular patties of eggs you’d find at a fast food restaurant.

The bacon appeared to double the price from $2 to $4, which is still cheap for breakfast, but I’d rather spend my few dollars on coffee in the morning, and grab a banana, or make an egg white on a brioche like I did today (carton of egg whites: $4, and six brioche rolls: $3).

I think the most attractive thing about the bodega eggs on a roll is that it’s available everywhere, it’s cheap, and it appears to be something that’s inherently New York. Other things I’d put in this category: The $0.50 cup of coffee from a street cart, the $5 container of chicken and rice from the halal cart, the $1 slice of pizza, the $3 everything bagel with scallion cream cheese.

I’d also mention the hot dog, but I’ve actually never had one from a street cart, and apparently, they’ve been on the decline for a while.

Every city has that thing that’s theirs in this way. Back where my folks live in Orange County, Calif., what’s cheap and prevalent is the $5 carne asada burrito, the $2 Vietnamese banh mi sandwich, and the cheeseburger and fries that you can get at In-N-Out burger for a mind-blowingly low (to me, at least) $3.50.

What’s the cheap, prevalent thing where you live?

Photo: Flickr/Dyobmit

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