Cities w/ Assimilated Latinos VS Cities w/ Traditional Latinos (quality, live, better)

[Foamposite]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

thats to go food, almost snack food. I was talking sit down meals/soups

You're right that it's generally to go, but a sandwich can still be pretty filling.

Most convenience stores in the US don't even sell fresh sandwiches.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by Foamposite

You're right that it's generally to go, but a sandwich can still be pretty filling.

Most convenience stores in the US don't even sell fresh sandwiches.

true enough...but arent NY delis typically specializing in sandwiches and typically owned by white people or arab people?

[Foamposite]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

true enough...but arent NY delis typically specializing in sandwiches and typically owned by white people or arab people?

White people:
Not really. The classic white Delis might be a thing in very white neighborhoods but overall they're way outnumbered by Arab and Latino ones.
Arabs:
Yes but alongside Dominicans and Mexicans too.
The Arab places still sell lamb/chicken over rice platters.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by Foamposite

The Mexican delis are functionally very similar to the Dominican ones, except they serve Mexican food which is more popular than Dominican food.

Dominican food is less well known than Mexican food. Had a Dominican quipe today for the first time and it was delicious. Also weird that you call them “delicatessens”. Must be an NY thing.

Edit: Looks like BostonBorn beat me to the lunch on the “deli” thing.

The Arab places still sell lamb/chicken over rice platters.

Is an “Arab deli” just a kebab shop?

[Foamposite]

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

Dominican food is less well known than Mexican food. Had a Dominican quipe today for the first time and it was delicious. Also weird that you call them “delicatessens”. Must be an NY thing.

Edit: Looks like BostonBorn beat me to the lunch on the “deli” thing.



Is an “Arab deli” just a kebab shop?

I call them Arab delis (or Arab bodegas) just because they're run by Arabs, they don't really specialize in Arab goods besides having chicken and lamb over rice on the menu. And apparently the NYC halal truck food like that is not particularly representative of Arab food.

While the Mexican delis do tend to have Mexican antojitos and Mexican ingredients such as dried chilis for sale.

[Boston Shudra]

Originally Posted by Foamposite

I call them Arab delis (or Arab bodegas) just because they're run by Arabs, they don't really specialize in Arab goods besides having chicken and lamb over rice on the menu. And apparently the NYC halal truck food like that is not particularly representative of Arab food.

While the Mexican delis do tend to have Mexican antojitos and Mexican ingredients such as dried chilis for sale.

Ok, I’m picking up what you’re putting down. Would you say that “deli” and “bodega” are synonyms in NYC?

[Foamposite]

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

Ok, I’m picking up what you’re putting down. Would you say that “deli” and “bodega” are synonyms in NYC?

Bodegas are usually delis but not all delis are bodegas. The fancier delis are usually not considered bodegas.

[masssachoicetts]

And Bodegas usually have a convenience store aspect to them too

[Foamposite]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

And Bodegas usually have a convenience store aspect to them too

Yeah like selling tobacco products, phone cards, basic household goods, maybe lotto tickets.

[wanderer34]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

right ive seen 'supermercados' in Baltimore and Hartford (not in the Boston area but im sure they exist in cities i dont frequent)..

Even still those are massively outnumbered by Dominican bodegas. (IN Boston Arab bodegas were pretty common).

Supermercados clientele is overwhelmingly Mexican/central american and when they do serve Mexican food it still usually only Mexicans. Theres this cool one sort of Supermercado/shopping center on Park Street in Hartford that has Latino groceries but also small eateries inside. Dominican Puerto Rican and Mexican all next to each other. The Mexican one is the only one with ample seating and a section to itself but I was always the only one eating there.

I'm not sure of Dominican bodegas in Baltimore. Most of the stores in Baltimore from what I've seen are mainly run by Koreans, so it's a completely different ballgame south of the Mason Dixon Line as far as corner stores are concerned.

I've familiar with Hartford and it's a mostly Puerto Rican city, with smaller groups of Dominicans, Peruvians, Colombians, and Mexicans. It's so small, I've been in bodegas that were ran by Puerto Ricans, which I haven't seen in a long time. It seems like the bigger cities of NYC, Boston, and Philadelphia have bodegas that are ran by Dominicans.

Originally Posted by Boston Shudra

Dominican food is less well known than Mexican food. Had a Dominican quipe today for the first time and it was delicious. Also weird that you call them “delicatessens”. Must be an NY thing.

Edit: Looks like BostonBorn beat me to the lunch on the “deli” thing.



Is an “Arab deli” just a kebab shop?

The Arab and Dominican ran stores operate on the same premise: to serve general items such as soda, chips, cigarettes, and other paraphenalia to the neighborhoods they operate from. And the only reason Dominican food is less well known than Mexican food is because Dominicans only make up slightly less than 1% of the US population and are only concentrated in the Northeast and Florida. Mexicans make up about 10% of the population here and are practically in every corner of this country.