By Rachael Shugars, AAP Food Writer

The Bodega 856 is located at 5051 Westfield Avenue in Pennsauken.  This convenience store pays homage to all things a good old fashioned corner store should consist of. There are snacks and candy galore, a limitless selection of drink options, and a kitchen that offers up a staggeringly delicious selection of food. 

What I noticed most about the store was the variety of things that are available. not only can you come for a great lunch or snacks or just to have a good chat. there is a whole section dedicated to tools of the trade for any respectable Latin kitchen. I grew up with a kitchen full of things like tostoneras, collandors, and pilons. The Bodega 856 if fully stocked with these items and more. 

  I visited one day randomly just to see what all this great hype was about. it was such an awesome experience. When I walked in I was greeted by the owner Pamela Canepa and her service dog. She was so welcoming and after speaking with her a little bit about why they opened up the store she got to work on getting my order please for my chopped cheese sandwich with a side salad. Typically they do come with a side of fries. While I waited for my sandwich I spoke with Pamela’s boyfriend and co-owner Matthew Rivera who works in unison with Pamela to keep the place running. They talked about how popular the store is amongst kids coming before or after school. It’s great to have an accessible, friendly place for people to stop in for a quick bit to eat or a snack.

Pamela and Matt are both Jersey born and left for a while and returned when the opportunity arose to be able to make the dream of The Bodega 856 into reality. They wanted to bring good to-go food options to Pennsauken. 

The chopped cheese will knock your socks off. the sandwich itself originated in New York City in bodegas throughout different areas of the city. The recipe is normally always the same and includes some form of beef, melted cheese and lettuce and tomato.The meat and cheese are chopped up together and nestled in a soft torpedo roll. It’s so simple but effective. There are plenty of other options like breakfast platters, burgers and other sandwiches. 

Give this place a visit. Grab a snack or try this chopped cheese asap. If you have questions about the menu you can give them a call at 856-733-4712. Let me know what you think and tell me what you tried. As always, enjoy your Food Adventure.