- My name is Prez, and I work at Thrillist.
Around these parts, I'm known as the $5 Lunch Guy.
Every episode, I'm gonna put you guys
onto the very finest New York grub for $5 or less.
Huh.
Delis: that's actually not a bad suggestion.
"Operation 5 Buck Lunch": Delis is a go,
and I know just where to go.
Yeah, I read the comments.
Yo, delis.
The backbone of cheap eats in the city.
Whether you're ordering a wrap or a hero
or some custom sandwich, a proper deli takes the time
to pay attention to the details,
because unlike any other establishment in the city,
the popularity of a deli is by word of mouth only,
with only the best being able to survive in the city.
Now, today, we're heading to M&O Market & Deli
in the middle of SoHo, a mom-and-pop joint
serving up party sandwiches in the middle
of one of the most expensive areas in the city.
Let's go.
So these are the rules of "Operation 5 Buck Lunch."
It's gotta be good, 'cause nobody wants bad food for lunch.
No big chains, 'cause that's just too easy.
It's gotta be $5 or less,
and whatever I don't use today
rolls over into the next episode.
(upbeat hip-hop music)
How would you characterize a deli or a bodega?
- I guess like a small restaurant on the corner
that sells, you know, sandwiches and -- I don't know -- drinks.
- A place where you can get amazing sandwiches.
- Oh, they have everything.
Aside from what they sell, they have culture.
When you go to the bodega, you know you're gonna get music,
it's gonna be everybody hanging out in there.
- So, have you ever had a BLT?
- I honestly don't think I have.
It's such a weird sandwich to me.
- Really?
- What do you like to put on your BLTs?
- Very crispy bacon.
- I mean, bacon's one of the best foods ever.
- The mayonnaise.
- The mayonnaise, really?
Why is that?
- Tastes real good.
I like it sloppy.
(camera shutter clicking)
- Some people like it for the bacon.
Other people like it for the mayonnaise.
But regardless, it's a New York staple,
and we're about to go to one of the best places to get one.
I'm pumped.
Fun fact: SoHo is one of the central districts in New York
and one of the main shopping areas in the city.
Also, it's home to the likes of Alicia Keys,
Samuel L. Jackson, Lenny Kravitz, and Justin Timberlake.
I am starving.
Let's go.
Also, it's raining.
(upbeat music)
(camera shutter clicking)
Here we are, M&O's Market & Deli.
Even from the outside, it looks like a mom-and-pop joint.
Before all of these corporate chains
started building their delis on every single block --
you know who I'm talking about --
this is what a deli used to look like.
And also, they have my sandwich.
And I'm starving, so let's go.
(upbeat music)
So, is this your first time here?
- No, I come here all the time.
- What do you normally get?
- I get everything.
They make a different kind of fresh meat every day,
so, like, pork loin, turkey, meatloaf -- it's all awesome.
- What do you feel is the most important part of a BLT?
- The bacon.
It's gotta be crispy.
- Definitely the bacon.
- The bacon? - Yeah.
- Yo, guys, serious, this is not a joke.
Look at that.
Best BLT in Manhattan.
Beautiful.
So you're supposed to pick out your own bread,
which I think is a genius idea.
Of course you have all of the classics:
the bagel, the hero, you have this multigrain bread.
But my favorite, and what I think I'm gonna go for,
is the roll, and this guy looks like the winner.
Let's do it.
I think I'm gonna go with your famous BLT.
- Yeah, you gotta have the BLT sauce.
- That's what makes it famous. - BLT sauce?
- Yeah.
- Oh, there we go, BLT sauce.
That's the one.
I've heard that you can come into any deli or bodega,
and with all of the ingredients that they have,
if you put them in different combinations,
you'd probably eat a different sandwich
every day of the week for a year.
- [Male] BLT.
- [Prez] Thank you so much, appreciate it.
- Have a good day.
- Hello.
BLT on a roll.
- $5.70.
- Thank you so much.
'Ppreciate it.
Thank you so much, 'ppreciate it.
I am excited.
Ah, it smells amazing.
Let's go eat it.
I mean, it's been a while since we've been outside
and ate with you guys in the rain.
Look at the stuff that we do for you guys, man.
Definitely not warm today, but here we go.
Look at this beauty.
(camera shutter clicking)
Ain't it beautiful?
So in terms of the ingredients, this is a BLT
on a white roll with lettuce, tomato, and bacon
with their world-famous BLT sauce.
What's in that BLT sauce?
No one will tell me,
so I guess we're gonna have to figure it out for ourselves.
Mmm, mmm.
First thing I get is the crunch and the taste of the bacon.
The next thing I'm getting huge chunks of lettuce
with a crunch and then the tomato, which adds body.
The best part of this whole thing is this BLT sauce.
It seems to be like an aioli of some kind.
This is the best BLT I've ever had.
Holy crap.
It's the sauce.
Usually, when I have a BLT on regular bread,
the lettuce and the tomato soak into the bread,
and it kinda starts falling apart about halfway through.
The fact that this bread is baked,
it stays together, and it adds that crunch,
and it really, really kinda takes this
to the next level for me.
Listen, we spoke to the people inside,
and they cosign this place and for good reason.
I'm jealous of them, that they live this close,
that they can have one of the best sandwiches
I've ever had in my life on a regular basis
for, what, $5.70?
That's brilliant.
Mmm, wow.
I love you, roll.
You even get a salad with your sandwich, you know?
And a fresh salad at that.
If this were any other BLT, I probably would've said
the bacon would be the best part, but this is not that,
and this is the best BLT,
so this is the BLT sauce we're talking about here.
BLT sauce, No. 1 in terms of ingredients
on a BLT for me.
(people speaking in background)
I'm gonna go back inside and get napkins.
Today's mission was delis, which was suggested by you,
my people.
This is why you should hit me up in the comments,
because I take your advice and I listen to you guys, right?
Everybody that we spoke to has their own favorite sandwich,
but no matter what sandwich you love,
you should always support your local deli.
It's the right thing to do.
Today's mission was an absolute success.
I had the most amazing BLT I've ever had in my life.
We used a little rollover change,
it's not a big chain, and most importantly,
it's damn good.
Thank you for watching, but I gotta head back now.
I'll see you later -- peace.
(camera shutter clicking)
Thank you so much for watching.
If you have any suggestions of where we should go next time,
leave them in the comments below.
Also, what is the weirdest thing
you've ever put on your sandwich?
Do that.
You should hit us up on Instagram @5DollarLunchGuy.
Send us DMs, where we should go, your pictures.
We'll repost them.
And I will see you guys next time.
Follow, like, share, and subscribe.
Goodbye.