Bacon, Egg N Cheese–From Bodega, To Viral TikTok Anthem, Explained
How did the bacon, egg, and cheese go from a classic NYC breakfast to a viral sensation?
The bacon, egg, and cheese isn't just a breakfast order—it's a way of life in New York. Step into any bodega, and you'll hear the bacon hitting the griddle, the spatula scraping against the flat top, and that classic request: 'Lemme get a baconeggandcheese. Salt, pepper, ketchup.'
But this year, the BEC is making noise far beyond bodega counters. Thanks to TikTok, it's now a viral anthem.
Wavy Rioo's 2022 track "Bacon, Egg N Cheese" exploded across TikTok in 2025, becoming the soundtrack to the viral 'How You Know I'm Dominican' trend. The meme features exaggerated but familiar nods to Dominican-American culture—tight jeans, flashy outfits, big personalities—all set to the song's infectious merengue beat.
With #BEC racking up 2.5 billion views in a week, it's clear this isn't just about a sandwich. It's about identity, culture, and the internet's love for a hyper-specific inside joke.
Bacon, egg and cheese New York style—quick, affordable, and the fuel of the city that never sleeps.
In New York, a bacon, egg, and cheese isn't just a sandwich—it's a daily ritual. It's quick, cheap, and dependable, fueling everyone from students to construction crews to Wall Street execs. Bodegas, many of them family-run, has been slinging BECs for generations, and in a lot of ways, this sandwich captures the city's pace: fast, unfussy, and always moving.
But the BEC isn't just a New York staple—it's part of into Dominican bodega culture. By the 1990s, Dominicans owned about 80% of Latinx-run bodegas in NYC, according to Christian Krohn-Hansen's Making New York Dominican, cementing their influence on the city's food scene.
For many Dominican New Yorkers, the bodega is more than just a corner store—it's a neighborhood hub, a community gathering spot, and now, the birthplace of a viral phenomenon.
'Lemme get a bacon, egg, and cheese...' How a simple order turned into a TikTok anthem with billions ... More of views.
The "Bacon, Egg, N Cheese" trend has intertwined with the "How You Know I'm Dominican?" meme, but it didn't stay in one lane for long. While it still celebrates Dominican culture and humor, it's also turned into something bigger—a full-blown love letter to NYC's bodega culture and, let's be real, the undeniable greatness of a bacon, egg, and cheese.
The meme? At first, it was all about showing off Dominican pride. But soon, it became way more than that. Bodega regulars, food lovers, and even brands hopped on board, because everyone understands the magic of a perfectly wrapped, foil-lined sandwich.
And a big part of why it blew up? That hook.
'Bacon, egg, and cheese. Cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese!'
It's infectious. It's got rhythm. It was practically built for becoming a TikTok trend. And now, it's more than just a meme—it's a whole vibe, bringing together people who know the feeling of biting into a hot BEC and instantly knowing the day is off to a good start..
It's more than just breakfast—it's culture, comfort, and the fuel that keeps NYC running.
The internet thrives on hype and cultural moments, and the bacon, egg, and cheese checks every box. It's the kind of thing that just clicks—instantly familiar, rooted in NYC and Dominican culture, and ridiculously easy to remix. The memes? Loud, exaggerated, made to be shared and lots of dancing—whether you're Dominican, a New Yorker, or just someone who can't resist a good sandwich.
But it's not just the song's merengue-rap energy that made it blow up. The original music video is basically a love letter to the sandwich itself, packed with shoutouts to favorite bodegas, playful debates over prices, and the kind of everyday moments that define a New York morning.
And that's the beauty of food culture—what's every day for some is iconic for others. The BEC isn't just a sandwich, and the song 'Bacon Egg N Cheese' is more than audio for a Dominican TikTok trend—but its bodega roots, NYC swagger, and undeniable popularity make it instantly recognizable and deeply tied to the communities that shaped it. The only question left? What iconic NYC food will go viral next?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Dexter's Laboratory' & ‘The Powerpuff Girls' Creators On How They Broke The System At Cartoon Network
If he was starting out today, Dexter's Laboratory creator Genndy Tartakovsky would 'make cartoon after cartoon until something hits.' That was Tartakovsky's pearl of wisdom delivered to a packed Annecy audience as he celebrated 25 years of Cartoon Network Studios with a sextet of creators of some of the biggest American cartoons of all time, including The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time and Steven Universe. More from Deadline From Brink Of Bankruptcy, TeamTO Unveils Six New Shows & Adult Animation Push At Annecy Neil Court Joins Coolabi As Chairman Amid 'Warrior Cats' Growth Push And M&A Opportunities "Je Suis Milhouse": Matt Groening Gets Emotional At Annecy As He Reveals The Motivation Behind The 800-Episode Longevity Of 'The Simpsons' Tartakovsky, who is also in Annecy promoting Netflix's Fixed, figures it's easier than ever to get your big break because young cartoonists can flood YouTube with ideas. 'It's partly independent now because you can make it and put it on your own kind of cable channel,' he added. 'That's what I'd do [if I were starting now]. I'd work a day job and then at night I'd make cartoon after cartoon until something hits. It was more difficult when we were coming up.' Tartakovsky is enthused by the new landscape and said he 'feels like when I was younger, I feel like that energy makes me still want to do new things.' He sat next to his old friend and The Powerpuff Girls creator Craig McCracken, who concurred, saying that for his spin-off of Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, which he is making with Warner-owned Hanna Barbera Studios Europe, 'the energy is so Cartoon Network' on set. Adam Muto, showrunner of Adventure Time, was slightly more muted on the current state of things. 'We need to make sure people with idiosyncrasies get to have their own voices,' he said. 'But [commissioners] have to greenlight stuff. They have gotta greenlight.' 'We were breaking the system' Tartakovsky and McCracken walked the Annecy audience through how they broke the system at Cartoon Network Studios a quarter century ago when they were first starting out, with Tartakovsky describing the older generation of cartoonists back then as being 'beaten down' when he landed his Dexter's Laboratory greenlight as a young man. McCracken, who worked with Tartakosvky on Dexter's Laboratory, added: 'We were breaking the system and they didn't like that. They were survivalists and we had been given an opportunity they had been working their whole lives for. I felt a bit bad for them but we were given this golden opportunity, this one seven-minute show. And to be fair some of the old guard loved what we were doing.' Tartakosvky set the scene for the early days of Dexter's Lab, which went on to achieve the rare feat of being a primetime Emmy-nominated cartoon. 'Half the crew were high,' he joked. 'I felt like I was saying, 'Guys come on this is our one shot,' and then they wouldn't start working till 2 p.m.' He said he was 'so worried about getting fired' that he 'didn't have a minute to focus on anything apart from what I was doing.' Soon after, McCracken's Powerpuff Girls landed a greenlight, making him into a star of the animation world, but this wasn't plain sailing either. McCracken spoke of experiencing the worst focus group of his life with a group of 11-year-old boys, one of whom even called for the 'creator to be fired.' At the time, Cartoon Network executive Mike Lazzo convinced McCracken that it was better to have people hate the show than be indifferent, and he was told to push ahead. 'I had to get out of my own head and tell myself to stop being so arty,' said McCracken. 'We felt we could make cartoons at the time so we said let's make this the best thing it can be.' The pair were joined on stage by four younger cartoon creators including Muto, Regular Show's JG Quintel, Steven Universe creator Rebecca Sugar and Adventure Time's Pendleton Ward. This quartet, who were termed the 'second generation' of Cartoon Network voices, had an intriguing discussion around fear of failure. 'The first season we thought we'd get canned every moment,' said Muto. 'It was during a transitional moment [for Cartoon Network] and our shows had to be hits.' Quintel said creatives live in fear at the start of their journeys that 'if these are bad, then we're getting in trouble.' For Sugar, who is the first non-binary person to independently create a series for the network, it was 'less about competition and more about protection' at the start of her journey. 'I learned when showrunning that when there is something specific on a board, you have to think how to protect it,' she explained. Sugar was delighted to sit on the same stage as Tartakovsky. She recalled pitching him an early version of Steven Universe. When Tartakosvky said he'd direct an ep, 'I crashed my car into a pole on the way home,' Sugar added. The group were speaking at Annecy on the same day as Matt Groening. Best of Deadline Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds A Full Timeline Of Blake Lively & Justin Baldoni's 'It Ends With Us' Feud In Court, Online & In The Media Where To Watch All The 'John Wick' Movies: Streamers That Have All Four Films
New York Post
28 minutes ago
- New York Post
Meet the lip liner taking over TikTok (and our beauty editor's makeup bag)
New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change. There are beauty products that go viral, and then there are beauty products that go viral and actually earn their place in your everyday routine. The Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner? It's both. With more than 1,600 glowing reviews and a growing number of celebrity makeup artists, beauty editors (ahem, moi) and TikTok creators singing its praises, this humble pencil is proving one thing: the best tools don't need bells and whistles. They simply need to work— and work well. Listen, I've tried dozens of glossy balms, defining sticks and stains and soft-focus lip formulas, and ABH's Lip Liner is a throwback in the best way possible. It brings back crisp definition and precision, the kind that turns your lip look from 'meh' to 'wow' in 30 seconds flat. This pencil is here to remind you why using a lip liner is a step you shouldn't ignore. Advertisement Anastasia Beverly Hills The formula is magic, and one of my favorites to use. It's creamy enough to glide across your lips without tugging or skipping, but matte and structured enough to stay put. Seriously, it doesn't fade, bleed or smudge, even after my second coffee. It holds that elusive just-right texture that somehow feels effortless and high-performance all at once. This isn't your average twist-up liner. It's a classic wooden pencil that's the unsung hero of my makeup bag. The square-shaped barrel helps keep the pencil from rolling off my vanity and onto the floor (you know it's happened). Plus, it can be sharpened to a razor-fine point, which means I get clean, exact lines when I'm over-lining, contouring or adding to the shape. And, let's talk wearability. This liner locks in. It'll give your lipstick a boundary to hold on to, or it can fly solo for a softly defined, matte lip that still looks put-together. Basically, it's your lip's new best friend. Not to mention, I've tried nearly all of ABH's products and this is one of my go-to picks. Let's be real: not all lip liners are created equal when it comes to shade range. But, ABH understood the assignment. The line includes 22 versatile, real-world shades that include everything from barely-there neutrals to rich berries and bold browns. One of the top fan-favorites is 'Baby Rose,' a light rosy pink that screams, 'your lips, but better.' Impressively, the shades were crafted with undertones in mind. That means there's something flattering for everyone, whether you're fair, deep, warm, cool or somewhere in between. No guessing games, here; just good, honest color that works with your natural beauty, not against it. There's something quietly powerful about a product that doesn't scream for attention, but earns it anyway. ABH's Lip Liner is just that. It's not flashy. It doesn't come with LED lights or scented caps. But it delivers. It's a quiet luxury item that shows up and performs without needing a spotlight. The feel-good factor is very much present, too. The formula is vegan and cruelty-free, and it's made without parabens, sulfates or mineral oil. So, while you're creating the perfect pout, you're also making a clean choice that aligns with modern beauty values. About the brand Behind every great product is a brand that knows what it's doing, and Anastasia Beverly Hills is that brand. Founded by the iconic Anastasia Soare, ABH has been shaping the beauty world (and our brows) for over 25 years. You've seen their magic on some of the most famous faces in the world, including JLo, the Kardashians, Hailey Bieber, and Michelle Obama — and now that same high-level performance is in the palm of your hand, disguised as a simple, square-shaped pencil. I had the opportunity of meeting the lovely Soare and, let me tell you, her makeup was a-glowing. The entire ethos of her brand is providing Hollywood glam at an accessible price point, but without all the fluff. Her products are long-wearing and skin-enhancing, while dabbling in sparkle and fun color every now and then. How I use the lip liner The best part? You don't need to be a makeup artist to use this lip pencil. It's designed to deliver pro-level results even if you're just swiping it on in your car mirror before a coffee run. It sharpens easily, applies smoothly, and lets you control the shape and depth of your lip look with ease. I love over-lining a bit for extra volume to define my cupid's bow. You can also fill in your entire lip region for a soft matte lip. Or, just use it to make your go-to gloss pop. However you wear it, this liner gives you options without overwhelm. At this point, it's not just a product — it's a movement. From Instagram reels to beauty podcasts, the buzz around this pencil is only growing. But the hype isn't based on trends or gimmicks. It's based on consistent, reliable performance. A product that shows up, shows out, and slots effortlessly into every routine. If you've been looking for your 'forever' lip liner — the one you'll rebuy and recommend. The bottom line Anastasia Beverly Hills The Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Liner is one of those rare products that's gone viral for all the right reasons. It's smart, stylish, and functional. It feels luxe, wears like a dream, and pairs beautifully with literally everything in your collection. It's a lip addict's staple. If it's not already in your bag, on your vanity or your lips, it's time to change that. This article was written by Victoria Giardina, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what's truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria's latest conquests include testing the best vitamin C serums on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos of 2025. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.
Newsweek
32 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Border Collie in 'Stare Down' at Vets, Then Owner Realizes What He Can See
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A dog has gone viral for his intense reaction to spotting an artwork of a cat while on a visit to the veterinarian's office. Kelsie, who posts to TikTok under the username @kelsieg23, is the proud owner of a border collie, a working breed known for their intelligence, durability—and famous "herding eye," according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). This intense stare intimidates sheep to move through the fields, according to a vet-reviewed report from Wag!. Originally bred to work as herders on farms, border collies kept as family pets have retained their herding eye due to instinct—as proven by a viral video to Kelsie's account. Posted on June 5, and receiving close to 4 million views, the clip shows the blue-eyed collie sitting on the ground and looking upwards, wide-eyed and unblinking. Not moving a muscle, the collie stares intensely at something above him—and the camera then pans to show what's triggered this response. And, rather than prey or any farm animal waiting to be herded, it's revealed to be an artwork of a black cat, its face and paws just visible above the door. When Kelsie pans the camera back to the dog, he's changed his stance—he now stands, closer to the door, with one paw off the ground in a pointing gesture, and still not taking his eyes off the fake cat. Kelsie added to the intensity of the short clip by pairing it with dramatic music from Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," and added as a hashtag in the caption: "Stare down." It proved massively popular, racking up more than 585,0000 likes. "The craziest part is that paper cat will blink first," one commenter joked, as another wrote: "Not him using his eye lasers, pointing leg, and whole body making sure you see it too." Another said the collie was "doing mental calculations on the angle of the ladder he will build and then climb." One praised "the music, the acting, the cinematography" of the video, and yet another predicted "he'll be there for hours." Another commenter, a fan of border collies, wrote: "The tension is outrageous, gotta love herding breeds." The border collie stares intensely at artwork of a cat with the breed's herding eye. The border collie stares intensely at artwork of a cat with the breed's herding eye. TikTok @kelsieg23 In a later video posted to her account, Kelsie proved her pup isn't affected just by artwork of cats, but the real thing, too, as she shared a clip of the border collie having an intense stare-off with her cat in their home. As one commenter summed it up in the original video: "One thing bout collies is they be looking." Newsweek has contacted @kelsieg23 via TikTok for comment on this story. Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
