South Dowling Sandwiches is on a leafy Darlinghurst strip surrounded by cafes and terrace houses. For 23 hours of the day, it’s a quiet, relaxed spot. But between midday and 2pm every weekday, a long, winding queue takes shape outside.

The people are waiting for sandwiches. Some of Sydney’s best. And the sangas at South Dowling aren’t just excellent, they’re extremely good value for money. Without add-ons, almost every sandwich on the menu is under $15. And these sandwiches are big – ’80s mobile phone big.

Choices include all the tuckshop classics: ham, tuna, an old-school salad sanga. But the chicken schnitzel (and its offshoots) is the rightful star of the show. All sandwiches are made with thickly sliced bread, which makes it easier to tackle the high volume of fillings packed into these things.

Want to keep things lighter with a salad? Be warned. South Dowling’s salads are massive, too. There’s a range of drinks to have with your sanga or salad, and a small cabinet filled with whatever sweets have been baked that day.

There are a couple of small tables outside, but they’re mainly for sitting at while you wait for your order. Almost everyone comes here for a takeaway lunch. We recommend ordering online through South Dowling’s website before you wander over. That way, you can skip the stress of the queue and pick up without having to wait.