When asked to describe Lucky Pickle in three words, co-owner Schez replies, “Excellent, delicious sandwiches prepared in a minimalist, hole in the wall shop.” When the sandwiches are this good, it seems three words just isn’t enough.

If you’ve ever had the chicken katsu sandwich from Lucky Pickle, it will come as no surprise to learn that customer satisfaction is the team’s paramount value.

Owners Ricky Nanda and Schez Umrigar took over Lucky Pickle in 2016, predominantly staying true to the original recipes that have bestowed neighbourhood notoriety upon this humble sandwich shop.

Originally from India, Schez came to Australia in 2000 and Ricky in 2008, with a passion for hospitality that carried them over various Sydney eateries and landed them in Surry Hills. Together they share 30 years of hospitality experience.

There are four team members you’ll see preparing the sandwiches behind the counter: Schez, Ricky, Juwita and Jackie.

Their most popular sandwich is the chicken katsu with cabbage, sesame, mayo and tonkatsu sauce. A close second is the pork belly with duck liver, pickled carrot, daikon, cucumber, coriander, mayo and sriracha. The salad and vego sandwich options are changed regularly. Currently you’ll find the mushroom, almond pesto, smoked mozzarella and green olive sandwich on the menu.

“A lot of effort and hard work goes into making a sandwich. It’s our passion,” says Ricky. “Owning a small business like this is more than a job. A lot of hard work goes on behind the scenes.”

Ricky and Schez have plans to expand the business, but for now the main aim is to continue supplying Surry Hills with the city’s best sandwiches. “You know yourself if you’ve tried our food. We want to see that every product that goes out is perfect.”