Sydney sandwich icon calls out antisemitic customer
One of Sydney's most popular sandwich shops has called out an antisemitic incident at its Darlinghurst store, drawing a wave of community support.
A customer at one of Sydney’s most popular sandwich shops refused to accept a can of Coca-Cola because of the Argentina flag printed on it, telling staff the reason was “because lots of Jews live in Argentina”.
South Dowling Sandwiches, the family-run Darlinghurst institution known for its lunchtime queues and oversized chicken schnitzel sangas, shared the incident on social media in a statement that has since drawn an outpouring of community support.
“Let us be crystal clear: there is no place for antisemitism, racism or any form of hate at South Dowling Sandwiches,” the shop wrote. “If a flag on a Coke can is enough to provoke hatred towards an entire group of people, that’s something we won’t stay silent about.”
The business, which describes itself as a proudly Jewish family-run operation, said it had provided CCTV footage of the woman involved to the appropriate authorities.
In a follow-up post, the shop thanked the wave of supporters who had reached out, shared the story, visited the store or left messages of solidarity.
“As a proudly Jewish family-run business, there have been many times we’ve questioned whether it was safer to stay quiet,” the post read. “Yesterday reminded us why speaking up matters. No one should ever feel afraid to stand against hate.”
South Dowling Sandwiches has been a fixture of Sydney’s food scene for more than two decades.
Owner Avi Labi opened the original shopfront at 377 South Dowling Street, and the business has since expanded to Alexandria and Kent Street. Its signature sandwich, The Biatch, was named Australia’s best sandwich, and the shop itself was crowned Australia’s favourite sandwich shop at the 2023 Wotif Uniquely Aussie Awards. It regularly features on best-of lists from Time Out, Broadsheet and The Urban List.
The shop’s Jewish identity is woven through the brand, right down to its Friday special, the Challah-lujah, a loaded sandwich served on challah bread across all three stores each week.
The incident is the latest in a pattern of antisemitic encounters reported by Jewish-owned businesses and community members in Australia. It comes as the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion continues its hearings in Melbourne this week.
South Dowling Sandwiches said it would continue to stand up against antisemitism and all forms of hate.
“Hate has no place at our tables.”