Famous for their Instagram-worthy, Japanese-style sandwiches, the pop-up only offers pre-orders on Sundays. Last week they sold out within minutes. 

During their Austin pop-up debut on Jan. 10, Sandoitchi sold out for the week in just seven minutes, causing eager Austinites to wait another seven days to place their pre-orders.

Currently functioning as a to-go service only, the Japanese-style sandwich shop has taken the internet by storm, gaining attention from foodies and celebrities alike. (In Sept., Chrissy Teigen praised the Sandoitchi team on Instagram after they had traveled to her home to teach John Legend how to make their popular egg sandwich.) For those less famous, getting an order in is not as easy: On Sunday, the menu for the week is posted on Instagram. Then, at 6 p.m. on the dot, guests have their chance to sign up for pick-up. According to Keith Tran, the brand’s operator, several thousand sandwiches were purchased in those seven minutes last week.

So what’s the hype? For one, the menu’s inspired by the convenient store trademark of pre-packaged sandwiches in Japan and other Asian countries. “It’s like a perfect mix,” Tran says. “Taking something you could find at any convenient store in Japan, but then elevating it with fine dining techniques.”

With just four menu items, their current offerings are simple, yet elegant:

Served cold, their egg salad sandwich features three eggs (one scrambled, one soft boiled, and one hard boiled) layered with Japanese mayonnaise. For those with a sweet tooth, their mixed fruit sandwich is the way to go, with ripe strawberries tucked into a decadent bed of whip cream. Craving something served hot? Both their deep-fried pork tonkatsu and their hot truffle chicken tonkatsu (the best-seller of the four) are sure to satisfy.

In town until Jan. 23, the pop-up is currently operating out of Devil May Care, located at 500 W. Sixth St., Ste. 100. To accommodate more orders, Tran said Sandoitchi is hoping to increase their staff and storage space.

“We love Austin,” Tran said. “It’s like the food capital of Texas. There’s so many great options to eat at and the community is very open-minded towards trying different food, so we always wanted to be a part of that mix.”

Sandoitchi opened their first pop-up in Dallas in June 2020. Tran says Sandoitchi originally planned to debut as a traditional brick and mortar, but due to the pandemic, the staff adjusted to a pop-up with pre-packaged food.

Austin is the last stop on their “Texas Tour” and they are currently coordinating new locations out of state. Their main goal is still to open up a restaurant once it’s safe to do so.

“We started in Texas so we wanted to make sure everyone in Texas got a chance to try our food,” Tran says. “Our goal, though, is to reach as many people as possible and introduce Americans to a Japanese take on a classic, simple dish.”

To order for the upcoming week, follow Sandoitchi on Instagram and be on the lookout for upcoming announcements. With pre-orders starting at 6 p.m., the brand recommends you set an alarm.