Hector’s Deli South Melbourne

Hector’s Deli’s second outpost in South Melbourne has pulled crowds from day one. Its timeless menu of sangas is roughly the same as at the original Richmond spot – five fresh and five hot sandwiches, plus a rotating selection of specials.

But the space, which used to be an old heritage bakery, is completely its own. It’s a minimalist, open-plan interior with a long counter on one side and a few seats on the other, plus street-side seating. Original textured glass windows remain on the Victorian frontage, but the interior is modernised with splashes of concrete, stainless steel and blonde timber. At the very back is the large open-plan kitchen, where much of the on-the-fly recipe testing happens. That includes the weekly sanga specials that spotlight different roasts (think porchetta, roast beef or meatballs).

Aside from the rotating specials, you'll find most of Hector's classics – from the HCT (mortadella, mozzarella, provolone and tomato chutney) to the molten mushroom melt to the chicken-schnitzel sandwich, served on a steamed potato bun with iceberg lettuce, tarragon butter and house-made pickle mayo.

There might also be fresh options including a chicken-salad sanga with herby ranch and a roast-pork number with kale pesto and Calabrian chilli – both on Turkish sourdough created in collaboration with Flywheel Bakery.

There’s also a handful of sodas, including lemonade from the Yarra Valley's Yumbo Soda Co. Plus coffee from Axil Coffee Roasters to enjoy with your sanga.