New York Deli Goes Viral for 'Pickle Bun' Sandwiches

It's pickle mania at a New York deli thanks to its newest "dill-icious" bun. A large, sliced pickle takes the place of sandwich bread.

Seven Brothers Gourmet in Oceanside on Long Island created this crunchy concoction in January. It really took off in May after a social media user reviewed the pickle-encased sandwich.

"Two of our employees — me being one of them and Gianna [Cilluffo] — were working one day and typically we eat regular pickles almost every day, but one day in January we decided we wanted to try it with honey turkey and then we made it into a sandwich," Stephanie Kemp, social media manager for Seven Brothers Gourmet, told Fox News.

The creation of the now-viral sandwich was simple.

"There was no real purpose other than that we both really love pickles," Kemp said.

Kemp noticed that customers were a bit "apprehensive" when the pickle sandwich debuted.

That apprehension quickly turned to excitement after Gabby Palmigiano, a deli cashier's sister, reviewed the sandwich on TikTok. Her video quickly garnered more than 4 million views.

Now, several pickle-sandwich lovers have taken to social media to express their love of the handheld meal.

The sandwich can be filled with whatever meats and cheeses customers like, from chicken cutlets and mozzarella to turkey and bacon with provolone.

While the inside might be like a usual deli favorite, it's the crunchy, briny bun that sets it apart.

Seven Brothers Gourmet scoops out the inside of the pickle to create enough space for favorite condiments and additional toppings such as lettuce or peppers.

Since the sandwich has blown up online, the deli has had to make a few adjustments to keep up with all the viral attention.

"Business has changed drastically in regard to the amount of foot traffic we’re seeing throughout the day now," Kemp told Fox News Digital.

"Our busiest time of year is Christmas, so that’s what every day feels like now," she added.

To keep up with regular customers, Seven Brothers Gourmet has created two lines. One for pickle sandwich lovers and another for regular orders.

The best part of the "pickle bun" is that nothing goes to waste.

Employees scoop out the inside of the pickle "bun," including the seeds, into a separate bowl.

Instead of throwing out the pickle leftovers, the deli began making pickle fries.

The excitement behind the pickle sandwich continues to grow as more social media users come from all over to give it a taste test.

Kemp and the team at Seven Brothers Gourmet have loved the feedback from fans of the sandwich, especially those intimidated by the briny bite.

"[The most] memorable feedback is honestly the shock on the customers' faces when they’re a little apprehensive at first — but then they try it and love it," Kemp said.