MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — To get to the finished pork chop sandwich, it starts with something similar to pancake batter. 

“It’s a piece of tenderized pork loin without the bone. It’s tenderized and cut about 3.5 oz. The batter ... is a mixture of milk, sugar, flour, eggs and a little bit of salt," said Seth Dowell, owner of Snappy Lunch.

“The batter’s homemade also. We make all that here in house," Dowell said.

What You Need To Know

Snappy Lunch in Mount Airy is known for its pork chop sandwich

The restaurant has been at the same spot since the 1920s, but it wasn't until 1960 that the pork chop sandwich was created

Charles Dowell created the famous sandwich using leftovers 

Homemade everything and a not-so secret recipe — Dowell was happy to share how they make their famous pork chop sandwich.

“It originally started with the bone in, and it was harder to eat since it had the bone inside of it. Then they took the bone out and adjusted the batter and that’s how it kind of morphed into what it is now,” Dowell said.

The restaurant dates back to the 1920s, but it wasn't until 1960 that Dowell's father-in-law, Charles, invented his pork chop sandwich.

“He had the idea for it, he wanted to make his own slaw or chili or something that wasn't too expensive to keep making, and he just used leftover meats from the morning or leftover anything that they get,” Dowell said.

Even though "Snappy" is in the name, it's not always that quick when demand is so high.

“People wait up to 40 minutes, I’d say. It can get that long especially during the summer and fall months when we’re especially the busiest,” Dowell said.

Dowell says they usually make about 600-700 pork chop sandwiches a day, and even more during the annual celebraton known as Mayberry Days.

“And when we closed, we were out. That’s upwards of 1,000,” Dowell said.

When you're flipping and topping sandwiches all day, it's not exactly something you crave after a long shift.

“I don’t eat one every day. I probably wouldn't be able to fit through the door if I did,” Dowell said.

That doesn't stop people from traveling from all over just to get a taste of what the characters on "The Andy Griffith Show" may have eaten.

“We’ve had people from China, we’ve had people from Australia, we’ve had people from the Philippines, had people from Ghana,” Dowell said.

It's a sandwich so popular that its name is printed just about as large as the restaurant's name out front, so you can't miss it.