Italian Subs from 6 Popular Sandwich Chains, Ranked Best to Worst

Few things hit like an Italian sub. They’re one of the best sandwiches we’ve got, and when the craving hits, it’s hard to ignore.

Imagine if you will: You're craving an Italian sub but your favorite local Italian deli is close, so you need to hit a chain. Where do you go?

We sampled the signature Italians at six nationwide sandwich chains— rating meat quality, bread chew, topping balance, and bang-for-your-buck. From Potbelly’s four-meat champ to Firehouse’s mayo tsunami, here’s how each stacks up in 2025 when that sudden urge for cured meats and tangy dressing strikes.

It’s a shame how regional Potbelly is, because the place is a killer. The Italiano is the best sandwich the place has. You’ve got four meats on this baby (salami, capicola, mortadella, and pepperoni), and most other chains won’t hit that mark. 

The bread is aces at Potbelly too, but the final piece that sends the Italian to the top are the giardiniera-style peppers that the chain has on hand. Almost nobody else has ‘em. I love you, Potbelly.

Jersey Mike’s certainly isn’t for everybody. This is a sandwich you’re getting on your fingers; oil and vinegar leak out of the sides, and the bread crumbles with tasty oregano and seasoning. This is very much for me. 

The backbone of the restaurant is “Mike’s Way,” a combo that includes lettuce, tomato, onion, oil, vinegar, and spices. It’s my favorite way to get a sub. Of course, you’ll need to add pickles but don’t worry, they’re free. 

Fans of sandwiches that are served sliced in half won’t love what Jimmy John’s has going on. You just get the one big sandwich log here, but I’m more than fine with that. Plus you can do that funny bit where you try to eat it like a typewriter, like how Bugs Bunny does with an ear of corn. 

The sandwiches are of undeniable quality here, but you need to get in and out as quickly as possible. The maximalist decor, which includes signs all over every inch of the walls and ceiling, is an assault on the senses. 

Subway isn’t the best Italian in the game, but it’s by far one of the most reliable. The Hotshot Italiano includes spicy pepperoni and Genoa salami, which you can then dress up in any fashion you choose. But if I’m just being honest? I do Mike’s Way here, too. It’s the best way to eat a sandwich. 

Which Wich has a few good things going for it, but an equal amount of things dragging it down. The bread is good, but it often doesn’t manage to hold everything inside of it. The meat isn’t very good, but they wrap it all the way around the inside of the bread so you’ve always got a good bite. Plus, they’ve got hot, pickled peppers. A game of highs and lows.  

Calm down, Firehouse. This sandwich is a wet boy. We’ve got mayo, mustard, Italian dressing, and melted provolone here. That’s a lot of things to drop on your hands, and Firehouse’s bread is so oddly thin that it can never hold everything in. Bring a bib for this one.