8 Most Popular Subs at Jersey Mike’s, Ranked

East coast-style hoagies are a magnificent thing. If you’re a fan, you probably also like Jersey Mike’s. The backbone of this restaurant is the quality of the meat, made into sandwiches that mostly get set up in the same way: lettuce, tomato, onion, vinegar, and spices, all famously dubbed, “Mike’s Way.”

Just about every sandwich at Jersey Mike’s is good, so where should you start? I figured I’d run through some of the classics to find out. Because so many sandwiches on the Jersey Mike’s menu are a combination of two meats, I went with the basics, though I did allow special exceptions for the Italian and the Club. 

Here are the eight best Jersey Mike’s subs, ranked.

J-Mike’s is slinging the best turkey lunch meat in the game. Nothing else compares. Mike’s Way is perfect here, though I’m not sure why it doesn’t include pickles. I add pickles every time. It just feels important. Plus, the fact that you get to watch them slice it fresh in front of you is a delight. I’m always worried somebody’s going to slice a finger off. Hasn’t happened yet.

Here’s the thing. If we’re talking bite-for-bite, I prefer the Italian to the turkey. That said, to take down an entire Italian sub, which is loaded with five different meats, does not leave you feeling the same way as taking down an entire turkey sub. You feel much, much worse.

An Italian from Jersey Mike’s includes ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami, and pepperoni. Plus, if you’re smart, you’ll add that delicious cherry pepper relish. This all makes for a great sandwich, but what with all the oil, acid, and meat, it’s incredibly heavy.

This is shockingly good BLT. Jersey Mike’s has some of the best bacon I’ve ever had at a chain restaurant. It’s smokey and crunchy and when it hits the rest of the ingredients, well, you already know: BLTs are magic. My only note is that I’d probably go double bacon next time, but that’s a compliment, because the bacon is good. Maybe double tomato, too. Hm; probably double lettuce while we’re at it. The whole thing could use a super-sizing.

A veggie sub? In fourth place? It’s happening, so get on board. This is a sandwich even I myself frequently order. New Jersey Michael loads up his veggie sub with tons of crunchy green bell peppers and extra provolone, and on days where I’m just not feeling like eating a bunch of meat, this is as close to light and refreshing as a sandwich can be. Give it a shot some time. You’ll see.

I respect that Mike knows that a club sandwich needs mayo, and adds it here. That’s a little thing called knowing your product. The bacon’s great, the turkey’s great, and the ham’s fine. I prefer a club sandwich in sub form far more than I prefer one in three-part triangle form. Much like the other multi-meat sandwiches, this feels pretty heavy.

We’ve got some decent roast beef at Jersey Mike’s, but this is the only instance where I don’t prefer something Mike’s Way. It’s a damn shame that no version of horseradish mayo is available, because that’s what roast beef needs. And really, it’s all that roast beef needs.

Don’t take this the wrong way, ham. I love you, ham. It’s just that I prefer everybody else. You need some help from turkey or other types of ham to rise in these ranks. Don’t look at me like that. I’m sorry.

I’m really hoping this is just a bad batch. I like tuna. I like Jersey Mike’s. I’m not sure why the two aren’t meeting here. This is particularly fishy tuna, so if this is the standard, I’m out. There is no situation where I think Subway is a better sandwich chain, but that ice cream-scooped tuna is leagues better than this.

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