Food Writer Ranks 8 'Jersey' Subs From Famous Chain

Legendary sub chain Jersey Mike's had eight of their offerings ranked by Dani Zoeller with Food Republic.

To do this, they visited a newly opened Jersey Mike's shop a few times over a week, each time sampling at least one sub. They ordered each sandwich Mike's Way, and judged the subs on the balance of flavor, ease of eating, and overall taste.

Here are eight Jersey Mike's subs ranked by Food Republic:

8. Tuna Fish

This sub includes fresh tuna salad made right on site with freshly chopped celery, mayo and a dash of pepper.

"The tuna dish at Jersey Mike's is just simply missing something," Zoeller wrote. "Looking at the toppings, it wouldn't seem so, and I wouldn't have thought this to be the case either. The flavor was so over-the-top fishy that I only took a few bites.

7. Stickball Special

The Stickball Special comes with provolone, ham and salami.

"While the story is cute as can be, this wasn't my favorite sandwich. It ranks rather low overall because the meat just has such a presence," Zoeller wrote. "I don't particularly like cured meats like pepperonis and salami, so while I know this might be someone's favorite, it wasn't mine."

6. The Veggie

The Veggie sub starts with layers of provolone, Swiss cheese and green bell peppers. Ask for it Mike's Way to enjoy freshly sliced onions, shredded lettuce and tomatoes.

"Rather than being a vegetarian sandwich that has a whole lot of variety on it, you mostly end up with just cheese and the toppings that are considered Mike's Way," Zoeller wrote. "Certainly, you get the crunch of a couple of green peppers, and of course, that's welcome, but it's not enough to call this a veggie sub.

5. Jersey Shore's Favorite

This fan favorite is stacked with provolone, ham and cappacuolo.

"The sandwich is pretty similar to the Stickball Special, but instead of salami, you get cappacuolo," Zoeller wrote. "This is a type of meat that is cured to create very juicy meat. It's one of those meats that if you grow up loving it, there's a good chance you'll always love it, but if you're a convert or didn't have it as a child, it might be a tougher sell. Unfortunately, I fall in the latter category, so for me, the sandwich was too pork-heavy."

4. The Original Italian

This Jersey-style Italian sub is crafted with provolone, ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni.

"Watching The Original Italian's assembly is quite the experience and similar to a grinder sandwich," Zoeller wrote. "There's layer after layer of meat and cheese, and it's a bit disconcerting if you're not a meat-obsessed fan. In tasting it, I found the Original Italian to get a little overwhelming."

3. Turkey And Provolone

One of Jersey Mike's most popular sandwiches, this simple sub is filled with its namesake ingredients.

"When I visit Jersey Mike's, my go-to order is almost always a Turkey and Provolone. While I don't typically enjoy provolone on its own, paired with turkey, it's delicious — an excellent combo," Zoeller wrote. "The provolone makes the turkey stand out a bit more, while the turkey provides a nice base for the more acidic elements of the Mike's Way additions

2. Mike's Famous Philly

Mike's Famous Philly is grilled fresh to order with steak, peppers, onions and white American cheese.

"The Mike's Famous Philly sandwich is warm, gooey and richly flavorful," Zoeller wrote. "There's the perfect amount of meat to make sure it's not overwhelming, and to be quite honest, this warm sandwich is quite addicting."

1. Club Sub

The Club Sub is Applewood smoked bacon nestled on top of a foundation of turkey, ham and provolone, topped with mayo.

"Before trying the sandwich, I had never had any of the bacon from Jersey Mike's, and I am incredibly surprised by how delicious it is on the sandwich," Zoeller wrote. "It tastes fresh and has the ideal temperature and texture to include on a cold sub. The way the smokiness from the bacon and ham plays with the turkey and the provolone makes both absolutely superior additions."

Read Zoeller's full thoughts on each sandwich at FoodRepublic.com.

Founded in 1956 by its namesake, Jersey Mike's became a popular lunch spot for both vacationers and residents. The company was purchased in 1975 by Peter Cancro, who is still the CEO and oversees 2,800 locations across the country.