For years, Subway felt like the only relevant sandwich chain. Its 2008 “five, five dollar, five dollar footlong” jingle still lives in my head.
The Connecticut-founded fast-food giant operates over 35,000 restaurants worldwide, with the most recent 2025 industry data estimating an annual $9.2 billion in United States system-wide sales.
Subway remains the largest sandwich chain in the US, both in location count and estimated sales — but size isn’t the whole picture.
Its US footprint has fallen from more than 27,000 locations in 2015 to fewer than 19,000 today, with more than 700 closures in 2025 alone. Subway’s domestic location count has declined every year since its 2015 peak (though it has seen international growth).
In April 2024, Subway was sold to Roark Capital — a private equity firm that also has a large stake in sandwich-chain competitor Jimmy John’s — for a reported $9.6 billion.
Meanwhile, Jersey Mike’s made headlines in July 2026 after announcing plans to go public. It hit the New York Stock Exchange with a $1 billion IPO, one of the largest restaurant-sector debuts in recent years.
The New Jersey-founded sandwich chain now operates more than 3,300 locations across the US and Canada. Earlier this year, the chain also announced plans to expand into Europe by opening hundreds of locations across the UK and Ireland. By comparison, in 2015, it had just over 1,000 total locations.
Jersey Mike’s financials track with its physical growth. In 2025, it posted more than $4 billion in US system-wide sales, a major feat for a chain that has far fewer locations than Subway yet has become one of its top competitors.
With all the buzz, I wanted to see which chain actually had better-tasting sandwiches and offered more value to customers.
To do so, I ordered a similar cold club sandwich, hot Philly cheesesteak, and chocolate-chip cookie at each, sticking to the chain’s regular size and default preparations.
Here’s how they stacked up.
I started at Jersey Mike’s, a chain I’d never tried.
Walking in, the first thing I noticed was a wall decal that read, “It’s not a real Jersey Mike’s Sub without ‘the juice,'” which I learned is a blend of oil and red-wine vinegar. It’s one of the chain’s specialties.
The “Mike’s Way” preparation is another signature touch: finishing sandwiches with lettuce, onion, tomato, and “the juice.”
Fans of the chain also tout its hearty portions and freshly sliced meats and cheeses. Customers can watch staff slice cold cuts with the large metal tools right behind the counter.
Then I went to Subway, where I’d eaten a handful of times.
I hadn’t been to Subway since college, so I forgot the chain is basically a design-your-own sandwich bar.
The customization aspect is a major highlight, with rows of metal containers filled with veggies, meats, dressings, and cheeses.
Subway is also known for its freshly baked bread and offers multiple varieties to choose from — hence why the stores always smell divine.
Jersey Mike’s menu seemed to cater to sandwich lovers.
Don’t get me wrong, Jersey Mike’s menu had plenty of subs and cheesesteaks — especially the latter, with unique flavors like bacon ranch and Buffalo chicken.
But for anything beyond a sandwich, or a sandwich-turned-bowl-or-wrap, you may want to look elsewhere.
My total at Jersey Mike’s came to $22.70
I ordered a 7-inch Club Sub prepared Mike’s Way (the default for cold sandwiches), a 7-inch Mike’s Famous Philly, and a chocolate-chip cookie for $10.80, $10.40, and $1.50, respectively.
My total came to $22.70 before tax.
Subway’s menu seemed more extensive.
In addition to subs and cheesesteaks, Subway offered pizza, nachos, and breakfast sandwiches, plus lighter and more health-forward options like salads, bowls, and protein pockets.
Salads usually call my name, but this time, I was on a mission.
My total at Subway came to $17.97.
To match my Jersey Mike’s meal, I picked a 6-inch American Club Sub, a 6-inch Steak Philly, and a chocolate-chip cookie.
Each sandwich cost $8.49 and the cookie $0.99, so I paid $17.97 total before tax.
Mike’s Club Sub looked incredible off the bat — and the taste followed suit.
Unrolling the oil-and-vinegar-stained paper, I held a bulky sandwich loaded with provolone cheese, ham, turkey, onion, lettuce, tomato, and bacon. The bread, slathered in mayonnaise, oil, vinegar, and oregano, felt pillowy with a crusty edge.
Beautiful, yes, but I was skeptical about a wet sandwich. After taking a bite, however, I officially understood the hype. “The juice” gave the bread some tang, and miraculously, it didn’t make it soggy.
Better yet, the cheese was creamy and the deli meat relatively moist. Slices seemed individually stacked, not stuck together, so I could tell they were freshly cut.
Perhaps the best part was the equal proportions of ingredients, or the oregano that rounded out the flavors.
Unfortunately, the lettuce hung limp from “the juice,” but given all the pros, I could forgive it.
Subway’s All-American Club also impressed me, though it had a few drawbacks.
Following Jersey Mike’s heaping sandwich almost felt unfair, but Subway’s All-American Club held its own — for the most part. It contained the same ingredients, minus the oil, vinegar, and spices; instead of provolone cheese, it had American.
Subway’s club sandwich had a smoky flavor, thanks to the ham and bacon. I appreciated the crunch from the bacon, onions, and lettuce, as well as the generous amount of American cheese.
However, the bread wasn’t as soft as I’d expected, given Subway’s reputation. In fact, it almost felt stale.
The turkey also missed the mark for me. I uncovered two thin slices, and they had little flavor and a dry texture. The ham had more taste, but it wasn’t juicy, either.
My other qualm: The chain went way overboard on the mayonnaise.
Personally, I didn’t understand the “famous” element of Mike’s Famous Cheesesteak.
I wrongly assumed the cheesesteak would be as hefty as the club. It wasn’t nearly as substantial.
To its credit, the hot sub contained sliced steak, grilled onions, grilled red peppers, and white American cheese, all with outstanding flavor. The steak had a nice tender bite.
It also had a solid meat-to-bread ratio, but the sandwich lost points in my book for the bread itself, which was too crusty. Additionally, I felt it needed another slice of cheese.
In my opinion, Mike’s cheesesteak was just OK.
I wouldn’t get Subway’s cheesesteak again.
Subway’s Steak Philly came with steak, American cheese, green peppers, red onions, and mayonnaise.
Now, not everyone will agree, but I didn’t enjoy mayo on my cheesesteak — especially since the chain put so much of it. In the future, I’d probably order most of my Subway sandwiches sans mayo.
The raw peppers and onions also didn’t work for me.
In this cheesesteak from Subway, the green peppers and red onions were left raw, so they were all I tasted.
With the crunchy veggies and heaping globs of mayo, it felt less like a cheesesteak and more like a steak sandwich. And with almost no cheese, it didn’t have the melty element I craved.
A few bites were enough for me.
Jersey Mike’s chocolate-chip cookie was soft and satisfying.
A prepackaged cookie didn’t pique my interest, but I wanted to end the meal with something sweet. I’m glad I did.
Jersey Mike’s chewy cookie had the fudgy, almost underbaked texture I love. Thick and dense with large chocolate pieces, it reminded me of Costco’s Kirkland Signature cookies. (If you know, you know.)
However, at 3 ¼ inches and $1.50, it was smaller and pricier than Subway’s.
Subway’s chocolate-chip cookie was delicious in a different way.
At only $0.99, Subway’s 4-inch chocolate-chip cookie proved hard to beat, and I liked that it came from the bakery case rather than a plastic bag.
It had a sweet, buttery flavor and tons of chocolate chips.
The texture was light, delicate, and melt-in-your-mouth soft. It hit the spot for a thinner cookie, especially with its ever-so-crisp edges.
In the end, Jersey Mike’s Club Sub won me over.
Even though my club sandwich was pricier at Jersey Mike’s versus Subway, it still felt like a better value. And to be fair, I got an extra inch in length at Jersey Mike’s, too.
Compared to Subway’s club, Jersey Mike’s had juicier meat, softer bread, and more balanced proportions. Plus, the Mike’s Way preparation gave it a subtle Italian flair that paired nicely with the salted meats.
My winners for Philly cheesesteaks and cookies weren’t as clear.
Even though I wasn’t the biggest fan of Jersey Mike’s Philly cheesesteak, I still enjoyed it more than Subway’s. That said, I wouldn’t order either again.
The chocolate-chip cookies were a draw for me. Subway’s cookie was incredibly tasty, plus it was bigger and less expensive, but I also enjoyed Jersey Mike’s. I’d get both again in a heartbeat.
Ultimately, both chains had merits — but Jersey Mike’s edged out the competition for sandwiches.
In the end, the so-called “best” depends on your personal taste, your real-time appetite, and what you’re willing to pay.
For non-sandwich items, healthier-sounding options, and lower prices, Subway delivered. For sandwiches overall, Jersey Mike’s edged out the competition.
In my opinion, Jersey Mike’s biggest drawback was its somewhat limited menu — and the messiness of the sandwiches. Since the Club Sub ended up being my favorite, however, I let it slide. It was worth it for “the juice.”
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Subway said, “For over 60 years, Subway has been built on customization. While we offer standard builds, every freshly made sandwich can be tailored to a guest’s preferences, from adding extra cheese and protein to swapping veggies and adjusting condiments. We celebrate our guests’ individual tastes and encourage them to make each meal their own.”
Business Insider reached out to Jersey Mike’s for comment.
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