I compared Jersey Mike's sandwiches to Subway's new deli-sliced subs. The contest was closer than I expected.

Nancy LunaJan 12, 2024, 13:51 IST

Insider food reporter Nancy Luna reviews Subway versus Jersey Mike's.Nancy Luna/Insider

This summer, Subway introduced a new line of meat and cheese-heavy sandwiches dubbed Deli Heroes.
The subs were designed to showcase the chain's new automated deli slicers.

When I told my friends over lunch that I was planning a taste test of Subway versus Jersey Mike's, they laughed while munching on their favorite Jersey Mike's order.

"There's no comparison," one friend said. "I would resort to a grocery store sub before eating Subway."

Ouch.

But I wanted to give Subway a chance.

In July, a month before Subway was purchased by a private equity firm, the chain rolled out four meat-heavy deli sandwiches to showcase the adoption of automated meat slicers in stores. Jersey Mike's hand-slices its meat and cheeses before customers, so comparing the two brands seemed like a legit mano a mano challenge.

Still, some might think it's an unfair matchup to compare Jersey Mike's to Subway, as my friend suggested.

But, I was surprised by what I discovered after comparing each chain on taste, presentation, value, and speed of service.

All subs were purchased at restaurants in Orange, California, so prices may vary elsewhere.

At Subway, I tried the chain's four new Deli Heroes sandwiches, including The Beast. The six-inch sub is stacked with pepperoni, salami, turkey, ham, roast beef, and double provolone cheese.

Subway's Deli Heroes sandwiches.Subway

At Subway, I tried the chain's four new Deli Heroes sandwiches, including The Beast. The six-inch sub is stacked with pepperoni, salami, turkey, ham, roast beef, and double provolone cheese.

At Jersey Mike's, I ordered sandwiches that were nearly identical to the ingredients of the Deli Heroes – the No. 3 (ham and provolone), No. 6 (roast beef and provolone), No. 7 (turkey and provolone), and No. 13 (the Original Italian.)

Jersey Mike's sandwiches cost 45% more than Subway's.Nancy Luna/Insider

At Jersey Mike's, I ordered sandwiches that were nearly identical to the ingredients of the Deli Heroes – the No. 3 (ham and provolone), No. 6 (roast beef and provolone), No. 7 (turkey and provolone), and No. 13 (the Original Italian.)

At Jersey Mike's, I expected a wait. But I was the only person in line at dinner. It took 7 minutes for the employee to efficiently hand-slice and prepare my sandwiches on his own.

Jersey Mike's hand-slices deli meats and cheeses in front of customers.Nancy Luna/Insider

At Jersey Mike's, I expected a wait. But I was the only person in line at dinner. It took 7 minutes for the employee to efficiently hand-slice and prepare my sandwiches on his own.

At Subway, I was the only person in line with two employees helping me behind the counter. It took them 9.5 minutes to prepare my four sandwiches.

Subway calls its employees on the line "sandwich artists."Nancy Luna/Insider

At Jersey Mike's, you're getting an authentic deli shop experience as they slice meats and cheeses to order in front of the customer. At Subway, the slicing machines sit on the back counter.

Subway's slicers sit on a back counter, while Jersey Mike's slicers are front and center.Nancy Luna/Insider

At Jersey Mike's, you're getting an authentic deli shop experience as they slice meats and cheeses to order in front of the customer. At Subway, the slicing machines sit on the back counter.

Surprising discovery – Subway is not slicing every meat with its slicers.

Subway promotes deli-sliced meats. But in reality, the chain is only slicing some meats.Nancy Luna/Insider

Subway says the Deli Heroes are meat-heavy. But pound-for-pound, Jersey Mike's sandwiches beat Subway.

I weighed all four sandwiches bought from each chain.Nancy Luna/Insider

Subway's Titan Turkey was dry and the bread was like chewing on cardboard.

Subway's Turkey Titan, left, doesn't stack up to Jersey Mike's turkey and provolone, according to Insider's Nancy Luna.Nancy Luna/Insider

Roast beef is my all-time favorite meat on a sandwich. But both sandwiches were disappointing. I know they can do better.

Insider food reporter Nancy Luna taste tested roast beef sandwiches from Subway and Jersey Mike's.Insider

The Beast, stacked with five different types of meat, comes off as a meat lover's sandwich. But there was no romance here, especially compared to the Original Italian at Jersey Mike's.

I compared The Beast at Subway to the Original Italian at Jersey Mike's.Nancy Luna/Insider

The Beast, stacked with five different types of meat, comes off as a meat lover's sandwich. But there was no romance here, especially compared to the Original Italian at Jersey Mike's.

The ham and cheese sandwich at Subway was flimsy on the meat. But, it was a worthy challenger to Jersey Mike's.

The Subway sandwich, left, had a visible gap in the middle.Nancy Luna/Insider

Jersey Mike's wins this contest, but it wasn't a landslide victory. If Subway could fix their bread, they might stand a chance at beating Jersey Mike's one day.

Nancy Luna preferred Jersey Mike's sandwiches over Subway's Deli Heroes. But Jersey Mike's could have done better.Nancy Luna/Insider

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I compared Jersey Mike's sandwiches to Subway's new deli-sliced subs. The contest was closer than I expected.

At Subway, I tried the chain's four new Deli Heroes sandwiches, including The Beast. The six-inch sub is stacked with pepperoni, salami, turkey, ham, roast beef, and double provolone cheese.

At Jersey Mike's, I ordered sandwiches that were nearly identical to the ingredients of the Deli Heroes – the No. 3 (ham and provolone), No. 6 (roast beef and provolone), No. 7 (turkey and provolone), and No. 13 (the Original Italian.)

At Jersey Mike's, I expected a wait. But I was the only person in line at dinner. It took 7 minutes for the employee to efficiently hand-slice and prepare my sandwiches on his own.

At Subway, I was the only person in line with two employees helping me behind the counter. It took them 9.5 minutes to prepare my four sandwiches.

At Jersey Mike's, you're getting an authentic deli shop experience as they slice meats and cheeses to order in front of the customer. At Subway, the slicing machines sit on the back counter.

Surprising discovery – Subway is not slicing every meat with its slicers.

Subway says the Deli Heroes are meat-heavy. But pound-for-pound, Jersey Mike's sandwiches beat Subway.

Subway's Titan Turkey was dry and the bread was like chewing on cardboard.

Roast beef is my all-time favorite meat on a sandwich. But both sandwiches were disappointing. I know they can do better.

The Beast, stacked with five different types of meat, comes off as a meat lover's sandwich. But there was no romance here, especially compared to the Original Italian at Jersey Mike's.

The ham and cheese sandwich at Subway was flimsy on the meat. But, it was a worthy challenger to Jersey Mike's.

Jersey Mike's wins this contest, but it wasn't a landslide victory. If Subway could fix their bread, they might stand a chance at beating Jersey Mike's one day.