# Which is better: Subway or Jimmy Johns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 4, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700 "2010-02-04T19:04:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/41 "2010-02-05T03:20:03Z")
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that this will be the only post about [Jreck Subs](http://www.jrecksubs.com) being the best subs ever. Anyone that has grown up in Northern NY and moved away has to have a Jreck sub whenever they visit. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/42 "2010-02-05T03:29:33Z")
Never heard of Jimmy Johns, but not only do Subway and I go way back together in the States, but also Subway is a fantastic end-of-bar-hopping-night meal over here. Loves me my 3 or 4am double-meat, extra-cheese steak-and-cheese footlong with a couple of beers to top it off before heading home. ---
**Author:** ![Pray\_for\_peace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Pray\_for\_peace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pray_for_peace)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/43 "2010-02-05T03:33:37Z")
I’ve never heard of Jimmy Johns. I can’t decide between Quiznos and Subway - both are good! ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/44 "2010-02-05T03:34:10Z")
My God, have you even _read_ my [BBQ Pit](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550566) post? Subway is basic, but defensible. It’s all cheap ingredients, but at least they try. Jimmy John’s is the emperor of lazy and bland mediocrity. Every fucking sandwich tastes exactly the same. Plus they cost too much. And have a weak (corporate) “identity” - "Look at us! We’re so hip and anti-establishment! “Smells” are free! Of course we have over 9000 franchises, but we’re still cool! And hip! And “alternative”! Quizno’s is ok, but overpriced. I’ve seen a lot of them close lately, I wonder if they are going under. ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/45 "2010-02-05T03:36:37Z")
I have to say that it kinda skews the results when you add in the “other” option. Which would you prefer: bland multi-national brand #1, #2, #3 or rockin’ local shop with awesome names for the sandwiches and awesomer ingredients that no one else has probably heard of but is completely awesome? Yeah, we all have sub shops like that. I agree, they’re awesome. But in a choice between these three (and even Mr. Goodcents), Subway wins hands down. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/46 "2010-02-05T03:44:17Z")
My favorite was the one that was on my college campus: [Blimpie](http://www.blimpie.com/). When I had extra money, it was heaven to get the Blimpie Best with tomatoes, olives, onions, mayo, oil-and-vinegar, and salt-and-pepper. (It took me forever to discover that the lettuce made it not taste as good.) If it weren’t for Blimpie, I wouldn’t think Subway was bad at all. Quiznos is too focused on hot subs, and the first I heard of Jimmy Johns was the Pit thread. ETA: Oh, yeah. Mr. Goodcents was awesome. But that store was bought out by Subway. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/47 "2010-02-05T04:21:05Z")
What??? No Panera love??? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/48 "2010-02-05T06:05:17Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > Have any of you sandwich mavens heard of Potbelly Sandwich Works? There used to be only one, down the street from me in Chicago. I’ve only eaten at one once, the one in Rosemount near O’Hara, when I got stranded overnight. Nothing much else was open. As I recall, it was pretty good. There are two in Dulles Airport (DC/NoVa) and they have very good pricing considering the sandwich size and that it’s in an airport - maybe $5.30 for a large sandwich. Dulles also has at least a couple of Subways, but no Quiznoes or Jimmy Johns. I wonder if Potbelly’s strategy is to use placement in/near airports to help them go viral in name recognition around the country before a larger expansion? ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/49 "2010-02-05T06:48:53Z")
I am voting for Cosi. I think that is fair because it is a chain. I don’t usually spend more there than I do Jimmy John’s and the bread is really awesome. There is less sandwich than the subs I get at Jimmy John’s, but as I am not hungry after a Cosi meal, I think that is to their credit. Hot bread, distinct sandwiches which really do not taste the same as one another, and I think I eat fewer calories for lunch there. All around a win. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/50 "2010-02-05T07:16:50Z")
Can’t stand Subway. Togo’s is far better and Quizno’s is pretty good, too. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/51 "2010-02-05T13:32:11Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > Quizno’s is ok, but overpriced. I’ve seen a lot of them close lately, I wonder if they are going under. Yes, they can be expensive, but I eat there anyway, often using a coupon or opting for one of their $5 larges. Of the four locations here in town, the one I used to walk to often closed recently. ☹ > [@Enderw24](#): > > I have to say that it kinda skews the results when you add in the “other” option. Which would you prefer: bland multi-national brand #1, #2, #3 or rockin’ local shop with awesome names for the sandwiches and awesomer ingredients that no one else has probably heard of but is completely awesome? > Yeah, we all have sub shops like that. I agree, they’re awesome. Yeah, I didn’t think it was fair to include local shops in the poll, which was why I ignored that option. It _might_ even skew results to leave Quizno’s out of the thread title, since those who have particularly strong feelings about them one way or the other may not bother with the thread. > [@](#): > > But in a choice between these three (and even Mr. Goodcents), Subway wins hands down. I stopped at a Mr. Goodcents (I think it was) on a road trip once, and was underwhelmed—nothing to make me regret not having one locally. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/52 "2010-02-05T16:47:30Z")
Talking about chains: Subway has it for me. It’s not a great sandwich but it’s cheap, and I can get what I want. Quiznos has crap for variety and no provolone (WTF?), Mr Subb and Blimpies are sub-par. And generally the quality of the specialty meats is garbage at the chains. I wont even order a mix if I’m at one of those places. Local Places: In my area you can’t spit without hitting a deli that has too many vowels in the name. So it really depends on what I’m in the mood for. A hot sub, it’s gotta be Labella’s. A cold sub: Cannone’s. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/53 "2010-02-05T16:50:53Z")
Jasons Deli beats Subway any day. IMO. 😉 I like the club royale, fresh sliced smoked turkey and premium ham are piled high between a fabulous all butter croissant. It’s a chain. > **[Jason's Deli](https://www.jasonsdeli.com/)** > > It's a Family Thing.™| Pickup | Delivery | Catering ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/54 "2010-02-05T16:56:47Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > > [@2ply](#): > > > > Jimmy Johns are usually only found in college towns. Subways are freaking everywhere. I’ll go with Subway since I have the most eating expereince there, but I’m not wowed by it. My papa made excellant raosted sub sandwiches in our kitchens. Oh, happy memories of childhood bliss. > > ??? We’ve got nearly 50 JimmyJohn locations in the Twin Cities metro area. Yes, and while the Twin Cities are not college towns in the sense that they’re culturally dominated by their colleges, they are college towns in the sense that they are filled with colleges. The University of Minnesota, for example. ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/55 "2010-02-05T17:07:37Z")
If you are ever in Austin, try a [Thundercloud Sub](http://www.thundercloud.com/). ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/56 "2010-02-05T19:28:26Z")
Jimmy John’s gets some points because when the one close to work opened, they sent us a platter of free sandwiches. Of course, they were descended upon before I could get one, but we did order the other day, so I finally did. Meh. Between Subway & Jimmy John’s, I couldn’t really tell you which one is better. I liked the meats better at Subway, but Jimmy John’s bread is better, and they deliver. Subway has mustard, and they have more than one kind of cheese. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/57 "2010-02-05T19:40:52Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > So how’s it taste? It was delicious 🙂 Oh yeah, and seconding Thundercloud Subs, despite the most annoying radio commercial I have ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/58 "2010-02-05T21:02:08Z")
In honor of this thread I drove 9 miles to the closest Jimmy John’s for lunch today, just to see what I’ve been missing. It was okay. The bread was good (7-grain). The sandwich was decent, although I would have preferred mustard instead of mayonnaise. $3 for chips and a drink seemed excessive. Overall I still prefer Subway, because I like to _really_ load up on veggies: lettuce, spinach, pickles, cukes, onions, bell peppers, jalepenos. JJ’s just had the lettuce and tomoto (and I don’t even like tomato). ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/59 "2010-02-05T21:43:15Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > The sandwich was decent, although I would have preferred mustard instead of mayonnaise. You could, of course, ask for mustard instead of mayo. I’m not sure whether you just wanted to try the default offering, but you are allowed to customize your sandwiches. But, yeah, the topping options are much more sparse at JJ’s. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2010, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700/60 "2010-02-05T21:56:39Z")
I was kind of surprised to see Blimpies mentioned in this thread. I always think of it as gas station food – something you eat when you’re on the road and too lazy or in too much of a hurry to make two stops. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-better-subway-or-jimmy-johns/527700.md?page=4)