11 Unwritten Rules To Know Before Visiting Firehouse Subs

Firehouse Subs, like any American sub chain, has its own subculture, sandwich style, and rules to know before visiting. So, it's important to come prepared. The franchise has been around since 1994, when it was founded by Chris Sorensen and Robin Sorensen. The duo had experience as police officers and firefighters, and after trying out Christmas tree farming and real estate (among other things), they found their calling in the world of submarines. Now, there are well over 1,200 Firehouse Subs locations around the country. 

Thanks to its firefighter theme, Firehouse Subs is one of a kind, even in the realm of American submarine franchises. And it can take quite a few visits to master the ordering process (and how to get rewarded for it). So, here are some super valuable tips for visiting Firehouse Subs that everyone should know, starting with something that will help you build just about any sandwich.

A lot of new customers (and employees) wonder what ordering Firehouse Subs "Fully Involved" means, since it's an ordering phrase that is so specific to Firehouse Subs. We like to think of it as the foundation for any sandwich. You pick your bread and proteins, and then you decide how "Fully Involved" you want it to be — this lingo means a sandwich with deli mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and a pickle spear on the side.

If you want to skip one of those ingredients that are included in "Fully Involved" subs at Firehouse Subs, there is no need to just rattle off the individual bits and bobs that you want. Instead, single out the undesirable piece of the puzzle. For example, ask for your sub to be "Fully Involved, no onions," if those are the only things you don't want.

If you're familiar with Jersey Mike's, it's similar to the "Mike's Way" concept in that it's the standard recipe for any sub, and to deviate, you still build from it (order it "Mike's Way, no vinegar," for example). So once you have "Fully Involved" at Firehouse Subs memorized, it'll be easy to rattle off what you want without needing to state every individual ingredient (it also makes it easier for the employees, who have the lingo memorized).

Firehouse Subs stands out for its classic offering: a steamed meat and cheese sandwich on toasted rolls. The subs are not grilled like Jersey Mike's, where orders are warmed on flat-tops, and they aren't toasted inside a high-speed commercial oven like they are at Subway. Instead, this melty version is part of the Firehouse Subs DNA, and suits the firefighter theme well, despite it potentially being less flexible than the other American sub chains' set-ups.

These steamed and hot sandwiches are the specialty at Firehouse Subs, so while you can order a cold item here, it will feel more like a side note. In fact, the non-steamed sub lineup consists of just one option: the Tuna Salad. The entire rest of the menu is an extensive array of roasty toasty hot sandwiches. For that reason, we recommend only coming here for the main event, and embracing the steamed subs fully. Plus, there is something really satisfying about the gooey proteins, crisp produce, and crispy bread that's been toasted enough to hold everything together without crumbling. All that said, you can just build your own sub and ask for it cold, if that's what you're in the mood for. It just won't be a classic Firehouse Subs pick.

We have a ton of great Firehouse Subs ordering tips to try out on your next visit. And if you're ordering for multiple people with the same taste, this needs to be at the top of your list. If the plan was to order three identical small submarines, save yourself the trouble and just order a large one. This way, you don't have to repeat yourself for each sandwich, and there's less of a chance of any of them getting made incorrectly. Plus, the employee doesn't have to worry about making the same thing three separate times. Just decide ahead of time if you want it sliced into three and wrapped separately for convenience's sake. Otherwise, divide it up at your table or at home. It will just be messier.

We checked out the caloric content of the same sub at different sizes, and the math adds up. For example, the Cajun Chicken sandwich from Firehouse Subs has 1,180 calories if you order a large. The small version of that same sandwich has 360, which works out to be a little less than a third of the bigger size. Based on this, that means that compared to ordering three small Cajun Chicken subs (which would be 1,080 calories total), you're actually getting more food if you just order a large and split it three ways.

Like just about any U.S.-based sandwich chain, not all ingredients are created equal when it comes to price. It's important to know which sandwich toppings are free (or, rather, automatically included in the price of your submarine) and which ones are considered premium and come with an upcharge.

The meats and cheeses that already come on the sandwich (for example, the tuna and provolone on the Tuna Salad) are included in the price of your sub. So are lettuce, tomatoes, onions, mayonnaise, and deli mustard, or the "Fully Involved" setlist. Other non-premium ingredients include everything from cucumbers and banana peppers to Italian dressing and Cajun mayo. If you want garlic butter, mushrooms, extra cheese, sautéed mixed peppers, bacon, or caramelized onions, you'll need to pay extra.

If you're on a budget, this is probably the most important Firehouse Subs ordering tip for an Italian Sub, Tuna Salad, or any sandwich offered. Anyone who hates surprise charges should definitely have the included versus premium ingredient lists memorized if they don't want to ask, because it's not as intuitive as other sandwich spots might be.

Luckily, the hot sauce at Firehouse Subs is free, and pretty delicious at that. We recommend always getting at least one kind on your submarine if you love a little heat or just want something that's very on-brand. It would just be a shame to skip it.

The best way to experience Firehouse Subs' hot sauce array is to dine in-person so you can enjoy the hot sauce bar. The bottles are arranged according to the level of spiciness, with lower numbers indicating less heat. Pick based on your comfort level with spiciness, or sample a few before you pour one on your sub. The Firehouse Subs-made Captain Sorensen's Datil Pepper Hot Sauce is the mildest — this pick is spicy, but also pretty sweet, since it's crafted using Datil Peppers from St. Augustine in Florida. But if heat is the name of the game, grab the bottle of Deep Canyon Co. Sizzlin' Scorpion Scorching Hot Sauce. This one is ranked an 8 on their heat rating scale, and it involves habanero and scorpion peppers, loads of heat, and some serious savoriness.

Firehouse Subs is so known for its hot sauce that it sells it by the bottle. Make sure to remember your favorite flavors so that you can order some in-store or online to have at home!

Eating at sub chains in the United States can be tricky if you're vegan or vegetarian, since meat and cheese (and mayonnaise, for that matter) are considered to be key building blocks of sandwiches in this country. So if you're off animal products either partially or altogether, it's important to understand the Firehouse Subs options ahead of time so you come in prepared.

The Veggie Combo sub, for example, is vegetarian as-is. It comes with salty mushrooms, sautéed red and green bell peppers, provolone, caramelized onions, cheddar, lettuce, Monterey Jack, tomato, mayonnaise, onion, deli mustard, and Italian dressing. On the side is a nice and tangy pickle spear. But to order anything else meat-free will require some customizations — try the Engineer without turkey, letting the mushrooms be the sole source of meatiness. Vegans will need to customize everything in order to eat at Firehouse Sub, as all submarines come with cheese.

And it can be hard to tell which sides are vegetarian, but we checked. The chili is not veggie-friendly because it's made with beef. The potato soup, meanwhile, includes bacon (but we think everyone should skip Firehouse Subs' loaded potato soup anyways).

What's nice about Firehouse Subs is that rather than having to pick between a big salad or a big sandwich, you can order a sandwich of your choosing with the shop's classic side salad. That's hard to find at other sub shops, which tend to offer either a sub or a "sub in a tub."

The side salad comes with romaine lettuce, diced tomato, red and green bell peppers, diced cucumbers, and shredded cheese. Its medley of textures and flavors makes for a really nice bite, without getting too complicated. Plus the cheese adds some substance to the overall-light dish. You can also pick from an array of dressings, including ranch, balsamic vinaigrette, oil and vinegar, and Italian. All together, it's simple, but it's really satisfying to eat with the hot and melty submarines. 

The salad is also a great way to break up the meatiness and richness of the meat and cheese sandwiches, while adding something fresh, bright, and crisp to the meal. This is especially true of the more meat-focused subs, like the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket Combo — this menu item comes with just smoked beef brisket, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, and mayonnaise, so having a side salad with it makes it feel less heavy. It might just be the best way to balance out a Firehouse Subs meal.

As we mentioned earlier, Firehouse Subs is not really the place to come to satisfy a craving for a cold sandwich. It's all about the steamed creations. However, if you do find yourself itching to have a tuna sub and are at a Firehouse Subs franchise, here's what you need to do to make it worth it: customize the sandwich as much as possible.   

Tweaking the tuna sub at Firehouse Subs will greatly improve the experience (especially since the seafood salad is pretty mushy and one-note when it comes to texture). But, to start, ask for it to be made without any cheese — it doesn't need it, since the mayonnaise already brings creaminess, richness, and some fat. Plus, it's not a tuna melt, so it doesn't need a blanket of dairy over it to be satisfying (and we've found it makes for an overly oily mouthfeel). This move will help keep it fresh and boost the seafood flavors without getting heavy. 

We also recommend adding lots of chopped pickles, jalapeños, and cucumbers for added textures, spice, tang, and brightness. And, if you're willing to ask for some ingredients that require an upcharge, sautéed peppers and onions are definitely worth it for the umami and complexity they bring. And evening customers take note, because this also makes for meatier sandwich that feels more like a dinner sub, rather than a classic lunch. Paired with the Cajun Mayonnaise instead of the standard, the result is a more balanced and flavorful submarine that puts the standard menu version to shame.

While we've suggested always tipping as an unwritten rule to know before visiting Jersey Mike's, that's not the case at Firehouse Subs. Reports are all over the place concerning how much of the tips the employees actually get to keep. Some people who work at the franchise say that the tips are split amongst everyone who works at the location. Other employees say that they won't get any of it, and that the tips all go straight to the store's owner. So if you do plan on tipping, just know that there's a possibility the person making your sandwich will even see that money — allegedly, at least.

If you do want to do some good and give back with your sandwich order, consider rounding up. The change will go to the aforementioned Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation and help first responders save lives. You can also donate straight to the organization in the Firehouse Subs app on your phone. Plus, 90 cents of each dollar spent goes to the charity anyways, so simply ordering anything at the chain is helpful (just not in the way of tips). It's something to remember if you are planning on getting food from Firehouse Subs.

If you're the sort of customer who wants each purchase to count toward a bigger goal (outside of just a great meal), you should sign up for the Firehouse Rewards program immediately. Other American sandwich chains' loyalty perks are lacking — in fact, we think it's one of the changes Subway should make. But Firehouse Subs has some great benefits when it comes to its rewards system.

For starters, you get 100 points for each dollar spent on the Firehouse Subs app or website while being logged into your personal account. If you're in the store, the same points system applies, but just make sure to give the person at the register your phone number that's attached to that account so you can get credit for it. Customers can earn points for up to three transactions in a day, and those points will show up within 48 hours. Just note that you won't earn on purchases made on third-party sites, catering orders, buying or reloading gift cards, donations made to the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, or if your order isn't more than $1.

You can sign up on the Firehouse Subs website or download the Firehouse Subs app. It's free to join. Just note that your points will expire after 180 days, so redeem those rewards while you can. You can get a free sandwich when you've spent about $80 (8,000 points), and there is a free sub with any purchase when it's your birthday.

At any fast-food or fast-casual chain, the customer is in control of how quickly everyone else can eat — if you take a long time at the front of the line to order, it delays every other customer behind you from even ordering, let alone dining. For this reason, it's important to know what you're ordering at Firehouse Subs before you're at the register. In fact, we recommend not getting in line until you have decided on your order. You should also have a backup in mind, just in case that location is out of something that's integral to that sub.

A big part of being able to narrow down what you'll order is understanding the Firehouse Subs lingo. So remember your training on what "Fully Involved" means and make sure to look up which proteins are on the uniquely named subs. For example, you probably know what's on a Tuna Salad (or at least the basics), since it's in the name. But it's impossible to know that a Hook & Ladder has smoked turkey, honey ham, and Monterey Jack cheese just based on the name. Over time, you'll naturally memorize these sandwich names just by exposure, but in the meantime, read the menu closely before picking a sub. Then get in line.

Luckily, our top sandwiches are very clear on ingredients when it comes to their menu names. In our ranking of Firehouse Subs sandwiches, our top pick was the Spicy Cajun Chicken, and the title gives away the protein right off the bat.