11 Jersey Mike's Menu Items That Need More Love

There is a lot about Jersey Mike's that everyone seems to love. Freshly sliced meats and cheeses are a major flex over other sandwich chain competitors. Ordering a sub the "Mike's Way" — the franchise's signature foundation of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, oil, vinegar, and spices that goes with the customer's chosen proteins on pretty much every sandwich — is a flavor bomb best suited for just about any menu item. And the hot chopped pepper relish is insanely craveable (some of us buy jars of the stuff).

The menu has changed a lot throughout Jersey Mike's 70 years of business. For example, the chain offered soups, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and tuna salads. And by the 2010s, there was no longer the tidy #1 through #20 lineup on the sub menu, with gaps revealing where certain orders fell out of favor. But this tried-and-true chain has withstood the test of time, and we love that you can feel (and taste) the resulting expertise and developed identity across the evolved selection of bites. 

But there are a lot of Jersey Mike's menu items that need more love, and we'd hate to see them go the way of the soup and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. So, either because they get ignored or get bashed needlessly, here are the offerings that we think deserve your attention. The list includes secret menu items, standard subs, and delicious sandwich ingredients.

This vegetarian (or vegan if you skip the cheese slices) sandwich gets an unnecessary amount of hate. It never seems to get brought up in conversations about the chain or in massive forum threads about the best subs to order at Jersey Mike's. Whether that's because many of the sandwich brand's customers come specifically for the meat or have never learned to eat their vegetables, we think it's unfair — The Veggie at Jersey Mike's is actually quite spectacular.

It might just be the freshest submarine that you can get at any American sandwich chain. The vegetables are always super crisp, and the combination is easily upgraded when dressed with the signature combination of oil, vinegar, and herbaceous spices. It's a mix of fat, acid, and salt that we just can't get enough of. Order it with extra cheese for a stacked sandwich, but it really doesn't need it. Regardless of what die-hard meat enthusiasts say, it really is the best thing on the menu if you even slightly appreciate vegetables.

We recommend ordering it this way: #14, no cheese, Mike's Way with extra tomatoes (seriously, get them to pile them on), add jalapeños and chipotle mayonnaise (or mayonnaise with the hot chopped pepper relish). The heat brings another flavor note to the table, and the extra condiment adds richness and fattiness that makes the cheese unnecessary and leaves more space for the vegetal goodies. And if your location has avocados, add those too.

There are some changes that Jersey Mike's should make, and among them is to zhuzh up the tuna salad used in the chain's seafood sandwiches — we'd love to see some fruit (like chopped apples or grapes) and pickles added for sweetness and tang to enter the flavor equation. However, as is, it's still pretty delicious if you like fish at all.

This tuna sandwich doesn't receive the same criticisms that some tuna sandwiches from other chains often face. It's an easy pick for those who want some protein or are just feeling nostalgic for their childhood lunches served on bread — it's also great for pescatarians or anyone who is trying to avoid meat. This sandwich is simple, but it always tastes really fresh and creamy, and it has just the right amount of salt.

On its own, the #10 is comforting and reliably delicious, whether you get it cold and as is or ask for it to be a tuna melt. But plenty of fans like to get creative with their order. We love putting a California twist on it by asking for avocado, hot chopped pepper relish, extra pickles, sweet peppers (ask for the red peppers that come with cheesesteaks), and bell peppers to be added on our Tuna Fish. It's got heat, some sweetness, and plenty of sour notes that provide brightness and balance to the creamy Jersey Mike's sandwich of our seafood dreams.

Whether it's because it's now a secret menu item that many don't know about — it was taken off the official lineup – or customers just don't appreciate mushrooms enough, this sandwich needs more love. Though grilled portobello mushroom and Swiss sub isn't on the menu, you can order it by customizing other items. And you definitely should — our writer, who tends to dislike vegetarian sandwiches at big chains, put it in their top three picks in the popular Jersey Mike's subs ranking.

You'll have to customize an existing sandwich to get to the mushroom masterpiece now that's off the menu, but it's not difficult. If you want it spicy, you can order the Big Kahuna Cheese Steak — just ask for the #56, hold the meat, and add green bell peppers. The cheese will depend on location, so it might be white American cheese instead of Swiss, but it'll still bring everything you need for a balanced sandwich. It's hot, hearty, and texturally intriguing. Add chipotle mayonnaise for an added kick (even better if you get a cup on the side for dunking).

If you want something that's more like the original with just mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and cheese, order Mike's Famous Philly by asking for the #17, hold the meat, add mushrooms, and replace red peppers with bell peppers. This might be tricky to maneuver online, but if you order in person, the staff should be able to do it since they have all the ingredients.

If you want to make your Jersey Mike's sub better, adding chipotle mayonnaise is the way to go. It's fatty, spicy, and instantly elevates everything — we're convinced it goes well on all sandwiches, hot or cold. So why does it continue to fly under the radar?

People love adding hot chopped pepper relish to chipotle mayo for added heat and texture. We think it makes for an elevated spicy sauce at Jersey Mike's that's impossible to beat. If your location is all out of the chipotle mayo, you can also ask the person building your sandwich to just mix mayonnaise and the cherry-red relish together for a similar spread. Whether you go with the chipotle mayonnaise or this dupe hack, you're in for a hot and creamy balance that just can't be beat, and we're confused why it's not on everyone's order. Some of us love it so much that we ask for a cup of chipotle mayonnaise on the side as well as extra servings.

For something super spicy, you can also ask to add jalapeños and relish to the cup. If you stir it all up, it's fantastic for dunking your sub into. It's like a French dip, but vegetarian-friendly. It's especially great with hot subs like Jersey Mike's portobello mushroom and Swiss cheese. It's somehow hot and cooling at once, making it a natural fit for the toasty submarines.

Standard bread selection at Jersey Mike's is the classic white roll. It's versatile, simple, and feels like the most faithful pick for an Italian-style sandwich. But one of our favorite Jersey Mike's Italian sub upgrades that applies to all sandwich options is asking for Rosemary Parmesan Bread. This isn't a hack for dairy-free folks, since there is cheese in it, but it's a great option for everyone else.

More people should be ordering this herbaceous, slightly nutty, and lightly salty bread as a foundation for their subs. On hot sandwiches, it brings a flavor profile that we can only describe as reminiscent of Sunday roast — it smells like a dinner table on special occasions, when the rolls and herbs are all brought out. On cold subs, the Rosemary Parmesan Bread takes on a subtly earthy profile, and it tastes like something that required the use of a sunlit garden. And if you're pairing it with The Tuna, be prepared for something really grounding. The herbs perfectly pair with tuna, and parmesan brings some umami without overdoing it. 

Those of us in the know try to make a version of it at home when we can't make it into our local Jersey Mike's. It's that delicious, and, once you taste it, you'll find yourself craving it all the time.

While other fast food chains tend to serve what looks to us like brown avocado glop, the avocado at Jersey Mike's is always green and fresh-tasting. We just wish it was a standard topping on more sandwiches and that it didn't come with an upcharge — before you go, make sure you read the fine print and rules at Jersey Mike's, like that you'll have to pay extra for certain ingredients. We also wish it was available at every Jersey Mike's location.

We love that the sandwich chain's avocado is freshly sliced and smashed, delivering a bright and creamy boost to any sub you add it to. It also brings a good dose of healthy fats and some of those relaxed, surfer vibes. It's a standard part of the recipe for the California Club Sub (hence the hang ten energy), but it's such a delicious add-on to The Veggie, Tuna Fish, or any other cold sandwich. However, avocado is also great on spicy hot subs to provide some balance. It's one of those Jersey Mike's secrets you'll wish you knew sooner, especially if you don't want cheese on your sandwich — avocado brings a ton of creaminess just without dairy.

We also recommend asking for more avocado and buying a bag of chips. The result is a nice little side dish: A simple version of chips and guacamole — it's even better if they add jalapeños to the cup. 

We love Jersey Mike's cheesesteaks for their customization possibilities — in fact, in our review of chain restaurant cheesesteaks, we found that's why customers keep coming back for them. However, we wish more people knew about this Jersey Mike's secret menu hack: You can order your cheesesteak as a spicy grilled cheese instead.

To order this underrated and vegetarian-friendly item, ask for the Chipotle Cheese Steak with just cheese (or the #43, hold the meat). What you get is a hot, savory, and salty sandwich that deserves a spot on the menu. The sub comes with grilled onions and peppers (but we also like to add jalapeños for heat), so the employee will just need to add white American cheese to the vegetables while the bread toasts on the flat top. Then, they'll scoop the cheesy peppers and onions onto the bread with the chipotle mayonnaise. So while it's not a classic panini, if you like grilled cheese, it's worth a shot. We love dipping ours into more of that chipotle mayonnaise to up the heat and introduce some cooling, creamy flavors.

For those who don't love spicy things, try this meat-free trick with Mike's Famous Philly, which just comes with sweet peppers and onions. The result is a decked-out grilled cheese without the heat. 

Though green bell peppers are crisp and fresh and definitely have their place on the menu, sweet red peppers that come with cheesesteak subs are outstanding. We think they are one of the most underrated add-ons you can get on Jersey Mike's sandwiches. On hot subs, they bring light smokiness and mellowness that go nicely with melty cheese and warmed proteins. In cold sandwiches, they impart natural sweetness that complements the bright vegetables in a really balanced way.  

To enjoy this sleeper hit of a sandwich topping, you have two choices. The first option is to just order the subs that already include red peppers. This includes Mike's Famous Philly, Mike's Chicken Philly, Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak, Big Kahuna Chicken Cheese Steak, Chipotle Cheese Steak, and Big Kahuna Cheese Steak. Or, you can always try to customize your favorite sandwich outside of this lineup — we think it's really good on a tuna melt (just ask for a hot Tuna Fish, no lettuce, add cheese). The peppers give the subs some texture and introduce something a little unexpected that doesn't feel out of place.

White bread is the default option at Jersey Mike's. It's simple, versatile, and pretty much goes with everything, so it makes sense that it's the standard selection. However, next to the option with rosemary and parmesan, Jersey Mike's Wheat Bread is a serious star. It's nuttier than our other pick, and has a beautiful, wholesome flavor that immediately makes for a heartier sandwich when it's used as the foundation.

We love this wheat option with both hot and cold sandwiches. When you order wheat for your hot sub, it makes the sandwich taste even more heartwarming and toasty than it already is. Meanwhile, on cold subs this bread adds an extra oomph. This is especially true for vegan subs without proteins — Wheat Bread always feels more filling than the plain white option.

Freshly baked bread is one of Jersey Mike's features that customers love and keeps them coming back. So, it's no surprise that the standard loaf isn't the only good option here, but it is truly unfortunate that Jersey Mike's Wheat Bread is so slept on, even by die-hard fans.

Grilled onions at Jersey Mike's are simply delicious. They're sweet, savory, and packed with umami. But they're rarely treated as the star of the sandwich, and we think that needs to change immediately.

Subs like the Big Kahuna Cheese Steak, Mike's Hot Italian, Big Kahuna Chicken Cheese Steak, Chipotle Cheese Steak, Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak, Mike's Chicken Philly, and Mike's Famous Philly all include grilled onions when made as-is. But if you want a different sandwich, we think the grilled onions would work in most of them. That is, if you like some complexity. We think they're great with meat-packed subs, since they play up the umami that is already there. But when paired with tuna or vegetarian sandwiches, they impart depth and a bit of meatiness that bulks them up in the best possible way.

Just remember, if you want a cold sandwich, ask the staff to only grill the onions. Then they can add them to your submarine, and you can keep your lettuce and tomatoes fresh and cold. The contrast in temperature and flavors is actually really delectable, and it's an instant upgrade to even the simplest sandwiches.

If you love some zest and crunch in your subs, it doesn't get better than Jersey Mike's pickles. But, much to our dismay, they don't automatically come on any of the menu items. You have to ask for them separately, though we think they should be a standard ingredient on cold subs. Since they bring saltiness, crispiness, and tang, they are an instant upgrade that goes well with most options. They're also never soggy or limp, so you know you're in for zippiness and crunch when you order them.

Those in the know understand how good the pickles at Jersey Mike's are. But they should get more recognition. Plus, the chain reportedly changes the brand of pickles depending on location, but wherever you're located, Jersey Mike's choice of pickle never misses. It's great that the company supports local businesses through the pickle selection, but still ensure that they meet the criteria and remain consistent.

We recommend ordering extra for more tang that can cut through fat and protein. This is especially true for sandwiches packed with tuna or red meats, which generally feel rich. In vegetable-based subs, they bring even more zest to an already bright and fresh meal.