The Best Sandwich At Jimmy John's Only Has Bacon For The Meat

There's a time and a place for fully-loaded sandwiches, busting at the bready seams with toppings. There are other times, however, when a straightforward, classic sammy gets the job done best — and in such cases, few candidates stand out like the J.J.B.L.T. In fact, in our ranking of 10 popular Jimmy John's sandwiches, the chain's take on a traditional bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich emerged as the darling of the menu.

The J.J.B.L.T. doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it offers a perfectly balanced ratio of refreshingly high-quality ingredients such as applewood-smoked bacon and fresh lettuce and tomato. As we mentioned in our review, the interplay of the smoky, salty bacon alongside the fresh veggies and rich, creamy moisture component of the mayo is a timeless formula that just works, and doesn't need to be interfered with or overcomplicated. This stripped-down sammy serves as a symbol of what the chain does best: high-quality ingredients, executed consistently.

We aren't the only ones digging this sando, either. On Reddit's /jimmyjohns, posters joke that the chain's "B.L.T." acronym really stands for "Big, large and tasty." Another post asking foodies about their go-to Jimmy John's orders prompts customer customizations of the classic sammy. As one commenter writes, "JJBLT w/ mayo lettuce tomato onion extra pickle extra sauce ez oregano ez dijon." These additions would yield a moister, brinier sandwich, further counterbalancing the richness of the bacon.

Not all fans agree with our top pick, though, and in the same Reddit post, some other posters name the J.J. Gargantuan as their all-time favorite sammy at Jimmy John's. The J.J. Gargantuan — perhaps the most decked-out sandwich on the chain's menu, piling on a meaty bouquet of salami, capocollo, ham, roast beef, and turkey — also put up high marks in our ranking. Although bigger isn't always better. When foodies are craving a basic sandwich, done well, the J.J.B.L.T. stands as the platonic ideal, and it wears the crown with only one type of meat. We also appreciate that the J.J.B.L.T. happens to be one of the more affordable options on the Jimmy John's menu. For example, at a location in Cleveland, the 8" J.J.B.L.T. currently costs $8.49, which isn't bad considering the size and heftiness of the sandwich.

Here at Tasting Table, we also sometimes like to elevate our basic BLTs with a swipe of tomato jam or other extra toppings. Indeed, adding a few bells and whistles can be a flavorful way to keep homemade sandwiches exciting. However, when foodies are ordering out from Jimmy John's, that BLT is best kept just the way it is: Bacon, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and nothing else. This straightforward starlet belongs on your radar for your next Jimmy John's visit.