The best Subway sandwiches, ranked from worst to best

Theoretically, there shouldn’t be anything overwhelmingly terrible about a simple sandwich of salami, pepperoni, assorted vegetables and some mayo. That would assume all deli meats are created equal, and in the case of Subway the cured pork products just aren’t cutting it. Everything about this sandwich is wrong, from the flat, flavorless meat to the drowning said meats get in mayo. The veggies don’t hurt the sandwich’s cause, but the slight crunch and healthy notes are drowned out by sub-par meat and aggressive condiments.

Calories: 680

Price: $6.39

Order with: Light condiments and hot sauce on the side. The heat can drown out the terrible meat, and complements the spicy flavors

Protein is the macro nutrient of the moment, with everyone from TikTok influencers to the federal government telling us to pack in as much as we can. Subway touts this new line of “healthy” sandwiches, with 35 grams of protein per six-inch sub. And in that respect, the chicken avocado delivers. In every other aspect, however, it fails, combining mushy avocado with Subway’s trademark chunked-and-formed chicken that brings a disconcerting gumminess to the sandwich. The spinach, cucumbers, and other vegetables help it out, and are easily the highlight of what’s otherwise a pretty unappetizing option.

Calories: 470

Price: $7.89

Order with: Fresh avocado instead of smashed. It makes the texture a little more palatable.

This is the most basic sandwich on Subway’s menu, a ham sandwich on white bread with mayo and cheese. It’s not a bad sandwich—you probably had worse on airplanes or in a fifth-grade cafeteria. But it’s also nothing spectacular, and succeeds only in being a ham sandwich and nothing more. Subway might do well to offer a more interesting ham – honey cured or pepper smoked or something. As it stands, it’s decidedly meh.

Calories: 490

Price: $6.39

Order with: A creative mix of toppings. The ham sandwich makes for the ideal canvas for your sandwich artist, so try some zany combinations.

One might feel a little misled when they first try this sandwich, since the ranch is really all you taste through about half of your first bite. But Subway is telling the truth, because this is essentially a chicken-and-bacon-flavored ranch sandwich. The bacon is sort of a sad sliver of meat that was microwaved and undercooked, and the chicken is the same gummy, formed chicken breast Subway uses on its lesser sandwiches. If you love ranch this much, just get a bottle of the stuff and put it on a bun.

Price: $8.09

Calories: 580

Order with: Double or even triple bacon. The protein seems almost non-existent.

BMT stands for “Big Meat Trio,” a name almost as ironic as calling a defensive lineman “Tiny.” Because the meat in this sandwich—salami, pepperoni, and ham—is vastly outflavored by the drowning of condiments and a pile of veggies. The meats lack any discernible flavor, and though they do pack 27 grams of protein into a 6-inch sub, they’re more substance than flavor. It’s not a bad sandwich, though, and if you want something that’ll fill you up on more than just bread, it’s a good move.

Price: $6.59

Calories: 610

Order with: Light sauce, and lots of salt and pepper. Hopefully, that can bring out some of the meat’s flavor.

The big problem with Subway’s grilled chicken is that it tastes so frozen and processed that it drags down whatever else your sandwich artist might add to make it better. No sandwich showcases the grilled chicken’s futility quite like this sub, which adds nothing to it other than the veggies and condiments. If you want lean protein in a standard sandwich, Subway has more appetizing options. Give this one a miss.

Price: $6.59

Calories: 510

Order with: I tried it with barbecue sauce, which helped a little. If you can find a stronger sauce to mask the chicken, go with that one.

Finally, Subway does something to help the poor grilled chicken,  slathering it in a thick, sweet onion sauce. I’d hesitate to call it “Teriyaki,” since anyone who’s been to a West Coast yaki shop knows the real stuff is much thicker and more flavorful. Even so, the sweet onion goes well with fresh onions, and with flavors this strong, you can almost ignore the sad chicken below. 

Price: $7.09

Calories: 430

Order with: Multigrain bread. Its sweetness is the perfect complement to the sweet onion sauce.

It’s not that Subway’s attempt at a Philly cheesesteak is bad. They nail the whole shaved-beef-and-provolone part, especially if you order it toasted. The problem is, Subway lacks the requisite flat-top grill to make the sandwich the way God and Rocky Balboa intended, and with fresh onions and mushrooms, it doesn’t seem quite the same. It’s a valiant effort, but if you want a Philly cheesesteak, go somewhere that does Philly cheesesteaks, and let Subway stick to what it does best.

Price: $7.09

Calories: 450

Order with: Toasted. It’s as close as you’re getting to D’Anegelo’s.

You may recall a few years ago, Subway got in a little legal kerfuffle because some people claimed the tuna in its sandwiches didn’t contain enough fish to call itself tuna. Those claims have been debunked, but take a bite of the sandwich and you understand why someone might get that impression. The tuna mix tastes light and clean, leaning heavily on mayo and in desperate need of some seasoning. It doesn’t taste fishy, though, making it a pretty unobjectionable, easy sandwich for those seeking a quick lunch.

Price: $6.59

Calories: 900

Order with: Salt, pepper, and whatever other spices they’ve got on the sandwich line.

Somewhere along the line, Subway realized its grilled chicken was borderline inedible and introduced a pulled rotisserie-style chicken that’s much, much better. It shines brightly in the spicy nacho sub, covered in a spicy melted nacho cheese, creamy sriracha, and jalapenos. The sandwich brings some serious kick, and if you’re ok with the overwhelming artificial cheesiness, it’s one of the more intriguing flavor blends on the menu. It also comes topped with Subway’s new SubKrunch flavor flakes, which are a little like Funyons, minus the onion.

Price: $7.19

Calories: 440

Order with: Onions, peppers, tomatoes, and extra jalapenos. It’s almost like a plate of nachos on a bun.

The cheesy garlic steak sub is the kind of thing you look at, think it’s going to knock your socks off, and find yourself left with socks fully intact. The steak is Subway’s usual shaved beef, which packs an underwhelming punch. It’s then completely obliterated by the strong flavors of the garlic aioli and cheddar cheese sauce, leaving this as a sort of creamy, meaty mess between two pieces of bread. That said, if you’re into bold dairy flavors, this might be your favorite thing on the menu. The potential is here; it just needs some more balance.

Price: $7.29

Calories: 510

Order with: Light cheese and light aioli. It’ll help balance out the sandwich.

Meatball is another Subway legacy sub that still holds up, with spicy meatballs soaked in homemade marinara, then topped with melted provolone. The problem is, you need lots of sauce to make this work, and if the franchisee is feeling frugal, they may skimp on it. Don’t let them. The meatballs are decent, but not good enough to stand on their own. And without the right amount of sauce, their flaws are laid bare, turning the sandwich from nostalgic comfort food to a frozen, processed disappointment.

Price: $6.09

Calories: 570

Order with: Provolone, then toast it. Voila! Meatball pizza.

The fresh fit concept is a great one, putting loads of fresh veggies and avocado with a protein of your choice. And while the chicken is a miss, the steak take is fantastic, as the leaner, cleaner meat lets you fully appreciate what this sandwich is trying to do. The crunch of the veggies gives way to the warm, soft steak, creating Subway’s best textural experience. Then the creaminess of the avocado brings this sandwich a perfect finish.

Price: $11.39

Calories: 460

Order with: Light oil, salt, and pepper. It’s like a steak salad sandwich.

Subway shines brightest when it keeps things simple, harkening back to its “Pete’s Super Submarine” roots by combining fresh meats and veggies. The Subway Club is the perfect example, a sandwich that isn’t reinventing anything, but benefits from Subway’s decades of experience. The club is generous with the meats, and though sometimes it’s hard to tell where the roast beef ends and the turkey begins, the sandwich still never fails to satisfy. The only way to ruin it is by going nuts on the condiments, so watch your sandwich artists carefully.

Price: $7.69

Calories: 500

Order with: Bacon. Have you ever had a club sandwich that wasn’t better with bacon?

For all the complaining I’ve done here about Subway's meats, its vegetables are surprisingly fresh and flavorful. That’s why the veggie delight—a stack of spinach, cucumber, tomato, green peppers, onions, and pretty much everything else in the veggie trays—is a low-key banger. What it lacks in protein, it more than makes up for in taste and texture, and by leaving out the meats, the Veggie Delite is the definition of addition by subtraction. If you’re at Subway and actually want to eat healthy, this is your top option.

Price: $5.79

Calories: 320

Order with: Oil, salt, pepper, and a slice of turkey. It’s the ultimate turkey sub.

Simplicity once again wins out over innovation, as Subway proves it can still do a plain turkey sandwich as well as anyone. Of all its deli meats, Subway’s turkey is far and away its best, standing tall above most grocery store and lunch meat brands. It’s the only meat on the menu that tastes like something, with a texture that stops short of being slimy or gelatinous. Put it on wheat bread with fresh veggies and some light condiments, and you’ll remember why you loved Subway in the first place.

Price: $6.59

Calories: 480

Order with: Double meat. It’s the best meat on the menu, so you might as well enjoy more of it.