Jimmy John's was founded in 1983, and they're giving other chains a run for their money.
Ordering can be a challenge, though, so we've picked out some of the most popular
items on the menu to see what you should avoid, and what will be your new favorites.
We have to be honest here: the roast beef at Jimmy John's is just not that good.
It comes as a surprise to us considering so many of their sandwich meats are delicious.
But if you truly love roast beef, you're not going
to love Jimmy John's version — and that extends to sandwiches like the Big John.
This sandwich features sliced roast beef that's paired with lettuce,
tomato, and mayo. However, those three extra ingredients are not
flavorful enough to make up for the lack of flavor in the roast beef,
so the sandwich as a whole is very lackluster, even if you modify it with some extra veg.
Since it's so basic, we don't know why you would spend your money on it
anyway — you could easily make it at home for a fraction of the price. And that way,
you could at least make sure the roast beef tasted good.
Since we already mentioned that we don't like the roast beef at Jimmy John's,
it shouldn't surprise you to see which sandwich nabbed the second-worst spot on our list:
the Hunter's Club. That's because it too heavily features roast beef. Mayo, tomato,
and lettuce are added to this one as well, but it also gets a slight boost of flavor from a slice
of provolone cheese. While it may seem like just a little bit of cheese would be insignificant,
it really does make a difference in this sub. The flavor of the cheese is strong,
and the creaminess adds an extra layer of texture into the mix.
That being said, the cheese definitely doesn't make this sandwich worth ordering.
With so many other more delicious offerings on the Jimmy John's menu,
we don't know why you would even consider this one.
"Now I got this Jimmy's John showing up on my turf,
telling me they got the sandwich of all sandwiches. I think not."
If you want one of the most basic, bland, and boring sandwiches available at Jimmy John's,
you absolutely have to order the Totally Tuna.
One thing that this sandwich has going for it: It seems pretty healthy, and it has a fresh flavor to
it that makes it more appealing on a warm day. But don't think that we're endorsing it by any means,
as when it comes down to it, there's just not much to the Totally Tuna. The house-made tuna salad is
pretty flavorless, and you'll probably just wish you would've made your own tuna salad at home.
It doesn't stop there, though; there are also veggies layered between the slices of bread,
including lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Honestly, we thought the cucumbers were
kind of random. Rather than seeing our sub piled high with cucumbers, we'd rather they
included some sliced onion to give the sandwich more of a zing and a stronger flavor profile.
There's nothing more enjoyable than finishing a dinner you love and then
following it with a bite of your favorite dessert. Luckily for you,
Jimmy John's has a few dessert options if you don't want to make another trip just for the
sweet stuff. The one dessert option that we really don't like, though? The oatmeal raisin cookie.
This might be a controversial opinion, but oatmeal raisin cookies are kind of
depressing in the first place. You always think they have chocolate chips in them,
then you take a bite and are sorely disappointed. The oatmeal raisin cookie at Jimmy John's is
no different, and it's dry to boot. What you're left with is a depressing dessert.
Bottom line? Life is too short to eat subpar cookies.
When you're craving a sub, going to an actual sandwich shop is the right move — that is,
unless you order the Country Club from Jimmy John's. The Country Club is made
with turkey breast and sliced ham, both of which are pretty basic and neither of which
offer an especially interesting flavor. Then comes the provolone cheese and the veggies,
including tomato and lettuce. Don't forget some mayo for a bit of added creaminess.
We definitely think that the cheese and the mayo are doing a lot of the work on this sandwich.
They take it from something bland and unimpressive to something that's just
slightly less bland and still relatively unimpressive. It may not be the worst item
on the Jimmy John's menu — we wouldn't venture to say that it actually tastes
bad — but there's nothing here that would keep us coming back for more after trying it once.
Does it come as a surprise that we don't really love a sandwich called the Ultimate Porker?
We admit that it doesn't taste bad — after all, when you put bacon on just about anything,
it's going to taste better than it did before. But that doesn't mean you should
drop what you're doing so you can visit your local Jimmy John's and
order this sandwich. Besides bacon, it includes ham, lettuce, mayo, and tomato.
While there are some things about this sandwich we love,
we think that two different types of pork make this menu item kind of overwhelming. There's
just so much rich, salty meat that you may not be able to finish the whole thing. At the same time,
it probably would have been better if there had been more cheese in place of all that meat.
Honestly, the Turkey Tom deserves a special place on this list,
simply because it might be the simplest sandwich on the menu. The Turkey Tom sandwich comes with
sliced turkey, mayo, lettuce, and tomato, and that's about as plain as you can get.
On one hand, we love that because we think that this sandwich would appeal to just about anyone.
On the other hand, the recipe is so simple that it's not something that will sound interesting
to most people in the least. Instead, it's probably better off left for the kids, and
you also have to question if it's just easier to buy the ingredients to make this sandwich at home.
Yes, it's a bit more work, but when it comes to a sandwich that's this simple,
it shouldn't be difficult to throw it together.
Here's another roast beef classic for you: the Bootlegger Club. When you order this sub,
you'll get a sandwich that's stacked high with both roast beef and also sliced turkey.
Of course, we're not really fans of the roast beef at Jimmy John's,
so that's why this item didn't rank any higher in our list. But we have to admit
that the turkey largely makes up for the lack of flavor and texture you're getting in the
roast beef. When they come together, they're not great, but they're not really bad either.
As you might expect by this point, this sandwich is also going to come with lettuce,
tomato, and mayo. You can — and should — add on some other free toppings as well,
and you need something fresh and interesting to offset all that meat.
Now we're getting into some flavor combos that we can't help but like at Jimmy John's.
Bacon makes an appearance again on the bun of a Club Lulu. Be honest: Just hearing the name
of this sandwich brings you joy, right? Well, if you like bacon, there's a good chance you're going
to love it when you take a bite. It's not just the bacon, though — the salty strips are also
paired with the milder turkey breast. Though the turkey breast isn't the most flavorful of options,
the two meat ingredients seem to play with each other well in this combo.
Veggies and mayo round out this sandwich, giving it the kind of freshness anything with bacon on
it needs. If you have to pick out a sandwich for someone and you don't know what they would like,
we bet that this guess would be a success. Why don't you give it a try for yourself?
Sometimes when you go out to eat, you want to nosh on one of your favorite classic dishes.
If that's what you're looking for in your Jimmy John's experience,
you might want to consider ordering the J.J.B.L.T. Yes, this is your average B.L.T, but Jimmy John's
attempts to take it to the next level by using a lot — and yes, we mean a lot — of bacon. This
sandwich is stacked so high with bacon, you may not even know what to do with it at first.
Attack it from the side? Go in from the front? What's the best way to eat one of these things?
As you might expect, lettuce and tomato play a crucial role, as does the mayo,
which really brings this entire sandwich experience together. While we do think that you're
probably capable of making your own B.L.T. at home that won't taste too far off from this one,
we still think it's a solid option if you're out on the go and want to grab a tasty sandwich.
"I forgot my lunch again."
It's not always necessary to overcomplicate things. Sure, some restaurants are going to
push every classic dish to its edge and make it into something new and novel. But when you're
going to a chain restaurant like Jimmy John's, that's just not what you're looking for. Instead,
you want to stick with the old standbys you already know you love. And what's more
classic than a ham and cheese sandwich? Jimmy John's version is called The Pepe,
and if you've always loved ham and cheese, this may just be your go-to order from here on out.
Veggies make an appearance in this sandwich, which makes it a better option than the ham
and cheese you likely had in your lunchbox as a kid. Other than that,
it's not much different than the sandwich you've had your whole life.
Sure, the oatmeal raisin cookie from Jimmy John's was not our favorite, but that doesn't mean you
have to write off the chain's dessert options completely. Okay, there aren't actually that
many dessert options, but you don't have to settle for a lackluster oatmeal raisin cookie
when you can just snag yourself a chocolate chip cookie instead. Sounds better already, doesn't it?
These cookies are even quite moist, and they have that soft cookie feel you know you love. What's
not to love about that? If you need to answer your sweet tooth's longings, this is the way to do it.
The tuna salad at Jimmy John's may not be out of this world, but when you pair it with a
healthy serving of cheese, it comes to life and becomes something we'd actually enjoy eating.
So while we weren't big fans of the Totally Tuna sandwich, we could definitely see ourselves
ordering the Club Tuna from time to time. The main difference in this sandwich from
the Totally Tuna is the addition of cheese. The cheese provides the richness and the
creaminess you want from your sandwich, but the tuna salad keeps it light and refreshing.
We really like this sandwich, but unfortunately, we couldn't give it higher marks because it still
has cucumbers in it. We don't know why Jimmy John's loves their tuna
salad with cucumbers so much, but we recommend telling them to leave it off at the beginning.
A few years ago, it was hard to find any veggie options at all at most fast food and fast
casual joints. Now, you can find veggie options at a ton of chains both across the
country and around the world. Luckily for all the veggie lovers out there,
Jimmy John's is no exception. The Veggie is their answer to the meat-free crowd,
and we actually think it's a pretty delicious option if that's what you're into.
The main ingredient that makes this sandwich special is the avocado. While you won't find
it in many Jimmy John's sandwiches, it makes an appearance here, providing just the right amount
of fattiness that you would otherwise get from meat. That avocado is combined with provolone
cheese — so sorry, vegans — lettuce, tomato, and cucumber. That may not seem like a lot of
ingredients, but they really pile this one high, so you know you're getting your money's worth.
What kind of sandwich do you bring with you when you go to the beach? Whatever you want,
really. But if you ask Jimmy John's, you should bring a Beach Club along.
This is another one of the restaurant's offerings that contains avocado,
so if it's one of your favorite ingredients, you're in luck.
Except for the addition of avocado, this is a turkey sandwich that's filled to the brim
with meat. Of course, you'll also find plenty of mayo, lettuce, cucumber, and tomato for plenty
of freshness, which definitely makes this a prime option for those hot summer days.
Plus, the fact that the Beach Club is packed with veggies can make you feel good
about the fact that you're eating something that's at least marginally healthy for you.
There's also provolone on this sandwich, which we think pairs really well with the avocado.
They're both creamy ingredients, and that complements the leanness of the turkey.
"Jimmy's John's. Enough with the fresh-baked
nonsense. … Stevie! In front of my bread-like product?"
Here is when we start getting into some of the more interesting flavors on the Jimmy John's menu.
Let's begin with the Italian Night Club. Before we say anything else,
we will mention that this is a great sandwich to end the night with. If you're coming home
after a few drinks out, this sandwich is just what you've been looking for.
That's because it's packed with all kinds of strong but delicious ingredients,
including salami, capicola, and smoked ham. Yes, that's a lot of meat all in one sandwich,
but it's balanced pretty well, and none of it overpowers the flavor of the other.
The mayo, lettuce, and tomatoes add a nice touch, which you should already expect from all Jimmy
John's sandwiches by now. But in this sandwich, you'll also get sliced onions, which takes a
normal sandwich and turns it all the way to 10. Next is the oil and vinegar; both are important
ingredients, but the vinegar is what makes this a sandwich you're never going to forget. Finally,
top it off with some oregano and basil, and you have an ideal sandwich right at your fingertips.
We know what we said about the roast beef at Jimmy John's, and we're going to stand by it.
But when it comes to the Billy Club, it seems like Jimmy John's actually did something right.
Let's keep things straight, though: Yes, this club still has roast beef in it. But
that roast beef has been transformed by the addition of the Dijon mustard.
These two ingredients are helped out by lettuce, tomato, and mayo,
which all break up the strong flavors of the meat and the mustard. When it all comes together,
it's one of our favorite sandwiches on the menu despite the lackluster roast beef.
For all those who love Dijon mustard and would put it on anything, this could be your sandwich.
"Hey, hey, hey wait, what,
are you just going to leave that there? That's like half a pound of turkey!"
"No, no, I can't eat that. You can't eat a sandwich without Dijon."
"Yea, you're right, I really should keep more of your favorites on hand."
There are times when you just want to get a simple sandwich to eat from a sub shop.
There are other times, though, when you're feeling so hungry, you feel like you could eat two or even
three sandwiches in one sitting. When that's how you're starting to feel,
you may want to check out the J.J. Gargantuan at Jimmy John's. Just be warned:
You need to know you're getting into a serious sandwich if you choose this option.
When you order the J.J. Gargantuan, you're going to be getting a ridiculous amount of
meat on one sandwich. This sub contains five different kinds of meat: turkey, capicola,
roast beef, ham, and salami. Basically, any kind of sliced
meat you can think of is going to end up on this sandwich. Then, onion, lettuce,
and tomato are added to the mix so you're not just getting an overwhelming number of animal
products. You'll also find provolone, oil and vinegar, mayo, oregano, and basil in the mix.
While this is a delicious menu item, we couldn't rank it any higher because it's
a bit unreasonable to eat this on a regular basis.
Calling all spicy food lovers! Jimmy John's has just the sandwich for you,
and luckily, it's one of the best choices on the menu. It's the Spicy East Coast Italian,
and it'll definitely have you coming back for more once you taste this sandwich for the first time.
It comes with a double serving of both capicola and Genoa salami, which aren't deli meats you're
likely to find at every sandwich shop. The sandwich also contains provolone cheese,
mayo, oil and vinegar, basil and oregano, lettuce, tomato, and onion. Since the meat
is heavy and spicy, the vegetables cool the sandwich down and make it even more addictive.
Perhaps the ingredient that makes this sandwich something special, though,
is the hot peppers. These peppers aren't too hot, so don't worry if your stomach
or taste buds are a little bit sensitive — you're probably still going to be okay.
Have you ever had a Cuban sandwich before? It's one of the most well-known sandwiches of all time,
and there's a reason it's so popular: It's an amazing combo of ingredients you won't
want to put down. While you're not going to get a traditional Cuban from a place
like Jimmy John's, the restaurant did give us something that we think is close enough:
the Jimmy Cubano. For those who love rich, decadent sandwiches,
this is the choice for you. It's got bacon and ham that plays well with the sliced pickles
that go on top. That's the signature flavor of a Cuban, and this sandwich does it well.
Of course, you can't forget the Dijon mustard in this recipe, as it plays a crucial
role. That peppery flavor marries all the other tastes together, creating something that tastes
almost as good as the real thing. That's why this sandwich has earned the number two spot.
If you could combine the best aspects of all of Jimmy John's sandwiches into one
without creating a completely overwhelming flavor profile, then the Vito gets the job done.
We love this sandwich so much because it has an intense flavor,
but it's still not as busy as many of the other options available on the menu.
Salami and capicola are paired with provolone cheese. These are our favorite meats on the menu,
and we think they can stand all alone and taste amazing. Lettuce and tomatoes are standard,
but the addition of onion makes this choice better than many of the other sandwiches on the menu.
Finally, oregano and basil add an Italian flavor to the dish,
while the oil and vinegar are hard at work making this sub downright delicious. If you
only ever try one sandwich from Jimmy John's, we definitely think this should be this one.
"I'm sittin' here with the most beautiful thing in the room. Let's get out of here."
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