Subway was known for doing the "healthy" thing before it was cool and other fast food places
started advertising low-carb and protein-packed options. Even if you've been a fan of Subway since
way back in the day, you might not know about its secret menu options. Let's take a peek.
Subway offers a dizzying array of options with its wide variety of meats,
cheeses, and vegetables. In fact, there are a reported 38 million
combinations you can make with all the ingredients most locations offer.
That wealth of choices can lead to some pretty over-the-top sandwich creations absolutely fit
to burst with meat. That may be the way to eat sometimes, but other times, taste trumps variety.
And simplicity can pay off when you know how to best mix the flavor combinations.
One secret menu item that really embodies this truth is the Chicken Cordon Bleu
Sub. You may be familiar with these flavors from the popular Publix sub with the same name,
or you may remember when it was on the actual menu at Subway restaurants back in 2009. To order it,
ask for ham, chicken breast, and Swiss cheese to top it off. You can always add veggies as well,
like cucumbers for some crunch. Don't forget the Dijon mustard for just the right kick of flavor.
This sub may very well be the closest you can get to fine dining when eating at Subway.
Even though Subway is generally well-equipped to provide meatless options, it hasn't always done
a great job in that department. Its longtime signature meat-free option, the Veggie Delite,
falls flat in the taste department. It's just like any other sandwich available at the chain,
just without the meat. With so many other restaurants offering meat-free options,
it looks like Subway might be falling behind,
even though it has just started to introduce some more vegetarian offerings.
Of course, this won't matter very much to you if you love meat. And one thing that
Subway definitely does right is the meat. So if you want a sandwich packed to the brim with all
your favorite meats, then The Carnivore is the way to go. When you get this secret menu item,
expect six pepperoni slices, four whole servings of steak,
and eight pieces of bacon. Then add the cheese and ask the cashier to warm it up for you.
The result is delightfully indulgent and perfect for those who prefer the hot options.
Subway isn't always known for its innovation, but that doesn't mean it hasn't done
any experimentation in the past. The Chicken Parmesan Sub was one of its better ideas.
It had been a staple at the restaurant for years, becoming one of the most beloved
items on the menu. But at the dismay of all the loyal Chicken Parm fans out there,
it was discontinued back in 2010. We may have gone a decade without this culinary
delight, but now you don't have to survive another day without it.
What many people don't realize is that you can still order a Chicken Parmesan Sub at
some Subway locations. It mostly depends on if the staff knows what to do. Some of the newer
employees might not be aware of the drill, so if they don't know what you're talking about,
here's the combination: roasted chicken breast, marinara sauce, black pepper, spinach,
optional olives, and parmesan cheese. It'll taste just like the good old Subway you used to know!
Subway isn't exactly the darling of the fast food breakfast scene, because,
well, who eats a sub for breakfast? Perhaps that's why the chain was so late to the breakfast game.
In fact, it only got its foot in the door in 2010. There were tons of Subway breakfast
combinations back in the day, but most of them are no longer on the menu. Don't worry, though, as the
ingredients are still available, which means you can always customize your morning flatbread to
reflect your favorite old-school offerings. That is, if your local Subway is open for breakfast.
While the chain has stopped requiring its franchises to open for breakfast hours,
many still do. If you're one of the lucky ones whose local Subway is still open in the mornings,
there's a secret breakfast menu item you may just want to try: the Deconstructed Breakfast Taco.
It's a delicious and somewhat healthy way to start the day. Start with a flatbread, which may not
be the tortilla you're expecting, but just play along. Then ask for steak, egg whites, tomatoes,
guacamole, red onion, and chipotle sauce. It's probably one of our favorite secret menu items,
so it's definitely worth a try if you want to get your morning off to a great start.
Subway's memorable slogan is "Eat Fresh."
"Subway! Eat fresh!"
So if it does one thing well, it should absolutely be making sure that it has the freshest food in
the market. And for a long time, the chain may very well have been the freshest option out there,
but other restaurants have since caught up. Meanwhile, Subway is still
serving processed meats, which we now know are pretty bad for you. If that's a concern for you,
you can pass on those meats and still enjoy a protein-packed breakfast at Subway.
If you decide to order from the secret menu, that is.
The Eggs Florentine Flatbread is the way to go if you want to try one of Subway's more
health-conscious offerings. As the name implies, it all starts with the flatbread. Next, you'll
want to add egg whites. While you can opt for any of the available veggies, this specific recipe
calls for spinach, red onion, banana peppers, and black olives. Finish it all off with some Italian
dressing and you're good to go! Keep in mind that the flavor of this sandwich is quite mild,
so if you want to add some extra spice, you can't go wrong with a helping of jalapeños.
There are two types of Subway customers. There are those who order according to what's
on the menu every time. They want their sandwich exactly how it's pictured in the advertisements.
They inherently trust the genius chefs who came up with the original recipes.
But then there are the mavericks, the ones who aren't afraid to take a chance.
These are the people who will mentally run through every combination of flavors at lightning speed
as they attempt to determine the best combination of condiments for any given sandwich.
If you fall into the latter category, you're going to be all about the Sweet and Sour Chicken Sub.
The best part about this particular sandwich is the fact that it combines two of the best
sauces that Subway offers: the red wine vinaigrette and the sweet onion sauce.
The vinegar cuts through the sweetness of the onion sauce, and the resulting mixture
is a masterpiece. But it's of course not just about the sauce. Add chicken as your protein
and then pile on tomatoes, red onion, and banana peppers to finish it off.
Some lettuce or spinach wouldn't be a bad idea here either. It's probably safe to say
that this is one of the most flavorful and sophisticated items on Subway's secret menu.
"The wing effect," or "winged style," isn't a particular sandwich but rather, a technique.
Some may even dare to say that it's an entire way of life. Anybody who's ordered from Subway
knows that its sandwiches are usually served with the slices of meat nicely folded on top of one
another. In fact, you've probably seen Subway's expert sandwich makers complete that impressive,
quick-folding technique. But that's not what everyone wants. Some prefer their slices of meat
laid flat, like you might do yourself at home. That's exactly what The Wing Effect is all about.
When the sandwich is closed in this style, the meat of choice will hang out over the bread,
forming a so-called "wing." The thought of seeing untucked cold cuts may make certain
people want to bang their heads against something. But for the rest of us who
love getting that extra bite of meat past the edge of our bread, Subway's got us covered.
Nowadays, there's an increased interest in vegetarianism and veganism, which has led
fast food restaurants to respond to this shift in consumer preferences by offering a wide variety of
meat-free options. But at the same time, low-carb diets like keto and paleo are also gaining steam,
with adherents often choosing to eat more meat instead of the likes of pasta, rice, and bread.
If you're someone who's increasing your meat intake, you may want to try the Meat Feast at
Subway. It's not exactly low-carb, though you can ask the cashier to scoop out the middle of
your bread if you're trying to cut back. But it is absolutely packed with protein. Basically,
this sandwich combines every type of deli meat on the menu along with your favorite
cheese. Add any veggies or sauces you may want and you're in for a serious treat.
You can get any sandwich you desire as either a six-inch or a footlong, and if you're going to go
all out with the Meat Feast, you'll probably want to truly go all the way and opt for the footlong.
"Talk about a hole-in-one."
In 2015, Subway launched a few "off-the-menu" specials.
The move appeared to be a regional test of new sandwich ideas in the Southern California area.
One of the subs that ended up on this set of offerings was the Spicy Nacho Steak Sub.
Alas, it doesn't look like this sandwich stuck around the regular menu for long,
unfortunately. But you still might be able to get it at your local Subway if you're lucky.
“You have to ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya, punk?"
The Spicy Nacho Steak Sub boasts delicious steak and shredded Monterey cheddar,
plus green bell peppers and onions. And you can't forget the most important ingredient:
the Nacho Cheese Doritos. If you love eating chips on your sandwich, this may very well be the sub
for you. After all, the Doritos will give you that crunch that Subway sandwiches are often lacking.
You can also request your sub toasted to warm it up and get the cheese nice and melty.
Here's a useful tip: if the Subway employees at your local store don't know how to make this sub,
just buy a bag of chips on the side and ask if they can put them in your sandwich.
Or just do it yourself if you don't want to have to explain everything.
And don't be afraid to ask for some jalapeños if you want to take the spice to the next level!
Do you ever get nostalgic for the good ol' days, when things seemed less confusing and
overall just plain simpler? Many Subway fans feel the same way.
Years ago, the chain used to be a lot different than it is today, like when that "five-dollar
foot-long" jingle seemed to be playing on every single commercial break on TV.
But times have changed, and so has the way that Subway cuts its sandwiches.
Originally, employees used what's now known as the "old cut," or the
"U-gouge." Instead of slicing the sandwich so that it opens sideways,
the first Subway subs had a U-shaped cut on the top of the loaf. The fillings would go inside,
and the cut bread would rest on top. It may sound strange, but it's truly a superior way to eat
your sandwich since you don't have to worry about the insides squishing out when you bite into it.
Luckily, you don't have to settle for wallowing in your nostalgia when it comes to the old cut, as
you can opt for it on the secret menu. This option is available for a variety of subs, but it's
especially perfect for a meatball sub. Considering how messy it is, you don't want to have to hold
this sandwich together from the side. So expand your horizons and try the old cut for yourself
the next time you're at your local Subway. You just might never go back to "normal" again.
"Subway: it's the way a sandwich should be."
Check out one of our newest videos right here! Plus,
even more Mashed videos about your favorite menu hacks are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.