The Subway Spicy Italian vs Italian BMT Showdown
The battle between Subway’s two Italian offerings reveals why naming matters in the sandwich game. The Italian BMT (Biggest, Meatiest, Tastiest) is a classic sandwich featuring Genoa salami, pepperoni, and ham, boasting a combination of three meats. Meanwhile, the Spicy Italian is designed for those who love a bit of heat.
Subway’s Spicy Italian sub only has salami and pepperoni and doesn’t come with ham, and despite its name, there is nothing remotely spicy about this sub. The Italian BMT includes ham but suffers from the same problems that plague most Subway offerings. Between its lackluster cold cuts, skimpy portions, and soggy vegetables, its subs often leave much to be desired, and even though Subway’s prices are still impressively cheap, the quality of its ingredients is still depressing.
Recent menu changes have transformed these classics into the “Hotshot Italiano” and “Ultimate BMT,” but the core issues remain the same. There is nothing remotely big, meaty, or tasty about the BMT sandwich, and because of the chain’s meager portioning and objectionable ingredient quality, what we’re really left with is an Italian sub that mostly tastes like weird, lifeless bread.
Firehouse Subs Italian: A Firefighter’s Disappointment
Founded by two firefighter brothers in 1994, Firehouse Subs brings a genuine backstory to the sandwich world. The company was started by firefighter brothers Chris and Robin Sorenson in 1994, and their Italian sandwich is made with Genoa salami, pepperoni, honey ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, deli mustard, Italian dressing, and seasonings.
However, the execution falls short of the promising ingredient list. The honey ham comes in such a thick layer that it kind of takes over the entire sandwich, making it much different than other Italian subs, and it was unexpectedly sweet. The combination of condiments creates confusion rather than harmony. The deli mustard was a curious choice that clashed with the Italian dressing and mayonnaise combo, and with these two out-of-place ingredients at the forefront, it was hard to enjoy any of the rest of the meats or veggies.
For a chain that focuses on hot specialty subs, their Italian offering seems like an afterthought. The compact presentation and overwhelming sweetness from the honey ham make this a forgettable experience in the Italian sub landscape.
Jersey Mike’s Original Italian: The Gold Standard
With roots dating back to 1956, Jersey Mike’s has had decades to perfect their craft. Jersey Mike’s has one of the longest histories in the realm of sub sandwiches, having started back in 1956, years before competitors like Potbelly, Jimmy John’s, or even Subway entered the scene, and the chain now boasts close to 3,000 locations.
The Original Italian falls into the cold category and is said to be authentically Jersey-style: topped with ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami, pepperoni, and provolone cheese, and can be ordered “Mike’s Way,” covered in onion, lettuce, tomatoes, red wine vinegar, an olive oil blend, oregano, and salt. The generous meat selection sets Jersey Mike’s apart from most competitors who typically use three meats instead of five.
For a big chain, Jersey Mike’s puts together a generous and impressive Italian sub, but what really sets it apart is the attention to detail at every level, with bread that is just right: flavorful, fresh, not too thick or thin, with just enough body to hold everything in and soak up a little extra juice. The consistency across locations makes Jersey Mike’s a reliable choice that rarely disappoints.
Potbelly Italian: The Four-Meat Marvel
Despite its limited regional presence, Potbelly creates something special with their Italian offering. Potbelly’s Italian brings the perfect blend of capicola, mortadella, and pepperoni, creating a flavor explosion that’s both bold and comforting, with provolone cheese that melts beautifully into the mix, adding a velvety richness that perfectly complements the savory meats.
The Italiano has four meats (salami, capicola, mortadella, and pepperoni), and most other chains won’t hit that mark, while the bread is aces at Potbelly too, with the final piece that sends the Italian to the top being the giardiniera-style peppers that the chain has on hand. This unique addition of Chicago-style pickled vegetables elevates the sandwich beyond typical Italian sub offerings.
The combination of premium meats and distinctive toppings makes Potbelly a standout, though its limited availability keeps it from being a widely accessible option for Italian sub enthusiasts.
Jimmy John’s Italian Night Club: Speed Meets Flavor
Known for their “freaky fast” delivery, Jimmy John’s brings efficiency to the Italian sub game without sacrificing quality. At Jimmy John’s, the Italian Night Club is a star player filled with Genoa salami, Italian capicola, and smoked ham, delivering a hearty punch.
The savory meats, paired with crispy lettuce and fresh tomatoes, create a perfect harmony of flavors, and adding mayonnaise makes it an indulgent treat. The chain’s focus on simplicity works in their favor, avoiding the over-complication that plagues some competitors.
Famous for its “free smells,” Jimmy John’s is a sandwich chain that can back up its quirky marketing campaign with plenty of legitimacy, and being among the top-earning sandwich brands in the nation proves that due diligence and extra effort pays off. Their Italian Night Club represents solid execution of classic Italian sub principles.
Primo Hoagies: The Philadelphia Champion
When it comes to authentic Italian subs, Primo Hoagies stands in a league of its own. PrimoHoagies ranked No. 1 and Jersey Mike’s No. 6 on USA Today’s 2025 list of America’s best sandwich chains. This recognition comes from their unwavering commitment to quality and tradition.
With a fresh and delicious sesame sub roll, the Old Italian by Primo Hoagies comes with capicola, prosciutto, and sharp provolone, and the real key to unlocking the secrets of its yumminess is the sharp provolone. Most Italian subs come with plain provolone, which is mild, creamy, and delicious, but sharp provolone is a bit firmer, cheesier, and nuttier, adding a lot more complexity to the flavor profile.
While some locations might run out of their signature seeded bread, it was still the best tasting sub among all the chains, with Primo Hoagies earning recognition for having the best fillings and best toppings. For PrimoHoagies, this marks its third-consecutive year it ranked as America’s No. 1 sandwich shop.
The Ingredient Quality Factor
The difference between mediocre and exceptional Italian subs often comes down to ingredient quality and preparation methods. The best Italian subs use high-quality ingredients and tastefully balance the salty, smoky flavors of their meat with just enough cheese and the perfect mix of fresh and pickled veggies, while the bread is more than just a vessel – it’s a defining feature that can make or break the entire experience.
Premium chains like Primo Hoagies and Jersey Mike’s slice their meats fresh to order, while budget options like Subway rely on pre-packaged, processed meats. Between the fresh sesame sub roll, crispy fresh veggies, cured meats sliced to order, and the sharp provolone cheese, Primo Hoagies pays attention to every detail and serves up a very solid Italian sub.
The bread quality varies dramatically across chains, with some offering fresh-baked rolls daily while others use mass-produced options that quickly become soggy. The best bread is flavorful, freshly baked, and maintains its structural integrity with a soft, airy center and a gentle outer crust.
Regional Favorites vs National Chains
The Italian sub landscape reveals interesting patterns between regional powerhouses and national chains. It’s a shame how regional Potbelly is, because the place is a killer, and the Italiano is the best sandwich the place has. Limited availability often correlates with higher quality, as regional chains can maintain tighter control over ingredients and preparation.
Primo’s made a great sub that is probably the closest you can get to an authentic Italian deli sandwich from a chain. Their Philadelphia roots and focus on Italian-American heritage show in every bite. Meanwhile, massive national chains like Subway prioritize consistency and cost-cutting over culinary excellence.
The regional approach allows for specialized ingredients like Potbelly’s giardiniera peppers or Primo’s sharp provolone that wouldn’t be practical for nationwide distribution. This creates a quality gap that’s particularly noticeable in Italian subs, where authenticity and ingredient quality matter most.
The Value Proposition Debate
Pricing across Italian subs varies significantly, raising questions about value versus quality. For $4.59, QuickChek’s sub was a hell of a bargain and just edged out Jimmy John’s. Budget options can surprise with decent quality, but typically sacrifice something in the process.
Premium chains command higher prices but deliver proportionally better experiences. Primo Hoagies subs are very good, but way overpriced. However, many customers find the quality justifies the cost when compared to disappointing cheap alternatives.
The sweet spot appears to be mid-tier chains like Jersey Mike’s, which balance reasonable pricing with consistent quality. With more than 2,800 locations nationwide, Jersey Mike’s is the answer to many people’s lunchtime woes, providing a variety of hot and cold subs that are bound to satisfy a variety of palates, whether you’re a vegetarian, a stone-cold carnivore, or somewhere in between.
The Meat Selection Showdown
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The number and quality of meats separates good Italian subs from great ones. Jersey Mike’s Original Italian comes with provolone and five meats: ham, prosciuttini, capicolla, salami, and pepperoni, and the fact that Jersey Mike’s puts a few extra cold cuts in the mix gives it extra points.
Most chains settle for three meats, typically salami, pepperoni, and ham. Subway’s Italian BMT is packed with Genoa salami, spicy pepperoni, and Black Forest ham, with each bite bursting with flavor and the blend of meats creating a savory experience that’s hard to beat. However, Subway’s execution fails to live up to this promising combination.
Premium options like Primo’s focus on traditional Italian cured meats with superior flavor profiles. The inclusion of prosciutto, capicola, and mortadella elevates these subs beyond typical deli fare, creating more authentic Italian-American experiences.
