For nearly seven decades, Jersey Mike’s Subs has cultivated a fiercely loyal following by sticking to a traditional formula that prioritizes quality, consistency, and distinct flavor profiles. While competitors have come and gone by cutting corners, the sub chain has maintained its appeal through freshly sliced meats and cheeses, the iconic "Mike’s Way" preparation of lettuce, onions, tomatoes, oil, vinegar, and spices, and an intensely craveable hot chopped pepper relish that many fans purchase by the jar.
Yet, as the menu has evolved through 70 years of business—shedding items like soups, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and early variations of tuna salad while eliminating gaps in its numerical sub lineup—certain offerings have fallen by the wayside or failed to capture the spotlight. While meat-heavy classics and standard sub combinations dominate most customer orders and online forum discussions, a wide array of secret menu items, vegetarian options, sandwich ingredients, and alternative breads routinely fly under the radar. Industry observers and culinary enthusiasts argue that these overlooked items are integral to the Jersey Mike’s experience and deserve considerably more attention from regular patrons and first-time visitors alike.
The Veggie (Jersey Mike’s #14)
Among the most overlooked offerings on the permanent menu is the #14, known simply as The Veggie. This vegetarian sub—which easily transforms into a vegan option by omitting the cheese slices—frequently receives an unearned amount of skepticism in public forums and customer conversations. Whether this stems from the fact that a vast majority of the sandwich brand’s clientele visit specifically for cold cuts and steak, or simply because vegetable-forward fast-food options are often unfairly dismissed, culinary advocates point out that Jersey Mike’s executes this sandwich with exceptional freshness.
The sub delivers what may be some of the crisp vegetables available across major American sandwich chains. When dressed with the signature foundation of oil, vinegar, and herbaceous spices, the balance of fat, acid, and salt elevates the ingredient profile significantly. While die-hard meat enthusiasts may overlook it, customized variations—such as ordering it without cheese, heavily loaded with extra tomatoes, and spiked with jalapeños, chipotle mayonnaise, or avocado where available—create a complex, richly flavored meal that proves a sub doesn’t require meat to be satisfying.
Tuna Fish (Jersey Mike’s #10)
The #10 Tuna Fish sandwich occupies a unique space on the menu, serving as a comforting, nostalgic option for pescatarians, customers seeking alternative proteins, or anyone craving a break from heavy sliced meats. While critics have occasionally suggested that the chain could modernize its seafood salad by incorporating sweet and tangy elements like chopped apples or pickles, the current rendition remains remarkably reliable and popular.
Served cold as-is or toasted into a savory tuna melt, the tuna salad strikes a creamy, well-salted balance. Many adventurous fans utilize customization options to give the classic seafood sub a distinct twist. By incorporating ingredients like avocado, hot chopped pepper relish, extra pickles, bell peppers, and the sweet red peppers typically reserved for cheesesteaks, diners introduce a dynamic interplay of heat, sweetness, and brightness that transforms a simple comfort-food lunch into an extraordinary culinary experience.
Grilled Portobello Mushroom and Swiss
Though it was officially removed from the standard lineup and relegated to the secret menu, the grilled portobello mushroom and Swiss sub remains a hidden gem that routinely surprises diners. For customers who typically avoid vegetarian offerings at fast-casual chains, this hearty, texturally rich sandwich has earned high praise in comprehensive menu rankings for its robust flavor and satisfying mouthfeel.
Because it is no longer listed on the overhead boards, ordering the mushroom masterpiece requires minor customization of existing hot sub options. Customers can recreate the experience by taking a #56—the Chipotle Cheese Steak—holding the meat, and adding green bell peppers, or by adapting Mike’s Famous Philly (#17) by omitting the meat, adding mushrooms, and swapping red peppers for bell peppers. The resulting sandwich delivers a piping-hot, earthy profile that pairs exceptionally well with chipotle mayonnaise or melted white American and Swiss cheeses.
Anything with Chipotle Mayonnaise
For diners looking to enhance the flavor profile of virtually any sub on the menu, chipotle mayonnaise stands out as a transformative condiment. Fatty, smoky, and moderately spicy, this versatile spread effortlessly bridges the gap between hot and cold sandwiches, yet it continues to be underutilized by a significant portion of the customer base.
A popular customization among seasoned regulars involves blending the chipotle mayonnaise directly with the hot chopped pepper relish to create a fiery, textured sauce. When locations run out of the pre-made chipotle spread, employees can easily mix standard mayonnaise with the cherry-red relish for a comparable dupe. Dipping hot subs—such as the portobello mushroom sandwich or various cheesesteaks—into a side cup of this spicy concoction creates a rich, cooling-yet-fiery dipping experience reminiscent of a French dip.
Rosemary Parmesan Bread
While the standard white roll serves as a versatile, dependable foundation for classic Italian-style submarines, opting for the Rosemary Parmesan Bread represents an immediate upgrade across almost every sandwich category. This specialty bread is infused with real cheese, aromatic herbs, and a savory, nutty depth that completely alters the character of the meal.
On hot sandwiches, the rosemary parmesan loaf evokes the comforting aromas of a traditional Sunday roast dinner. On cold subs, it provides an earthy, rustic quality that pairs particularly well with the #10 Tuna Fish, where the herbaceous notes complement the creamy seafood without overpowering the palate. Though not suitable for dairy-free diets due to the cheese baked into the crust, it remains one of the most rewarding alternative bread choices available.
Anything with Avocado
Unlike the processed, brown avocado pastes found at many fast-food establishments, Jersey Mike’s utilizes freshly sliced and smashed avocado that brings a vibrant green color and rich, creamy texture to any sub. While it carries a small upcharge and is subject to regional availability, adding avocado provides a dose of healthy fats and a refreshing, California-style coolness.
Avocado functions brilliantly as a dairy-free substitute for cheese, adding lushness to vegetarian options like The Veggie or seafood selections like the tuna sub. Furthermore, when paired with spicy hot subs, the creamy texture acts as a natural palate cleanser. Some regular customers even utilize extra avocado alongside a bag of house chips to craft a quick, impromptu side of chips and guacamole, elevated further with a spoonful of jalapeños.
Spicy Grilled Cheese (A Chipotle Cheese Steak, Hold the Meat)
The chain’s cheesesteaks are widely celebrated for their adaptability, but one of the best kept secrets among vegetarian diners and grilled cheese enthusiasts is the ability to order a cheesesteak completely meat-free. By requesting a Chipotle Cheese Steak—or a #43—with the meat omitted, customers receive a piping-hot, savory sandwich built on a foundation of melted cheese, grilled onions, and peppers.
During preparation, employees toss the vegetables on the flat top before blanketing them in white American cheese and folding them into toasted bread with chipotle mayonnaise. For those who prefer milder flavors, the same meat-free technique can be applied to Mike’s Famous Philly, which replaces the spicy chipotle elements with sweet peppers and onions. The resulting sandwich offers all the gooey satisfaction of a gourmet grilled cheese with the structural integrity of a classic sub.
Anything with Sweet Red Peppers
While crisp green bell peppers are a familiar sight across the menu, the sweet red peppers traditionally served with cheesesteak subs are an exceptionally underrated ingredient. Bringing a gentle smokiness and natural mellowness, these peppers elevate warm sandwiches by melding seamlessly with melted cheese and heated proteins.
When added to cold sandwiches, they introduce a subtle sweetness that balances the sharper notes of onions, vinegar, and spices. Beyond their standard inclusion on items like the Famous Philly and Chipotle Cheese Steak, adventurous diners frequently add them to unexpected orders, such as a warmed tuna melt, to provide contrasting textures and unexpected bursts of flavor.
The Wheat Bread
Though white bread remains the default choice for the majority of orders, Jersey Mike’s wheat bread offers a wholesome, nutty alternative that significantly alters the profile of a sub. The hearty loaf provides a robust foundation that holds up exceptionally well against heavily loaded cold cuts and dense vegetarian fillings alike.
When chosen for hot sandwiches, the wheat bread enhances the comforting, toasty nature of the meal. For cold sub orders—particularly those without meat—the wheat option delivers a more filling, substantial eating experience than its white counterpart, remaining a favorite among loyal customers who appreciate the bakery-fresh quality of the chain’s bread program.
Anything with Extra Grilled Onions
Caramelized, savory, and rich in umami, the grilled onions prepared on the flat top are among the most flavorful components of the Jersey Mike’s hot menu. While they are standard on items like cheesesteaks and chicken philly subs, they are rarely considered as an add-on for other sandwich styles.
Pairing grilled onions with meat-heavy subs amplifies their savory characteristics, while adding them to vegetarian or tuna options introduces unexpected depth. For cold sandwiches, customers can specifically request that employees grill a portion of onions separately before adding them to the cold ingredients. This creates a striking and delectable contrast between warm, tender onions and crisp, chilled lettuce and tomatoes.
The Pickles
Rounding out the list of underappreciated elements are the establishment’s pickles, which provide an essential burst of zesty crunch and salinity. Surprisingly, pickles do not automatically come standard on any menu item, requiring a specific request from the customer.
Because they maintain their structural integrity without becoming soggy or limp, these pickles offer a sharp tang that cuts through the richness of heavy proteins and cheeses, while simultaneously brightening vegetable-based subs. Although pickle brands may vary slightly by geographic location to support regional suppliers, the chain’s strict quality standards ensure a consistently crisp and zesty addition to any order.
