Restaurants Fast Food Jimmy John's
![Popular Jimmy John's Menu Items, Ranked Worst To Best - Mashed (1) Popular Jimmy John's Menu Items, Ranked Worst To Best - Mashed (1)](https://i0.wp.com/www.mashed.com/img/gallery/popular-jimmy-johns-menu-items-ranked-worst-to-best/intro-1625057823.jpg)
Shutterstock
BySamantha Maxwell
The popular sub shop Jimmy John's was founded in 1983, and since then, they've given other chains like Subway a run for their money. Even though the company has been involved in some food poisoning scandals, it continues to be an appealing chain in college towns and other spots across 43 U.S. states. But don't think you can walk in the door treating this place like just another Subway; you need to know about some of the different options before you make a decision.
That's why we've picked out some of the most popular items on the Jimmy John's menu so you can get a better idea of what's on offer. But even better than that, we've decided to rank them as well. We'll start with the worst of the bunch and make our way to our favorites. That way, you'll have a better idea of what you want to order the next time you visit this sandwich chain.
Let's take a closer look at what you should try and what you should avoid when you're eating at Jimmy John's.
21. Big John
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 other of their sandwich meats are delicious. But if you truly love roast beef, you're not going to love the sandwiches that features it at Jimmy John's — and that includes 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.
Jimmy John's sandwiches are known for having a lot of flavor, so you'll likely be sorely disappointed if this is the sub you choose to order. And 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. If it were up to us, we'd take this sandwich off the restaurant's menu completely.
20. Hunter's Club
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. But if you were forced to choose between the Hunter's Club and the Big John, we'd certainly choose the former every time.
19. Totally Tuna
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 completely inoffensive, meaning there's just not any flavor there. 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. They added a slight crunch, but for the most part, they didn't add any flavor to the mix. 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.
Regardless of the veggies that appear in this recipe, though, we wouldn't suggest the Totally Tuna if you want the best of what Jimmy John's has to offer.
18. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
When you're ordering a sandwich or another savory meal from one of your favorite restaurants, you may want to top off the meal with something sweet. 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 that will make you wish you had kept a box cake mix in your pantry.
Life is too short to eat subpar cookies, so we suggest skipping over the oatmeal raisin variety the next time a Jimmy John's run is in order.
17. Country Club
You can go to just about any restaurant to get a plain, boring sandwich. That's why, when you're craving a sub, going to an actual sandwich shop is the right move — you'll have so much more to choose from besides a just-average sub. That is, unless you order the Country Club from Jimmy John's. The Country Club is comprised of 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.
16. Ultimate Porker
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, and tomato. There is also some mayo that's spread on the bun to give you a touch of acidity and some creaminess as well.
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.
Overall, this might have been a solid sandwich choice if it weren't for the fact that it's so heavy, but you can try it and judge for yourself if you tend to like things meaty.
15. Turkey Tom
Honestly, the Turkey Tom deserves a special place on this list — not because it's the tastiest item on the Jimmy John's menu or because it's so much different than all the others — but 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. And who doesn't love a versatile menu item?
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 or those who have really specific food preferences. 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.
14. Bootlegger Club
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. They basically just taste like your average cold cuts.
As you might expect by this point, this sandwich is also going to come with lettuce, tomato, and mayo. Choose from French bread, wheat bread, or even a lettuce bun that will help you stick to your low-carb commitments. You can add on some other free toppings as well, which we think makes a big difference in this sandwich specifically. You need something fresh and interesting to offset all that meat, after all!
13. Club Lulu
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. We think that this sandwich is similar to the Turkey Tom in that just about everyone will like it. 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. At the same time, the Club Lulu is better than the Turkey Tom because of the addition of the bacon. Why don't you give it a try for yourself?
12. J.J.B.L.T
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 for the kill from the front? What's the best way to eat one of these things?
Of course, bacon steals the show, but that doesn't mean it's the only player in this sub. 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.
11. The Pepe
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. If you want to order something that you're pretty much guaranteed to like, there's nothing wrong with choosing The Pepe: You know just what you're going to get.
10. Chocolate Chip Cookie
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?
Even though the oatmeal raisin cookie is dry, crumbly, and disappointing to take a bite of, you're definitely not going to have the same experience when you choose a chocolate chip cookie from Jimmy John's. These cookies are actually quite moist, and they have that soft cookie feel you know you love. You have the option of ordering just one, or you can get enough to share with your whole family after you finish your meal. And since this dessert option is available at Jimmy John's itself, you know you won't have to make a separate trip just to get something sweet. What's not to love about that? If you need to answer your sweet tooth's longings, this is the way to do it.
9. Club Tuna
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. You may not think to pair cheese with tuna salad, but it's surprisingly tasty. The cheese provides the richness and the creaminess you want from your sandwich, but the tuna salad keeps it light and refreshing. It just feels like the kind of sandwich you'd want to take to the beach.
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 guess it's something you'll have to put up with if you order this sandwich. Or just tell them to leave it off at the beginning — it's up to you.
8. The Veggie
A few years ago, it was hard to find any veggie options at all at most fast food and fast casual joints. In just a matter of a few years, though, the tide has totally turned. 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 (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.
Of course, it may not be as flavorful as the meat-filled options on the Jimmy John's menu, and we wish you could add a meat substitute like Tofurkey to the sandwich. But even absent that option, we'd order The Veggie again.
7. Beach Club
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, in JJ style, 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.
Oh, and don't forget the cheese! 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.
6. Italian Night Club
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.
If you've never ordered from Jimmy John's before and you're looking for a good place to start, the Italian Night Club should definitely be on your radar.
5. Billy Club
Alright, alright: We know what we said about the roast beef at Jimmy John's, and we're going to stand by it. It's not particularly good, and we wish it had more flavor. Roast beef is supposed to be one of the most flavorful meats out there, after all. 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 that accompanies it. These two ingredients meld perfectly together, creating a flavor that almost feels nostalgic.
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, we think that this sub is one of the best options on the Jimmy John's menu.
4. J.J. Gargantuan
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. Gargantuanat 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. Basically, anything you could want on a sandwich, you'll find in the J.J. Gargantuan.
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. It's just so huge, it's hard to imagine anyone choosing this when they're not sharing with someone else. If you want to eat a sandwich that's seriously over the top, though, you won't want to pass this one up.
3. Spicy East Coast Italian
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. Not only do these peppers add some much-needed spice, but they also lend a tang to the sandwich that it wouldn't otherwise have.
2. Jimmy Cubano
Have you ever had a Cuban 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're a huge fan of Cubans (or even if you just want to try something new), this is one Jimmy John's sandwich that you don't want to pass up on.
1. Vito
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 plainer 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 mouthwateringly delicious. If you only ever try one sandwich from Jimmy John's, we definitely think it should be this one.