GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT > Nerd Culture

Best Sandwich Chains In The United States, Ranked

By Doug Norrie | Updated

The 5 Best Sandwich Chains In The United States

The best sandwich chains in the United States can definitely rival the quality and taste of some great local spots. And that’s really saying something when looking for a great lunch or dinner meal. After looking at the best pizza chains and burger spots in the United States, it’s time to see where the best sandwich chains rank.

The folks at Marketforce have compiled the best sandwich chains in terms of brand loyalty, and there are some great options here.

5. Subway

Saved the worst for first. It’s not all that surprising to see Subway at the back of the list of sandwich chains because, well, it’s Subway. They have thousands of locations all over the world, but their main claim to fame is that the food is easy, consistent, and fast. Quality ranks lower than many others on this list because that’s not really the ultimate goal. They are going for quick sandwiches that customers know will be the same in every, single location.

The reviews are generally mixed though they do have quite a number of options. As with most chains, the bigger things get, the worse the overall product and that is certainly the case with Subway.

McAlister's Deli

McAlister’s Deli doesn’t have nearly the number of locations as some of the others on this sandwich chain list, but the 400+ across the United States is enough for them to rank. They’ve been around for more than 30 years and besides sandwiches will serve soup, salads, baked potatoes, and more. 

They are often compared with Panera (who didn’t make the list) for obvious reasons, but McAlisters offers a slightly better overall menu which does change slightly depending on the region. They have a fantastic French Dip sandwich and will do a melted Swiss as well. Overall, they rank high on the chains list even if it’s a bit lower for just sandwiches.

3. Jimmy John's

Jimmy John’s is another sandwich chain that’s been around for decades and they’ve made a name for their overall speed. In fact, they want to move so quickly that they actually have a program called “Freaky Fast Rewards” which helps customers earn points for free sandwiches. 

They have gourmet sandwiches and do use high-quality ingredients, mixing speed and quality in a way many others on these lists simply aren’t able to accomplish. Some of their best sandwiches include the Pepe, the J.J.B.L.T, and the J.J. Gargantuan.

2. Firehouse Subs

Firehouse got its name from a pretty obvious place: it was founded by two firefighting brothers who wanted to honor that community. It comes through in the names of their offerings like the Hooker & Ladder, Engineer, Firehouse Hero, and Smoking Triple Stack.

The bread is toasted, the meats and cheeses are piled on and the taste is about as good as you’ll get from the corner deli. Firehouse Subs ranked 10th overall among all food chains from Marketforce and is one of the best franchises out there.

1. Jersey Mike's

Garden State natives will know Jersey Mike’s well seeing as how the sandwich chain has been around for almost 80 years now. Since then they’ve grown to more than 2,000 locations with customers flocking back time and again for the high-quality meats and cheeses that are piled high on every sandwich. 

These sandwiches are as good as you’ll get anywhere and Jersey Mike’s hasn’t suffered any dip in quality even with the brand continuing to grow. And in terms of brand loyalty, Jersey Mike’s 4th overall behind only Chick-Fil-A, In-and-Out Burger, and Papa Murphy’s. They easily topped the list of best sandwich chains in the United States.