The battle of the subs: Which chain reigns supreme?

-25% of Americans say that Subway makes the best-tasting deli sandwich.

-Quality, value and convenience are the top reasons for visiting a fast food restaurant.

-Subway leads sub sandwich competitors in value for money and speed of service.

-Jersey Mike’s has the highest Quality rating among sub restaurants, but consumers are more likely to choose Subway.

Fast-food isn’t just about burgers. There are plenty of things you can put bread around and serve up to America. Data from YouGov QSR CategoryView, our industry-specific brand tracking platform, shows that America has some strong preferences when it comes to non-burger fast-food sandwiches.

Who makes the best deli sandwich?

We asked Americans which restaurant chain serves the tastiest deli sandwich. Among three leading submarine shops, Subway has consistently topped the list—but the lead shows signs of softening. In November 2024, 27% of consumers named Subway as the best deli sandwich option, slipping slightly to 24% by February 2025.

Jersey Mike’s has held steady in second place, climbing from 15% in November to 17% in both December and February. Jimmy John’s, meanwhile, has maintained third place throughout the period, though its share dipped from 11% in December to 9% in February.

Looking at the data for the whole period shows some interesting demographic differences. One in four (25%) Americans say Subway has the tastiest sandwich, more than any other chain. However, the brand’s dominance is strongest among younger consumers–35% of 18-to-29-year-olds rank it as the best, compared to just 22% of those aged 45-64. Meanwhile, Jersey Mike’s gains traction among older age groups, with 19% of 45- to 64-year-olds preferring it compared to only 10% of those under 30.

Why do Americans choose a particular fast food restaurant?

Before directly comparing America’s favorite sub spots, it’s worth asking why consumers choose a given restaurant in the first place. Over the past four months, YouGov asked just over 14,000 consumers what they look for in a fast food restaurant.

The quality of the food and the value of the offering are the top factors, chosen by 55% and 48% of respondents respectively. However, they’re not the only reasons. Convenient location (47%) is a key factor as is speed of service (33%). Americans want their fast food to be fast.

How do major sub chains stack up on Quality, Value and fast service?

Jersey Mike’s leads the pack in Quality, a net score of what proportion of consumers think that a brand represents good or bad quality. With a Quality score of 20 (23% “good quality” minus 3% “bad quality”), Jersey Mike’s bests Subway (18), Jimmy John’s (12), and Quiznos (7). While this positions Jersey Mike’s as the premium option among sub chains, that perception doesn’t necessarily translate into Value, a measure of whether consumers think a brand gives good value for money.

Jersey Mike’s Value score of 7 trails Subway at 13. Jimmy John’s (4) and Quiznos (0) rank lowest on Value, suggesting that many consumers may not feel these chains offer a compelling return for the price paid.

When it comes to fast service, however, Subway is the clear frontrunner. Over a quarter of consumers (28%) associate the brand with speed - more than double the score of any competitor. Jimmy John’s and Jersey Mike’s both score 12% on fast service, despite Jimmy John’s positioning itself as a “freaky fast” brand. Quiznos once again trails in this area, with only 5% of consumers linking it to quick service.

The data indicates that while Jersey Mike’s excels in Quality, Subway is winning on service speed and Value. This may be linked to the demographic preferences for different deli sandwiches. Perhaps Subway's appeal to younger consumers stems from its affordability and widespread availability, while Jersey Mike's focus on quality resonates with older demographics.

Purchase funnel: Subway is the top sub destination

While Jersey Mike’s may have a higher Quality score, consumers are more likely to turn to Subway when they crave a long sandwich.

Subway leads the competition both in Consideration (how many consumers will consider buying at Subway) and Purchase Intent, with 29% of consumers saying they would consider purchasing from the chain and 7% selecting it as the brand they’re most likely to buy from next.

Jersey Mike’s follows with a 17% Consideration rate and 4% Purchase Intent, suggesting a solid—but more selective—appeal. Jimmy John’s sees a noticeable drop-off, with 12% of consumers open to buying from the brand but only 2% indicating it would be their top choice.

Quiznos, once a strong player in the sub-category, now sits at the bottom, with just 5% Consideration and a Purchase Intent score of 0%—highlighting the brand’s continued struggle to compete in today’s market.

Methodology

The data is based on YouGov QSR CategoryView, an industry-specific brand tracking platform that combines brand, audience, and category-level data to provide insights into consumer perception. The survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.