The 12 Most Popular Jimmy John’s Sandwiches, Ranked and Reviewed by a Food Editor

• What’s On It: bacon, ham, provolone cheese, pickle, mayo, yellow mustard
• Price: $10

I’m all for riffing on a standard recipe, but as a Cuban-American, it pains me to see this called a Cubano. Yes, it’s Jimmy’s version…but still. I understand that it would be expensive and silly for them to have roast pork (let alone real-deal pernil) on hand just for this, so I can forgive the bacon more than I can the provolone. It would have been easy to substitute Swiss if they had it on the menu, but alas. The sandwich was also very salty compared to the others. However, I loved the supremely crunchy, sour, dill-kissed pickles.

• What’s On It: bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

This one looked skimpier than the other sandwiches, I guess because bacon was the sole protein. I enjoyed its salty, porky flavor, but didn’t love its soft texture. I also felt like the ratio was off, since the tomatoes were so thick. They sort of took away from the dependably delicious balance of a BLT’s main components. It also felt a bit dry compared to the other sandwiches, so I wouldn’t blame you for asking for avocado spread or double mayo.

• What’s On It: house-made tuna salad, provolone cheese, cucumber, lettuce, tomato
• Price: $10

It smelled like diner tuna but didn’t seem to be teeming with mayonnaise. It had just the right amount of fishiness (for a tuna fish lover, that is—if you want fish to “taste like chicken,” you won’t like it), and I love the crunchy cucumbers here. But my main complaint is that the tuna salad was pretty one-note. I would’ve loved something acidic (like lemon juice or pickled peppers) in the mix to make it more vibrant. It seemed to contain onions, but they were pretty sweet. A touch of citrus would’ve made it much brighter. Alternatively, you could add jalapeños or banana peppers.

• What’s On It: turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

This pick was rich and savory, thanks to the bacon, but still light and almost refreshing. The turkey was slightly pink and more nuanced than your average deli slice. If you like ham, the turkey-bacon combo will surely win you over. The bacon wasn’t crispy, but the bread was perfect (as it usually is)—sturdy and slightly crisp on the outside, pillowy on the inside and undeniably fresh.  

• What’s On It: ham, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

It’s a BLT with ham. I appreciated that it was more substantial, thanks to the second protein, and I think the ratio of all the components was on point. The ham itself was also balanced between sweet and savory (I say that as someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy ham). If you’re looking for a classic sandwich that’s just a little indulgent, this is a solid option.

• What’s On It: roast beef, ham, provolone cheese, yellow mustard, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

I preferred double roast beef to a roast beef-ham split, but the mustard helped here. The tangy, zippy combination of mustard and mayo brought both meats to life. The lettuce mostly offered texture and cool contrast. The tomato was too thick for my liking, and I would’ve preferred onion in its place. That said, there were no major cons.

• What’s On It: salami, capocollo, ham, provolone cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo, oil, vinegar, oregano, basil
• Price: $10

This was a very solid sandwich, given how balanced it was between the savory meats (the capicola was herbaceous and garlicky), salty cheese, sharp onion, tangy vinegar and crisp produce. However, it leaned sweet for an Italian hero. I wouldn’t have minded hot capicola, giardiniera or banana peppers for a bit of heat. I also wished the tomatoes were sliced a bit thinner, so they didn’t dominate the bites they were in.

• What’s On It: turkey, ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

I’d argue this is perhaps the safest, most crowd-pleasing Jimmy John’s sandwich of the bunch. It was meaty without being overwhelmingly filling. The provolone offered richness without being too sharp or salty. The produce imparted crispness and cool refreshment (I still wish the tomatoes were half the thickness), while the mayo gave it just a touch of acidity. Could you make it better according to your preferences? Yes. Is there anything wrong with the sandwich as it is? Nope.

• What’s On It: turkey, provolone cheese, avocado spread, cucumber, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

The avocado spread was mostly earthy and sweet. I would’ve preferred sliced avocado. However, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the cucumber. It made the avocado spread taste better and added refreshing, vegetal nuance to the entire sandwich. As always, I would’ve loved something pickled (like jalapeños or onions) for some zing, or even just a splash of vinegar. But this was truly a sammy I’d want at the beach, piled high with potato chips.

• What’s On It: double roast beef, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

Jimmy John’s roast beef was thoroughly seasoned, very tender and flavorful. I would’ve loved onions and mustard for some sharpness and acidity to cut through the richness of the meat, but the provolone and mayo did some of that on their own. Personally, I’d have preferred cheddar with the roast beef, but wasn’t disappointed by the provolone.

• What’s On It: roast beef, turkey, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

The savory, peppery roast beef and slightly sweet turkey made a stellar pairing. The high note of the acidic mayo made the proteins sing, and I was grateful to have had no tomatoes without needing to modify the sandwich. (With the tomatoes went the cheese, though; I might add that on next time.) I think raw onions, double mayo or a combination of mayo and mustard would’ve been lovely here.

• What’s On It: double salami, double capocollo, provolone cheese, Jimmy Peppers, oil, vinegar, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo
• Price: $10

Now that’s what I want in an Italian hero. It’s spicy! It’s vinegary! It’s towering with fresh, savory, porky meat products! The combo of the Jimmy Peppers (think roasted red peppers meet pickled jalapeños), mayo and onion balanced the otherwise indulgent handheld with expert precision. I wouldn’t have minded a sharper, more aged cheese to pair with the bolder salami and capicola (maybe Parmesan?), but there were no complaints on my end.