6 Of The Worst Things To Order At Subway

Global sandwich chain Subway prides itself on its army of sandwich construction engineers, better known as sandwich artists, responsible for the assembly of all your Subway subs, good, bad, and indifferent. If you buy into the image of Subway’s advertising, the sandwich artists all love practicing their art for customers, but the reality is there are several items on the Subway menu that Subway employees hate when you order. Or, their inside expertise behind the scenes gives them some special insight into why you should never order these sandwiches, no matter how hungry you are or how intense your cravings become.

Subway Melts: The Short-Lived Experiment

Few experiments on the Subway menu have gone as poorly as the line of Subway melts introduced in 2021. The melts included options like ham & cheese, classic tuna, and steak & cheese. While they looked appealing in advertising photos, the reality was less appetizing. A Reddit thread revealed the common issues with these melts: “Been to like 4 different subways and not a single one put the cheese on both sides until I finally spoke up. They toast it in a paper bag, with no melt/panini press. Comes out scorched or cold, no in between,” one user wrote.

Subway employees chimed in, explaining that the official Subway handbook instructed them to put all the cheese on one side, contradicting the advertisements. The melts seem to have quietly disappeared from most locations, but if you ever stumble upon one still offering them, it’s best to avoid them altogether.

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Double Meat Meatball: A Structural Nightmare

A typical Subway sandwich can accommodate the classic “double meat” order with few complications—they just pile the extra meat on the bread and proceed normally. But according to a purported sandwich artist on Reddit, one order stands out as particularly challenging: the double meat meatball sub. “When I worked there, it was double meat meatball subs. The poster shared that it always turned out to be a mess and was hard to close,” the poster shared.

Given the shape of a meatball, it makes sense that a meatball sandwich with twice the amount of meatballs would be a challenge even for a seasoned sandwich artist. Wrapping up such a sandwich without it falling apart is no easy feat. Plus, nutritionists and doctors are unlikely to endorse the idea of a double meat meatball sub, making it wiser to stick with the recommended serving size for your meatball fix.

Bulk Orders With No Advance Notice: A Recipe for Frustration

While this isn’t an issue exclusive to Subway, placing bulk orders with no advance notice can be a major headache for employees. A viral video from 2021, reported by Yahoo, illustrated this perfectly when a Subway employee took to TikTok to share a $462 order placed at 2:30 in the morning.

The comment section was filled with people pointing out that such an order falls under catering and should have been given with at least 24 hours notice. Subway may not be the place for large, last-minute orders, especially if you’re trying to be considerate of the sandwich artists working behind the counter.

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Salad: A Disruption in Sandwich Artistry

The idea of a Subway salad sounds simple: any Subway sandwich can be transformed into a salad, extra veggies, no bread—what could go wrong? Quite a bit, according to an amusing Reddit thread where a customer asked, “Subway Sandwich Artists of Reddit, why do you get so angry when I ask for a salad?” The response was clear: “Everything comes in sandwich-sized pieces, and now they have [to] go out of their way to cut everything up into salad-sized pieces.”

The issue here is the disruption of rhythm. Sandwich-making is an art form that relies on a certain flow, and salad orders throw that off. If you’re health-conscious and want to skip the bread, it might be worth seeking out a restaurant that specializes in salads rather than risking the ire of a Subway sandwich artist.

Bad-Looking Vegetables: Not as Fresh as They Appear

One of the distinguishing features of Subway is its transparent ordering process, allowing customers to see every stage of their sandwich’s assembly. However, a 2018 Business Insider article painted a bleak picture of Subway’s vegetables. A former employee, Jessica Gunn, was quoted saying, “About half of the vegetables we used were far from fresh.” Another employee added, “A lot of the lettuce we receive is often near-expiry and is already turning brown.”

While these statements date back to 2018, and Subway has since undergone significant changes, it’s always smart to give the veggies a quick inspection before they end up on your sandwich. After all, the most nutritious Subway sandwiches come loaded with vegetables, so you want to ensure they’re fresh.

Anything With Chicken: Freshness Concerns

While most of the items on this list are annoying for Subway employees, this one is more about customer caution. According to a Reddit AMA, one employee revealed that some of the chicken at Subway might not be as fresh as other options: “Avoid Chipotle Chicken & Teriyaki Chicken (Why? Chicken is given a two-day shelf life, once in the counter. However, these two bypass this and get four days, and can get a little stinky).” Although Subway has likely improved its freshness standards since this revelation, if you’re a stickler for freshness, it might be best to opt for steak over chicken on your next Subway visit.

By avoiding these six menu items, you can ensure a better experience for both yourself and the hardworking sandwich artists behind the counter. While Subway offers plenty of delicious options, being mindful of what you order can make all the difference.

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