USA fast food chain with ‘the greatest sandwich ever’ is coming to the UK

Lunchtime in London is about to get even better, with iconic sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s planning a British Invasion this autumn.

Known for its ‘fresh sliced, authentic Northeast-American style sub sandwiches on fresh baked bread’, Jersey Mike’s has been a favourite in US households for more than 60 years.

It recently clinched the top spot as America’s most popular fast-food chain, ending Chick-fil-A’s impressive 11-year streak.

And now the franchise, which operates over 3,000 locations across the US and Canada, is officially coming to the UK.

Marking the launch of the brand’s ‘European expansion’, the sandwich chain will be opening a store on Argyll Street in the West End, with plans to open an additional three central London locations.

Described by Nick Jonas as ‘the greatest sandwich [he] ever tasted’, could Jersey Mike’s really give fast-food royalty Subway a run for its money?

What is Jersey Mike’s?

For anyone who isn’t familiar with Jersey Mike’s, one of the reasons it’s remained such a firm favourite among Americans is because of its focus on fresh ingredients.

Similarly to Subway, customers are invited to line up and watch as a member of staff freshly prepares their chosen sandwich right in front of them.

Whether it’s different meats, cheeses, lettuce or additional toppings, everything is of high quality.

For each sub, you’ll typically have a choice of two sizes: regular or giant. You can then decide whether you’d like your sandwich hot or cold.

Finally, you’ll be asked whether you’d like your sub prepared ‘Mike’s Way’ – which translates to onions, lettuce, tomatoes, oregano, salt and ‘the juice’, a signature blend of red wine vinegar and olive oil.

Some of the most popular items on the menu are the #7 which is a Turkey and Provolone sandwich and the #13, the Original Italian, which consists of prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami, and provolone.

A superior sandwich…?

With a massive cult following online, Brits will undoubtedly be excited to sample what some Americans have deemed the most ‘superior’ sandwich out there.

In a subreddit dedicated to the Jersey Mike’s fandom, one user wondered if it was the brand’s dedication to ‘simple and quality ingredients’ that made it so delectable, another theorised that there must be some ingredient in there that keeps him coming back for more – admitting he ‘craves a JM every week’.

And in a battle of the subs, the New Jersey franchise seems to be the clear winner for some customers.

@educationalad85 shares: ‘We have a Subway 0.4 miles from my house and were happy for decades. Our son-in-law raved about JM’s being much better. We eventually tried it and have never had Subway again.

‘JM’s has much better meats, cheese and bread. Even their oil and vinegar tastes better to me’.

Now, this isn’t to say that Subway is about to be knocked off the podium completely – one user on TikTok, @lyaah, recently revealed she regularly ‘dreams’ about their chocolate chip cookies.

However, industry analysis reveals they’ve experienced somewhat of a decline in recent times – largely due to the fact that some customers don’t feel as though the quality (or size of the sandwich) matches the menu’s hefty prices.

So, while a jam-packed sub from JM could still cost Brits upwards of £12, could it be worth it for the end product?

While an official opening date is yet to be announced, hungry Londoners can expect to get their hands on a fresh sub by ‘late autumn’.

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