Forget Subway: Here's Why You Should Be Ordering Your Subs At Publix

A well-made sandwich is a thing of beauty. There are those who say that sandwiches from a deli taste better than homemade, but, for our money, the very best subs may well come from Publix. The grocer, which started out in Winter Haven, Florida and has since grown to become the biggest employee-owned company in the United States, has over 1,400 locations in the Southeast. The regional distribution of Publix stores is really sad for the rest of the country, because they don't know about the scrumptious manna that is the Pub Sub.

Grocery stores play music to encourage you to spend money, but many don't need subliminal messaging to throw dollars at Publix. Subway and other sandwich shops of its ilk are all well and fine, but they can't throw down with a custom sub from the Publix deli, affectionately nicknamed a "Pub Sub." Publix has a long list of pre-selected sub options, featuring all your normal faves like turkey, ham, roast beef, veggie, and Italian — not to mention its renowned chicken tender sub — but Publix shoppers needn't stop there. What really sets Pub Subs apart is the fact that there is seemingly no limit to how you can customize them. If you can find an item on Publix store shelves, the deli will put it in a sub for you. That goes for condiments, fresh produce for toppings, and the full battery of deli meats and hot bar options available. Have a bespoke bread request from Publix's expansive bakery or the "normal" bread aisle? Grab a loaf or bag of rolls off the shelf, and employees will hook you up.

Most supermarkets have at least one claim to fame. Erewhon, the most expensive grocery store in the U.S., gets tons of press over its bougie smoothie bar and celebrity sightings. Meanwhile, Aldi is beloved for its immense stable of private-label goods and budget-friendly pricing. Publix is known in the South for its subs to the point that they are something of a cult favorite ... to the extent that a cult favorite can be something that everyone is eating. A peek at social media shows us that folks can't get enough of their Pub Subs.

"They're really good — much better than Subway's ripoff sandwiches," opined one Redditor. On an Instagram video, a comment raved, "Can't deny Publix is the 1/1 of subs." Over on Facebook, where one consumer showed off a six-inch Ultimate sub, the comments were all drooling, such as "I'm craving a Publix sub now! They're so fresh and delicious!" A TikTok creator mused that "Florida natives talk about [Pub Subs] like they belong in a museum," and, upon trying one, agreed that the Sunshine State knew what it was talking about.

Woe to those who aren't in the Publix catchment, because they can't hope to know the joy of noshing on a Pub Sub after an arduous grocery run. If you are lucky enough to have a Publix close to you, hopefully you've figured out that ordering ahead on the app or a computer is the best game plan. You can even set the time you want to pick your subs up, so they are hot (or cool) and waiting once you've filled your cart.