I Turn To This Publix Deli Option Over Panera Every Single Time

When I want a quick and comforting lunch, I no longer turn to Panera. In fact, I've recently taken it out of my takeout rotation entirely. Along with many other former customers, I abandoned Panera when it shrank its portions and slashed a lot of its more interesting menu items. According to employees on social media, Panera soups aren't even made fresh in the store, so paying a steep price for a small cup of boring soup just isn't an attractive concept — and I say that as somebody who is borderline passionate about soup.

No, when I crave soup nowadays, I go to the Publix deli, which offers four soups daily for self-service ladling. I don't labor under any delusions that the supermarket makes its soups from scratch, either, but, for my money, the selections and quality are both premium at Publix. Sure, the custom subs get all the attention — as well they should, because Pub Sub customizations are way better than Subway – but I'm not the only one gravitating towards the deep wells of steaming soup. 

Often, I have to wait for an employee to bring out a fresh pot, because one or more flavors are sold out. Clearly, my fellow shoppers have also cultivated an appreciation for this quick, flavorful option, which is hearty enough on its own, but absolutely rocks my world with a sandwich or quick salad. I also like that Publix posts a weekly schedule of what soups it will serve each day. 

My personal favorite Publix soup is seasonal, meaning I can only enjoy it in the wintertime. It's turkey sausage, kale, and sweet potato, which is a unique, unexpected delight. The broth is peppery and savory, the sausage has nice heft to it, and the sweet potatoes add both color and melt-in-your-mouth creaminess. A Lemon8 user posted a reel dedicated to just swishing a spoon through this soup, which I watch when I can't get my fix.

Publix's broccoli-cheddar and chicken & wild rice seem especially popular. This is a sentiment backed up by a self-proclaimed store employee on Reddit speaking on a thread about favorite Publix soups: "[S]ome of my customers love the Chicken & Wild Rice and plan their trips to the store based on whether we have it for the day or not." EatingWell also specifically called out the chicken & wild rice, noting that it possibly tastes even better as leftovers, since the soup thickens up in the fridge. 

When we ranked store-bought chicken noodle soups, we didn't take Publix deli soup into consideration, but we really should have. It's an exceptional take on a stalwart fave that features wide, supple noodles, a pleasantly herbaceous broth, and generous chunks of white chicken meat. The chili is also just right: hearty, meaty, and with a gentle kick of spice. Additionally, there's a clam chowder that lives up to my demanding standards as a born-and-bred New Englander. I'm not glazing Publix when I tell you truthfully that I've never had a soup there that I didn't enjoy.