Subway Secret Menu: 5 Hidden Hacks That Change Everything

Difficulty: Novice
Time: 5-10 minutes per order
Cost: Regular menu price (no extra charges for most hacks)

Ever walked into Subway and felt like you're stuck ordering the same turkey and cheese combo? You're not alone. Subway actually has a hidden menu of specialty combinations that most customers never discover. Founded in 1965, this Connecticut-born chain grew into a $10 billion empire by 2023, but their best-kept secrets aren't on the wall menu. These insider hacks let you transform basic ingredients into restaurant-quality creations—and most won't cost you a penny extra.

What You'll Need

Materials

• Your usual Subway budget
• Confidence to ask for modifications
• Willingness to try new combinations

Tools

• None required—Subway staff handles everything

Safety First

• Basic courtesy: Be polite when requesting modifications, especially during busy periods
• Allergy awareness: Always inform staff of any food allergies before customizing

The Legendary Pizza Sub That Started It All

The Pizza Sub isn't officially on the menu anymore, but you can still order it by building it yourself. Here's your step-by-step ordering guide:

1. Choose your bread and tell the staff you're making a pizza sub.
2. Request pepperoni as your protein (this is your base meat).
3. Ask for marinara sauce instead of mayo as your first layer.
4. Add mozzarella cheese—request extra if you want that authentic pizza stretch.
5. Toast until the cheese melts and bubbles—this is crucial for the pizza effect.

The pizza sub offers the convenience of a sandwich but tastes like pizza with cheesy layers and toppings of your choice. You can add any meat for an extra charge, with rotisserie chicken and steak being top recommendations for extra protein and flavor.

Why it works: The toasted marinara and melted mozzarella create the familiar pizza taste profile in handheld sandwich form.

Master the Chicken Parm Transformation

This Italian-American classic translates perfectly to Subway's format. Chicken Parmesan is a classic dish for many Italian-Americans, and here's how to nail it:

1. Start with Italian herbs and cheese bread for authentic flavor.
2. Order roasted chicken as your protein base.
3. Request marinara sauce before the chicken goes on.
4. Add both mozzarella and parmesan cheese—the combination is key.
5. Include seasonings like black pepper, oregano, and a light sprinkle of spinach for color.
6. Ask them to toast it twice if needed to get the cheese properly melted and bubbly.

The key is getting that cheese melted properly—don't be shy about asking for extra toasting time. When you throw some nice crusty bread into the mix you end up with the very popular chicken parm sandwich, and Subway's Italian herbs bread delivers exactly that crusty texture you need.

Sauce Placement Secrets That Change Everything

Here's the game-changer most people miss: sauce placement determines your entire sandwich experience. Generally, filling goes on first, then veggies, then sauces—but you can flip this script for better results.

The Pro Method:

1. Ask for thick sauces first—put sauces on before your veggies, otherwise sauce won't soak into the meat and will slide off.
2. Use mayonnaise as your base layer—the safest choice for bottom-layer sauce is mayonnaise since thick sauces with oils act as moisture barriers.
3. Add meat and cheese next so the sauce bonds with proteins.
4. Finish with vegetables and lighter sauces on top.

This prevents soggy bread and creates consistent flavor in every bite. Asking for sauce before all other fillings gives maximum flavor with every bite, turning an average sub into something memorable.

Advanced Money-Saving Ordering Techniques

Smart ordering can maximize value without extra charges. Here's your money-saving strategy:

Free Upgrades:

• Load up on free vegetables including lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, cucumbers, spinach, olives, and all pepper varieties
• Ask for vegetables to be heated with your sandwich—adding vegetables to be heated up along with your meat, cheese, and bread before toasting makes the vegetables' flavor stronger

Creative Protein Additions:

• You can request eggs as an ingredient in any lunch sub, even though they're typically breakfast items
• Some locations serve eggs on breakfast sandwiches, but you can ask for them toasted with lunch subs too

Smart Sizing:

• Getting a footlong can be customized into two separate 6-inch subs, potentially saving money while offering variety—just ask them to cut and wrap separately

Secret Combinations Worth Trying

These insider combinations showcase what's possible when you think beyond the posted menu:

The Autumn Roasted Chicken Sub: Roasted chicken, bacon, crisp apple slices, swiss cheese, green peppers, spinach, cucumbers, and BBQ sauce. The apple slices add unexpected sweetness that balances the smoky bacon.

Enhanced Sweet Onion Teriyaki: Order sweet onion teriyaki chicken and ask for honey mustard and sweet chili sauces—they're the real stars here. The sauce combination creates complex sweet-tangy layers.

Mac and Cheese Add-On: Some locations serve mac and cheese, which can be added to your usual order if available. Ask politely—availability varies by location.

Troubleshooting

Problem: Staff seems confused by your request → Fix: Explain you want to customize a regular sub with specific ingredients, mentioning it's like the old pizza sub

Problem: They refuse a modification → Fix: Ask politely if they can accommodate it, or try during less busy times when staff has more flexibility

Problem: Sauce makes bread soggy → Fix: Use the mayonnaise base layer technique and request less of watery sauces like sweet onion

Your Next Subway Visit Just Got Way More Interesting

These hacks work because Subway's format is designed for customization, even if most customers stick to basic orders. The secret menu hides specialties in plain sight—you just need to know how to ask for them.

Next time you're standing in line, skip your usual order and try one of these combinations. Start with the sauce placement technique on any sandwich, then work up to full secret menu recreations. Your taste buds—and your wallet—will thank you for discovering what's been hiding behind that familiar menu all along.

Tip: Peak lunch hours aren't ideal for complex modifications. Try these hacks during slower periods when staff can take time to get your custom creation just right.