Who Makes The Better-Value Cheesesteak: Jersey Mike's Or Firehouse?

The cheesesteak is one of those iconic, familiar sandwiches that pop up on menus everywhere, from casual sit-down eateries to takeout spots like Jersey Mike's and Firehouse Subs. However, what you'll end up with when you order one can vary quite a bit from restaurant to restaurant, including those two big-name sub chains. This can leave value-focused diners wondering where to get the most bang for their buck. Among these two sandwich chains, Firehouse Subs beats out Jersey Mike's.

Of course, one of the first considerations is price. While prices can vary by market and location, the difference in cost between the two sandwiches is relatively small; at locations in central Florida, Firehouse's medium steak and cheese melt sells for $10.39 to $10.79, while the regular-sized Mike's Famous Philly from Jersey Mike's costs $10.75 to $10.80. That makes Jersey Mike's option roughly the same or up to 4% more expensive, although the difference is hard to notice in the context of most food budgets.

Still, there's more to consider where better value is concerned, rather than just price. Regular-sized Jersey Mike's subs are generally seven to seven and a half inches long, slightly shorter than the eight inches for the medium Firehouse. While this might seem small, it represents a difference of as much as 12% in the sandwich's total size, giving another slight edge to Firehouse.

Which reigns supreme can be broken down even further, thanks to the nutritional information supplied by both companies. When prepared in the standard way, Jersey Mike's sub has roughly 750 calories, while the Firehouse alternative stacks up to a much more substantial 1,040 calories. This puts the Firehouse sandwich ahead on a calorie-per-dollar basis, even if it also helps land it among the unhealthiest Firehouse Subs.

However, for most diners, the choice between these two rival cheesesteaks involves more than just pure monetary value. When we sized up who makes the better Philly cheesesteak between the two, our reviewer came to the conclusion, "With Firehouse's version in the opposition, Jersey Mike's variation simply does not stand a chance." This was a result of Firehouse's superior bread, beefier flavor in the filling, and better cheese and condiments, among other factors.

A fairly convincing Firehouse win on value and dining experience shouldn't scare you away from Jersey Mike's altogether, however. The Famous Philly ranked 10th on our list of popular Jersey Mike's Items, but there are plenty of other and possibly better alternatives, including third-place buffalo chicken cheese steak or fourth-place chipotle chicken cheese steak. Still, for value-focused buyers looking for the standard cheesesteak, it's clear Firehouse Subs is the better choice.