Veganism is the USA’s fastest-growing lifestyle movement with 3.2% of the population now describing themselves as vegan (plant-based diet) and 10% vegetarians. The UK is catching up fast with 542,000 people reportedly following a vegan diet and 12% cutting down on meat according to The Vegan Society.
As interest in our health has grown so has the interest in what we put in and on our bodies. The skincare sector is leading the way in this respect with animal-derived ingredients such as lanolin, beeswax, and squalane (shark liver oil) being replaced by plant-based substitutes such as olive oil, Manuka honey, and jojoba oil.
The trend for non-toxic eco-friendly grooming has seen men customize their shaving regimes with vegan shaving soap by the likes of Fisticuffs, Fork, and Baxter of California. With this in mind, I was excited to hear about Jersey Mike’s, a New York-based sandwich chain that has just launched ‘Mike’s Way’ – an entirely vegan range of seven sandwiches.
There’s no mystery meat in these subs, just high-quality ingredients such as marinated portabellini mushrooms, roasted bell peppers, and carrot tahini. You can browse more about Vegan Options at Round Table Pizza.
Jersey Mikes
Jersy Mike‘s is another ” Sub and Chips” type of shop. They are a franchise and there is no real central location like Subway or Ginos. The Jersy Mike’s Subs closest to me was in Somerset, NJ on Route 27. It was founded by George and Mike in 1966. There are now 2,000 locations worldwide with 700 in the US.
The subs at Jersy Mikes are pre-made and then heated up before you order. There is no real carving station with the meat like you get at most other delis or Sub shops.
You also cannot ask for extra of anything or request how you want the sub done. The subs are sliced and heated up in a heat lamp so they are ready to go when you order them. The menu is pretty standard with cold and hot subs on it.
You can get a basic cold sub that comes on white, wheat, rye, or the Italian Roll. They also have some extras like Pizza Subs, Philly Cheese Steaks, Chicken Parmesan Subs, and Vegetarian options. They also have Grinders which are the same as a sub but they use Italian bread instead of an Italian roll.
Vegan Options at Jersey Mikes
Their vegan menu is pretty small but they do have a Vegan Philly Cheese Steak that is made with Tofurky. The sandwich comes with sautéed peppers and onions, banana peppers, sundried tomato pesto, soy cheese, and vegan steak cut up on the sub. They also have French Fries which are cooked in oil separate from all other fryings so it is an allergen-free fry. They also have a veggie sub which is vegan with no cheese.
Jersey Mikes Vegan Bread/Wrap Options:
- Wheat Sub
- White Sub
- Kaiser Roll
- Seeded Bread
- Flour Wrap
- Golden Wheat Wrap
- Spinach Wrap
- Tomato Wrap
More food Stuff: Vegan Options at Boston Market
Vegan Toppings/Ingredients for your Sub or Wrap:
- Banana Peppers
- Green Peppers
- Hot Red Pepper Relish
- Jalapeno Peppers
- Dill Pickle Slices or Spears
- Lettuce
- Onion Slices
- Jalapeno Peppers
- Tomato Slices
- Sliced Avocado
Vegan Side Dishes at Jersey Mikes:
- Mrs. Vickies or other Kettle-Chips
- Lays Potato Chips
- Regular Sun Chips
- Dill Pickles
- Tossed Salad
Vegan Condiments/Dressings at Jersey Mikes:
- Light Italian Salad Dressing
- Fat-free Italian Salad Dressing
- Mustard
- Olive Oil Blend
- Red Wine Vinegar
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Salt
- Oregano
Vegan Dessert Options at Jersey Mikes:
- None
Currently, there are no real vegan dessert options at Jersey Mikes. The brownies and cookies are both non-vegan.
Also Read: Vegan Options at Perkins
So How is Jersey Mike for a Vegan?
For vegan people, there are only two real options at Jersey Mikes’s. You can get the veggie sub or you can custom make a sandwich on Golden Wheat or Spinach wrap with only vegetables and condiments. Their menu is nice and clean and there are no real hidden dairy or meat ingredients.
The Potato Chips are vegan as well as the Sun Chips so if you wanted to create a snack plate with those items, it would be easy. If you order fries, they will come out in an allergen-free fry container which is great because their regular fries are cooked in oil with other items so they do not have a dedicated fryer. There are no vegan desserts but their Fries and Chips are vegan!
The sandwich came out nice and hot and the Tofurky was cut up into little squares and sautéed with peppers and onions, banana peppers, sundried tomato pesto, soy cheese, and vegan steak.
They also have a Vegan Philly Cheese Steak that is made with Tofurky. The sandwich comes with sautéed peppers and onions, banana peppers, sundried tomato pesto, soy cheese, and vegan steak cut up on the sub.
The veggie sub had plenty of vegetables on it for a good filling sub. The veggies had plenty of flavors and weren’t too greasy or soggy like some other sub chains I have been to.
All in all, Jersey Mikes is a nice sub shop to stop by if you are looking for an allergen-free sandwich with Vegan Tofurky Slices on it.
Must Read: Vegan Options at Outback Steakhouse
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Vegan Options at Jersey Mikes?
Yes! They have vegan Tofurky Slices and veggie subs to choose from.
Is there a Nutrition Menu for Jersey Mikes?
No, but you can make the menu online or check out their website for nutritional information. What is the seating like in Jersey Mikes?
Are the fries cooked in a dedicated fryer?
Yes! They have an allergen-free fry container that they cook their fries in so it is safe for those with a gluten allergy as well as a vegan option as they are cooked in a dedicated fryer.
Read More: Vegan Options at Red Rooster
Conclusion
The future is looking bright for vegan people as more restaurants are becoming aware that there is a market for Vegan options. Their marketing strategy for a vegan sub was a good one. They used soy cheese, Tofurky Slices, and other Vegan meats to create their unique vegan subs.
They aim to not be like Subway or Quiznos but to create their unique sub for the vegan community. The price of their subs is also extremely fair as they range from $5-6 which is only a couple of dollars more than the major sub chains with less variety.
So thank you Jersey Mikes for being there for vegan people! If you haven’t tried Jersey Mikes yet, it is time to try them out now!
