The Difference Between Jimmy John's Cheapest And Most Expensive Sandwich

Beloved chain Jimmy John's is well known for offering up delicious gourmet sandwiches at cheap prices, but a quick glance at the menu will show you that some sandwiches can be had for a much cheaper cost than others. The company website claims to only use all-natural meat that is sliced fresh in-store, locally sourced produce, and bread, sauces, and tuna salad that are made in-house daily. 

According to the prices listed on Fast Food Menu Prices, the cheapest sandwiches are the Plain Slims, which they note cost $4.25 and are described as any sub — minus the veggies and sauce. The most expensive sandwich they list on the menu is The J.J. Gargantuan, which the site asserts will run you $8.95. We consulted the Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches Online Menu to identify exactly what ingredients are included with each sandwich and to figure out the main differences between them.

The big differences between the Plain Slims and The J.J. Gargantuan are the main ingredients and toppings. The Plain Slims essentially have no toppings at all — just bread, meat, and maybe cheese, depending on which sandwich you choose. While the menu claims these sandwiches are perfect for kids, the Plain Slims are not part of a children's menu and therefore available for anyone to order, regardless of age. The options are ham and cheese, roast beef, tuna salad, turkey, Italian (which is capicola, genoa salami, and cheese), or just cheese. You can add toppings to these basic sandwiches, but they do warn these little guys come without any freebies. Every topping, outside of mayonnaise and mustard packets, will incur an additional cost.

The J.J. Gargantuan really lives up to its name and is truly, well, gargantuan. It basically combines all the meats and cheeses on the menu — except for the tuna salad. This behemoth sandwich comes stuffed with salami, capicola, turkey, roast beef, ham, and cheese. The standard toppings included are onion, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, oil, vinegar, oregano, and basil, but there is the option to add additional veggies and sauces at no cost. The only toppings they charge for with the gargantuan are the Kickin' Ranch, avocado guacamole, bacon, and tuna salad.

Both the J.J. Gargantuan and Plain Slims come on the standard 8-inch French bread, but you can upgrade them to 16 inches for an additional cost.