When your coworkers, especially the ones who bring lunch from home every day, start raving about a new sandwich spot, you listen.
That was the case for Diner K, who had been hearing nothing but buzz from her office about Jersey Mike’s Subs, the latest food stop to pop up in Hawaii Kai Towne Center.
Now let me set the scene. You’ve got Costco to the right, Ross to the left, City Mill tucked behind, and in the middle, bam!
There it is: Jersey Mike’s, flashing its East Coast roots like a neon badge of sandwich honor. So of course, we had to check it out for ourselves.
Jam-Packed Popularity = Good Sign
We rolled up around 1 PM on a Wednesday, thinking we’d beat the lunch crowd. Ha! Rookie mistake. The place was slammed. The line stretched nearly out the door, and I swear every table was packed with hungry folks happily working through giant sandwiches.
But here’s the thing, despite the rush, the staff was dialed in. There were about eight employees behind the counter, working the line with military precision. It was like watching a NASCAR pit crew but with cold cuts and provolone.
Also, a fun side note, don’t ever mention Subway at Jersey Mike’s. I made the mistake of asking about their bread, and the look I got from the girl at the register could’ve cut pastrami. “Subway?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “We slice fresh, brah.”
How It Works: East Coast Assembly Line Style
Jersey Mike’s has a similar ordering setup to Subway, you start at one end of the counter, tell the “sandwich artist” what you want, and your sub gets passed down the line for slicing, stacking, topping, and wrapping.
But here’s where Jersey Mike’s levels up: they slice all meats and cheeses to order. Right there, right in front of you.
We’re talking fresh-off-the-deli-slicer slices of ham, turkey, roast beef, capicola, whatever your sub calls for. And the sound of that Bizerba deli slicer? Music to my carnivorous ears.
Bread options are simple: white or wheat, in regular 8-inch or giant 16-inch. No fancy wraps, no flatbreads, no jalapeño cheddar rolls. Just solid, freshly baked sub loaves made in-house daily.
“Mike’s Way” — The Default Dressing Style
@jerseymikes they don’t call us A Sub Above for nothing 🫢 #jerseymikes #mikesway ♬ original sound – jerseymikes
When you order a cold sub, they’ll ask if you want it “Mike’s Way.” That’s their house style of dressing and toppings, which includes:
Sounds solid, right? But here’s the catch: if you want mayo, mustard, pickles, jalapeños, or any other extras, you have to ask.
They don’t really advertise those add-ons up front, which in hindsight, kinda threw me off. I didn’t know I could get pickles and mayo until after my sandwich was done.
Also — and this is personal — why isn’t deli mustard a default option at every sandwich shop? I feel like that should be a standard issue with your bread and meat license.
Behind the Scenes: Watching the Slicing Magic
Watching the crew work was oddly satisfying. One person sliced provolone. Another alternative is meat.
There was this smooth handoff from slicer to assembler, like deli ballet.
I caught a quick photo sequence where one staffer handed over ham, and the next layered on cappacuolo, it was legit.
As for hot subs, those get cooked on a flattop grill in the back, with a separate assembly station next to it.
Meats, veggies, and cheese hit the heat before being stuffed into your toasty roll. That smell? Glorious.
The Menu Rundown (with PDF Link!)
The takeout menu matches what you see in the store, from item names to prices. They proudly showcase their use of Hormel, Blue Ribbon, and Four Monks Vinegar, and even their house-branded ingredients are solid.
Want to see the full menu? Download Jersey Mike’s Hawaii Kai menu (PDF).
Chips, Drinks, and Desserts: Don’t Sleep on the Brownie
They’ve got the usual Frito Lay brands and a line of Miss Vickie’s kettle chips.
Drink-wise, I grabbed a Tropicana Pink Lemonade, that citrusy kick hits just right with a salty, meaty sub.
They also offer CHINAMIST Iced Tea, which comes in Blackberry Jasmine, Passion Fruit, and Traditional, both green and black teas.
Now let’s talk dessert. David’s Cookies makes the brownies and cookies sold at Jersey Mike’s.
The chocolate brownie is the real deal — dark, fudgy, rich, and almost gooey. BOMB DOT COM. The only thing missing? Walnuts. Because c’mon, brownies and walnuts are a match made in dessert heaven.
If you’re craving something with a tropical twist, try making Hawaiian haupia, a coconut milk-based dessert that’s just as indulgent.
Service Experience: Efficient and Friendly
Even though the line was crazy long, it moved fast. From entering the store to reaching the counter took about 10 minutes, and another 8 minutes to get our food.
The staff was smiling, sharp, and helpful throughout. They kept the vibe light and the flow moving, can’t ask for more.
We Ordered One Cold, One Hot — Research Purposes
Diner K and I agreed to try both sub-styles. I went with a cold sub, the Jersey Shore Favorite. Diner K took on the Pastrami Reuben, a hot sub from their classics menu.
Naturally, we added chips and drinks. Had to do it right.
Cold Sub: Jersey Shore Favorite
Wrapped in paper, this one includes:
Cost: $8.75 for the regular, $13.95 for the giant.
The white bread is AWESOME. Fresh-baked daily, crusty outside, chewy and fluffy inside, exactly like Safeway’s French bread, but in a more sub-friendly format. Smelled amazing, and tasted even better.
That said, don’t let your sandwich sit too long. “The Juice” will start soaking into the bread, and by the next day (yes, I saved half), it was a bit soggy. Still tasty, but the texture took a hit.
As for the meat? Honestly, the layers of ham, provolone, and cappacuolo kind of blended. If you blindfolded me, I might not be able to tell them apart. Not bad by any means, but not something that blew me away either.
Hot Sub: Pastrami Reuben
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Now this was the winner.
Wrapped in foil, this hot sub-features:
Cost: $9.45 regular, $14.95 giant.
No, it’s not on rye bread, which made me skeptical at first. But surprisingly, the same crusty white bread held its own.
The pastrami was juicy and well-seasoned, and the combo of melted Swiss, tangy kraut, and creamy dressing was spot-on.
If you didn’t know a Reuben traditionally came on rye, you wouldn’t even miss it. We were both licking our fingers. Coming back to try their Philly Cheesesteak next.
Sweet Finish: Don’t Skip the Brownie
Like I said earlier, the chocolate brownie by David’s Cookies was an unexpected highlight. Rich, moist, and dangerously addictive. Just throw in some chopped walnuts next time, and I’m sold for life.
Best Dining Spot? Outside by the Marina
Indoor seating was tight, so we grabbed our subs and headed outside. There’s a peaceful little waterfront area behind the shopping center, just head through the middle courtyard between Maile’s Thai and Panda Express.
We sat at a shaded table overlooking Hawaii Kai Marina, sandwiches in hand, and that salty breeze in our faces. Hard to beat that view.
Final Thoughts: Would I Go Back? Heck Yes.
Between the killer service, fresh ingredients, and solid sandwich game, especially the hot subs, Jersey Mike’s Hawaii Kai makes a great addition to the local grinds scene.