Most people associate Subway with freshly made sub sandwiches piled high with deli meats, cheeses and an array of colorful vegetable toppings. It‘s the place to go to "eat fresh" for a filling lunch or dinner. But did you know that many Subway restaurants open early to serve breakfast too?
If you‘re a fan of the Subway brand but have never tried their breakfast, you may be wondering – what exactly is on the Subway breakfast menu and when can you get it? Most importantly, when does Subway stop serving breakfast? We‘ll dive into all the details in this comprehensive guide to Subway‘s breakfast hours and offerings.
What Time Does Subway Serve Breakfast?
According to Subway‘s corporate website, participating Subway restaurants serve breakfast from 7:00 am to 11:00 am. However, franchise owners have some flexibility in setting their own hours. Some Subway locations may start serving breakfast earlier at 6:00 am, while others may not open until 8:00 am or later.
The 11:00 am cut off time for breakfast seems to be more strictly followed. After 11:00, Subway shifts over to its regular lunch menu. This is similar to most other fast food chains that serve breakfast, like McDonald‘s which stops breakfast at 10:30 am and Burger King and Wendy‘s which stop at 10:30 or 11:00 depending on location.
It‘s a good idea to call ahead or check the hours of your local Subway if you‘re planning on going for breakfast. Some Subway restaurants located in airports, hospitals, schools and other non-traditional locations may not serve breakfast at all due to space constraints or different customer needs. Stand-alone Subway restaurants are the most likely to have a full breakfast menu.
What‘s on the Subway Breakfast Menu?
Now that you know when to show up for breakfast at Subway, what morning mealtime options can you expect to find there? Subway keeps its breakfast menu rather simple, with just four main sandwich choices:
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese
- Black Forest Ham, Egg & Cheese
- Steak, Egg White & Cheese
- Egg & Cheese
All of these breakfast sandwiches are made on your choice of Subway‘s freshly baked breads, flatbreads or signature wraps. You can choose to have your sandwich toasted for a warm, satisfying breakfast. The egg patties are a fluffy disc shape.
One advantage of getting breakfast at Subway is that you have a lot of customization options, just like with the lunch sandwiches. Want to add onions, green peppers or jalapenos to your breakfast sandwich? Go for it! You can also opt for extras like double meat, extra cheese, avocado or Subway‘s new creamy sriracha sauce to kick your sandwich up a notch. The Subway app even lets you pre-order breakfast for pickup.
Subway breakfast sandwiches range in price from about $4.00 to $6.00 depending on location, type of sandwich, bread choice, and extras. A typical breakfast combo with hash browns and a coffee will run around $6-8. In terms of calories, Subway breakfast sandwiches fall in the 400-600 calorie range which is comparable to a McDonald‘s Egg McMuffin.
In addition to the breakfast sandwiches, most Subway restaurants that serve breakfast will also have add-on sides like hash browns and an assortment of drinks including coffee, juice, and bottled beverages. The coffee at Subway restaurants is usually provided by Seattle‘s Best Coffee.
Interestingly, while Subway designates specific breakfast sandwich builds, you actually have the freedom to make any sandwich you want in the morning, including Subway‘s famous lunch subs. Since all the meats, cheeses and toppings are already prepped and in the restaurant‘s serving line when they open, the "Sandwich Artists" will make you whatever kind of sandwich you want, even if it‘s not on the official breakfast menu. Want a cold cut combo or spicy Italian sub at 8 am? Just ask!
How Popular is Subway‘s Breakfast?
Subway added breakfast to its restaurants‘ menus back in 2010 in an effort to compete with other fast food chains for the increasingly competitive breakfast market share. Breakfast has been a growing segment of the fast food industry, with Americans spending billions each year on breakfast prepared outside the home.
However, Subway breakfast has struggled to gain the loyal following that some of its competitors have enjoyed. Subway‘s lunch business still makes up the majority of its sales. According to a 2015 article in Bloomberg, breakfast only accounted for about 6% of Subway‘s sales, compared to around 25% for McDonald‘s.
Industry expert Sam Oches, editorial director of Food News Media, told QSR magazine that he believes Subway faces some unique challenges with breakfast. "Subway has built its brand around the idea of freshness and customization, two things that aren‘t always associated with breakfast sandwiches that often sit under a heat lamp," he said. "Operationally, breakfast is also difficult because you have to open the store earlier and dedicate labor to that day part."
There are a few other potential reasons why Subway breakfast isn‘t as popular as the brand hoped:
- The menu is limited compared to other fast food chains. There are no breakfast burritos, pancakes, or cinnamon rolls to satisfy sweet cravings.
- No drive-thrus. Many people grabbing a quick breakfast are in a hurry and want the convenience of not having to leave their vehicle.
- The perception of freshness. Subway‘s famous selling point is fresh ingredients, but pre-made egg patties can seem incongruous with that image.
- Toasting takes extra time. Many Subway customers want to get in and out quickly.
Still, Subway breakfast does have its fans. Some patrons appreciate being able to get the same customization and variety of fresh vegetable toppings that they can get at lunch. Subway‘s generally healthier perception is also a selling point. And not having to decide between breakfast and lunch is a plus for those who prefer savory meals in the morning.
Data from market research firm The NPD Group shows that even though Subway breakfast hasn‘t reached the market share of competitors like McDonald‘s, its breakfast business is still growing incrementally year over year. Breakfast sandwich servings at Subway increased 13% from 2015 to 2017 according to NPD.
In the 11 years since Subway debuted its official breakfast menu, it hasn‘t changed much. A few items have come and gone, like the maple bacon breakfast sandwich, but the core menu has stayed the same. Some Subway franchises have gotten creative though, with California locations offering a sausage, egg and cheese croissant sandwich. Internationally, Subway restaurants in some countries like India and Japan offer more unique breakfast items tailored to local tastes, like masala egg sandwiches.
So which Subway breakfast sandwich is the most popular? The Bacon, Egg and Cheese sandwich is the top seller according to Subway. The Steak, Egg White & Cheese is the least popular, likely because of its higher price point and narrower audience interested in egg whites vs. whole eggs. The Black Forest Ham and classic Egg & Cheese round out the middle.
How Does Subway Breakfast Compare Nutritionally?
One area where Subway breakfast sandwiches shine compared to some fast food competitors is nutrition. With customizable vegetable toppings and options like egg whites, Subway can be a healthier breakfast choice.
Here‘s how a 6" Subway Bacon, Egg & Cheese sandwich on 9-grain wheat bread with tomatoes, green peppers and onions compares to a McDonald‘s Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit:
| Nutritional Info | Subway 6" Bacon, Egg & Cheese | McDonald‘s Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 440 | 450 |
| Total Fat | 18g | 25g |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 13g |
| Cholesterol | 180mg | 250mg |
| Sodium | 1020mg | 1300mg |
| Total Carbs | 47g | 38g |
| Protein | 29g | 19g |
As you can see, the Subway sandwich has less saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium and significantly more protein, thanks to Subway‘s vegetables and whole grain bread. However, it does have more total carbs.
For an even healthier option, Subway‘s Egg & Cheese sandwich on 9-grain wheat with lots of veggies has only 380 calories, 8g fat, 5g saturated fat and 610mg of sodium. The egg whites and lack of processed meat make a big nutritional difference.
Of course, if you load your Subway breakfast sandwich up with high-calorie extras like double meat, extra cheese, or a footlong size, it may not end up being the healthiest choice. But Subway does give you that control and flexibility, unlike most fast food chains.
A Picky Shopper‘s Review of Subway Breakfast
As someone who considers themselves a picky shopper and is quite particular about food quality, I have mixed feelings about Subway‘s breakfast. On one hand, I appreciate the ability to customize my sandwich and include as many fresh vegetable toppings as I want. The ingredients usually look fresh and appetizing through the glass counter, and I like being able to see my sandwich made in front of me.
The taste of Subway‘s breakfast sandwiches is decent but not extraordinary, in my opinion. The texture of the egg patties could be better – they‘re a little rubbery and artificial tasting compared to a freshly cracked egg. The bacon and steak are a bit skimpy and lower quality cuts than you‘d get at a deli or diner.
Another issue I have is the freshness factor. At a restaurant focused on fresh ingredients, a pre-made egg patty sitting in a warmer feels like an afterthought. I‘d love to see Subway figure out a way to offer made-to-order eggs for a more genuine breakfast experience.
The breads and cheeses at Subway are generally good quality, and I enjoy being able to have my sandwich toasted. But the speed of service when ordering a toasted sub can be frustrating, especially if you‘re in a hurry to get to work in the morning. I‘ve waited over 5 minutes for my breakfast sandwich before, which shouldn‘t happen at a fast food place.
As for the drinks and sides, the coffee at my local Subway has always tasted fresh and satisfactory to me as a Seattle‘s Best offering. I wish Subway would offer some healthier side options though, like fresh fruit or yogurt, to round out the breakfast menu. Hash browns are the default side and feel like an afterthought.
Overall, in a pinch, I‘m happy to have Subway as a breakfast option with some attractive features like customization and fresh veggies. But it‘s not my top choice for breakfast on the go. I‘d probably give the overall experience a 3 out of 5 stars, with some room for improvement. If Subway really wants to be known as a breakfast destination and not just a backup choice, it has some work to do to increase the menu variety, ingredient quality and speed of service.
The Bottom Line
To recap, Subway does indeed serve breakfast at participating locations. Typical Subway breakfast hours are from 7:00 am to 11:00 am, though some restaurants may have slightly different hours. The breakfast menu consists of egg and cheese sandwiches with a choice of bacon, ham or steak, all customizable with Subway‘s broad array of bread, cheese and vegetable topping options. Coffee and other beverages are available.
After 11:00 am, Subway locations generally stop serving egg patties but will still make you any sandwich combination you want, including the designated breakfast sandwiches minus the eggs. This flexibility and customization is a hallmark of Subway‘s business model.
While breakfast hasn‘t been a runaway success for Subway the way its lunch business has, some customers do enjoy and appreciate the option to get a freshly made breakfast sandwich at Subway. Competitive pricing and the ability to tailor your sandwich to your liking are advantages Subway has over some other fast food chains serving breakfast.
However, there are some areas where Subway could improve its breakfast program to attract more customers and compete with the big names in fast food breakfast. More menu variety, additional healthy options, better coffee, and higher quality ingredients for the egg patties are some suggestions. Finding ways to speed up service for toasted items would also help Subway better meet the needs of busy morning commuters.
At the end of the day, whether Subway breakfast is the right choice for you depends on your individual preferences and priorities. If you value the ability to customize your sandwich and include a variety of fresh produce, Subway breakfast may be worth a try. But if you‘re looking for the largest selection, the fastest service, or the highest quality ingredients, you may want to explore other fast food breakfast options.
What is clear is that Subway recognizes the potential of the breakfast daypart and continues to evolve its offerings to meet changing consumer demands. Even if it hasn‘t achieved the success of its lunch business yet, Subway breakfast is likely here to stay as long as there are hungry people looking for a quick, affordable and customizable morning meal.
