A Pub Sub is a sub sandwich from the Publix supermarket deli. The nickname refers to a category of sandwiches, not only the chicken tender version. Publix offers made-to-order subs with choices of bread, cheese, vegetables and condiments, and an online ordering route for in-store pickup.
For a first order, choose a named sandwich as your starting point, then settle the bread and toppings. This is easier to communicate than asking for “the famous one” and leaving the filling unresolved.
Choose the filling first
Publix’s own sub guide describes these signature options. The named builds are starting points; check the selected store’s actual ordering options before choosing additions.
| Starting sandwich | Published main filling | Decision to make next |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Tender | Hand-breaded chicken tenders | Whether you want it toasted, and which condiments |
| Ultimate | Ham, turkey and roast beef | Whether that three-meat combination suits your appetite |
| Italian | Genoa salami, ham and capicola | Which cheese and toppings you prefer |
| Veggie | A selection of vegetables | Whether to add cheese and which condiment to use |
Chicken tender is a distinct filling, rather than another name for every chicken sandwich. If you prefer sliced deli meat, choose the relevant named option. If you want a vegetable order, inspect the whole build instead of assuming that every possible cheese or sauce matches your dietary needs.
Bread, cheese and toppings
Publix lists white, whole wheat and Italian Five Grain sub rolls on its guide. It also describes multiple cheeses and vegetables, with condiments ranging from familiar mayonnaise and mustard to other sauces. Select the combination offered for your store and item rather than treating an old internet list as a permanent national inventory.
A useful first order has a clear sequence: filling, bread, cheese, vegetables, then sauce. You can keep the combination simple while learning what you like. Ordering every available addition does not automatically produce a sandwich better suited to your preferences.
Toasting is another choice. Consider when you intend to eat the sandwich and ask about any preparation option that matters to you. An article praising a particular combination is a writer’s preference, not evidence that yours must use the same sauce.
Order ahead for the correct store
Publix’s order-ahead page includes subs and other deli products. For a traveler, the store selection is just as important as the sandwich selection: choose the location where you can actually collect the order.
Use this checklist before submitting:
- Verify the store address. Two locations with similar names are still different pickup points.
- Choose the correct product and size. Check the options displayed for that order.
- Review the customized build. Confirm bread, filling, cheese, vegetables and condiments.
- Read the pickup details. Use the time and instructions shown for the selected store.
- Check the order confirmation. Keep the store, item and pickup information available.
This guide does not place an order or promise a fixed deli wait. The time displayed for an available pickup slot is more useful than a universal claim that every sandwich will be ready in a certain number of minutes.
Compare the complete price
If you are comparing lunch options, compare like with like: sandwich size, additions, and whether chips and a drink are included. Publix describes a combo as an extra-cost choice on its general guide. Promotions and the price of a particular order require a current store selection.
An old headline about a discounted chicken tender sub does not establish today’s offer. Delivery listings may also show a different purchase route from collecting a deli order in-store. Read the current total for the route you intend to use before treating it as your lunch budget.
Planning a picnic or road-trip meal
Decide whether you will eat soon after pickup or carry the food to another stop. Check the destination’s food rules and arrange appropriate transport for the actual ingredients. Ask the deli about packaging and handling instead of relying on an unsupported promise that every sub travels equally well.
A Pub Sub can be a practical Florida grocery-deli meal without requiring a claim that it is the country’s best sandwich. Choose it because the available filling, portion and pickup location fit your day. For a different Florida sandwich tradition, our Cuban sandwich guide explains the bread, pork, ham and regional salami distinction.