Eat fresh!
I remember that when Subway first started out in Singapore, it was met with cool reception. Firstly, we were more into rice and noodles rather than sandwiches. Secondly, who would want to pay 5 bucks for just a sandwich when we could have a full meal (main course + beverage) at the hawker centre or foodcourt for less? Even if people were willing to shell out that kind of money, we’d rather go for fast food, something we’re more familiar with.
A few years down the road, we now see Subway outlets mushrooming across the island. Reasons for this surge in popularity are:
- Evolving tastebuds;
- Change in lifestyle – people are more health-conscious, so Subway’s veggie-loaded sandwiches are a healthier option over fast food and hawker/foodcourt food;
- Increase in prices of fast food and hawker/foodcourt food, plus cheaper meal deals for Subway, make Subway more attractively priced now.
Oven-roasted chicken breast 6" meal, S$6.50
Ok, boring thesis over! When it comes to Subway, hubby and I have the same preference. Funnily, our favorite is one of the cheapest items. Our default order: Cold Cut Trio, Italian bread, all veggies except green chilli and olive, honey mustard+sweet onion+mayo, and briefly warmed in the oven, thanks!
This time, we decided to be more adventurous and try their new value sets. Each meal comes with a 6-inch sandwich, 22oz drink, and two cookies or bag of chips.
The chicken breast wasn’t dry and stringy as I’d feared; actually it was quite moist and tender. The whole thing reminds me of Burger King’s Chicken Whopper.
Ham 6" meal, S$5.90
No surprises on the ham sandwich. Actually, it was very boring, and I wouldn’t order it again. Cold Cut Trio, with its mix of bologna, ham, and salami (even though they’re all turkey), is so much nicer!
Not as much veggies as I prefer
Maybe it was an off-day for this outlet, for our sandwich wasn’t totally satisfactory. The bread was a bit too dry, there was very little lettuce, the veggies weren’t as fresh as usual, and the sub seemed hastily assembled. They ran out of cookies too; only oatmeal raisin was available. I remember having better assembled subs at The Amara and Raffles City outlets. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed differing standards among the outlets?
Subway (Harbourfront Centre branch)
#02-82 Harbourfront Centre
No. 1 Maritime Square
Singapore 099253
Tel: (65) 6270 4929
URL: www.subway.com.sg
Mon-Sat: 8am to 10pm
Sun & public holidays: 9am to 10pm
Hear Julia on radio every Thursday 12:15pm as she shares a Foodie Lunch Pick on 938LIVE's F-Cube with hosts Eugene Loh and Levisha Kumar. 
Yes, some outlets are definitely worse than the others, one example that I can think of is the outlet at Changi terminal 1.
Have you tried out the sandwhiches at Quiznos (Orchard Central)? It tastes much better than Subway, IMO.
I was at Orchard Central recently. Wanted to try out Quiznos, but it was lunchtime and super crowded! No more seats, so I gave up and went elsewhere. Hope to get a chance to try Quiznos soon.
The bread at the West Coast Plaza outlet is toasted till it’s crusty yum
some outlets give very little veggies (like the one at CityVibe in Clementi Central), others sometimes underbake their cookies a wee bit so they’re a tad moist…I love Subway’s oatmeal raisin & white chip and macadamia nut cookies! My default order is a 6-inch turkey breast sandwich on wheat without olives, chilli and pickles with honey mustard~
Hi stargirl, thanks for sharing!
I love Subway’s cookies too, especially the macadamia and white choc cookie. Hmm, haven’t tried the turkey breast before. Maybe I’ll try that next time; hopefully it won’t be dry or tough.
Julia, I enjoyed you sharing what in Singapore and compare with what in the states. I have a Subway just a few blocks where I live and the food pretty much the same. The Subway here make also pizzas with their bread dough and have 5.00 USD foot long sandwiches. They serve breakfast pastries in morning with tea or coffee or juice and planing breakfast sandwiches soon.
Hi Betty, Subway in Singapore also has breakfast sandwiches and foot-long sandwiches, but they don’t serve pizza with their bread dough. I’d love to try that. Sounds yums!
I like subway for a quick meal – but it’s never an exciting or involving meal. More the type to accompany a good book, for me.
Yup, same sentiments here, minus the book.
We don’t go out of the way for Subway, but now that there are many outlets strategically located, having a meal at Subway is often a choice based on convenience and wanting a healthier choice over fast food/hawker food.
These days, when I crave for a good sandwich, I head to Freshly Baked at Killiney Road. I only wish they add warm sandwiches to their menu like a good roast beef with caramelized onions!
I’m trying to eat healthy these days, so if there are more healthy AND yummy options out there, I’ll love to explore.
I love Freshly Baked‘s sandwiches too. If only they had a wider selection. Their homemade breads are so delish. Yes, it’d be great if they offered the option of toasted sarnies. Perhaps you could pitch the idea to Audrey the next time you’re there?
Yes, the Subway sandwiches in your photos definitely look as though they have far less filling than the ones I have had here in Auckland, New Zealand. They look really pathetic, actually!
Yes, they really were pathetic.
Agree lor, i can see more subways in spore now. but im still pretty resistant to eating it, still prefer my rice and noodles. haha. i used to eat it weekly when i was still in uni, cuz the toast bread smell makes me queue and i can pack and go. But not now. haha
Hi Maureen, I prefer rice, too, cos I’m a 饭桶 (rice bin)! Heh! But eating rice or noodles on the go is impossible! So, Subway sandwiches are a convenient substitute.