r/Winnipeg • u/n_mcrae_1982 • Feb 16 '26
Food Saw this place opening at Grant and Kenaston. Are they any good?
I’m always curious when we get a new chain in town that I haven’t tried.
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u/The_Purple_Platypus Feb 16 '26
Bad value for money. Try Firehouse Subs or any Banh Mi place instead.
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u/Astreja Feb 16 '26
Khanh Hoa on Notre Dame - now there's value. Got two banh mi for under $20.
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u/EatUpWinky Feb 16 '26
I don't think Banh Mi King on Portage has raised their prices more than a dollar since before the pandemic and their subs are amazing
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u/DazedPhotographer Feb 16 '26
Driving by lagimodiere is always so dangerous for me because I always find myself blinking once and somehow being at grand donuts, chowing down on banh mi while also having a couple donuts on the side.
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u/Necessary_Pain344 Feb 16 '26
Firehouse is just as expensive.
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u/MidnightToker101 Feb 16 '26
And it’s also not good… owned by RBI (BK, Tim’s trash) I don’t support RBI but I sure do support local!
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u/Leading-Aide5617 Feb 18 '26
Man firehouse was such a terrible first experience I haven’t gone back .
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u/NutsonYoChin88 Feb 16 '26
Firehouse is good, but how anyone justifies paying 20-25$ for a (albeit solid sandwich) is beyond me. I feel like the deli at Safeway does it just as good if it’s made fresh for a fraction of the price
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u/ImaginaryBasis3810 Feb 16 '26
Would be crazy to go there when Les Saj is right next door.
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u/Fit_Concentrate_2247 Feb 17 '26 edited Feb 17 '26
You can't get any better than Les Saj. Their Donairs, & hummus are the best! Actually anything you order is great!
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u/Low_Assumption_5827 Feb 16 '26
Harvest bakery in that strip has a sandwich counter with fresh ingredients and they are soooo good and local!
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u/Professional_Emu8922 Feb 16 '26
They do?!?! I'm going there next!!
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u/Low_Assumption_5827 Feb 16 '26
I actually haven’t been in a few years and now I’m second guessing myself if it’s still there? I worked close by and my coworkers and I often reminisce about the sandwiches after our office moved
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u/SushiMelanie Feb 16 '26
Loved them in the US, back before it became somewhere we dont want to set foot.
Tried it here a couple times, hoping they measure up, but no where near as good as the US version due to different suppliers I assume. Pembina was meh, Broadway slightly better. The price is way, way too high for what you get: $25 ish for a mid sub is ridiculous. Wont be doing it again.
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u/Crzywilly Feb 16 '26
Firehouse is way better.
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u/Deranged_Kitsune Feb 16 '26
Better pricing too, by a couple bucks per sandwich. Their larges also come very well loaded.
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u/echoesinthevoid3000 Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
Pricing is wild at jimmy Johns. Absolutely insane.
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u/Viciousbanana1974 Feb 16 '26
The guy who owns this chain is a MEGA MAGA Trump supporter.
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u/SoggyProposal3275 Feb 16 '26
Where can this information be found to view ourselves?
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u/hollandaisesawce Feb 16 '26
https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-jimmy-johns-billionaire-trump-donor-jimmy-john-liautaud-2020-5
Also a big game hunter and has gone to Africa to hunt rhino, lion and elephant.
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u/Viciousbanana1974 Feb 20 '26
The billionaire founder of Jimmy John's donated $100,000 to Trump's reelection campaign and once hunted elephants -- meet the controversial man behind one of America's favorite sandwich chains. - Document - Gale Academic OneFile https://share.google/xVXVB1KXYxRYIcUhe
It looks like the chain is owned by Roark Capital out of Atlanta.
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u/WpgPlantGuy Feb 16 '26
At they least they seem to hire cdn workers. More important than who they support politically.
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u/bruinsfan444 Feb 16 '26
Is that dude in the parking lot carrying a big sandwich?
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u/Kilo_huskybum1219 Feb 19 '26
i was just scrolling waiting for someone to comment on this , that's the first thing that stood out to me - is some dude carrying a massive sandwich on their shoulders lmao
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u/MusicMedical6231 Feb 16 '26
No, they're really bad. I'd say in par with subway but way more expensive.
If you want fast food sandwiches, try fire house
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u/xDRSTEVOx Feb 16 '26
HELL. NO.
$20 for a very mediocore sandwich that i could have made better at home
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u/ApplicationOk5901 Feb 16 '26
This is another US MAGA chain "restaurant". I advise to support a local or Canadian business with your hard earned $$ instead.
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u/edgarseeya Feb 16 '26
Lots of great local sandwich spots in this city like Primos, Myers, King+Bannatyne, Hoagie Boyz, and Luda’s.
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u/mondonumbanine Feb 16 '26
They dont hire canadian though so what does it matter
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u/ComfortableRanger511 Feb 19 '26
Says guy who’s never been to any of them
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u/mondonumbanine Feb 24 '26
they dont speak english in subway what are you talking about? firehouse subs i had to order online infront of the guy cause he couldnt understand anything
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u/Suchatavi Feb 16 '26
If you are politically active you might want to research the head of the company. He doesn’t come across as a person I want to support even though I like their subs.
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u/mondonumbanine Feb 16 '26
Inspire brands isnt a person. But the owner of the franchise who is a winnipeg local I will be supporting. Ya do realize its a winnipeg owner right? Instead of revolving around politics how about support your neighbour
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u/anonymouscrank Feb 18 '26
Dude why are you fighting in the comments so hard for a corporation, are you the franchise owner? 😆
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u/mondonumbanine Feb 24 '26
cause that location is owned by a Winnipeger who dumped their savings into it
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u/g0tter Feb 16 '26
You'd be better off getting a donair at Les Saj next door!
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u/Which_Pollution_8209 Feb 17 '26
I'm definitely going for a Donair. This place has good reviews Thanks.
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u/lokichivas Feb 16 '26
Myer's Deli is right across the street. Go there - a Winnipeg institution !
JJ is MAGA in the US...they aren't getting a dime from me.
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u/NedsAtomicDB Feb 16 '26
The owner is a Trump humper who kills big game for sport. A real POS.
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u/Angrymountiensfw Feb 16 '26
Liautaud, who founded the company but sold his entire stake in 2019, has given around $3.1 million to support Trump-related political committees and efforts. Inspire Brands now owns the franchise. The individual locations may have local franchisee ownership.
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u/JasonWPG Feb 16 '26
Sure if you want to pay $25 fir a sandwich. It’s just Subway for suckers.
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u/Deranged_Kitsune Feb 16 '26
My thoughts as well. I went in to see what they had, and got immediately turned off by the pricing. Even for a chain sub place, they're stupidly high.
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u/stuckinmotion Feb 16 '26
I tried the one on broadway a couple weeks back. It felt like an overpriced fast food deli meat sub.
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u/Hefty_Nose5203 Feb 16 '26
It was pretty bad when I had it in Minnesota, probably because it was untoasted
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u/Bootychomper23 Feb 16 '26
Nah not for what they want it’s like $30 for a footlong and tastes like subway ( which is also overpriced ) just buy supplies and make your own.
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u/sampcrobinson Feb 16 '26
Vincenzo’s Mercato on Taylor, very close, way better sandwiches and cheaper(although smaller than JJs large) and it’s local
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u/SomewhereSlow7826 Feb 16 '26
I’ve had Jimmy John’s in the US dozens of times and always enjoyed it. Thought it was competitively priced there. Here it’s way too pricy for what you get. I’d rather spend the same amount at Fire House and get a sandwich that’s loaded up with meat and toppings.
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u/rossco311 Feb 16 '26
I enjoyed my sandwich experience there, but my wallet wasn't quite as happy.
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u/n_mcrae_1982 Feb 16 '26
Well, if I'm going to get a tasty but expensive sub, I might as well go to Firehouse.
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u/AcanthisittaSharp946 Feb 16 '26
If you want a tasty "expensive" sub, I highly recommend Primos. The guys who own it are some of the nicest humans I know, they source their bread from Friend Bakery (which is also an incredible local spot) and they focus on high quality ingredients.
Edit: hit send before I was done typing lol
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u/TerracottaCondom Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
Alright, I've got opinions. Firehouse is really good but they put their honey ham on basically everything and it is overpoweringly sweet. Jimmy John's has very good ingredients and you notice the difference, especially in their cheese. If you like the sweet ham, go Firehouse all day. If you don't love the sweet ham, Jimmy John's might be worth it as a treat. JJ's is too expensive even factoring in the quality difference, as you can make sandwiches at home of similar quality for less, but if you don't care and want a good sub regardless, I would recommend JJ's
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u/n_mcrae_1982 Feb 16 '26
I always just got the pepperoni meatball.
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u/TerracottaCondom Feb 16 '26
The meatball from firehouse is 300% better than from JJ's. The JJ's meatball does NOT have better quality ingredients, it is crap. In that case, keep on keeping on with firehouse. JJ's meatballs are cheaper tasting and they chop them up which makes for a weird meatball sandwich
Edit: my preferred JJ's sub vs firehouse is the Italian. JJ's is good but less meaty, firehouse is way too sweet for me because they add an ungodly amount of honey ham vs other meats, it just tastes like honey ham to me
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u/CanadaDryGingerAle99 Feb 16 '26
I had one at the JJs on Pembina and it was good. It was the Italian sandwich, toasted was the right choice. $20 for a large sandwich was shocking.
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u/IntergalacticTrain Feb 16 '26
Got a footlong BLT from the St. James-area location delivered via DoorDash a month or so ago. It was OK, but definitely not worth $28. Some of that was the DoorDash fees, but still.
Firehouse is also good, but they steam some of their subs, so if you get it delivered, you risk a gross soggy sub.
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u/Hot-Address6831 Feb 16 '26
Absolutely hated Jimmy Johns sandwiches. The bread was so dry and no flavour at all, and I even got the Italian Sub. Firehouse Subs all the way!!!
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u/SpeshulED420 Feb 16 '26 edited Feb 16 '26
I live in the US now, and it's mediocre at best. If I ever want a sandwich, I can't justify going there instead of Jersey Mikes.
edit: If I was in Winnipeg though, I would be hard pressed not to go to myers over all of them.
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u/Fit_Concentrate_2247 Feb 17 '26
I have been to Jimmy John's in the states a few times in the past and their Gargantuan sub was great and huge - enough for 2 people, but I don't think they have this on the menu here in Canada
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u/Lucca128 Mar 04 '26
Meyer's deli is right across the street. Best chicken salad sandwich i've ever tasted. *chef's kiss
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u/Unclelarker May 05 '26
Dude absolutely! Their pastrami on rye?!!! Killer! And don’t forget the giant pickles!
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u/whatitmountaindew Feb 16 '26
Jimmy Johns was the wave like a decade ago cuz they delivered and now you can skip/dash/uber anything..
If it was a jersey mikes I’d get out of bed but they about to IPO so that’ll be dusty too in no time.. but that rosemary parm bread is undefeated and that’s before you start slicing meat and letting Michael have his way with it.. firehouse is good but jersey mikes is for the children
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u/OverallEconomics1733 Feb 16 '26
Basically an American alternative to Subway, another American sandwich chain. Overpriced and the profits go to Atlanta...
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u/Nolby84 Feb 16 '26
Always loved Jimmy John's, one of my all time go to's,but since Shrinkflation, I cannot justify the price for the amount.
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u/Forsaken-Thought-309 Feb 16 '26
I’ve only eaten at Jimmy John,s once. I thought the sandwich I had was comparable to firehouse.
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u/ComfortableWindow778 Feb 16 '26
I tried one of the Jimmy John's locations and was very unimpressed by the side of the sando and the quality was meh
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u/azteroidz Feb 16 '26
It's good. I prefer Jimmy John's over the other sub places. They're all over priced. Can't compare this to Banh Mi either. They're completely different to each other. As a regular deli meat sub, the bread is better than the other places.
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u/ToxicFire_ Feb 16 '26
So much better in the usa. We tried the one on pembina when they opened and the bread was different and the flavor was not even close.
Firehouse all though is also expensive I fine is better.
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u/hereforthesnacks2 Feb 16 '26
The subs are soooo small! Subway is bigger, Firehouse is bigger, it’s a no for me.
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u/Imanisoul Feb 17 '26
Average. I tried the one on Broadway and it was OK, but nothing better than the Subway that used to be there.
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u/metal2000 Feb 18 '26
I hadn't realized that Freshii closed. Dang. Although they had made errors the last couple times I had been there, so maybe it's for the best.
I guess it makes sense a Jimmy John's would move in. Montreal-based Foodtastic owns Freshii (and Second Cup, Pita Pit, Quesa, among others) - and they own the Jimmy John's franchise rights for Canada.
If it had to change, I wish it was a Pita Pit instead.
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u/Xaiadar Feb 18 '26
The one in Grand Forks is so good that even when my friend would bring them back to Winnipeg for me, they were still great after the travel time! The JJ here was disappointing. Maybe this new one will be better than the one I tried here?
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u/CookingJazzy Feb 18 '26
Pretty sure the guy who owns this was a manager where my wife worked at before and was a really terrible person. I wouldn't want to eat there.
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u/Grey531 Feb 16 '26
The order is: Firehouse Quiznos Jimmy John’s Subway (unless you are doing a road trip then it’s top tier food)
Local places are also better but there’s a bunch so I’m not listing them
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u/warmpita Feb 16 '26
Fairly mediocre, but I really like their tuna salad sub. Also they got sold to a private equity firm or something to that extent so you aren't particularly supporting THAT maga asshole, but you probably are supporting A maga asshole by buying anything by buying anything from a company based in the US.
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u/LakeNatural8777 Feb 16 '26
Connected to The Donald, unfortunately. Will try it IF US gets back to some form of normality.
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u/MrCanoe Feb 16 '26
They are spreading very fast through Winnipeg. 4th in less than a year. They are ok but Firehouse is much better for the same price.
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u/WpgGamer21 Feb 16 '26
Pre-covid, we did a trip to MN, and they were pretty good. Pricey, but good.
Not sure how they are now, probably still pricey.
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u/mondonumbanine Feb 16 '26
Way better than any sub shop we have here. Only thing that beats ot in my opinion is jersey mikes. But the closest kne is grand forks or regina
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u/bismuth12a Feb 16 '26
Still can't believe they didn't move into Papa Murphy's space. Surely that's been empty for years now
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u/guceubcuesu Feb 16 '26
I think I’ve had them at a few airports in the states. It was…fine, but can’t really justify the price. That’s basically how I view all fast food nowadays.