Firehouse Subs Secret Menu — Quick Facts
- Official secret menu
- None — the company says so
- Most famous build
- Brisket Hat Trick ~$12–14 · ~1,100 cal
- Lightest build
- The California ~800 cal
- Free hack
- Double-Steamed Provolone
- Worth paying for
- Toasted Garlic Bread Upgrade
- Not secret
- Smokehouse Brisket & Sweet & Spicy Meatball are regular menu items
- How to order
- In person, describe the build — not in the app
- Prices
- Component sums, marked ~ — no menu price exists
- Calories
- Estimates — Firehouse publishes figures for regular items only
- Allergens
- Same as the regular menu — meatballs contain gluten
- Hours
- 10 AM–9 PM (10 PM Fri–Sat)
- Rewards
- 100 points per $1 · 8,000 = free small sub
Firehouse Subs does not have a secret menu — and the company says so. What it has is a kitchen full of ingredients, a crew that builds sandwiches by hand, and regulars who have been inventing combinations for thirty years. The builds below are the fan favorites that have been documented again and again: the Brisket Hat Trick, the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatball, the Chicken Parm Sub, and the rest. None of them is an official menu item, none of them has a menu price, and none of them is in the Firehouse app — you order them in person, by describing the build, and you pay the cost of the ingredients that go into them. Prices below are therefore marked with a “~” and are component sums, not menu prices.
Two things to know before you start. First, some fan sites list the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket and the Sweet & Spicy Meatball as secret menu items — both are regular menu items and have been for years, with a medium at $10.49–$11.59 and $9.79–$10.99 respectively. Second, these builds are only as good as the crew member making them: if you order at a drive-thru or in the app, keep it simple, and if you want the full Brisket Hat Trick, walk in and say the name. For the full menu with verified prices, see the Firehouse Subs menu guide; for the nutrition figures behind the builds, the Firehouse Subs nutrition guide; for the deals that pay for them, the Firehouse Subs coupons guide.
Firehouse Subs Secret Menu
The builds below are ordered by their fan name and the ingredients that go into them. Where a build has a well-known price, it is given as an approximate component cost; where it does not, the price is marked with a “~”. Calories are likewise estimates where no official figure exists — Firehouse publishes calories only for its regular menu items, and a build that adds bacon, cheese or an extra protein to a base sub adds the calories of the extra ingredient. The regular menu prices these builds sit on are from the three-store official pickup-menu check of September 9, 2026 and a November 2026 tracker snapshot.
| Secret Build | What it is | Est. price | Est. calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisket Hat Trick | Smokehouse brisket, turkey & ham, creamy slaw, BBQ sauce, cheese | ~$12–14 | ~1,100 |
| BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatball | Firehouse meatballs, bacon, cheddar, BBQ sauce on a toasted roll | ~$11–13 | ~1,100 |
| Chicken Parm Sub | Grilled chicken, marinara, melted provolone, parmesan | ~$11–13 | ~900 |
| Steak Dinner on a Bun | Steak & cheese, mushrooms, grilled onions, horseradish mayo | ~$12–14 | ~950 |
| The California | Smoked turkey, avocado, pepper jack, lettuce, Firehouse sauce, tomato | ~$11–13 | ~800 |
| Buffalo Chicken Melt | Grilled chicken, buffalo sauce, melted provolone, ranch drizzle | ~$11–13 | ~850 |
| Firehouse Hero Remix | Firehouse Hero build, extra cheese, hot sauce on the side | ~$12–14 | ~900 |
| The New Yorker | Pastrami & corned beef, provolone, deli mustard, pickles | ~$12–14 | ~1,000 |
The Brisket Hat Trick is the most famous build on the list, and it is the one to try first — three proteins, slaw, BBQ sauce and cheese on a toasted roll, and a proper heavyweight at roughly 1,100 calories. The New Yorker is the deli purist’s answer: pastrami and corned beef with provolone and mustard, no sauce to hide behind. The Chicken Parm is the one most crews can build without a second thought, because every ingredient is already on the line. The California is the lightest build at roughly 800 calories, and the one most likely to be built the same way twice, because avocado, pepper jack and Firehouse sauce are all standard stock.
Free & Cheap Hacks
These are not secret builds — they are modifications any Firehouse will do, and they are where the value hides. The toasted garlic bread upgrade is the one worth paying for: any sub on the garlic-herb butter roll that the French Dip is built on, for a small upcharge. The Double-Steamed Provolone — a cheese layer under and over the meat — is free at most locations because the provolone is already part of the build. The pickle spear is free with every sub, and you can ask for a second one. Firehouse Rewards earns 100 points per $1, and 8,000 points buys a free small sub — a standing deal, not a hack, but the way regulars pay for these builds.
| Hack | What to ask for | Cost | Best on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double-Steamed Provolone | Cheese under and over the meat | Free | Hook & Ladder, Engineer |
| Toasted Garlic Bread Upgrade | Any sub on the garlic-herb butter roll | Small upcharge | Steak & Cheese, French Dip |
| Sweet & Spicy Meatball Hack | Datil sauce steamed into the marinara | Free | Sweet & Spicy Meatball |
| Miss Vickie’s Crunch Layer | Jalapeño kettle chips inside the sub | Cost of the chips | Hook & Ladder |
| Free Pickle Spear | Comes with every sub — ask for a second | Free | Any sub |
| Sub in a Tub | Same filling in a bowl, no bread | Same price | Any sub |
Miss Vickie’s Crunch Layer is the oddest trick on the list and the most loved by regulars: a handful of jalapeño kettle chips inside a Hook & Ladder, for the price of the chips, and the crunch holds up because the meat is steamed and the chips go in last. The Sweet & Spicy Meatball Hack uses the house Datil Pepper sauce from the hot sauce wall, steamed into the marinara — it costs nothing because the wall is free to use.
How to Order a Secret Menu Item
Order in person and describe the build, not the name — “smokehouse brisket, turkey and ham with slaw, BBQ sauce and cheese, please” gets you further than “a Brisket Hat Trick” if the crew member has not heard of it. Expect to pay the component cost, not a menu price, and expect a few minutes longer than a regular sub because the build is not on the board. If the store is busy, order the base sub and ask for the two modifications that matter most. The Brisket Hat Trick at a drive-thru is a bad idea — the line behind you will not thank you.
Allergen Information
The same allergen notes apply to secret builds as to the regular menu, and more so: a build that adds bacon, cheese or sauce adds the allergens of that ingredient. The meatballs contain gluten, the cheese contains milk, the mayo contains egg, and the tuna contains fish. Firehouse publishes full allergen statements at firehousesubs.com. Ask the crew to confirm ingredients before ordering a build, and do not order a secret build if you are managing a serious allergy — the crew is building from memory, not from a card, and cross-contact is likely.
Nutrition at a Glance
Secret builds are heavier than the regular menu items they are based on. A Brisket Hat Trick at roughly 1,100 calories is the equivalent of a medium Italian, and the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatball is heavier than the regular meatball by the bacon and the extra cheddar. The California is the lightest build at roughly 800 calories. For the official figures behind the base subs, see the Firehouse Subs nutrition guide.
Hours
Most Firehouse Subs locations open at 10:00 AM and close at 9:00 PM, seven days a week, with many staying open until 10:00 PM on Friday and Saturday. Hours vary by location and by franchise — check your store in the app before you go.
Reviews
There is no national rating for Firehouse Subs — Yelp scores run location by location, from 3.0 stars at the Totowa, New Jersey location (118 reviews) to 3.6 at Lakewood, Washington (92 reviews), 3.9 at Superior, Colorado (599 reviews) and around 4.1 at Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Reviewers praise the steamed meat and the freshness. “Fire as always! Fresh ingredients, yummy meats,” wrote a Yelp reviewer in Totowa, New Jersey. “The staff here are so nice! They are very accommodating and kind. The food is always good, as expected for firehouse subs, and it’s clean,” wrote a reviewer in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin in September 2026. “Fire house subs are basically the best of all the sandwich chains. The smoked Turkey with provolone never disappoints,” wrote a reviewer in Superior, Colorado. The recurring complaint is the bill: “I was disappointed in how much the sub costs in relation to the size of sub and amount of toppings. Competitors a better value,” wrote a reviewer in Superior, Colorado in April 2026. That complaint applies double to secret builds, which cost more than the menu items they are based on.
Firehouse Subs Secret Menu Facts
- Firehouse Subs has no official secret menu — the company says so, and the builds on this page are fan creations.
- The Brisket Hat Trick — brisket, turkey, ham, slaw, BBQ sauce and cheese — is the most famous Firehouse secret build.
- Two items often listed as secret are regular menu items: the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket and the Sweet & Spicy Meatball.
- Secret builds are not in the Firehouse app — you have to order them in person, by describing the ingredients.
- Prices for secret builds are component sums, not menu prices — expect to pay more than the base sub.
- The Double-Steamed Provolone is free at most locations because the cheese is already part of the build.
- The Toasted Garlic Bread Upgrade puts any sub on the garlic-herb butter roll the French Dip is built on.
- The Sweet & Spicy Meatball Hack uses the house Datil Pepper sauce, steamed into the marinara, at no extra cost.
- Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce is made with the datil pepper, which grows almost nowhere in the US except around St. Augustine, Florida.
- Miss Vickie’s Crunch Layer — jalapeño kettle chips inside a Hook & Ladder — is the oddest trick regulars swear by.
- The California is the lightest secret build at roughly 800 calories.
- Sub in a Tub serves any sub’s filling in a bowl with no bread, at the same price.
- The New Yorker — pastrami and corned beef with provolone and mustard — is the deli purist’s secret build.
- Firehouse Subs was founded in 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, by firefighter brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen, and now runs 1,200+ US locations.
- Every sub comes with a free pickle spear — and you can ask for a second one.
- Firehouse Rewards earns 100 points per $1, and 8,000 points buys a free small sub — the way regulars pay for their secret builds.
FAQs
Does Firehouse Subs have a secret menu?
Not officially — the company does not publish one. But the kitchen stocks the ingredients for a dozen fan builds, and most locations will make them if you describe the build in person. The best-known is the Brisket Hat Trick.
What is the Brisket Hat Trick?
Smokehouse brisket, turkey and ham with creamy slaw, BBQ sauce and cheese on a toasted roll — three proteins, roughly $12–$14 and about 1,100 calories. Order it in person by describing the ingredients, not just the name.
How much do secret menu items cost at Firehouse Subs?
There are no menu prices for secret builds — you pay the component cost of the ingredients that go into them, roughly $11–$14 for a medium-sized build. Expect to pay more than the base sub, because the extra protein and cheese are priced in.
Can I order a secret menu item in the Firehouse app?
No — secret builds are not in the app or on the menu board. Order in person and describe the build. Drive-thru orders work for simple modifications, but a full Brisket Hat Trick is a walk-in order.
Is the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket a secret menu item?
No — it is a regular menu item and has been for years, with a medium at $10.49–$11.59. Some fan sites list it as secret; it is not. The same applies to the Sweet & Spicy Meatball at $9.79–$10.99 medium.
What is the Toasted Garlic Bread Upgrade?
Any sub served on the garlic-herb butter roll the French Dip is built on, for a small upcharge. It is the one upgrade regulars say is worth paying for, especially on the Steak & Cheese.
What is the cheapest secret menu hack at Firehouse Subs?
The Double-Steamed Provolone — a cheese layer under and over the meat — is free at most locations, and the pickle spear is free with every sub. The Sweet & Spicy Meatball Hack, with Datil sauce steamed into the marinara, is also free.
How many calories are in a secret menu sub?
Secret builds run heavier than the regular menu items they are based on: roughly 800 calories for the California up to about 1,100 for the Brisket Hat Trick and the BBQ Bacon Cheddar Meatball. Firehouse publishes calories only for regular menu items, so these are estimates.
Conclusion
Firehouse Subs has no official secret menu, and that is exactly what makes the fan builds fun: they are invented by regulars, made by hand, and never the same twice. Start with the Brisket Hat Trick, ask for the Double-Steamed Provolone, and pay with Firehouse Rewards points if you have them. For the verified prices behind the base subs, see our Firehouse Subs menu guide; for the nutrition figures, our Firehouse Subs nutrition guide; for the deals that pay for them, our Firehouse Subs coupons guide. For more off-menu builds, browse the secret menu category and the Sandwiches & Deli category.
Sources: fan-community documentation of Firehouse builds; Firehouse Subs official menu and nutrition data for base items; November 2026 tracker snapshot. Prices are component estimates, not menu prices, and vary by location.
