Penn Station East Coast Subs Reviews

I've been going to the North Broadway location in the Fountain City area of Knoxville for almost 15 years, hitting it up a couple times a month. Last night might've been my last visit though. Things have been sliding downhill for several months now and I just can't overlook it anymore. The value for what you're paying doesn't match the quality of food you get. The fries used to be really good but now they taste like the oil hasn't been changed properly in days, maybe even a week or longer. At this point the only part that's decent is the bread itself. I'm basically only eating the first inch and the last inch of my sandwiches. The toppings have basically disappeared. There's way more vegetables than meat, and the vegetables themselves are pretty sparse too.

Just moved to the Pittsburgh area and grabbed a Chicken Teriyaki sub here. Honestly, it's up there with some of the best subs I've had outside of New York. I've spent time in several major cities including NYC, Denver, Chicago, and DC, and I gotta say Penn Station really stands out compared to most of what's available in the Pittsburgh suburbs. The food scene around here is pretty hit or miss overall, but this place definitely breaks that pattern. The standout is definitely the bread. Whatever kind they're using, it's seriously fantastic. When you compare it to national chains, Jimmy John's is probably the only competitor that comes close. But there's more to it than just the bread. Their Teriyaki sauce is solid, though I'd say it's on the salty side. The chicken itself is quality stuff, and the onions and cheese complement everything really well. If I'm thinking about how this stacks up against other national sub chains, Penn Station is right alongside Potbelly's and Jimmy John's, and honestly better than Firehouse. Definitely worth checking out if you're after a really good sub sandwich.