Ingredient quality and nutrition facts for guests
At Firehouse Subs, we believe our guests deserve clear, honest information about the food they eat. Whether you are balancing daily calorie intake, managing food allergies, monitoring sodium levels, or avoiding gluten, our Queen Street West kitchen maintains rigorous ingredient standards.
Preparation standards built on clear ingredients
Every sub served across Canadian counters begins with whole cuts of protein, daily sliced field vegetables, and authentic cheeses melted under commercial steam injection.
Premium Meat Sourcing and Preparation
We partner with trusted agricultural suppliers to source whole-muscle meats, including slow-smoked beef brisket, smoked turkey breast, and Virginia honey ham. Our proteins contain no artificial filler blends or added meat pastes; they are seasoned, cured, and smoked to retain natural texture. When meat arrives at our 1245 Queen Street West store, it is kept under strictly monitored refrigeration until our kitchen crew slices and portions it for daily counter orders.
Dairy and Cheese Standards
We use real cheeses sliced to melt smoothly across warm meats. Our sandwich builds feature authentic provolone, sharp cheddar, aged Swiss, and Monterey Jack cheeses. Because our commercial steamers direct hot vapor across the meat and cheese stack simultaneously, the cheese softens completely without separating into oily residue, providing a creamy texture and balanced dairy flavor across the entire sub.
Fresh Produce and Daily Slicing
The vegetables loaded onto your sub are never pre-shredded or canned. Every morning, our team washes and hand-chops fresh heads of iceberg and romaine lettuce, slices firm field tomatoes, and rings red onions. Fresh produce delivers the essential crisp bite that balances hot, tender steamed meats and rich melted cheeses, ensuring every bite tastes clean and vibrant.
Calorie Information and Portion Sizes
To assist guests tracking daily caloric goals, we offer sandwiches in three distinct portion sizes: Small, Medium, and Large. A Small sub provides an ideal portion for lighter lunches, while our Large sub delivers a substantial meal packed with protein. Guests looking to reduce overall calories can request their sandwich "Under 500 Calories" by opting for light mayonnaise, choosing lean turkey or ham, and skipping melted cheese, or by turning any sandwich build into a hearty chopped salad.
Small Sub
An intentionally portioned sandwich designed for moderate appetites, midday office breaks, and guests balancing lower calorie targets without sacrificing hot steamed flavor.
- Compact single-protein portion
- Ideal companion with a side garden salad
- Easy customization for "Under 500 Cal" goals
Medium Sub
Our signature dining benchmark. Balanced proportions of hot sliced protein, fully melted cheeses, and freshly chopped vegetables stacked on a toasted bakery sub roll.
- Generous protein stack melted evenly
- Full specialty flavor balance
- Available with gluten-sensitive roll upgrade
Large Sub
A substantial meal engineered for hearty appetites, post-workout recovery, or sharing. Features double portions of slow-smoked meats and double sliced cheeses.
- Substantial protein density
- Steamed twice for uniform warmth across entire length
- Customizable vegetable layers at no extra cost
Crafting an "Under 500 Calories" Sub at firehousesubs
When ordering your sub on Queen Street West, let our sandwich makers know you are aiming for lighter calorie counts. We can substitute light mayonnaise, load extra cucumbers, peppers, and lettuce, serve dressing on the side, or carve any signature recipe directly into a freshly prepared chopped salad bowl.
Allergen Management and Kitchen Procedures
Common food allergens including milk, wheat, eggs, soy, tree nuts, and fish are present across various recipes in our kitchen. Because our steamers, slicing stations, and prep boards handle diverse ingredients throughout the day, cross-contact can occur.
Safety First Order Procedure
Guests with severe food allergies are urged to notify our counter staff before ordering so our crew can wash hands, change gloves, use dedicated sanitization protocols, and retrieve fresh condiments from clean backup containers.
Standard Allergy Dispatch Steps
Verbal Communication at Ordering
Informing the cashier allows our team to flag the assembly ticket immediately, notifying our sandwich artists before any paper is laid down.
Glove Change & Board Sanitization
The station surface is wiped down with clean sanitizer, cutting tools are switched for freshly cleaned backups, and crew members put on fresh vinyl food-safe gloves.
Condiment Isolation from Fresh Reservoirs
Mayonnaise, mustard, and sauces are drawn directly from unopened or dedicated backup squeeze bottles rather than the primary shared condiment line.
Separate Packaging & Sealing
The completed sandwich or salad is wrapped separately from other items in your order, clearly marked to ensure no contact occurs during transit.
Sodium and Nutrient Considerations
Cured and smoked deli meats naturally contain sodium as part of the preservation and seasoning process. For customers seeking lower-sodium alternatives, our fresh chopped salads topped with unseasoned grilled chicken breast provide satisfying protein with minimal added salt.
Tips for Lower Sodium Sandwich Builds:
- Ask our sandwich artists to omit deli mustard and seasoned salt shakers.
- Reduce regular mayonnaise or request olive oil and red wine vinegar.
- Add extra fresh produce like crispy cucumbers, ripe field tomatoes, and iceberg lettuce for volume without excess sodium.
Complete nutritional reference sheets are available at our counter.
Gluten-Sensitive Dining Options
While traditional sub rolls contain gluten, we proudly offer individually packaged gluten-sensitive rolls for customers who avoid wheat. When preparing a gluten-sensitive order, our kitchen takes extra care to clean the prep counter, slice ingredients using dedicated utensils, and wrap the finished sub securely to prevent contact with standard bread crumbs.
Important Dining Advisory:
Please note that our kitchen is not a certified gluten-free facility, so individuals with celiac disease should exercise caution when ordering. Shared air, toasting equipment, and prep lines may carry trace flour particles.
Frequently Asked Nutrition Questions
Clear answers regarding ingredient sourcing, daily food preparation, and menu customizations across our Canadian locations.
Are whole-muscle meats used in all Firehouse Subs sandwiches?
How do you prevent cheese from separating under steam?
Can I request sub ingredients without mayonnaise or oil?
Is your Toronto kitchen certified gluten-free?
Where can I find printed nutrition brochures in store?
Transparent Inquiries and Nutrition Requests
Our team is committed to transparency. If you have detailed questions regarding specific ingredient formulations, cooking oils, or nutritional targets that are not addressed on our standard in-store menus, our counter staff can provide printed reference guides upon request. You can also reach out through our online contact form to receive detailed documentation from our administrative team.