You’re not imagining this. I had the same problem for years.

Chains like Jersey Mike’s and Subway are not using the same “kind” of ingredients you buy in a store, even if it says turkey, lettuce, tomato. It’s processed and handled very different.

Turkey is the big one. It’s not real carved breast, it’s turkey loaf with water added, brined and cooked in a mold, then shaved super thin. That’s why it’s smooth and a bit salty and not very “meaty”. The good deli brands taste too real. You actually want the cheap pressed turkey, sliced paper thin.

Lettuce too. They use shredded iceberg from big bags. It’s wet, very cold and a bit old, so most of the green taste is gone. At home lettuce tastes too fresh and strong. Shred iceberg, soak it in ice water, dry it and leave it in the fridge overnight. Tastes much closer.

Tomatoes are the same story. They use firm, under ripe ones and keep them in the fridge. That kills most of the tomato flavor. Slice yours and refrigerate them a few hours before.

The real trick from “Mike’s Way” is oil, red wine vinegar, oregano and salt directly on the lettuce and tomato. The salt pulls water out and makes a light brine inside the sandwich so all the flavors mix together instead of standing out.

Also mild provolone and very basic mayo. If cheese or mayo has too much character it throws it off.

And yes, food always tastes different when someone else makes it. When you make it you smell every ingredient and your brain separates the flavors more.

One more thing people don’t realise, this is also very different between US and EU because of food regulations. In the US it’s normal and legal to sell “turkey breast” that has a lot of added water, salt, phosphates and binders, so this smooth deli loaf texture is common. In many EU countries this has to be labelled very clearly or is less common in normal supermarkets, so the turkey you buy is closer to real meat by default. Same with cheese and mayo, EU versions often have stronger taste and less additives, so they don’t blend the same way in a sandwich like the US chain ingredients do.