The food is great. The subs are always fresh and always stuffed and very cheap. They're only drawback is that they don't really take phone orders so you have to go into order and depending you could be waiting in there anywhere between five minutes and a half hour which isn't always ideal depending on your time, but you can't beat the prices from the breakfasts to the subs to the traditional Cape Verdean food and soups If you have the time it's a great place to go to. read more

Amazing subs and the super Italian combo is out of this world.22$ for a super size which is basically an entire loaf of Italian bread. This is a tiny spot cash only but has an atm on the premises. Get there early but be prepared to have to wait as this place is always busy. I arrived a little after 10 am when I got in line there were 4 people ahead of me. Within 3 minutes the line was up to 15 people behind me and the line was starting to form outside. This was my first time trying a sub from ideals and I will definitely be going back again soon to try out some of there many different subs!!! read more

Great subs but the ambience hasn't changed since I was last there 25 years ago. Needs to be upgraded And updated. And only cash accepted? Come on. It's 2026. read more

As the Generation Z calls it, this place is a big "buss"! no cap. LOL This is one of those "limited edition" places where after 3:30pm you missed out on life because they're closed. I had a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich from them today and oh man, they don't play. They added 2 eggs, extra cheese and extra bacon for an affordable price. Usually my boyfriend and I get their steak and cheese subs which is 100/10! I definitely recommend this place if you have never tried it. Remember to go before 3 :-) I ain't even mad they close early. They deserve the rest after all that hard work put in! read more

See all

excellent service and the food is nice and fresh. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. Will never go anywhere else as long as they're open. very well caring with his customer, kind, respectful, and appreciative of spending your money with them.. I'm Puertorican but nevertheless they're still one of the best on Dudley or Boston for that matter. five stars from Me. read more

Ideal Sub Shop is a local favorite in the neighborhood. Their sandwiches never fail to impress. My go-to order is always the tuna sub and tuna empanadas, although I wish the empanadas were stuffed a bit more generously. Keep in mind three things: 1) they only accept cash payments. 2) they close on the early side, at 3:30 PM during the week and 3:00 PM on Saturdays. 3) there's no indoor seating available; it's strictly takeout. Ideal Sub Shop remains an amazing spot for a quick and delicious meal and the staff is always friendly. read more

See all

Awwww man y'all.... I'm sad to write this review, but, I gotta keep it 100... I went here with the family on Saturday afternoon... I ordered my typical Italian sub with LIGHT MAYO & everything... It was soooo wack!!! They went extra heavy on the Mayo (I literally had to spoon globs of it out, gross)... it only came with excessive lettuce and some tomatoes (mind you, I asked for EVERYTHING)... they were stingy with the meat... it just looked sad and sloppy altogether. My mom ordered the steak and cheese with onions and mushrooms and 2 extra slices of cheese (.65 extra each slice)... I tried her sub, it was dry AF, there was NO extra cheese, and the meat was unseasoned smh... My dad ordered the same sorry Italian-sub as me... Not to mention, they went hella-up on their prices now... if they had decent quality with higher prices, I wouldn't mind... but man, that food we got was not that good. I gave it 2 stars cause my gramps Wingding dinner LOOKED decent and He liked it! All-in-all, market basket subs are better and cheaper... I don't think I'll be going back anymore... I'm disappointed, this was my favorite spot every time I came back to Boston. read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Small American Combo Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

See all

Just got 4 subs today made sure they heard exactly what I want and how I wanted but still ended up get everything I didn't ask on 2 of my subs luckily me and my son wasn't allergic to any of that, but they need to get it right cause someone could come back and be allergic to that stuff not getting the order right. read more

I hadn't been to idea in years! Still the best place to get a good breakfast or sub! The staff is still amazing! Love they break out the calculator to add your food up! Old school read more

The Tuna subs are the best in the entire city of Boston. They make it fresh and when I say fresh I mean open a can of tuna just for your sandwich fresh. They pack the sub. You can't go wrong with the Tuna Sub at ideals. read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Tuna Sub - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

The best sub shop in town. I never get a sub I don't like. I recommend their steak and cheese sub, their ham and cheese is great(the sub I can right before getting on a plane), their Italians subs are delicious. And best of all, all reasonably priced. Ideals is loved by the locals and Ideals loves them just as much read more

Ideal Sub Shop It saddens me to write this post. I have been gladly supporting your establishment for well over thirty years. On Thursday 6/22/23 was the first time I have visited since during Covid. I was so disappointed upon entering the shop and the glass where you usually watch you sandwich be made was covered up and the pickup window is now the order window (like during the pandemic). Which you are given a number. We all know how the line be out the door, which we accept but to now have to wait for your order after waiting in the line from any where from 15 - 20 minutes just to order and wait some more is ridiculous. I ordered a super size Tuna with lettuce, onions and pickles. My number was 86902 I started noticing that ppl that had came in after me where getting their food before me 03, 04, 05, 06, I ask the young lady why she said is yours a hot sub (no) is your bread toasted (no). She did rectify the situation by bringing it to the attention of those making sandwiches. The kicker was when I got home and opened my sub there was barely any tuna in it. I guess it's time to make my own. read more

Ideal Sub Shop - a person holding a sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

Great to buy subs.iv been going there since I was 16 yesrs old and I'm 53 now.owners toni&gino are great guys . My daughter now is hooked with place. Have to drive fr om Franklin ma. To have great subs thank you for years of service read more

I've been coming to ideals since I was a kid and absolutely love the subs here. The service is top tier and the people here are very friendly. If you're looking for some Cape Verdean food then definitely stop by they have some CV items on the menu. My go to item whenever I come by is either the Italian sub or the tuna sub. 10/10 ! If you're ever in the Roxbury area definitely stop by. read more

Wtf happened to Ideal???? Paid them a visit yesterday around 2 for a large tuna sub with tomato and these mofos opened a can of tuna mixed in some cut up tomatoes and slapped it in a sub roll! No Mayo, no pepper, no salt...nada! Thought I was going to chow down for lunch...SURPRISE! Another twilight zone moment...pissed me off! I had to buy a jar of mayonnaise to finish preparing the tuna. read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Large Tuna sub with tomatoes - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

I wish I knew about this spot sooner! Subs are simple but hit the spot every time. I would suggest getting your lunch in the morning because around noon time the place is packed. read more

The Best sandwich shop in the neighborhood and did I mention it's worth the price which is extremely affordable and you can definitely get a quality sandwich that will fill you up this is an old school sandwich shop with all the fixings and you can get breakfast on the go read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

the food is good, it's not a 5 because they improperly cut the sandwhich, all the food fell out when I tried to pick a piece up. Service was really boring, they didn't exactly give me a vibe where I'd want to come back, and the place itself is so plain and lifeless. The wait was fine and the price was great, it's a good place to grab a quick bite read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Toasted ham and cheese sub with mayo lettuce & tomato - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

The best cold subs in all of Boston. The best canja soup too. If you never tried, it's a must. Best tuna subs ever. They use the best bread too. They use a cape verdean tuna that can only be bought at certain places. The bread is fresh, soft n chewy. No on ejse uses the bread they use. Best place for subs and good prices too!!!. This place can't be beat. read more

I use to come here all the time but today was my first day back in years ... I ordered my favorite item , the tuna! It's just as good as I remembered it... The bread was very fresh and soft ... And the service was extremely fast... It's kind of looks like it's in a rough neighborhood so be prepared to be a bit taken back but it seems the people in the area are non problematic and somewhat friendly ... Parking can be a bit of a hassle because it's on a busy street ... But it's definitely obtainable !! The staff is still friendly, customer service is impeccable and the prices are so cheap ! And might I add it's really cheap but the quality of the food is great ! And the subs are frickin huge !!! Like I bought a large and couldn't eat it in one sit !! I ate it throughout the day... It's definitely one of Boston's best sub shops!!! Can't wait to return !! read more

Been a loyal patron for 30+ years and in the past 5 years I have noticed a steady delcine in the spped and accuracy of orders. HOWEVER - today I have HAD ENOUGH!!! WHAT IN THE ENTIRE FUUUUUCK!!! Small mom and pops (community merchants) always complaiing about being squeezed out by large companies - which IS valid ... I have watched many a mom and pop shop fail when a larger or more conveinent location/chain open up. BUT DAYUM!!!! When someone gives you an order, which you ask AND ARE TOLD several times to omit/add something to the order, WHY DA FUQ you can't produce the order ASKED FOR?!?!?! WE want support. WE want people to support. WE want others to respect us. WE want others to refer business. WE CANT GET A SIMPLE FUK'N ORDER CORRECT!?!?!?! I am not going to apologize nor feel bad for sharing my experience, because I drove past other establishemnts to order food from this one ... HOWEVER - before I make that trek again, I will SERIOUSLY consider IF making the trip is worth the possible aggrivation! read more

I heard someone else metion about the tuna sub , again what happen i order the extra large tuna sub the bread was flat because hardly no tuna and no mayo and when you ask for mayo they put to much . when i first went there way back the sub was the BOMB so good , now they lost a customer they s-ck read more

Ideal is one of those places that if you arent familiar with you wouldnt eat there... The place looks like a hair salon or some corner store that isnt even open... The gate is usually 1/2 way down covering the store which causes confusion, but dont worry - they are open & they are in there... They are only open till 3, which is a downside... So get there for lunch & dont mind the line (It flies) $3 subs that cant be beat... I usually order ready made (Italian, Ham & Cheese), never anything that needs to be grilled, it just helps with the speedy process... and Ive never had a bad sub... I just usually have cravings for them when they are closed... read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

I waited as the only customer inside the store for over 5 min with more than 3 employees present, and they simply ignored me. My advice is to go elsewhere. read more

Don't change a thing. Great subs for a great price. All this talk about how they need to hire more people to take orders will not help their business. Unless you want them to raise their prices which is what you're basically saying. Heaven forbid you have to wait for something. All in all great staff great subs and great prices. read more

I've loved this place since forever they treat everyone like family - breakfast - they end at like 10 ( i think ) - lunch - the grill shuts down at 3pm - they close at 3:30pm if it's not too busy Dino plays games with you read more

Grew up eating at Ideals! One of the best Sun shops in Boston! Great prices for great food! Got to try the CV pastel!

Best damn sandwiches for decades! wish they was still getting the old school french bread from back in the day, but it is what it is.. If you never been to "Ideals" ? Do it. read more

Been going to ideals since a kid an it's always been the best experience. Subs are fantastic & ever since I've had their coffee it's been my go to every morning. Sometimes the line gets ridiculous but I wouldn't have it any other way. read more

Warning! Don't go here if you're a WHITE working MALE! After hearing many good things about this place from others and reading the reviews here, I decided to give it a shot and went there for lunch on break... the line wasnt that long.. I waited and ordered on cubano sandwich.. little did I know it would take over an HOUR to wait for ONE sandwich!!!! It was crazy to look at everyone get served and just stand there not being able to say anything because i was the only white person.... never going back to this racist sub place ever. Never the less the sandwich tasted alright. read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

This is solely about the service. The food is great if you feel like waiting forever. The place has great subs, but their business management is a joke. The last time I went there I waited almost an hour for my sub. There were 4 people in line in front of me. That is beyond ridiculous. I've tried calling to place my order, but they refuse to answer the phone. There is zero reason I should have to place my order in person, then have to wait 45 minutes to an hour to get my sub every time I go. If you're so busy you can't get the phone, then you're busy enough to afford to hire someone to answer the phone. They don't take online orders either. It's a great sub shop. Too bad they don't know how to manage it the right way. The service is garbage. read more

This is the 3-4 time we order from this place and the subs ain't never right!! I been supporting this business since I was a kid!! Big disappointment on how lately nothing ever is right in the orders. The guy taking the orders needs to move to the side or retire read more

I haven't been here in years. I Drive by several times a week and there is always a long line outside of the sub shop. I went in there today and Ordered a sub for me and my Mom. I should have get driving. The worse steak and cheese my Mom and I ever ate.....!!!!!!!what happened Ideal???? read more

Ideals is a staple... must try!!! Haven't had it in years since moving to the west coast but soon as I landed it was the first stop ! Try to get there early! Line is pretty crazy but we'll worth it! I promise. I go for the Cubano sub. I've tried to go have it other places but never added up to Ideals! Love this place and promise you will too read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

See all

You wont get a better sub anywhere in Boston. I just read a review where a young lady stated that they need to hire more staff to answer phones and take orders. She is out of her mind and doesn't understand the flow of orders. Why would you take more orders than you can put out. If you have a steady flow of customers (out the door) like they do everyday. And you are making subs fresh for customers in front of you who are waiting. Why would you take orders to sit and get old. You want a fresh sub head down wait in line or get there before rush and get a fresh sub for a great price. read more

Best subs around the Dorchester area I been going there for year . And I moved to North Carolina

Love supporting local, but we waited for a long time and then the order was wrong. Hope they can get this figured out as the sub was actually pretty good read more

Ideals is the BEST place to go! Alex G please lol. They are FAR from racist against white people. They are mixed there look up Cape Verde learn something. Also the family that owns the shop has owned the shop since 1984. When you go into this shop you need to speak up. If a sandwich is taking to long then tell someone behind the counter. It is a BUSY shop SO things do slip by at times. Closed mouths don't get fed. The price is awesome the subs are big and it's a staple in our Roxbury community. read more

the subs are MEGA size and will fill up for now & then some!!!! gotta come see for yourself!!!!! read more

Ideal Sub Shop - Menu for the subs!!! Biggest subs I've had BY FAR in MA. - Sandwiches Near Me - Roxbury, Massachusetts

See all

I t was a good sandwich but I've never waited longer. At least 45 minutes front to back. Very slow kitchen. Very good value. Fresh and great bread. Just a long wait. Might have been a off day and this is only time I've been there. I would go back and hope to be faster. read more