Open 24/7 in TIJ’s Terminal 1, this is the fallback
Subway in Terminal 1 is one of only three concessions listed as 24 hours in the TIJ guide, so it ends up feeding a lot of CBX and red‑eye traffic at 2–4 a.m. Prices run a bit above city branches, but still sit in the airport’s budget bracket at about $ for a basic sandwich and drink.
You’ll find it airside in the Main Terminal (used by Volaris and others), so you need to be through security before you can order that 12‑inch or coffee. Several travelers mention that at 3 a.m. it was basically Subway and Wings as the only options working, which matches recent Reddit reports from CBX users crossing late at night.
Food quality tracks with “standard Subway”: same breads, cold cuts, and cookies you’d see in Tijuana city or San Diego, just with a modest airport premium of a couple of dollars. Regulars crossing via CBX say they often grab a simple turkey or ham sandwich plus coffee here, then save tacos or a proper meal for downtown Tijuana or San Diego once they’re out.
Watch out for peak flight banks, especially around clustered Volaris departures in the early morning; a six‑person line can turn into a 15–20 minute wait because there are usually only one or two staff on the line. Several reviewers also flag that hot sandwiches can be rushed at those times, so if you care about toasting or veggies, speak up clearly when you order.
What regulars do: CBX night owls hit Subway right after clearing security for a sandwich or just a drink and cookie, then head straight to the gate area instead of wandering the terminal for other options that are closed. Tip: if you land hungry after midnight, don’t head toward baggage first—walk past the other dark storefronts and lock this in while it’s still fully staffed.