While burgers and fries often steal the fast food spotlight, there’s a hidden gem that deserves your attention, especially during Lent: the fish sandwich. For many fast food chains, the fish sandwich makes its grand appearance specifically during the Lenten season, catering to those observing meatless Fridays.
This tradition is deeply rooted in history. The very first Fast Food Fish Sandwich, McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, was created to address this very need. Back in the 1960s, a McDonald’s franchisee noticed a significant dip in sales on Fridays during Lent, the 40-day period before Easter when Catholics traditionally abstain from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday. His solution? A fish sandwich, presented to Ray Kroc, McDonald’s CEO, and a fast food icon was born.
Of course, you don’t need to be Catholic, or even wait for Friday, to appreciate a good fish sandwich. However, many of these seafood delights are seasonal, often disappearing from menus after April. So, now is the perfect time to explore the fast food fish sandwich landscape and discover your favorite.
To help you navigate this sea of options, I embarked on a quest to taste and rank 11 fish sandwiches from popular fast-food chains. Here are the results, judged on crispiness, fish flavor, sauce, overall sandwich harmony, and the crucial question: would I order it again?
How We Tested
Each fish sandwich was evaluated based on these key criteria:
- Crispiness of the Fish: Was the breading crunchy and satisfying?
- Flavor of the Fish: Did the fish taste fresh and flavorful, or bland and processed?
- Sauce: Did the sauce complement the fish, or overpower it?
- Overall Flavor: How well did all the elements of the sandwich come together?
- Would Order Again: The ultimate test – was it good enough for a repeat order?
The Best Fast Food Fish Sandwiches, Ranked
11. Culver’s North Atlantic Cod Sandwich
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-culvers-c7c771b4fba14859a4362b90f5443528.jpg)
Culver’s
Rating: 3/10
As a devoted fan of Culver’s ButterBurgers and frozen custard, my expectations for their North Atlantic Cod Sandwich were sky-high. The hoagie roll and appealing packaging initially impressed, but unfortunately, the positives ended there. This sandwich features North Atlantic cod topped with lettuce, Wisconsin Cheddar cheese, and a tartar sauce loaded with olives, capers, and sweet relish.
While I appreciate a good crispy coating, the breading on this filet was overwhelmingly thick. It took several bites to even reach the fish, and by then, I was already losing interest. The tartar sauce, heavily dominated by relish, further detracted from the overall experience. Culver’s is definitely better off sticking to their burgers and frozen treats.
10. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-McDonalds-804b9aa7f60542968f0e7ed548df8af1.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 4/10
Ah, the nostalgic Filet-O-Fish. This classic features a fish patty, half a slice of processed cheese, and tartar sauce on a steamed bun.
Eating this sandwich was a trip down memory lane. My grandmother always ordered these, and I remember sneaking bites as a child, thinking it tasted incredibly delicious. However, revisiting it as an adult, my memories proved to be overly generous. Compared to the other fish sandwiches in this ranking, the Filet-O-Fish is quite bland, with a fish patty that lacks flavor and a watery, mayonnaise-based sauce. While it holds a special place in fast food history, and in my childhood memories, there are far better fish sandwiches available today. Sorry, Nana, but you deserve a tastier fish sandwich!
9. Dairy Queen Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-DQ-9980f229c44a47abaff41b9dfdd0a7c5.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 4.5/10
Dairy Queen’s Wild Alaskan Fish sandwich, a limited-time offering, comes with lettuce and a tangy tartar sauce on a toasted bun.
In my opinion, Dairy Queen’s savory food menu is generally underrated – but unfortunately, this fish sandwich doesn’t quite fit into that category. The breading on the fish was a bit too thin for my preference, but to its credit, it was exceptionally crispy. The overall taste was acceptable, but it was overloaded with tartar sauce, making it somewhat soggy and unbalanced. Stick to Dairy Queen’s Blizzards and other frozen treats; they are their true strengths.
8. Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-Arbys_Hawaiian-676e2c56137c4a42b217679108194c1f.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 4.5/10
Arby’s presents a limited-time fish option with its King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe: a crispy fish patty, lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce, all nestled within a sweet King’s Hawaiian bun.
I was genuinely excited to try this one! Who doesn’t love the soft and sweet King’s Hawaiian roll? However, my anticipation might have been too high. The tartar sauce itself is already on the sweeter side, and pairing it with an even sweeter roll proved to be overwhelming. The sweetness dominated the palate and overshadowed the fish flavor. The tomatoes on my sandwich were also rather flimsy and didn’t add much; I would have preferred the sandwich without them altogether.
7. Arby’s Crispy Fish Sandwich
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-Arbys_CrispyFish-29d502f1c27b4782880d4d5395678a84.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 5/10
Credit where credit is due: Arby’s deserves praise for offering variations in their fish sandwich lineup. Their classic Crispy Fish Sandwich features a crispy fish filet, tartar sauce, and lettuce on a sesame seed bun.
When tasting eleven fish sandwiches in one go, variety is greatly appreciated, and I was pleasantly surprised to see a sesame seed bun. Similar to its sweeter cousin, the King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe, this sandwich also uses a slightly sweet, almost mustardy tartar sauce, which works reasonably well. However, my sandwich was a bit stingy on the sauce. I recommend asking for a little extra, as it can be a bit underwhelming without sufficient sauce.
6. Popeyes’ Spicy Flounder Fish Sandwich
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-Popeyes_Spicy-a322e822fa8e4796b12d12b993bf96d8.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 5/10
This fish sandwich is a relatively recent addition to the fast food fish scene, with both the original and spicy versions launching in 2021. This limited-time offering includes a crispy flounder filet marinated in Popeyes’ signature Louisiana herbs and spices, topped with pickles and spicy mayo on a brioche bun.
As someone who enjoys spicy food, I appreciate the concept of a spicy fish sandwich. However, achieving the right balance is crucial. While I enjoyed the unique flavor profile of this sandwich, the spice from both the sauce and the fish breading was a bit overpowering and masked the delicate taste of the flounder itself. The spicy mayo sauce, on its own, is quite flavorful, and I would definitely consider using it on other proteins in the future.
5. Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-Wendys-508e87ccdf974b29a19af2ef2485ab08.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 5/10
Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish sandwich features a panko-crusted fish filet with dill tartar sauce, pickles, American cheese, and lettuce on a toasted bun.
Wendy’s is often an underrated player in the fast food world, and their fish sandwich seems to be another hidden gem. The panko breading is thick enough to provide a satisfying crunch but not so thick as to overwhelm the fish. The dill tartar sauce has a pleasant, balanced flavor. My only minor complaint, and something I never expected to say about a fish sandwich, is that the American cheese was slightly too much for this particular sandwich. However, overall, this sandwich was quite enjoyable and left me wanting another bite.
4. Popeyes’ Classic Flounder Fish Sandwich
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-Popeyes_Regular-8f2bab569eb54a2691a36e00e54ff5e3.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 6/10
The classic counterpart to the spicy version, Popeyes’ Classic Flounder Fish sandwich has the same components, but with tartar sauce instead of spicy mayo.
I appreciated the flavorful spices in the breading of the fish patty, which was both thick and crispy. My sandwich had a good balance of spice, fish, and bun, and just like the Wendy’s sandwich, I was genuinely tempted to keep eating it. This is a solid, flavorful fish sandwich option.
3. Burger King’s Big Fish
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-BugerKing-Nonspicy-d53b569c934445799c4cb911afc0d4da.jpg)
Allrecipes/Debbie Wolfe
Rating: 7.5/10
Burger King’s Big Fish sandwich features a crispy panko-breaded filet with tartar sauce, pickles, and lettuce on a brioche bun. Unlike most of the other fish sandwiches on this list, the Big Fish is available year-round.
This sandwich perfectly embodies the classic “crispy fish filet” expectation. While many of the other sandwiches were crispy, the Big Fish offered an even more satisfying crunch. The tartar sauce also had a more pronounced dill flavor, which I enjoyed. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this straightforward, well-executed fish sandwich.
2. Burger King’s Fiery Big Fish
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ar-taste-test-fast-food-fish-sandwiches-burger-king-fiery-big-fish-9012d08582aa445883dec95ba1572feb.jpg)
Allrecipes/Abby Mercer
Rating: 8.5/10
This brand-new variation of Burger King’s Big Fish stays quite similar to its classic counterpart, with the addition of a spicy glaze for an extra kick.
Unlike Popeyes’ Spicy fish sandwich, I absolutely loved this one. The spice is noticeable but fleeting, and it doesn’t overpower the flavor of the fish. I also appreciated the balanced amount of spicy glaze on this sandwich; it could have easily been drenched in sauce, but instead, it was a perfect layer that wasn’t overwhelming. I would definitely order the Fiery Big Fish again.
1. Long John Silver’s Fish Sandwich
Rating: 8.5/10
If you’re in search of a standard, reliably delicious fish sandwich, look no further than Long John Silver’s Fish Sandwich. This classic features a battered Alaskan pollock filet on a toasted bun with crinkle-cut pickles and tartar sauce.
I honestly didn’t expect to like this sandwich as much as I did, but for a quintessential fish sandwich, it was arguably the best of the bunch. The batter on the fish was perfectly crispy, and the tartar sauce was both sweet and tangy – it was simply a great sandwich to conclude the taste test with. I would happily choose this sandwich again and again. And perhaps it’s not surprising – who better to trust for a superior fish sandwich than a fast food chain specializing in seafood?
