Ranking Fast Food Fish Sandwiches From Hit To Skip

When a McDonald's restaurant in Cincinnati introduced a fish sandwich to its menu in 1962, McDonald's founder Ray Kroc was sure it would be a flop. Boy, was he wrong. People immediately took to the crispy, fried fish filet on a soft steamed bun. Today, nearly every fast food restaurant chain has a fish sandwich on the menu. Some are available year-round, while others are on offer for limited times only, mainly around Lent. But which fish sandwiches are worth a trip to the drive-through?

Fast food fish sandwiches typically consist of a piece of white fish like Alaskan pollock or cod, deep-fried until golden and crispy and served on a bun that may or may not be toasted. Many fast food joints add tartar sauce to their fish sandwiches, and some add extras like lettuce and tomato. Then of course, there is the controversial element — cheese. While some people swear seafood and cheese are meant to be together, others think it's sacrilege.

Whatever your personal preferences are, there is a fish sandwich out there for you. To help you determine which fast food spots to hit up for your fish sandwich fix, we scoured the internet for consumer reviews. Based on what diners are saying, we bring you the best and worst fast food fish sandwiches ranked from hit to skip. We'll go more in-depth about our methodology at the end of the article.

The North Atlantic Cod Sandwich from Culver's is a strong contender for one of the best fast food fish sandwiches out there. The company was born in Wisconsin, and they took inspiration from the state's fish fry traditions to create this crave-worthy sandwich. According to Culver's website, "Inspired by the way a good fish fry could bring friends and neighbors together, Craig carried the tradition forward. We still batter each filet by hand and cook it to order, only after you order." The cod is served on a toasted hoagie roll with lettuce, house tartar sauce, and Wisconsin cheddar. If you want to jazz it up, ask for some of Culver's first ever signature sauce.

The sandwich is so good that it has even won over people who don't typically like fish. One TripAdvisor reviewer said, "My mother is 97 years old and has never liked fish. But she'll make an exception for a North Atlantic cod sandwich from Culver's. As part of my more fish/less meat diet, I second her motion that Culver's North Atlantic cod sandwich is as good as it gets, better than any other fish sandwich you'll find in the fast-food market ..." Another reviewer on the same thread said, "I love the cod fish sandwich at Culver's. It is now my favorite sandwich even though I don't like fish. Weird I know but true."

You can't have a fast food fish filet showdown without mentioning McDonald's. The Filet-O-Fish is the OG of fast food fish sandwiches. In 1962, McDonald's franchise owner Lou Groen created the sandwich for his Catholic customers who abstained from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. It quickly became a mainstay on the McDonald's menu. To this day, the Filet-O-Fish still has a huge fan base. Fans love the simple, but tasty combo of the crispy Alaskan pollock patty, tartar sauce, and American cheese on a steamed bun.

There are several reasons Filet-O-Fish lovers order the sandwich time after time. As one Quora user said, "I love McDonald's Filet-O-Fish because it is warm, crispy, a little gooey and melts in your mouth. It is the same as I remember it when I was a kid. It has sentimental value. The fish filet does not have an unpleasant fishy taste which some other fish sandwiches have. The bun is soft, warm, and seems fresh." The only complaint some fans have is that the sandwich is a bit small. However, you can work around that by doubling up on the patty. Other Filet-O-Fish Hacks include swapping tartar sauce for Big Mac sauce, adding lettuce, and adding fries to make a fish n' chips burger.

When Burger King rolled out its Fiery Big Fish sandwich, diners took to the internet to voice their praise. One Reddit user said, "This was definitely the best fast food fish sandwich I have had in a while. Definitely a nice mix up from all those whoppers." A user on the same thread commented, "Ordered this a few days ago after being very disappointed with Arby's. I rarely ever order fish sandwiches, I thought it was great. Great crust on the fish."

Like many fast food chains, Burger King uses Alaskan pollock for their fish sandwiches. The Fiery Big Fish filet is coated with a crispy panko breading, deep-fried, and glazed with a spicy sauce made from three different peppers. For added flavor, the sandwich is also topped with tartar sauce, lettuce, and pickles. A toasted potato bun holds it all together. It gives a whole lot of flavor, but some might find the sauces and toppings overwhelm the taste of the fish. 

In 2020, Arby's sparked what many have called the "fish sandwich war." According to USA Today, in February of 2020, Arby's started a smear campaign against the McDonald's Filet-O-Fish, claiming their fish sandwiches were better. One of those sandwiches was the King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe featuring a crispy fish filet with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, cheddar, and tartar sauce on a sweet, fluffy King's Hawaiian roll. The limited-edition sandwich typically rolls out around Lent, along with the Crispy Fish Sandwich and the Fish n' Cheddar Sandwich.

Arby's was thinking outside of the box when they decided to use the King's Hawaiian rolls that so many people adore. However, the King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe gets mixed reviews. While some diners like the ample size of the sandwich, others find the tartar sauce is a bit much. Fast food reviewer Wayne Dang said in his YouTube review of the sandwich, "If I get a fish sandwich, I want the fish to shine and showcase all of its flavors. But the tartar sauce just overpowers everything."

Jack in the Box is another chain that doesn't offer a fish sandwich year-round. Instead, they roll out their fish dishes for a limited time, and again, this is usually around Lent. The Fish Sandwich is nothing fancy — just an Alaskan pollock filet breaded with panko and served with lettuce and tartar sauce on a bun. They also have fish wraps, both classic and spicy for those who prefer a bit of heat. The sandwich costs $3.29, which is not bad compared to some other fast food fish sandwiches.

Despite using a pretty tried-and-true formula, Jack's doesn't get great reviews for their fish sandwich. A diner on Reddit commented, "I was honestly pretty disappointed with it compared to the fish sandwich they had years ago. It was one piece instead of two since they aren't doing fish and chips like before. The batter was more bread-y and wasn't that great. The tartar sauce was terrible IMO and way too sweet and looked more like salad dressing than actual tartar sauce. Sad to say I'd prefer a Filet-O-Fish from McDonald's than eat another one of Jack in the Box fish sandwiches."

Seeing as how Long John Silver's is all about seafood, it should come as no surprise that they have a fish sandwich on their menu. Their version features a strip of Alaskan pollock lightly battered, deep-fried, and served on a roll with tartar sauce and pickles. It's typically served as a combo with a drink and your choice of side like coleslaw, fries, or hush puppies. The oblong fish filet is a nice departure from the square patties you get at some other chains, but some diners believe that may be its downfall.

Sean of Food Supremacy said in his review, "I just feel that Long John's fish is really greasy, obviously like all fish, but it's not great. It's better as a standalone, not on a fish sandwich. It needs to be bigger, crunchier, better to be on a fish sandwich." A diner on TripAdvisor had a similar experience. He said, "When I bit in, grease oozed out of the heavily breaded slab of pressed fish. What just happened? This couldn't be true. $6 for pressed fish? Soaking in grease? Dark brown? I went inside to get my money back."

If you're searching for a fish sandwich at Sonic, you may or may not find one. Not all the branches have it on the menu, and those that do typically serve it as a seasonal special during Lent. If you do come across it, the sandwich is pretty uninspiring. They use the same formula as many other fast food joints: An Alaskan pollock filet breaded with panko, deep-fried, topped with lettuce, pickles, and tartar sauce, and served on a white bun. However, many reviewers say Sonic gets a lot wrong with the execution.

Tony Thomas of Old Nerd Reviews said of Sonic's fish sandwich, "There is lacking of fish flavor coming out of this sandwich ... I just give it a 'meh.' It's just really weird. I expected a fish sandwich. I got some sort of sandwich that I can't figure out ... It's not that it's un-edible or icky or anything. It just doesn't taste like a fish sandwich should." Another YouTube reviewer named 2¢ Chick said, "I mean I can eat everything but the fish. The fish isn't good ... No, I would not get it again. I could eat the bun and the pickles, but not the fish."