If You Love McDonald’s Fish-O-Fillet, You’ll Love These Items Too
The Filet-O-Fish has its own fan club, and for good reason. Still, it’s not the only fast-food fish worth lining up for. Plenty of chains have their own takes on fried seafood, each with small twists that set them apart. If you already know the pull of McDonald’s classic, these are the sandwiches that might win you over next.
Popeyes Flounder Fish Sandwich
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Popeyes skips the usual pollock and goes with real flounder, marinated and fried in the same bold coating used for their chicken. A fluffy brioche bun holds it all together, along with tartar sauce and thick-cut pickles that crunch when you bite into them.
Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich
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Offered seasonally, this one uses wild-caught Alaskan pollock, breaded in crispy panko. The sandwich includes lettuce, pickles, and American cheese, though many skip the cheese. The panko crust gives it a notable crunch, and the sandwich usually arrives hot and made to order.
Culver’s North Atlantic Cod Sandwich
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Culver’s builds its fish sandwich around North Atlantic cod, cut by hand and cooked fresh in the kitchen. The fillet keeps a crisp coating that cracks open to tender flakes inside, a texture that feels closer to a sit-down fish fry than a drive-thru. A light sprinkle of cheddar is worked in, but it stays subtle, adding a mild note without covering up the flavor of the fish itself.
Long John Silver’s Fish Sandwich
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Long John Silver’s sticks with what it knows best: fried fish. The sandwich comes with a battered Alaskan pollock fillet, tartar sauce, and pickles on a plain bun. It’s a little oily, but that’s part of the draw for people who want something that tastes like the chain’s classic fish-and-chips in sandwich form.
Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe
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For a limited time each year, Arby’s rolls out this version on sweet King’s Hawaiian bread. The sandwich stacks wild-caught Alaskan pollock with lettuce, tomato, and a slice of cheese. It’s larger than many others on this list.
Jack in the Box Fish Sandwich
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This one usually gets ignored, but it’s been part of seasonal lineups for years. Jack in the Box offers a no-frills sandwich: crispy fish fillet, lettuce, and tartar sauce on a plain bun. There is no cheese, no pickles, and no extras. It’s often part of Lent promotions and varies by region.
Portillo’s Breaded Whitefish Sandwich
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Portillo’s uses wild-caught haddock and puts it on a brioche bun. The fish itself is thick, with a crisp exterior and tender interior. The bun holds up well and adds a slightly sweet flavor. Even the lettuce feels fresher than average.
Dairy Queen Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich
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Dairy Queen’s fish sandwich uses a wild Alaskan pollock fillet with a light, crisp breading. There’s a faint garlic note in the coating that gives it more flavor than you might expect. It’s straightforward, covers the essentials, and usually comes in at a price that feels fair.
Checkers Deep Sea Double
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Checkers—or Rally’s in some regions—offers a sandwich with two pollock fillets, two slices of cheese, and tartar sauce on a sesame seed bun. It’s indulgent and definitely heavier than McDonald’s version. The sauce-to-fish ratio leans generous, and the double cheese isn’t subtle.
Captain D’s Giant Fish Sandwich
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Captain D’s makes good on the “giant” name. This sandwich features two hand-battered pollock fillets stacked on a bun with tangy sauce and shredded lettuce. It’s often part of combo meals and draws attention for size alone. The fish is moist, and the flavor leans toward comfort.
Bojangles Bojangler
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This seasonal offering includes a fried Alaskan pollock fillet with American cheese and tartar sauce on a toasted bun. What makes it different is the Southern-style breading with peppery heat. It leans savory, not spicy, and the fillet holds its shape well. The sandwich typically appears around Lent and disappears quickly.
Carl’s Jr. Beer-Battered Fish Sandwich
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Carl’s Jr. (or Hardee’s in other regions) uses beverage-battered Alaskan pollock in their seasonal fish sandwich. The batter gives it a slightly richer flavor, while the fish stays moist and flaky. Though not available year-round, it makes a reliable appearance every spring.
White Castle Fish Slider
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White Castle’s fish sandwich features a breaded Alaskan pollock patty with tartar sauce on the side. Cheese is optional. It’s the only fish item here that arrives with a sauce packet, which means you can actually control the amount. It’s helpful, especially if you’ve had one too many mayo-heavy drive-thru disasters.
Burger King Big Fish Sandwich
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At BK, the Big Fish brings two things McDonald’s doesn’t: a brioche-style bun and crunchy pickle slices. It uses a panko-coated Alaskan pollock patty slightly thicker than the Filet-O-Fish and has lettuce and tartar sauce already built in. It’s one of the more consistent year-round options across locations.
Del Taco Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Tacos
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For those open to seafood beyond fish sandwiches, these tacos offer something different. Jumbo shrimp are fried until crisp, then wrapped in a warm tortilla with shredded cabbage and secret sauce. They’re only available during Lent and usually sold as part of a combo.