The Best Fast Food Fish Sandwiches Ranked

Fish sandwiches tend to always be the underdog of fast food restaurants. With burgers always being the face of the fast food industry, we have seen efforts in recent years to keep the burger relevant, including plant-based options that are meeting varying levels of success throughout the nation. 

The other big trend in recent history is the chicken sandwich. Almost every chain has entered their fighter into the ring for the best chicken sandwich after Popeye's overnight success, which led to extreme pandemonium.

And yet, the fish sandwich remains quiet, consistent, and available on many menus. Since their introduction through restaurants like McDonald's in the 1960s, approximately 23% of them are sold during the Lenten season each year (via Smithsonian Magazine). Ideal for those who follow certain diets or prefer a slightly healthier option, the fish sandwich delivers. However, not all are created equal. Read on to discover which fast food chains have the best fish sandwiches around.

Carl's Jr. or Hardee's (depending upon where you live), has never been known for health food. In fact, the messier and greasier the better, it seems. From western bacon cheeseburgers to fried zucchini, this fast food joint is notorious for pushing the envelope with flavors. The same goes for the chains' fish sandwiches. Over a decade ago, people were eating Carl's Catch, the first incarnation of fish sandwiches. In later years, the chain released the Redhook beer battered cod sandwich and the panko-breaded fish sandwich.

Panko breading might sound a bit lighter than "beer battered," but remember that this is Carl's Jr. According to Thrillist, the panko-breaded fish sandwich tastes far from fresh — freezer burned, in fact. The tartar sauce is reported to be overly salty. Some positives include real leaf lettuce instead of shredded and fresh tomato.

If you're a pescatarian or just want a change from burger meat, the fish sandwich at Carl's Jr. certainly won't kill you. But if you're looking for something healthier or more flavorful, you may find yourself disappointed. Another potential disappointment? The fish sandwiches at Hardee's and Carl's Jr. tend to appear only during Lent in select locations. 

White Castle is famous for its sliders. In fact, according to People Magazine, they've been selling these mini-burgers for over 100 years. White Castle sells more than 10 varieties of sliders, catering to all palates, and one of the options is the fish slider. Like the majority of fast food fish offerings, this is made with Alaskan pollock, which is breaded and stuck into that famous tiny bun with a slice of American cheese. There's no sauce on this guy, and that is a bit of a bummer since we have come to make fish sandwiches synonymous with tartar sauce. 

Their small size comes with a small price, which means you can sample a variety of sliders at once or load up with just the fish sliders if you'd like. However, we are ranking these at No. 9 because of their lack of sauce and creativity compared to other sliders on the menu. But if you're looking for something quick, no-frills, and affordable, White Castle is your place.

Arby's became rather famous for its roast beef when it first opened its doors in 1964, starting with a single restaurant location in Ohio. Since then, its menu has expanded to include a wide variety of options including everything from ham and cheese sliders to chicken nuggets. While red meat continues to be the chain's main gig, it has branched out into fish sandwiches. After all, why not jump on the bandwagon, right? Arby's tends to have huge sandwiches, and the fish sandwich is in fact larger than what you'll find at some other fast food joints. 

The sandwich is made with Alaskan pollock and is deep-fried for a crunchy filet. It comes with the usual tartar sauce and cheese, paired with shredded lettuce and fresh tomato. It's not terrible, however, it isn't perfect either. As Bachelor on the Cheap reviewed, "It has a nice initial visual appeal" and "is seasoned well." But as you work towards the middle, the crunch is replaced with soggy seafood that nobody wants to write home about. We have it placed into the middle of our ranking because, while it isn't consistent throughout, it does check all the boxes in terms of flavor, size, and appearance.

It's hard to beat a Burger King Whopper. There's something really amazing about the charbroiled taste combined with fresh veggies. Burger King does hamburgers right. But what about fish? According to Wichita by E.B., it's not overly exciting but good enough to potentially order more than once. The tartar sauce on the Big Fish is sweet, and when you combine that with the tart of the pickles, it's a winning combination of flavors. The sandwich also includes leaf lettuce, which holds up better than the shredded variety many restaurants on this ranked list tend to use. 

The downside? The fish patty itself is a bit on the smaller side. The fact it comes in a gloriously fluffy brioche bun makes the fish seem that much smaller. Still, all in all, the Big Fish is a decent fish sandwich for the price, and will definitely fill you up when paired with some fries and a coke 

The Filet-O-Fish was made its debut in the 1960s after one McDonald's franchisee was determined to overcome his Friday sales slump. With his restaurant located in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighborhood, not too many folks were turning out for a burger on Fridays. So Lou Groen sounded the alarm from Cincinnati and convinced McDonald's to give a fish sandwich a try. 

The Filet-O-Fish has continued on to this day, with 23% of their annual sales happening during the Lenten season, per Smithsonian Magazine. Are they as popular as Big Macs and Chicken McNuggets? Not really, but is it a solid choice for those who want to avoid meat sometimes? Absolutely. As Serious Eats points out, not everyone loves the Filet-O-Fish. The cheese can be a little questionable, and the tartar sauce comes in a bountiful amount that tends to slide off its little patty. But for plenty of people, it remains a favorite. 

One unique characteristic of the Filet-O-Fish is its bun. It is different from the ones found on other McDonald's sandwiches, and some people don't realize you can swap it out on any sandwich of your choosing. Known by the pros as a "steamed bun," it achieves its soft, spongey goodness by hanging out in the steamer for exactly 11 seconds (via Daily Dot). This steamed bun combined with the crispy fish makes for a deliciously wonderful sandwich.

We celebrate Culver's for having the ingenuity to come up with a fish sandwich that isn't Alaskan pollock. While many restaurants use the cost-effective pollock, Culver's sprung for the fancy stuff — specifically, North Atlantic cod. According to Courier & Press, you can expect to wait a few extra minutes for this sandwich because it is hand-battered and made to order. The cost of this fish sandwich is comparable to those at other chains, but this one does seem to be of higher quality. 

So what do you get for your money? You'll enjoy a fresh, mild-tasting sandwich that is served on a soft, hoagie-style bun instead of the typical burger bread. The fish filet is topped with tartar sauce, shredded lettuce, and grated cheese as opposed to sliced cheese found on other sandwiches. If you're looking for a high-quality fish sandwich with a fresh taste, then drop by your local Culver's for a delicious change of pace.