Long John Silver's Menu Ranked From Worst To Best

Oceans make up such a large percentage of the Earth, and staring out at the tide crashing into the sand is an instant reminder of nature's beauty. A calm sea imbues a sense of peace in your mind. But, do you know what else it does? It reminds you just how much delicious food swims beneath the surface as well. Anyone who loves seafood knows that gawking at the sea not only puts a smile on their face but also boosts their appetite to gobble up amazing ocean cuisine.

One chain that embraces a love of great seafood is Long John Silver's. The restaurant has been serving customers since 1969 when it opened its first location in Lexington, Kentucky. It offers a decent selection of affordable dishes that definitely scratch that seafood itch when it strikes. However, as with any menu, not every single item Long John Silver's serves is worth putting on a snorkel to retrieve. So, the next time you decide to surf instead of turf, keep in mind which options are totally worth your money and which ones you should abandon far out at sea.

Fish can be a fickle thing to cook. It's not that it's especially difficult, but there's a very small window during its cooking time that you need to take advantage of, or else it'll come out too tough or underdone. Unfortunately, the Pacific cod at Long John Silver's falls into the former category, which is why you should definitely navigate your money elsewhere on the menu, even if you're a big cod enthusiast.

When cooked correctly, cod should have a delicate texture and gentle mouthfeel, but that's not what's happening with this stuff. The filet is tough, and you have to bite down much harder than you should to break it apart. Combine that with a fried breading and you have a meal that feels like you need to put in way too much work to enjoy it. Since the texture hints at the fish being overcooked, there isn't much flavor either. The result is that you munch into a bland fried filet with a firm texture.

Salmon is one of the most popular types of fish you can eat, and for good reason. It has a great flavor on its own, and you can glaze it with an assortment of sauces to up the flavor game. Plus, when it's cooked properly it has a delightfully flaky texture that almost melts on your palate. If you're the kind of person who loves to satiate your appetite with salmon, you might feel tempted to opt for the grilled salmon dish the next time you're at Long John Silver's. As it turns out, you'd be much better off buying a filet from the supermarket and making it in the comfort of your own kitchen.

The texture here is the biggest turnoff, although the flavor isn't anything to write home about either. Instead of the flaky, delicate salmon meat you're imagining, you get a filet that doesn't flake apart at all, but breaks apart in firm chunks instead. The seasoning on the salmon skin does have a bit of flavor to help you forget about the off-putting texture, but overall, this isn't the way to truly enjoy grilled salmon.

If you're heading to Long John Silver's with salmon on your mind but want something beyond a basic filet of fish with a couple of side dishes, the restaurant offers a grilled salmon bowl. The salmon is served over a bowl of rice, and you can choose the preparation style: Baja, Southwest, sweet chili, or seasoned. Chances are that if you love salmon, you could walk away from this dish feeling somewhat disappointed.

The texture of the salmon poses an issue for its enjoyment. It isn't the delicate cut of fish we seek when cooked correctly. Instead, it's a little too tough to thoroughly enjoy. Now, that's not to say you need teeth made of iron to get through it, but it doesn't offer a flaky texture that falls apart in your mouth. However, the rice that forms the base of the bowl helps to give it a softer consistency when the two are combined, so some relief is offered. Plus, depending on which style you order, there's an accompanying creamy sauce that also lends moisture.

There are so many different ways to cook shrimp. Just ask Bubba Gump — he'll rattle off about a hundred of them without ever catching a breath. Well, perhaps the most basic way to cook them is by tossing those little juicy suckers on a grill. Long John Silver's serves a grilled shrimp dish for anyone trying to harness their inner Bubba Gump, and let's just say if you're looking for something that'll just fill your belly, it's a solid option. But if you want a blast of flavor, you might feel slighted.

The seasoning that dusts the shrimp looks like it'll hit you in the face with all kinds of spices, but it never really takes off the ground. You get a bit of salty and savory notes, but it never strikes your palate full force. The texture of the crustaceans is exactly what you want, however, so at least that's a win. For flavor seekers, opt for another version of the shrimp to avoid a letdown.

Some people might argue that shrimp are the popcorn of the ocean. They're small, which means you can throw them back just like a kernel of freshly popped popcorn, and best of all, they have great flavor when cooked right. So, why not deep fry those little crustaceans until they're a beautiful golden brown color and call them popcorn shrimp? Well, many places have, including Long John Silver's, and the restaurant's version is worth diving into the water to obtain.

The crunch of the popcorn shrimp is really satisfying. The breading isn't too thick and the shrimp are plump, so you never feel like you're getting stiffed with the breading-to-shrimp ratio. You can also choose from a variety of sauces to plunge those little suckers into to give you a plethora of different flavors. The sauce helps prevent the fried coating from ever getting overwhelming, and it cranks up the ocean flavor of the shrimp nicely. Bubba Gump would be so proud.

A breaded filet of fish slapped down on a plate and served alongside a cup of creamy tartar sauce usually means you're in for a pretty tasty time. However, you're gonna want to crank that tasty time up a few pegs by slamming that golden filet right between a soft roll and topping it with crunchy pickles and a hefty slather of tartar sauce. Now you have a meal worth talking about. Long John Silver's offers a wild Alaskan pollock sandwich for anyone looking for a delicious handheld fish experience.

The Alaskan pollock filet has the perfect amount of breading so you never feel like you're biting into something that sat in a deep fryer for way too long. The crunch is delicate and light, and the fish underneath has a mild but sweet flavor. But it's the tartar sauce that really elevates this dish. It's super creamy and has a rich kick of tang that slices through the fried batter flavor and complements the sweet meat of the fish really well. This is a menu item you'll want to work into your Long John Silver's routine.

Sure, a fork is an appropriate vessel to carry plump juicy shrimp to your mouth. But do you know what's a far superior vessel? A taco shell. Piling those crustaceans into a soft taco shell full of fixings offers a far more pleasant — and tastier — experience. Plus, you get to eat with your hands, which always makes a meal a bit more intimate. Long John Silver's offers customers grilled shrimp tacos, which is a fabulous option for anyone who loves shrimp and a handheld eating experience.

One thing you immediately notice when the dish appears in front of you is that Long John Silver's certainly doesn't skimp on the shrimp, so you know you're getting your money's worth. Since the shrimp are grilled they have a tender texture that combines wonderfully with the soft tortilla. You can get the tacos prepared four different ways: Baja, Southwest, sweet chili, or seasoned. All the options infuse the dish with tasty flavors that help launch the shrimp into a universe of ocean delight. Make these tacos a must-buy the next time Long John Silver's calls your name.