Fast Food Fish Sandwiches That Deserve A Permanent Spot On The Menu

Chicken and beef tend to dominate fast-food menus, but several fish sandwiches deserve a permanent spot too. There are only a small number of fast-food fish sandwiches that stay on the menu year-round, like McDonald's Filet-O-fish, Burger King's Fish'N Crisp, Checkers and Rally's crispy fish sandwich and Deep Sea Double, and White Castle's panko breaded fish slider. If fish is your go-to, you're out of luck at most fast-food restaurants for the majority of the year since they tend to only include fish sandwiches on the menu seasonally during Lent to avoid losing Catholic customers. 

Nevertheless, people like to eat fish year-round, so we struggle with the idea of fast-food fish sandwiches only being seasonal. We've sought out the discontinued or temporary fish sandwiches we think deserve a permanent place on fast-food menus to give fish lovers more choices. Some are fairly ordinary, with nothing more than tartar sauce and lettuce as toppings. Others are premium versions with veggies, coleslaw, superior buns, cheese, or even spicy fish. While most fast-food restaurants don't want to devote a fryer bay to fish year-round, we wish they would. In the meantime, we can dream.

Burger King is one of the few fast-food restaurants with a fish sandwich on its menu year-round. The chain's current offering is the Fish'N Crisp, but the one that customers remember more fondly is the Whaler, which debuted in 1975. The sandwich made a comeback in 1983 along with a Cajun Whaler in 1987, but then Burger King discontinued forever. Those who still dream about the Whaler say that even the Big Fish sandwich that Burger King occasionally brings out for Lent doesn't compare in flavor to the sandwich from the '80s. That big juicy fried fish patty on a sesame seed bun with lettuce and tartar sauce was everything.

When people started reminiscing about this beloved sandwich on the In the 80s forum, the message board went off the rails. Whaler lover @Rascal said, "The Whaler was awesome! Nice white fish hardly ever any dark spots and never 'fishy' tasting. It set my standard for fast-food fish sandwiches. I haven't found [any] nearly as good today." Everything from the moistness factor to the superior taste of the tartar sauce makes fans nostalgic for this oversized fish sandwich. One fan, @Dave, said that "it was so juicy it might squirt and hit the person across the table." Perhaps that's where it got its name. When a fast-food fish sandwich last seen 40 years ago brings back that many fond food memories, it's worth a reboot. Surely, someone kept the recipe. Right?

When Wendy's offered a sandwich during the Lent season in 2021, customers found that the chain had abandoned its beloved cod sandwich in favor of a crispy panko fish sandwich. Rather than cod, Wendy's crispy panko fish sandwich contains wild Alaska pollock, which is the same type of fish used in McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich. The contents are the same as its predecessor, except that it comes with panko-coated fried pollock instead of fried cod. Like the previous sandwich, It is also garnished with lettuce, crunchy dill pickles, and tartar sauce. The sandwich is served on a toasty bun and gets a flavor lift from melted American cheese (which is not included with the cod sandwich).

There are mixed reviews from those who have tried both the North Pacific cod sandwich and the wild Alaska pollock sandwich. Some think the new version is a big improvement in terms of flavor, while others like the cod better. To make everyone happy, maybe Wendy's could alternate which one is available on the menu. We'd be happy with anything as long as the chain puts some type of fish sandwich on the menu permanently. 

Arby's often brings out a fancier fish sandwich for Lent, but it's usually added to the menu alongside the ordinary crispy fish sandwich. Sometimes, when you're craving a fish sandwich, you just want something simple without extraneous ingredients. Arby's crispy fish sandwich comes on a toasted sesame seed bun, which is the only semi-fancy part about it. A sweet tartar sauce and shredded lettuce are the only other ingredients.

When @theendorsement tried the crispy fish sandwich on YouTube, he commented, "[it] kind of reminds me of frozen fish sticks a little bit, but it's a lot better than frozen fish sticks." It also doesn't have an overly fishy flavor. This is a solid little sandwich, which is why Arby's brings it back every year even though the chain has invented other more elaborate fish sandwiches. We only wish it were available year-round to satisfy our fishy cravings.

Arby's King's Hawaiian fish deluxe sandwich is a true gem on its Lenten menu. It provides a sweet flavor experience that you wouldn't expect. Don't get all excited thinking this sandwich comes with pineapples or a fancy fish like mahi-mahi. Instead, the "Hawaiian" element consists of a sweet King's Hawaiian bun that is both toasted and fluffy at the same time. Like the Arby's crispy fish sandwich, the King's Hawaiian fish deluxe comes with a crispy fish fillet, shredded lettuce, and sweet tartar sauce. The combo of a sweet bun and sweet tartar sauce makes it overall sweeter than the average fish sandwich. Tomato slices and cheddar cheese transform it into deluxe territory.

We like that Arby's didn't go with American cheese and ordinary buns for this sandwich like so many other fast-food chains. Higher-quality ingredients give it a delectable flavor experience, plus it's double the size of the McDonald's fish sandwich. In some years, the fish patty is big enough to hang off the bun, while in other years, the huge bun dwarfs the fish patty. Customers love this tasty sandwich, so we think it deserves a permanent place on the menu.

Whataburger has both a Whatacatch sandwich and Whatacatch platter available for Lent, which is an idea we applaud since not everyone wants their fish on a bun. However, if you are a bun-loving fish eater, the Whatacatch sandwich is likely to reel you in. The fish variety for this sandwich is Alaska pollock and it comes breaded with seasoned panko crumbs. The sandwich is garnished with tartar sauce, tomato slices, and lettuce. Whataburger also suggests trying add-ons like melted American cheese, jalapeños, or Creamy Pepper sauce, to take it to another flavor level and customize it to your taste. 

Redditor u/United_Caregiver7046 says, "It's a really good sandwich that got better when they switched out the fish a few years ago." Meanwhile, Redditor u/Sansyboy14 thinks it's "easily the best fast food fish sandwich." We only wish it were on the menu year-round to provide a more diversified menu for customers looking for an option beyond chicken and burgers.

All the A&W restaurants we've encountered in the past few years have come attached to a Long John Silver's restaurant, so it was a brave move to introduce a fish sandwich to the menu. The sandwich is made from two pieces of wild-caught cod on a fluffy, toasted bun with coleslaw and tartar sauce. We think coleslaw makes far more sense for a fish sandwich than lettuce, tomato, and cheese, giving it more texture, crunch, and tang than your average fast-food-chain fish sandwich. The thick-cut tender pieces of fish in the sandwich come seasoned and battered, which makes them delectable.

When KBDProductionsTV reviewed this sandwich on YouTube, he said it's "probably one of the nicest fish sandwiches or fish burgers I have ever had," calling it both "fantastic" and "phenomenal." Sadly, it doesn't seem to show up for Lent every year. In both 2022 and 2023, A&W offered cod sliders and pub-style baskets instead of this sandwich. We would love to see it on the permanent menu rather than waiting each year in the hopes that it shows up again for Lent.