Customers Are Calling These The 3 Worst New Seafood Items From Fast Food Chains In 2026

Ordering seafood items at fast food restaurants can be hit or miss. For every rousing success (McDonald's Filet-O-Fish) there are numerous failures (the forgotten Burger King Whaler, for instance). However, chains keep giving it their best shot, mostly due to the increased demand that corresponds with Lent, which is precisely how McDonald's iconic fish sandwich got its start. While the effort is laudable, we have examples of just how wrong a seafood meal can go. We curated the worst new seafood releases from fast food chains in 2026 and found three items that left a sea of dissatisfied patrons in their wake (according to online commentary). 

While diners will still find the disappointing Wild Caught Batter Dipped Fish from Alaska on the menu at Captain D's, Krystal Crispy Fish Slider and Popeyes Butterfly Shrimp Tackle Box with new dry rub flavors were only available seasonally. As for the specific gripes, one item was criticized for its unpleasant appearance while another caught heat for having lackluster flavor. When it comes to Captain D's new fish, some fans were unhappy with the new recipe. For a more reliable seafood feast, Long John Silver's has an extensive fish menu and is pretty well received among diners.

In summer 2026, Captain D's introduced a new wild caught Alaskan fish to locations throughout the nation. Along with being a more sustainable option, the restaurant touted its American sourced fish as being higher quality. The new ingredient showed up all over Captain D's menu, from the Two-Piece Fish Meal to the Giant Fish Sandwich Combo. We're always in favor of sustainability, but the restaurant's claim that its new fish is better is challenging to confirm. 

"So, Captain D's has recently changed their batter dipped fish to the new Alaskan pollock," said a diner on Facebook, "and I personally do not like it." While there was some debate, a commenter chimed in to say, "I don't like it either. It tastes too fishy. The other fish was milder." Pollock is generally considered a mild tasting fish, but wild-caught fish can have a stronger flavor than farmed varieties. And according to a SeafoodSource interview with the restaurant's chief marketing officer Jonathan Muhtar, Captain D's previously sourced farmed fish or imported pollock for its battered options.

While a Redditor admitted Krystal's Crispy Fish Sliders weren't bad, their post elicited a wave of ill will regardless. "This looks like hot garbage diarrhea," said a disgusted commenter when presented with an image of the sad-looking Krystal meal, while another person simply proclaimed, "Well this looks gross." Elsewhere on the platform, a less forgiving Redditor characterized the restaurant's fish slider, "Fish nugget with tartar sauce on bread, way too much breading and way too much bun."

Here are the facts: The slider featured a fried wild-caught Alaskan pollock patty with mayonnaise (plain or chipotle), pickles, and a steamed bun. The sandwich was released as a Lenten special and briefly joined Krystal's typical menu of burgers, tater tots, and hot dogs. While the chain offers chicken in the form of wings, sandwiches, and nuggets, fish is conspicuously absent from the menu (at least at the London, Kentucky location we checked). Krystal ranks among the must-try regional fast food chains, but maybe stick to the classic, non-seafood items if you happen to pay a visit.

Popeye's Lenten Butterfly Shrimp Tacklebox release wasn't a new item, nor are the dry spice rubs in flavors like ghost pepper, buffalo, garlic Parmesan, and lemon pepper (these rubs actually debuted in 2025). The novelty was in pairing the butterfly shrimp with the dry rubs, which are normally associated with Popeyes chicken wings. On paper, the combo seems perfectly tasty; who wouldn't enjoy crunchy fried shrimp with an extra hint of flavor? 

In a now deleted Reddit post discussing shrimp options at Popeyes, a customer shared their opinion of the spiced seafood. "The garlic one is basically no seasoning at my Popeyes," the diner complained, while also noting the size of the shrimp was underwhelming. Another commenter said, "I had the ghost pepper one today ... I think shrimp is one of the rare instances where it tastes better without spice." This could be part of a bigger issue at Popeyes, namely the negative sentiment surrounding the chain's dry rubs. When a Popeyes fan declared, "Dry rubs suck," on Reddit, a commenter replied, "Do you like feeling like your wings were dropped in sand? Then dry rubs might be for you!"