One Of The Best New Fast Food Fish Sandwiches Of 2026 Came From An Unexpected Burger Chain

The most popular Habit Burger & Grill menu items are, of course, its burgers. Slinging chargrilled handhelds since 1969, the California-born business now offers everything from salads to shakes. That said, its most adored recent launch is no doubt the Baja Crispy Fish Sandwich. Its limited run was such a hit with customers that some considered it one of the best new fast food items of 2026 so far.

The sandwich boasted everything one wants in a fried fish sammy, plus more elevated trimmings than the standard fast food offering. It had beer-battered wild Alaskan cod, cilantro-lime coleslaw, pickled red onions, and Baja sauce, which some described as a mild chipotle-kissed tartar sauce. It came on a toasted plain bun, rather than the sesame seed bun used for most of its burgers.

Fans swore by the handheld. "I had a Filet-O-Fish a few weeks ago and I felt ripped off, but I didn't feel ripped off spending $12 on this ... It was so good, I want to have it again," one Redditor wrote. "I know that crunch was heard around the world ... The cod is super flaky and tender, the batter also tastes excellent ... This is probably the best fast food fish sandwich I've had in a long time," a TikTok reviewer asserted. "The fish is nice and crispy, moist. I love the crunch from the pickled onions and the coleslaw, and that Baja sauce is creamy and tangy," added an Instagram reviewer.

Habit's Baja Crispy Fish Sandwich hit stores in February 2026 and was available through April 28 during Lent. Fast food chains across the country have made an annual tradition of serving fish ahead of Easter, as it's a common practice for Catholics to abstain from eating meat and poultry on Fridays during this season. However, Habit has served seafood for years with its ahi tuna sandwich, starring sushi-grade tuna steak with teriyaki glaze.

Habit doesn't share nutritional information for its off-menu Baja crispy fish sandwich. Its specific ingredients aren't listed, either. Depending on location, cost ranged from about $10 to $12. Like other Habit menu items, customizations were easy, so diners could have changed the sandwich's bun or added toppings like avocado and grilled onions. Folks who like cheese on their fast food fish sandwiches could've opted for a slice of American.

Despite mostly rave reviews, some Habit diners didn't love the Baja fish sandwich. "I liked the pickled onions; they gave it some extra zing and much needed acid, since the tartar sauce is pickle-challenged. Fish patty was pretty thin for the price," one Redditor said. "Fairly underwhelming and not balanced. The fillet was too small ... Too much wet stuff ... didn't taste citrus or herbal elements," added another Reddit user. If you want to try it for yourself, cross your fingers it returns next spring.