After trying 10 options, the best fast-food fish sandwich doesn't even taste like it came from a drive-thru.
We Hit Up Every Drive-Thru We Could to Find the Best Fast-Food Fish Sandwich
Updated on Mar. 07, 2025
10. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
This is the original fast-food fish sandwich that debuted at an Ohio McDonald’s back in 1959. Ray Kroc was skeptical that this new sandwich concept would work, but it turned out to be a big hit. The Filet-O-Fish has been a staple on the menu ever since.
Unfortunately, even though it is the original, it wasn’t the best sandwich we tasted on our drive-thru journey. The fish had a mass-produced feel, and we weren’t a fan of the slice of cheese. However, at $4.49, it was one of the least expensive fish sandwiches we sampled. It’s also always on the menu, while other sandwiches tend to come and go seasonally. If you want an old-school classic for a great price, the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish fits the bill.
9. White Castle Fish Slider
The Fish Slider from White Castle ranked next on our list. It also came in at a budget-friendly $3.09, but, of course, it is a slider-sized sandwich. One thing we came to realize on this sandwich-tasting journey was that we tend to prefer fish sandwiches without cheese added as a topping. We liked that the sliders come with the option of cheese or no cheese.
White Castle includes tartar sauce (a must when it comes to fish sandwich toppings) as a packet on the side. This was nice because we could then add as much or as little as we wanted to the sandwich, rather than it arriving in one big glob inside the bun. Overall, the fish sandwich slider was a bit unremarkable, but we are glad it’s on the White Castle menu as an option for fast-food fish during Lent.
8. Burger King Big Fish
The Big Fish from Burger King is described as “100% White Alaskan Pollock with crispy panko breading, sweet tartar sauce and crunchy pickles on a toasted brioche-style bun.” While this description sounds mouth-watering and fresh-tasting, the reality arrived with more of an assembly-line feel. The price was an affordable $4.99, though, and this was the only fish sandwich we sampled that had pickle slices added as a topping. The pickles were a welcome addition and offered an additional crunch.
7. Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich
At Wendy’s, this seasonal sandwich is prepared with wild-caught Alaskan pollock. It tastes similar to cod and has nicely seasoned white flaky meat. We found the real standout on this fish sandwich was the crispy panko coating on the fish. It was thick and crunchy, with a memorable texture.
Besides the fish fillet, this sandwich also comes with lettuce, pickles, tartar sauce and (much to our chagrin) a slice of American cheese. Luckily, the Wendy’s sandwiches are made fresh to order, so there’s an option to customize without cheese. In this instance, it didn’t add anything to the sandwich and maybe even took away from the actual fish. Selling for $6.39, the Wendy’s fish sandwich came with a middle-of-the-road price tag, and that pretty much sums up how we felt about the flavor, too.
6. Dairy Queen Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich
The fish sandwich at Dairy Queen also hails from Alaska. The Wild Alaskan Fish sandwich features crispy wild-caught Alaskan pollock, similar to the sandwich from Wendy’s. However, the fillet from DQ was a bit thicker and tasted fresher than the one from Wendy’s. The outside was pleasantly crunchy with a tender inside. It arrived topped with tartar sauce and a piece of lettuce. The lettuce felt a bit skimpy, and we would have preferred pickles for balance. That said, at $4.59, this sandwich was a better value than the others we sampled.
5. Arby’s Crispy Fish Sandwich
We’re die-hard fans of the roast beef sandwich and curly fries, so that’s our standard order at Arby’s. We switched things up this time, though, and the Crispy Fish Sandwich from Arby’s was a surprise hit. The fish fillet was more substantial than the previous sandwiches and tasted much fresher. The lettuce added a pleasant crunch, and the tartar sauce was well distributed.
This was the only sandwich that arrived on a sesame seed bun, which was also a nice choice. At $4.49, it won’t break the bank, with a quality better than other sandwiches in the same price range. This sandwich was delicious enough for us to change things up and order the crispy fish sandwich again in the future.
4. Portillo’s Breaded Whitefish Sandwich
Portillo’s touts their fish sandwich as a wild-caught, breaded haddock fillet served on a brioche bun. This delicious sandwich ranked high on so many fronts for us. The fish fillet was substantial, incredibly crisp and fresh. The bun was a huge standout here—it was actually our highest-ranking bun out of all the sandwiches we tasted. It was subtly sweet and tender, and it practically glistened when we opened up the box to take that first bite. The lettuce added even more crunch and didn’t feel wilted from sitting under a heat lamp. This sandwich does come with a slice of American cheese, which isn’t among our preferred toppings, but that can easily be remedied with a custom order.
We certainly recommend trying the Portillo’s fish sandwich next time you pull up to their drive-thru window. At $6.99, it was a more expensive fish sandwich but well worth the cost.
3. Culver’s North Atlantic Cod Sandwich
It’s practically impossible to beat Culver’s when it comes to fish sandwiches. Inspired by a Midwest Friday night fish fry, Culver’s is able to achieve what no other drive-thru has accomplished. They offer fast-food fish sandwiches that taste like they have been prepared at a Wisconsin supper club.
The North Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich is made with fish that has been hand-cut, hand-battered and cooked to order. The fillet is served on a toasted and buttered hoagie roll with house tartar sauce, shredded lettuce and shredded Wisconsin cheddar cheese. While it’s no secret that we prefer fish sandwiches without cheese, the light touch of the shredded cheese here was much better than the slices of American cheese on other restaurant offerings. This sandwich is outstanding, and we’re glad it’s a year-round staple on the Culver’s menu for $6.09.
2. Popeyes Flounder Fish Sandwich
From the very first bite, there’s a lot to love about the Flounder Fish Sandwich at Popeyes. Of all the fish sandwiches we sampled, this was the only one that brought some heat with its seasoning blend. We really loved that Louisiana spice in the crispy Southern-style breading.
The fish tasted fresh and looked natural, not mass-produced and artificially formed into a shape. The brioche bun was delightful, and we loved the addition of Popeyes signature pickles to the sandwich. At Popeyes, diners have the choice of either a classic tartar sauce or a spicy version of the spread. We will definitely come back for this limited time offering to try it again with the extra spicy option! At $5.99, this is a high-quality sandwich that offers a lot of value for the price.
1. Culver’s Northwoods Walleye Sandwich
If you think the North Atlantic Cod at Culver’s is good, wait until you try the Northwoods Walleye Fish Sandwich. This menu item is only available at certain times of year when walleye is in season. The mild and tender walleye fillets are hand-battered and then cooked to order.
This sandwich is also served on a lightly buttered and toasted roll, with the signature tartar sauce and crisp shredded lettuce. No cheese on the walleye sandwich! In the end, you can’t go wrong with either fish sandwich from Culver’s. If you like a mild ocean fish, we recommend the cod, but if you love the fresh-from-the-lake taste of bluegill or catfish, the walleye will be right up your alley. The price for the seasonal walleye is $7.59 and worth every penny.
