Fast Food Fish Sandwich Ranking: McDonald’s, Popeyes & More Tested!

March 21, 2026 Priya Shah – Business Editor Business

Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania – McDonald’s restaurants across the United States are experiencing a surge in demand for their Filet-O-Fish sandwich as the Lenten season progresses. The annual uptick, driven by Catholic tradition, sees increased sales of the fish-based menu item on Fridays, when meat consumption is traditionally abstained from.

At a McDonald’s location in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, the phenomenon is particularly pronounced, according to a report from WNEP. The restaurant saw a significant increase in Filet-O-Fish orders on the first Friday of Lent, February 20th.

The Filet-O-Fish, introduced in 1965, originated as a solution to declining Friday sales at a Cincinnati franchise owned by Lou Groen. Groen, recognizing the needs of his Catholic clientele, developed the sandwich to provide a meatless option during Lent. Since then, the sandwich has become a seasonal staple for the fast-food chain.

McDonald’s is not alone in capitalizing on the Lenten season. Popeyes introduced a flounder fish sandwich in 2021, followed by a spicy version in 2022, seemingly aiming to replicate the success of their popular spicy chicken sandwich. Burger King and Wendy’s also offer fish sandwiches during this period.

A recent taste test conducted by Business Insider ranked the fish sandwiches offered by McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes and Wendy’s. The ranking placed Popeyes’ spicy flounder fish sandwich as the top choice, praised for its flavorful spicy spread and crispy fish. Wendy’s crispy panko fish sandwich secured second place, noted for its flaky fish and dill tartar sauce, though the bun was criticized for being overly buttery.

McDonald’s classic Filet-O-Fish landed in third place, lauded for its flaky texture and generous tartar sauce application, despite the cheese slice being deemed unnecessary. Burger King’s Big Fish sandwich was ranked last, with reviewers citing a slightly chewy fish patty and uneven distribution of ingredients.

The Business Insider review noted the Popeyes spicy flounder fish sandwich cost $7.19, the classic flounder sandwich also $7.19, the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish $6.59, Wendy’s crispy panko fish sandwich $8.74, and the Burger King Big Fish $7.39, all prices excluding tax and fees at locations in Brooklyn, Novel York.

In Greece, McDonald’s has adapted its menu to cater to Orthodox fasting traditions with the introduction of ‘McSarakosti,’ a Lenten menu. This demonstrates a localized approach to the seasonal demand for meatless options.

According to Mashed, McDonald’s sells a substantial number of Filet-O-Fish sandwiches annually during Lent, though the exact figures have not been publicly released.