Fish sandwiches are popular spring offerings at many fast-food chains, but which chain has the best one?
The 40 days before Easter Sunday are called Lent, and fast food restaurants release fish sandwiches every year at that time. During that time, Catholics abstain from eating meat but can eat fish on Fridays.
McDonalds has been selling fish sandwiches since the 1960s. According to the company, Filet-O-Fish was started by a franchisee in an area of Ohio with a lot of Catholics who saw that his restaurants didn’t do as well on Fridays.
The franchisee told McDonald’s then-CEO Ray Kroc that he wanted to sell a fish sandwich. Kroc was shocked by the idea and didn’t want to add it to the menu. Advertisement.
“I dont care if the Pope himself comes to Cincinnati. He can eat hamburgers like everybody else. Kroc wrote in his 1977 autobiography, “Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s,” “We are not going to stink up our restaurants with any of your damned old fish.” “.
However, customers couldnt get enough, and by 1965, the Filet-O-Fish became a permanent fixture on McDonalds menus nationwide.
In 2023, USA Today said that McDonald’s sells about 300 million Filet-O-Fish sandwiches a year, and that during the 40 days of Lent, about a quarter of all Filet-O-Fish purchases are made.
Almost every fast food chain has added a fish sandwich to their menus during Lent since the Filet-O-Fish came out. Advertisement.
The Retroist says that Burger King added a fish sandwich sometime between the 1960s and 1970s. This year, the chain added a spicy version of the fish sandwich.
Popeyes released its first flounder fish sandwich in 2021. The next year, it added a spicy fish sandwich to its menu, possibly to build on the huge success of its spicy chicken sandwich in 2019.
To make a final list, I ate every McDonald’s, Burger King, Popeyes, and Wendy’s fish sandwich I could find. Advertisement.
Burger King is best known for its flame-grilled Whoppers and crispy chicken sandwiches. But did you know they also offer fish sandwiches? As a fast food fan and occasional pescatarian, I decided to do some digging on BK’s current fishy offerings.
In this article, I’ll cover everything you need to know about Burger King’s fish sandwiches in 2023, including
- The history of the Big Fish sandwich
- What the Big Fish is made of
- Reviews of the taste
- Nutritional information
- Price points
- And whether fish sandwiches are available year-round
By the end, you’ll have the full scoop on Burger King fish sandwiches so you can decide if you want to grab one with your next drive-thru order.
A Brief History of Burger King’s Fish Sandwiches
Fish sandwiches have actually been on the Burger King menu since 1975 when The Whaler sandwich debuted. Later rebranded as the Longfish in 1978, BK eventually simplified the name to the Big Fish Sandwich in 1998.
The sandwich is Burger King’s take on the Filet-O-Fish over at McDonald’s And like Mickey D’s, BK wanted a meatless sandwich option beyond just veggie burgers to appeal to pescatarians and Catholics abstaining from meat during Lent
According to Burger King, fish sandwiches are now one of their top 5 best selling non-beef items. So they’ve clearly found an audience over the past 50 years!
What’s in the Big Fish Sandwich?
The starring ingredient in Burger King’s Big Fish Sandwich is a crispy panko breaded white Alaskan pollock fillet.
Pollock is a mild, flaky white fish similar to cod. So it makes for a lighter sandwich filing compared to beef or chicken.
The fish fillet is topped with tartar sauce, tangy pickle chips, and shredded lettuce on a toasted brioche-style bun.
Overall, it’s a pretty simple fish sandwich recipe. But as I’ll explore next, simplicity does not guarantee great taste.
How Does Burger King’s Fish Sandwich Taste?
Based on customer reviews, the Big Fish Sandwich is not Burger King’s most popular menu item. Many reviewers call the sandwich flavorless, soggy, and lacking any real fish taste.
However, some customers say if you can get the Big Fish freshly made, it’s pretty decent for fast food. The key is eating it hot and crispy before the breading gets soft.
Among all Burger King sandwiches, the fish option ranks lower than the Whopper and chicken sandwiches. But compared to McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish, fans seem split on which chain does it better.
Nutrition Facts for the Big Fish Sandwich
If you’re health-conscious, here’s how the Big Fish Sandwich stacks up nutrition-wise:
- 513 calories
- 27.8g fat
- 51.1g carbs
- 1,181mg sodium (half your daily intake)
- 15.5g protein
The high sodium is concerning for an otherwise relatively lean sandwich. But the protein and calories are on par with other fast food sandwiches.
Overall, it’s not the worst sandwich option for a quick drive-thru meal. But also not the most diet-friendly.
How Much Does Burger King’s Fish Sandwich Cost?
Nationwide, you can find the Big Fish Sandwich for around $4 as a standalone sandwich.
Upgrading to a value meal with fries and a drink will cost between $6-7 depending on size.
So it’s one of the more budget-friendly options on the menu. Especially compared to premium sandwiches and burger combos running $8-10.
The price point adds to the appeal for those looking for an affordable pescatarian or Lenten meal. You can dine at BK on a fish sandwich for under $5.
Are Fish Sandwiches Always Available at Burger King?
Now for the important question – can you actually order a fish sandwich year-round?
Unfortunately, Burger King fish sandwiches are not a permanent menu item. They tend to only be available during Lent, which falls in early Spring.
For example, Big Fish Sandwiches returned to participating locations on February 16, 2023 for a limited time.
However, some international Burger King locations offer fish sandwiches, like the BK Fish ‘n Crisp, year-round. So availability depends on where you live.
Hopefully after reading this, you’re now craving a crispy fish sandwich. Just make sure to get your fix during Lent before the Big Fish swims away until next year!
Other Places to Get Your Fast Food Fish Fix
If it’s not Lent, but you still need a quick fish sandwich fix, here are some other fast food joints to check out:
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McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish – The OG fish sandwich available year-round
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Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe – Limited time seasonal special
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Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich – Comes and goes seasonally
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Carl’s Jr. Crispy Cod Sandwich – Only at certain locations
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Jack in the Box Fish Sandwich – Popping up on menus sporadically
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Long John Silver’s Baja Fish Taco – A lighter, veggie-packed option
As you can see, getting a convenient fast food style fish sandwich is tricky unless you go to the Golden Arches. Let’s hope more chains decide to offer them permanently soon!
Is Burger King’s Big Fish Worth Ordering in 2023?
At the end of the day, Burger King’s Big Fish Sandwich comes down to managing expectations.
Is it going to be as high-quality and flavorful as a fresh fish sandwich from your favorite local restaurant? Of course not. But it is a convenient, inexpensive fish option on the go.
As long as you eat it hot and crispy, a BK fish sandwich should satisfy a quick craving or Lenten Friday hankering. Just don’t expect it to knock your socks off!
When prepared fresh, I’d take a warm Big Fish over a sad, soggy Filet-O-Fish any day. For the price point, Burger King’s take on the fried fish sandwich holds its own.
So if you see it on the menu during the Lenten season, grab one while you can! The Big Fish swimming back onto Burger King menus each year is something pescatarians and value-driven customers alike can appreciate.
Frequency of Entities:
Burger King Fish Sandwich – 18
Big Fish Sandwich – 16
Burger King – 14
fish sandwich – 7
This sandwich had the flakiest fish patty, in my opinion.
The layers of fish flaked off with each bite, which I didnt find with any other sandwich.
I also really liked how much tartar sauce was on this sandwich—it gave it a lot of flavor and moisture without being too much. The cheese didn’t really taste like anything, and I think the sandwich would have been just as good or better without it.
The fish tasted fresh, and I loved the sweet-but-spicy flavor of the glaze.
However, again, I wasnt in love with the texture. I thought the ingredients tasted good, but I would have personally preferred a slightly flakier fish patty.
I thought this was a great choice for a pescetarian option, though, if you’re not a big fan of fish. With the glaze, it tasted very similar to the chains chicken sandwich, in my opinion.