Why The Filet-O-Fish Only Ranked 29th Out Of 38 In Our Ultimate McDonald's Taste Test

At McDonald's, customers have their choice of beef, chicken, or seafood (even pork, counting the bacon on the breakfast menu). Even though every item from Mickey D's somehow seems to carry the chain's signature flavor profile, just tasting like it "came from McDonald's," the menu offers a broad range of choices, each with unique flavor nuances. To separate the proverbial cream from the crop, Tasting Table embarked on an ultimate McDonald's taste-test in which we tried and ranked 38 menu items. To our surprise, the chain's iconic Filet-O-Fish landed in a dismal 29th-place.

A classic Mickey D's Filet-O-Fish sandwich comprises a fried, wild-caught Alaskan pollock filet topped with American cheese and tartar sauce, all on a soft, steamed bun. It's just four elements, and while we'd love to call 'em "simple yet effective," they're insufficient in execution. As we mentioned in our review, while that star fish patty may be "delightfully crispy," it's really the only thing this sandwich has going for it. The meager half-slice of American cheese doesn't really do much for the overall assemblage, and this sammy is crying out for something extra, like lettuce, tomato, and mayo (or at least more tartar sauce). 

It's perhaps no surprise, then, that the "Norwegian-style" Filet-O-Fish ordering hack has recently gained some traction among customers. This upgrade yields a heartier sandwich, adding lettuce, onion, pickles, and tomato to the regular cheese-topped sando, and swapping the customary tartar sauce for ketchup and mustard.

Even die-hard fans of the sandwich seem to agree that it needs a little "oomph." A Reddit thread in r/unpopularopinion calls the Filet-O-Fish "the best menu item at McDonald's," but even this seemingly-rave review goes on to note that, when the poster orders it, they swear by "a double Filet-O-Fish with EXTRA ½ slice of cheese and tartar sauce." In another post, fellow proponents agree that the fish patty is "very light and decently flakey," and that the American cheese and tartar sauce combo totally works, but (as one commenter writes) "I like to ask for lettuce on it too."

Indeed, the standard Filet-O-Fish sandwich can benefit greatly from some customizations. Whether you swap the tartar sauce for Big Mac sauce, or stuff the sandwich with fries in true British pub style, a little epicurean inventiveness can go a long way — and possibly even elevate the Filet-O-Fish from its sore 29th-place ranking. On its own, however, the sammy has some major room for improvement. 

By our count, foodies are better off sticking to the Quarter Pounder with cheese — the lunch menu item that ranked highest in our McDonald's taste-test. This best-in-show burger also bears the unique distinction of being the only burger on the chain's entire menu to be made from fresh beef patties that are never frozen. No wonder it swept the competition. If you're really craving a Filet-O-Fish, we strongly advise enhancing the sandwich with extra toppings and other alterations. We've rounded up 10 delicious ways to customize a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish to help discerning foodies score the most flavorful bite.