Make Long John Silver's Fish Sandwiches More Flavorful With One Simple Swap

Fans of Long John Silver's already know the chain is lauded for its high-quality fish sandwich, which features a crispy Alaskan Pollock fillet, a soft bun, pickles, and a creamy layer of tangy tartar sauce. If you'd like to give that familiar fast food order a little kick in the pants, there's a new condiment worth trying — if you're able to get there in time. The swap is this: Trade the tartar sauce for the brand-new Ranch with Old Bay. The sauce debuted on August 24 as part of the chain's fall menu alongside fried pickles and pumpkin cheesecake, and it has all the creamy appeal of classic buttermilk ranch dressing with the added savory, gently spicy character of Old Bay seasoning. It's available at participating restaurants while supplies last, so it won't be around indefinitely. 

This sauce swap slaps because, although tartar sauce and ranch are obviously both creamy condiments, they take the fried fish sandwich in different directions. It's a known fact that tartar sauce is incredible with seafood, but it's also an expected pairing. Ranch, on the other hand, adds a cool, creamy coating with every bite. While there are all kinds of ways to use Old Bay seasoning, adding it to ranch is one of the most ingenious. Old Bay combines celery salt, paprika, and other savory spices for that inimitable Chesapeake Bay flavor. The result is a sandwich that's more savory, more seasoned, and a little bit more spicy.

The Ranch with Old Bay was created for the new fried pickles, but it's easy enough to incorporate the sauce into your next sandwich order. For the best texture, don't drown the sammie in ranch. Order it on the side so you can spread it yourself or try dipping individual bites into the sauce. The appeal of a fried fish sandwich is the contrast between the crispy coating, flaky fish, and creamy sauce, so keep it light. Too much dressing can overwhelm that contrast and make for a soggy bun. Long John Silver's is also one of the few national chains still serving hush puppies, so don't forget to dip those in the ranch too.

Of course, you'll need to try the new fried pickles while you're there, which are made using the same signature batter as the Alaskan Pollock fillet. You can try both in the same bite by adding the fried pickles directly to the fish sandwich. The ranch would also work as a dipping sauce for fries or chicken, where its savory seasoning will add a little more zest than your standard ketchup. If you're taking your sandwich home, a little shredded lettuce and a squeeze of lemon juice would brighten all these fried food components up as well. If you have room, get dessert — Long John Silver's is the only fast food chain where you can order Cheesecake Factory cheesecake. No matter what you order, don't sleep on the sauce.