Filet-O-Fish Connoisseurs Warn That Doubling This Topping Actually Ruins The Sandwich

Those who know the Filet-O-Fish sandwich well will be aware that there is one particularly strange element to this classic McDonald's menu item. Ever since it was first introduced in the 1960s, the sandwich has been adorned with the same complement of toppings: just a dab of tartar sauce — fairly run-of-the-mill — and its signature crooked half slice of American cheese. That strange half slice of cheese on this seafood sandwich might seem at first glance like a cost-saving measure for the Golden Arches brand, but according to some fans, it is more of a matter of taste, and upgrading to a full slice actually ruins the sandwich.

"I got a filet o fish once with a full slice of cheese," writes one customer on Reddit. "I thought I scored. But it just didn't taste the same." The sandwich, as they explain, was too cheesy. More than that, though, the extra cheese also changed the texture of the fish patty. When looking at the lengths that customers will go to in order to keep the Filet-O-Fish sandwich from getting soggy on the way home, it becomes clear just how important the balance of flavors and textures is for this favorite menu item.

Of course, as with just about any food that reaches such a broad audience as the Filet-O-Fish, there is plenty of debate about the right way to order it. Sixty-plus years of the half slice indicate that the recipe isn't up for debate in McDonald's eyes, but diners' opinions are a different story.

For some, even topping a crisp fried pollock patty with half a slice of cheese is too much. There are those who think the combination is gross from the start, like the Redditor who states plainly, "Putting cheese on fish is just .... Wrong," in a thread on the matter. And then there are others who don't hate the ingredients together, but instead think the cheese on a Filet-O-Fish does nothing for the flavor. They may have a point as well, given the different makeup of Filet-O-Fish sandwiches in international markets. In several European countries, for example, the McFish sandwich is like a pared-down version of the classic, featuring the same fish patty and bun, but just a squirt of ketchup on top instead of the cheese and tartar sauce.

Others, of course, take the opposite tack and believe that the sandwich benefits significantly from a full slice of cheese. Adding extra cheese to the Filet-O-Fish does come with an upcharge, however, and there appears to be some debate among McDonald's employees about how much extra cheese a customer should actually get for the cost. Some add an entire extra slice; others just another half. To avoid these concerns and ensure a plenty-cheesy fish sandwich, one Redditor suggests, "just carry emergency kraft single slices in your glove box like i do."

As with many such culinary debates, this isn't really a question of right and wrong. There are plenty of opinions out there, but the only right way to order a McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich is the way that you like it — plain, extra cheese, or in classic style with that signature half slice.