McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Vs Captain D's Giant Fish: Which Is The Best Fish Sandwich?

A fish out of water versus a seafood specialist. Which one makes the better fish sandwich between McDonald's and Captain D's? The easy answer would be the latter. But to really know, we have to dive a little bit deeper beneath the surface.

Maritime fare isn't exactly McDonald's forte. The Golden Arches is a burgers, fries, and milkshakes joint through and through — just one that also happens to sell a lone fish sandwich known as the Filet-O-Fish. Why? Well, the chain was tired of losing business on Fridays during Lent, when many Catholics abstain from eating meat. So, it decided to spearhead the problem by introducing the Filet-O-Fish nationwide in 1965, and the sandwich's popularity has kept it afloat ever since. The tide turns at Captain D's. Underwater eats are in the chain's DNA. Funnily enough, it did start out as Captain D's Seafood and Hamburgers back in 1969. But by 1974, it had thrown hamburgers overboard and decided to focus exclusively on seafood dishes, like its Giant Fish Sandwich.

The origin stories of these two sandwiches couldn't be more different. But history only tells us so much and tasting them side by side was the only way to see how they really stacked up. So, I reeled in the Filet-O-Fish and Giant Fish to compare everything from the buns to the breaded fish to the toppings that come along for the ride. Let's see which one turned out to be the bigger catch.

At McDonald's, I ordered the Filet-O-Fish from the chain's list of sandwiches. I went with just the sandwich rather than the full meal, and it rang up at $5.49. Over at Captain D's, I found the Giant Fish Sandwich on the chain's list of combos. However, I skipped the fries and drink to get just the sandwich for $5.89. So, the prices here are pretty comparable. But what about the taste?

To answer that question, I brought both sandwiches home and tried them in tandem. The most important feature was obviously the fish itself, so that's where I focused my attention first. I considered the type of fish each chain used, how it was breaded, how big the fillets were, its texture, and its overall flavor. I wasn't necessarily expecting the freshness of a catch of the day. This is fast food after all. But I was hoping for something that wasn't terribly greasy, and that had a pleasantly fishy flavor. From there, I moved on to the extras, including the buns and the garnishes each chain chose to dress up its sandwich.

As I quickly discovered, there's more to a fish sandwich than meets the eye. And I also quickly discovered which fast food version I preferred.

When they say giant, they mean it. This thing is massive, with two large fish fillets hanging out from either side of the bun. Intimidating is an understatement. But I was feeling optimistic, especially after the worker who handed me my order mentioned he was about to have one of his own for lunch. Employee endorsement is always a good sign.

So, what's on the Captain D's Giant Fish? Besides the two batter-dipped Alaskan pollock fillets, it features tartar sauce and lettuce, all on a toasted bun. It's a simple lineup, but that's intentional. The fish is meant to be the main attraction. And boy, is it. From end to end, the fillets have that satisfying crunch and light oiliness on the outside. Inside is white fish that's mild in flavor but perfectly flaky. It feels like this was fried to order, and the few minutes I spent waiting at the drive-thru are evidence of that. Are the fillets entirely too big for this bun? Yes. But I didn't mind. That means you get a few bites of pure fish before and after the bun-wrapped portion.

The bun itself is a pretty standard grocery store bun, but it has a good chew to it. And while I would have liked a little more tang in the tartar sauce, it was creamy enough with frequent bits of pickle. The one thing I could have done without was the lettuce. Those sad little pieces didn't do anything for the sandwich.

By comparison, McDonald's Filet-O-Fish is a certified small fry. I guess it never claimed to be big. But I was surprised that it only measured up to about half the size of the Giant Fish. It looks different too. It's still made with a bun, tartar sauce, and Alaskan pollock. But the fillet is formed into a squared-off shape that just screams "made in a factory." The sauce takes on a stark white color, and there's also a slice of American cheese thrown onto the bottom bun.

The outside of the fish fillet is more crumbly than battered, and there was hardly any crispness to it at all. The entire thing was rather mushy, with hardly any fish flavor to speak of. It reminded me more of a frozen fish stick than anything else. The cheese also feels like a strange addition to me. You wouldn't put a slice of cheese on a fresh salmon fillet or sprinkle it over a plate of clams, so why is it needed here?

Honestly, the best part of this sandwich might just be the tartar sauce. It's extra pickly, with some herbs and a bit of sweetness mixed in. But when the condiment is the highlight of a fish sandwich, that speaks volumes about the quality of everything else. And I fear the popularity of the Filet-O-Fish might have more to do with nostalgia and convenience than taste.

If it wasn't obvious by now, Captain D's Giant Fish Sandwich wins this battle by a nautical mile. McDonald's Filet-O-Fish never stood a chance. It all came down to the quality of the fish itself. At Captain D's, you get two perfectly battered and fried fillets that are big and tasty. Not to mention, a solid bun and creamy tartar sauce to finish it off. At McDonald's, you get just one small piece of fish that doesn't make up for its size with its taste and texture.

I actually regretted trying Captain D's first, because afterward, all I could see were the ways in which the Filet-O-Fish failed to stack up. And there wasn't enough tartar sauce in the world to cover up those shortcomings.

These results really shouldn't have surprised me, though. When I previously ranked 10 fast food fish sandwiches, McDonald's Filet-O-Fish similarly didn't fare well, landing in second-to-last place. Captain D's sadly wasn't part of that taste test. But had it been, I'm confident its Giant Fish would have landed at the top. It's one fish sandwich that certainly shouldn't be overlooked.