# Filet o' Fish: Worst Fast Food Ever? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215 "2011-08-26T20:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/1 "2011-08-26T20:25:13Z")
Tasteless and nasty. [aside]Worked with a guy who, after his stroke at age 36, switched to eating them because his doctor said he should eat more fish.[/aside] Though McDonald’s did have a vanilla/chocolate/strawberry ice cream cone they test marketed around here in the 70s (the curse of living within a few miles of their HQ). They never got down how to keep the ice creams separate until they congealed. Pretty gross. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/2 "2011-08-26T20:28:01Z")
There’s lots of stuff out there in Fast-Food Land that is nastier than the Filet O’ Fish, which is actually rather benign. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/3 "2011-08-26T20:28:55Z")
I’ve never ordered one, but have been tempted. I like fish. How bad can they be? My dad used to order them all the time when we stopped at McDonald’s on family trips. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/4 "2011-08-26T20:29:52Z")
Not the worst. That’s the McRib. The Filet o’ Fish would be better on a different bun, one that stands up better to being steamed. Or maybe they should let the sandwich cool a little bit before boxing it. The bun always turns to paste. The fish ain’t bad, for fast food. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/5 "2011-08-26T20:45:21Z")
I like a FoF when I’m nauseated but not vomiting, or just getting over being sick and still have a delicate stomach. It’s lighter and less greasy than a burger, and bland and non-offensive to my tummy. It’s small and not too filling, as well. It’s perfect for those times when you can only tolerate so much. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/6 "2011-08-26T20:52:15Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I like a FoF when I’m nauseated but not vomiting, or just getting over being sick and still have a delicate stomach. It’s lighter and less greasy than a burger, and bland and non-offensive to my tummy. It’s small and not too filling, as well. It’s perfect for those times when you can only tolerate so much. Many moons ago I worked at a Micky D’s after school. I noticed a whole lot of the senior citizens who came in ordered the Fillet o’ Fish - maybe this is why. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/7 "2011-08-26T20:52:57Z")
It’s my favorite thing to eat at McDs (no tartar sauce.) Especially tasty with a chocolate shake. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/8 "2011-08-26T20:53:50Z")
I become physically nauseated if I even drive too close to a White Castle. I don’t know what they’re serving in there, but it’s not food. The Filet o’ Fish, while truly vile, does not even approach the aggressive dog-food-factory-with-garbage-undertones flavor of a White Castle burger. ---
**Author:** ![deedeeknowit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@deedeeknowit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deedeeknowit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/9 "2011-08-26T21:00:20Z")
Awwww, too bad. More for me then. Filet O Fish is my favorite McDonald’s offering besides the fries. I want them to come out with a double FOF. Yummy. This is why we don’t often visit McD’s. Possibly 4 times a year but those 4 times are tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/10 "2011-08-26T21:01:10Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > I become physically nauseated if I even drive too close to a White Castle. I don’t know what they’re serving in there, but it’s not food. The Filet o’ Fish, while truly vile, does not even approach the aggressive dog-food-factory-with-garbage-undertones flavor of a White Castle burger. While I do love White Castle burgers, I have a friend that used to order their [Cheese-Fish.](http://aht.seriouseats.com/images/20090703-whitecastle-fish.jpg) It makes the FoF seem like sea bass by comparison. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/11 "2011-08-26T21:02:07Z")
> [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > I like a FoF when I’m nauseated but not vomiting, or just getting over being sick and still have a delicate stomach. It’s lighter and less greasy than a burger, and bland and non-offensive to my tummy. It’s small and not too filling, as well. It’s perfect for those times when you can only tolerate so much. Alice, you do realize you just described using a deep-fried filet with a dollop of tartar sauce and maybe some pickle slices on a bun in a role normally held by dry toast and some warm 7-Up? You have a cast iron constitution. ETA: I forgot the highly digestible :rolleyes: plastic cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/12 "2011-08-26T21:02:24Z")
It mainly tastes like tartar sauce, so it’s not bad for fast food. It seems like they’re always more sloppily assembled than other fare, though. Rarely do they get that piece of fish centred. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/13 "2011-08-26T21:19:57Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > [aside]Worked with a guy who, after his stroke at age 36, switched to eating them because his doctor said he should eat more fish.[/aside] Ha! His doctor would probbly have a strok if he found this out. Those things are fairly nasty for you. Saturated fats and sodium and very little actual fish. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/14 "2011-08-26T22:20:07Z")
I like’em! They seem a tad over priced because they seem small to me but yummy! In fact I even get them with the Tartar sauce and I HAAAAAAATE Mayonnaise. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/15 "2011-08-26T22:34:27Z")
i liked them when they were going for a buck a few months back but at the regular prices - $3 and change? it’s absurd to me that anyone buys it. as for the taste itself? nitpicky complaints: the fish is small, the bun is large, and why on earth is there a slice of american on it? overall it tastes like something fried covered in tartar sauce. fast food? sure. fish? sure ain’t. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/16 "2011-08-26T22:34:55Z")
> [@deedeeknowit](#): > > Awwww, too bad. More for me then. > Filet O Fish is my favorite McDonald’s offering besides the fries. > > I want them to come out with a double FOF. > Yummy. > > This is why we don’t often visit McD’s. Possibly 4 times a year but those 4 times are tasty. I gotta almost agree. Until the angus burgers came out, Fillet O’ Fish was the only sandwich McDonald’s regularly had that was even remotely edible. ---
**Author:** ![Proudest\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/proudest_monkey/32/13257_2.png) [@Proudest\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Proudest_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/17 "2011-08-26T22:51:07Z")
If this were a poll, I’d be voting “aye” for the Filet O’ Fish. Never had a bad one. I patronize McD’s a couple of times a year–ususally when I’m in the rare mood for a Big Mac or a quarter pounder with cheese. But I would not turn down a shared portion of a FO’F. I’d welcome it. I don’t get the like for McDonald’s fries. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/18 "2011-08-26T23:13:46Z")
They aren’t the same since they stopped frying them in suet. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/19 "2011-08-26T23:25:31Z")
Back before I became a vegetarian, I used to occasionally get very strong cravings for a Filet O Fish. The more tartar sauce the better. I kind of miss it, but not enough to try vegetarian fish substitutes (especially because I generally don’t like fish - the FoF was an exception). The McRib was pretty awesome too actually. Thankfully, there’s a company that makes a [pretty tasty vegetarian version of a McRib patty](http://www.morningstarfarms.com/MorningStarFarmsHickoryBBQRiblets_16331.html) so I don’t really miss the McRib. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2011, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215/20 "2011-08-26T23:37:33Z")
Filet o’ Fish is great (leaving off the tartar sauce anyway, yuk, I hate all tartar sauce), but the lousy cheapskates at McD’s have gone from using an entire cheese slice to a half slice, the bastards, Now there’s not enough cheese for every bite! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filet-o-fish-worst-fast-food-ever/594215.md?page=2)