McDonald’s introduced the Filet-O-Fish sandwich in 1962.
The sandwich was created by Lou Groen, a McDonald’s franchisee in Cincinnati, Ohio. His restaurant served a largely Catholic neighborhood, where many customers avoided meat on Fridays, especially during Lent. Groen proposed a fish sandwich to help attract those customers during a period when Friday sales were weak.
McDonald’s president Ray Kroc was initially reluctant to add the sandwich. He tested Groen’s fish sandwich against a meatless hamburger featuring pineapple and cheese. The Filet-O-Fish won the test and became part of the national menu. Its name and fish-based recipe helped McDonald’s broaden its identity beyond hamburgers and fries.
The sandwich is often confused with later seafood promotions, but 1962 specifically marks the Filet-O-Fish’s introduction. It preceded the Big Mac and McNuggets and became one of the chain’s longest-running branded menu items.