Which McDonald’s sandwich was first introduced in 1963 as a seafood alternative?

The Filet-O-Fish was first introduced in 1963 as a seafood alternative at McDonald’s.

Franchisee Lou Groen developed the sandwich for his Cincinnati restaurant, where many customers observed meatless Friday meals. The original product used a fried fish fillet, tartar sauce, and cheese on a bun. Its sales gave McDonald’s a way to serve customers whose religious or personal practices reduced meat consumption on particular days.

The Filet-O-Fish became a permanent part of the McDonald’s menu and developed its own visual identity through packaging and advertising. The fish species and sourcing have changed in some markets over time, so descriptions of the ingredient should not be treated as globally universal.

The sandwich is sometimes incorrectly described as a response to a general demand for healthy food. Its original business story was more specific: Groen needed a successful menu item for a location affected by Friday meat restrictions. McDonald’s tested it against a ham-based alternative before choosing the fish sandwich.