A Filet-O-Fish sandwich on top of a box.

McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Has A Documentary-Worthy History

NEWS

By HILARY WHEELAN REMLEY

Someone holding a Filet-O-Fish box.
McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish has a backstory worthy of a documentary. First added to the menu in 1965, the sandwich displays the ingenuity of McDonald's franchise owner, Lou Groen.
McDonald's with a vintage design.
At the time, his restaurant was serving a community that was 87% Catholic. Eating meat on Fridays was prohibited by Catholic doctrine, and Groen's business suffered on Fridays.
Someone putting together a Hula Burger.
Groen created a fish sandwich and presented his idea to McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, who had his own idea, the Hula Burger — a grilled pineapple ring and a slice of cheese.
Filet-O-Fish on top of a box.
It was decided that the two sandwiches would appear on the menu for Good Friday in 1962. The item that sold the most would be the winner, and the Filet-O-Fish won by a landslide.
Two Filet-O-Fish boxes and a beverage.
The Filet-O-Fish sold 350 units, and Hula Burger sold 6 units, becoming a thing of the past. The Filet-O-Fish became the first addition to McDonald's menu, where it still resides.