4 Delicious Ways To Upgrade Culver's Fish Sandwiches

What is it about Culver's North Atlantic Cod Sandwichthat has us in such thrall? Well, for one thing, while a few fast food restaurants offer seasonal fish sandwiches for Lent, Culver's has this nom-tastic handheld on its regular menu all year long. You could argue that McDonald's does the same, but we've occasionally had to resort to ordering an extra patty to make the Filet-O-Fish bigger. Practically nobody, on the other hand, will complain about the heft of the Culver's cod sando, which features a flaky, juicy plank of seafood laden with tartar sauce, lettuce, and shredded cheese — a righteous meal if we've ever had one. In fact, there's little about this sandwich we don't already love. Being foodies, however, we can't help but daydream about ways to make it even better. 

The following quartet of hacks play off Culver's impressive toppings menu for combinations that we feel will elevate your fish sandwich to the next level by imbuing it with even greater flavor. From spins on a classic lunchtime sammie to a moreish take on what already comes with the standard menu item, we've concocted ordering tricks that will get you almost a full work week of unique fish sandwiches with no repeats. Keep in mind that some condiments and toppings demand an upcharge, the specifics of which may vary by location. For the easiest sandwich hacking, we always recommend using your Culver's app, but some tweaks (anything requiring "extra" of a component, for example) may require an in-person order at the counter.

Not too long ago, we covered how to make a Culver's fish sandwich 10x better with the addition of pickles and extra tartar sauce. Doing so really plays up the tang of the sammie, but what if, instead of pickles, you doubled the tartar sauce and also asked for extra cheese? The resulting handheld might be a knife-and-fork affair with how messy it could get, but, oh! The creaminess! The cheesiness! If you're a dairy lover, this may well be the final word in indulgence. A delightful bonus? You can dip your fries in the spillage. 

Hear us out: a really good burger is only enhanced by its supporting cast. Culver's is a chain known for its burgers (which offer better value than Five Guys), so why not deck out your fish sandwich like a famous ButterBurger? Hold the tartar sauce and, instead, pile on lettuce, tomato, and onions, along with pickles, ketchup, mustard, and mayo. We think that this fully-loaded burger treatment — with or without cheese — will really bring out the natural meatiness of the fish while both the veggies and the melding sauces add bold savor to every bite. 

We love cooking up steakhouse-worthy mushrooms cooked in butter, so why not replicate that at Culver's? Add the chain's butter-sauteed mushrooms plus onions and crispy bacon to your order, and your Culver's cod sandwich can end up feeling as luxurious as a bona fide entree at your favorite chophouse. Lay off the lettuce, though; it's not needed here and won't properly match the unctuous texture of the mushroom and onion. We wouldn't say no to a creamy coat of mayo to provide a silky backdrop to the smoky, buttery flavors, however. Again, cheese is strictly at your discretion — we might switch to Swiss here for a funkier flavor. 

Go ahead and 86 the cheese and tartar on your next cod sandwich and transform it into a fish-tastic BLT with bacon slices, shredded lettuce (already there), and juicy tomato slices. Make sure to add some salt and pepper to bring out the veggies' best side! Bacon, lettuce, and tomato work so well together because the salt, freshness, and acid the components bring represent a harmonious culinary trinity, and they deliver that same congruence to a fried fish sandwich. We've heard great things about the viral TikTok BLT-style sandwich that switches pickles for tomatoes, and we also condone that variation!