The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish Bun Swap To Give It More 'English'

Ordering and taste-testing new McDonald's hacks is our literal passion. You can only imagine our glee when Mike Haracz, a former McDonald's corporate chef, took to TikTok to share some of his favorite custom orders at the Golden Arches. Haracz is a celebrity in McDonald's social media fandom, occasionally popping up with juicy behind-the-scenes knowledge, tips for how to get the freshest fries, and — yes — "secret menu" customizations.

Everyone has their go-to order; Even celebs have their favorite McDonald's menu items. The Filet-O-Fish is a quirky Numero Uno, but that doesn't mean it lacks devotees. The fish sandwich, which features wild-caught Alaskan Pollock, American cheese, and tartar sauce, all on a steamed bun, was invented in 1962 by a McDonald's franchisee eager to serve his meat-abstaining Roman Catholic customer base during Lent. It hasn't changed much in the last 60+ years, which is why Haracz suggests swapping the standard steamed bun for an English muffin and adding Big Mac sauce to give the Filet-O-Fish new life and a cultural spin.

An English muffin and some Big Mac sauce are all you need to elevate your Filet-O-Fish, claims Chef Mike Haracz, who dubs the resulting sandwich, "A pretty tasty, kind of English ... pub-style fish sandwich kinda thing." Obviously, fish and chips is a British classic, but the modified Filet-O-Fish Haracz suggests is a reference to the lesser-known fish finger sandwich. This is a humble creation made of fish sticks, tartar sauce, malt vinegar, and white bread, sometimes served with pickles and capers. Adding Big Mac sauce gives a similar tangy edge to your sandwich, thanks to the briny pickle relish and zesty mustard in the condiment. The English muffin (which is available 'round the clock, despite the fact that McDonald's stopped serving all-day breakfast) is a more substantial bread choice that can contain your fillings while holding up to a good soaking from the two sauces. To really eat like a Brit, stick some of your fries in the sandwich as well! 

Our own personal experience has been that not all customizations are available in the McDonald's mobile app, so you will likely have to visit a restaurant to order your pub-style Filet-O-Fish. As is the case with all McDonald's hacks, the first thing to remember is to be nice to employees. A little respect will get you far with customer-facing staffers when asking them to switch up the standard prep on classic menu items like this.