"The sandwich is a sight to behold: Paired with homemade tartar sauce, the fried halibut filet arrives on a bed of leaf lettuce and sliced tomatoes tucked between toasted buns. Unlike most fish sandwiches from other chains, which are typically made from Alaskan pollock or flounder, halibut has a richer flavor - almost buttery, with a toothsome texture."
"McDonald's uses Alaskan pollock, which is extremely cheap, peaking at a little over $3 a pound in 2024, according to the food database Tridge. Popeyes' Alaskan flounder is more expensive at $2 to $4 per pound, but that's still nothing compared to halibut's $3 to $21 price range."
"Halibut has tough fishing regulations, and is difficult to catch because the fish swim deep. That means even though demand is high, there aren't many halibuts to go around, which makes halibut a bad choice for chains that value efficiency over quality."
Apollo Burger, opened in 1984 in Salt Lake City, uniquely serves halibut fish sandwiches among American fast food chains. The sandwich features fried halibut filet with homemade tartar sauce, leaf lettuce, and sliced tomatoes on toasted buns. Halibut provides a richer, buttery flavor and toothsome texture compared to cheaper alternatives like Alaskan pollock or flounder used by McDonald's and Popeyes. Halibut remains rare in fast food due to cost, ranging from $3 to $21 per pound versus pollock at $3 per pound. Strict fishing regulations and deep-water habitat make halibut difficult to catch, limiting supply despite high demand, making it impractical for chains prioritizing efficiency over quality.
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