McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish Was Created in Ohio

Everyone has their go-to order at McDonald’s, whether it’s a hefty Quarter Pounder, a steaming box of Chicken McNuggets or a refreshing McFlurry. But many of the fast food chain’s most popular offerings didn’t make their way onto the menu through ideas proposed in a corporate office. Rather, they were dreamt up by individual franchisees looking to fill a need they saw in their local communities.

From the Egg McMuffin (inspired by the efforts of Herb Peterson, a franchisee in Santa Barbara, California) to the Big Mac (which debuted at a McDonald’s in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, under the supervision of franchisee Jim Delligatti), these iconic creations have helped solidify the brand’s legendary menu.

Cincinnati also contributed to McDonald’s menu history, when franchisee Lou Groen, who opened his McDonald’s on West North Bend Road, invented what he named the Filet-O-Fish in 1962. The breaded whitefish sandwich is now a menu staple, but that wasn’t always the case. Groen had the idea to offer a hamburger alternative for people in his community observing Lent and proposed that McDonald’s test the fish sandwich.

“The Filet-O-Fish wasn’t accepted at first by McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc,” Erica Shadoin, one of Groen’s grandchildren, said in a March 5, 2025, press release announcing the anniversary of the famous fast-food sandwich.

Kroc thought the Hula Burger — made with grilled pineapple and topped with cheese — would be the sandwich of choice for Catholics looking to avoid meat while observing lent.

“Kroc’s Hula Burger soon went up against the Filet-O-Fish and whichever item sold more on a certain Friday would be added to the permanent menu,” Shadoin said in the release.

The Filet-O-Fish won in a landslide and was permanently added to menus across the country in 1965. Grant Groen, another of Lou’s grandchildren, said in the release that the recipe has remained relatively unchanged since it was originally introduced. He added that McDonald’s now uses 100% Alaskan Pollock, but the fried filet still sits on a steamed bun and is topped with creamy tartar sauce and a half slice of melty American cheese. 

Today, Grant and Shadoin operate 30 McDonald’s locations in the Cincinnati area, with Shadoin overseeing the location on West North Bend Road where the Filet-O-Fish was created.

To celebrate the sandwich’s, 60th anniversary as an official national menu item, this Lenten season, McDonald’s restaurants across Ohio are offering special deals on the Filet-O-Fish sandwich and other menu items through April 21.

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