Andy Richter’s Favorite Fast Food Makes Us Love Him Even More

Over the last two months, my friends, family, and distant acquaintances have all come to expect a panicked “Text Andy to 215-23” message from me every Tuesday night while “Dancing with the Stars” airs on ABC. My intensity might lead one to believe that I’m a longtime celebrity ballroom dancing super-fan, but I’m not. Actually, I’m a first-time watcher, and I’m here for one reason and one reason only: Andy Richter. 

The comedian, actor, and longtime sidekick to Conan O’Brien may be an underdog in the dancing competition, but his winning attitude and hilarious antics have kept him in week after week. I’ve quite literally been a “Fandy” for my entire life, so I’m overjoyed that DWTS has introduced the beloved comedian to an entirely new audience.

I would do anything for this man—including downloading TruTV to watch his 2021 episode of “Fast Foodies,” a show where three chefs compete to recreate a celebrity’s favorite fast food menu item. That’s how I learned Richter’s go-to fast food order, which has made me love him even more.

Andy Richter’s Favorite Fast Food Sandwich

Andy reveals early in the episode that his favorite fast food order is the Filet-O-Fish from McDonald’s. For Andy, the sandwich is as nostalgic as it is delicious. 

“When I was a kid in the ‘70s, what we would do on a lot of nights is go to McDonald’s, park cars, and hang out in the parking lot,” he says in the “Fast Foodies” episode. “That wasn’t all we did, but definitely there were nights where we just…,” trailing off. “Looking back on it, it’s pretty pathetic.”

The iconic McDonald’s sandwich features a crispy fish patty on a soft, steamed bun with melty American cheese and the chain’s own creamy tartar sauce. 

The chef contestants in the show agree that the crispy fish sandwich is, in fact, quite tasty. 

“The bun seems to be untoasted,” says “Iron Chef” winner Justin Sutherland. “I think it allows the bun to absorb fat from the cheese and some of that tartar sauce.”

The History of the Filet-O-Fish 

Richter may have enjoyed the Filet-O-Fish during the ‘70s, but the sandwich was actually invented in 1962, and is credited to Lou Groen, a McDonald’s franchisee from Cincinnati, Ohio. Groen, whose restaurant was located in a predominantly Roman Catholic area, noticed a sharp dip in sales on Fridays in late spring. He quickly realized that, since an overwhelming amount of his customers abstained from red meat during Lent, he’d need an alternate menu item to make up for lost sales.

When he approached McDonald’s executives with the idea of a fish sandwich, founder Ray Kroc wasn’t sold. He countered the proposal with a different idea: the Hula Burger, a sandwich comprised of grilled pineapple and two slices of American cheese. 

The story goes that Kroc made a deal with Groen: The Cincinnati location would sell both sandwiches on a Friday, and whichever sandwich sold better would be added to the permanent menu. In fact, Kroc was so confident in his sandwich that he made a side bet with grillman Fred Turner that the loser would buy the winner a new suit. In the end, the score was Hula Burger: 6, Filet-O-Fish: 350.

“Fred got a new suit and McDonald’s got the Filet-O-Fish,” joked McDonald’s Company Historian Mike Bullington.

How To Make Copycat Filet-O-Fish at Home

Though it’s hard to beat the drive-thru favorite straight out of the paper wrapper, Allrecipes’ Copycat Filet-O-Fish Sandwich gives McDonald’s a run for its money. Here are our secrets:

• The fish: McDonald’s uses wild-caught Alaskan pollock, but our recipe starts with affordable cod. It’s easy to find at most grocery stores, it has a firm and meaty texture that’s ideal for frying, and it’s mild enough to appeal to any palate. If you can’t find cod, though, any white fish will do. 
• The bun: To replicate the sandwich’s steamed bun, we opted for an embarrassingly simple trick: Top the bottom bun with a slice of American cheese, then microwave it alongside a damp paper towel. The extra moisture steams the bun and melts the cheese without any bells and whistles. Zap the top bun with the same wet paper towel for a few seconds and you’re ready to assemble. 
• The sauce: McDonald’s describes its signature “creamy, classic” tartar sauce as a “classic Filet-O-Fish topper made with pickle relish, onion, and parsley.” While a bottled version is available in some Canadian stores, we’re partial to our top-rated copycat recipe—it takes just 10 minutes to prep and reviewers say it’s “better than store-bought.”

Get the recipe: Copycat Filet-O-Fish

We can’t think of a better dish to enjoy while watching Richter dance his heart out and win America’s heart over. And don’t forget to text Andy to 215-23!