Bojangles Bojangler Fish Sandwich Review

Today, we evaluate the Bojangles Bojangler Fish Sandwich. During the Christian Lenten season, many Roman Catholics and some other Christians do not consume meat on Fridays. In response, many restaurants provide special meatless choices, especially different varieties of fish sandwiches. In 2016, Bojangles introduced its first fish sandwich, the Bojangler. Like many of these Lenten fish sandwiches, the Bojangler is highlighted by a fried fish filet. Since then, Bojangles has brought back the Bojangler for a limited time (around Lent) on a near-annual basis.

Bojangles was founded in 1977 in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Jack Fulk and Richard Thomas. As of 2023, it has 818 restaurants. While it operates franchises in 17 states and Honduras, it is still a regional chain serving the southeastern United States, especially North Carolina.

The Construction

Fried Breaded Alaskan Pollock
Lightly Toasted Bun
American Cheese
Duke’s Tartar Sauce
Length: 6 inches (Diameter, including fish protruding from the bun)
Weight: 6.5 ounces
Sandwiches Eaten: 3
Location: Indian Trail, NC
Price: $5.79

Earlier incarnations of the Bojangler also featured lettuce. Bojangles now has another fish sandwich known as the Bojangler Deluxe Fish sandwich which adds shredded lettuce, tomato, and pickle. Our focus today is on the standard Bojangler Fish Sandwich.

The Experience

For this assessment, the scoring was very similar to what we did with the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish.

Fish: 4 points
Bun: 2 points
Condiments: 2 point
Intangibles: 2 points

Fish

This dish features fried Alaskan pollock with a breading that includes Bojangles Signature Seasoning. Bojangles Signature Seasoning combines paprika, pepper, and other assorted spices. As with most Bojangles seasonings, it provides a slight kick without being spicy. The fish itself is quite good. It had a flaky texture and good flavor. The flavors were on the mild side. As a result, the Bojangles seasoning will slightly overpower the fish itself.

Score: 2.5 out of 4.0 points

Bun

The Bojangler features a split top bun that has become synonymous with Bojangles. This bun has a buttery crust and is lightly toasted. Normally, I prefer a crisper bun for sandwiches, but when it comes to fish sandwiches, I lean towards a softer texture. The light toasting, combined with the pillowy interior of the bun, really enhanced the overall experience. While it may not be a fresh bakery roll, I found that it worked quite nicely in this case.

Score: 1.25 out of 2.0 points

Condiments

The American cheese is placed on the fish, and the heat melts it slightly. As I said in the Filet-O-Fish review, the only scenario in which I would consider pairing American cheese with fish would be when it comes to a battered or breaded fried fish filet, such as in the Bojangler sandwich. I personally prefer the cheese to be a bit more melted. There was a nice creaminess to the American cheese, but it was average in terms of flavor.

I’m ambivalent about tartar sauce. I am not a fan of eggs or mayonnaise, but I have been tolerant of some tartar. The Bojangler uses Duke’s Tartar Sauce, the same folks who make Duke’s Mayonnaise. If the non-mayonnaise component can offset the mayonnaise component in the tartar sauce, I am more tolerant of it. Duke’s Tartar Sauce uses pickles, olives, and capers – making it a better tartar sauce option for me. There also wasn’t a ton of tartar sauce on the Bojangler.

Score: 1.0 out of 2.0 points

Intangibles

The proportions of this sandwich are quite satisfying; the fish filet is substantial and filling. The fact it isn’t smothered with tartar sauce is a plus. I also found the single slice of cheese worked well. One intangible I look for is whether or not the sandwich experience is greater than the sum of the parts. In the case of the Bojangles, it’s about even.

Score 1.25 out of 2.0 points

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

For a simple sandwich (fish, cheese, tartar sauce, and a bun), a lot was going on with the Bojangler Fish Sandwich. In particular, the Bojangles seasonings on the breading of the fish. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the tartar sauce, though I think I still would prefer the pickle, olive, and caper without the mayonnaise. Bojangles has delivered an impressive offering that is not only well-sized to satisfy your hunger. This limited edition item is something I eagerly anticipate will return in the coming years.