Long John Silver’s Is Selling Its Signature Tartar Sauce—But Only for a Limited Time

If there’s one thing that a fast food company will do, it’s find a way to make its in-house products available at retail stores. The practice of chains turning their fan favorites into items that you can enjoy at home has reached a fever pitch, and these days, you can’t move for tie-ins and ready-made versions of fast food dishes and condiments at places like Walmart and Target. Buffalo Wild Wings-flavored chicken sticks made with Slim Jim, White Castle frozen sliders (some of which are actually pretty good), Starbucks coffee creamers…you name it, they’re selling it at supermarkets. 

Well, Long John Silver’s wasn’t going to miss out on all that fun, was it? The seafood-focused fast food chain has recently announced that it’s to start selling its fan-favorite tartar sauce in bottled form, albeit only for a couple of weeks. Get yours while stocks last. 

Bottled LJS Tartar Sauce? Shiver Me Timbers!

In a statement to Nation’s Restaurant News, Long John Silver’s highlighted that this was the first time that it had made its menu items available for purchase at retail locations. “It allows us to reach guests beyond our restaurants, giving them a chance to enjoy a little piece of the Long John Silver’s experience wherever they’re eating,” said Christopher Caudill, senior vice president for supply chain and commercial strategy for the chain. 

To be honest, pivoting to a retail strategy might be a smart move for the chain, considering its shrinking footprint over the last few years. Long John Silver’s closed over 150 restaurants between 2022 and 2024, and its unit size has reduced by more than 50% since 2007. LSJ has gone hard on deals in the last couple of months to try to draw people back into its stores, but it could well be the case that a major rethink is needed. If its tartar sauce is a hit, it could see it going the way of White Castle and hammering its retail operations even more.

Get Your Sauce While the Going’s Good (and While Stocks Last)

Long John Silver’s tartar sauce release coincides with Lent, and the product will be available in select Kroger stores from February 18 onward. Come April 2, though, it’ll be no more, so grab it while you can and pair it with our favorite frozen fish fillets. 

While you’re at it, you might wanna check out what all those fast food chains have to offer during Lent, too. These few weeks are a bonanza for people who love fish sandwiches, with restaurants competing with each other to make the best one. From Arby’s to Culver’s, you won’t be able to move for crispy fish throughout March (and there’s always the good ol’ Filet-O-Fish to fall back on). Honestly, we’re not mad about it. We love a fish sandwich.