The new TikTok trend is tinned fish date night – and all things sardine. ButwWhat are the best brands of gourmet sardines and other tinned fish to try right now? Sample one of these 10 top brands for your next tinned fish date night – and let us know what you think.
the new TikTok trend? tinned fish date night
From butter boards to casual caviar, TikTok has become the grand arbiter of food inspiration in recent years. Among the most recent trending food crazes? Good old fashioned sardines in a can and other tinned fish.
Yes, you read that correctly. Your Grandmother’s favorite pantry staple has made a comeback. Thanks in part to American chef and “mumfluencer” Ali Hooke, who late last year uploaded a video of the “tinned fish date nights” she and her husband enjoy.
Since then, tinned fish videos have garnered over 89 million views, with users participating in everything from taste tests to tinned fish snack boards. There’s even a tinned seafood subreddit with over 43,000 enthusiasts sharing their favorite tins, suggested pairings and feelings on the newly coined “girl dinner.”
So what’s the allure? The pretty, colorful packaging and the simplicity of preparing the meal helps. Plus canned sardines can be beautifully arranged on a rustic board with some bread, cheese and crackers in less than five minutes. And of course there’s the nutritional benefits. They are full of heart-healthy omega-3s. A big win in our book.
The easiest way to eat more sardines is to find the ones that taste best. That’s where we come in. With so many brands to choose from – and even a new store called the Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardines having recently opened up in midtown Manhattan, we ’ve rounded up 8 of the best of this salty and oily fish to try.
8 best brands of sardines and other tinned fish to try the TikTok trend
1. king oscar sardines
Wild caught in Norway, King Oscar Sardines ($12) are lightly oak smoked, preserved in olive oil and packed with flavor. Each hand-packed can include two layers of the finest brisling sardines. Enjoy over crackers or add to a pasta dish.
BUY NOW – $12.00 for 4 tins.
2. matiz sardines
Caught fresh off the coast of Galicia and hand-packed in premium Spanish olive oil, Matiz Sardines ($17) have a nice color and a clean, salty flavor. Lay them over toast with sliced avocado with fresh squeezed lemon.
BUY NOW – $17.00 for 5 tins.
3. ramon peña sardines
Packed in a traditional, hearty Galician sauce, Ramon Peña Sardines ($12) are known for their exquisite taste and rich flavor. Inspired by a cooked sardine dish going back generations, the hand-harvested and processed fish come in a flavorful sauce of tomato, wine, red, pepper, and onion that is thickened with flour for extra body.
BUY NOW – $12.00 for 1 tin.
4. connetable sardines
Connetable Sardines ($30) from France have been skinned and deboned laboriously by hand. The flavor is more mild and may be a great introductory fish to those beginning their tinned fish journey.
BUY NOW – $30.00 for 12 tins.
5. jose gourmet sardines
From Portugal’s smallest boutique cannery is Jose Gourmet Sardines in Lemon and Olive Oil ($10). These small fish pack a big, quintessential sardine flavor with a firm but forgiving texture. They taste rich and salty, like just the kind of the little seafood snack you want to stack on a crusty bread or salad.
BUY NOW – $10.00 for 1 tin.
6. nuri portuguese sardines
In business since 1935, Nuri Portuguese Sardines are a cult favorite among chefs. Wild caught and all-natural, these old world style Sardines ($26) are available in limited amounts each year. Every can is hand wrapped with the distinctive Nuri vintage design, making them a fun gift for foodies.
BUY NOW – $26.00 for 4 tins.
7. el manar mediterranean sardines
Flavored with spicy harissa, Tunisian El Manar Mediterranean Sardines with Cayenne Pepper ($29) are a craveable treat. Almost as important, they come in cute, brightly colored retro tins that look great rolled open.
BUY NOW – $29.00 for 12 tins.
8. fishwife tinned seafood co
Relatively new to the seafood scene, LA based FishwifeTinned Seafood Co, is serving up olive oil-soaked Sardines ($32) from Spain’s golden coast. Female owned and operated, they have one of the most vibrant cans on the market and they’re fish are equally nice – plump and wild caught.
BUY NOW – $32.00 for 3 tins.
best brands of sardines and other tinned fish
So what do you think readers? Are you ready to dive into the TikTok sardine and tinned fish trend? Or perhaps you like your fish faux? If that’s the case, then perhaps Bottega Veneta’s new Sardine Bag ($4,200) may be more your speed for getting in on the sardine summer 2023 action.
