I wrote a while back about the sardines from Aldi changing from pilchards to sprats. I thought the original in hot sauce, or at least the first version I ever bought, were some pretty good sardines for $1. Those were pilchards from Morocco. The revision containing sprats was sourced from Poland. The worst part wasn't the change of species, but rather that the hot sauce changed from a really good harissa to something rather pedestrian, like what you'd find in any supermarket variety sardines. But, as of Spring 2026, they've changed again. Now, they're Western Pacific Sardinops sagax sourced from Thailand, and I'm calling them Northern Catch Sardines in Hot Sauce v.3.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
Surprisingly good appearance. Skin mostly intact. No fins, tails, nor any scales to speak of. The sauce has a deep, vibrant color. The aroma is mildly vinegary. No fishy smell. A sip of the sauce it more tangy than hot.
Let's Eat
There are four husky fish total. They are firm, and came out of the can fairly intact. Once out over the rice, I poured about half of the sauce remaining in the tin over the fish.
The texture on the palate is firm and meaty, but still tender. No dryness to them at all. I usually prefer Northeastern Atlantic pilchards, but there's nothing to complain about here.
Rather than a traditional hot sauce, the sauce reminds me more of Salsa Espinaler, but with a little more body. And that's not a bad thing.
Main Takeaways
- Meaty Western Pacific sardines
- Moist and tender
- Tangy sauce
I'll have to say Aldi just may have redeemed themselves with this change. After the Moroccan pilchards in harissa, the sprats were just ho-hum. These are orders of magnitude better. Let's hope it lasts.
Brand: Aldi/Northern Catch
Description: Sardines in Hot Sauce
Species: Sardinops sagax
Country of Origin: Thailand
Source: FAO61, Western Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $1