The season leading up to Easter means eating more seafood for a lot of people, whether they’re religious or not. Fast-food chains, always eager to please, release new fish sandwiches and other seafood items right before Lent to cater to the seasonal trend. (Of course, there’s no shortage of year-round fish sandwiches, like McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish.) With Mardi Gras already past, it’s time to check out which drive-thrus offer fast-food fish sandwiches and seafood that’ll satisfy your Lenten cravings.
Burger King
The Big Fish is available again this year, though the spicy version has not returned, unfortunately. It’s got an Alaskan pollock filet coated in crunchy panko and topped with lettuce, pickles, and tartar sauce on a potato bun.
Popeyes
Popeyes isn’t just for chicken. The chain’s crispy fried flounder filet sandwich is back for the season. It’s on a brioche bun with pickles and either tartar sauce or spicy spread. Plus, fried butterfly shrimp are also available. Get 8 of them in the $6 Shrimp Tackle Box with a side and a biscuit. And new for this year, you can get your shrimp tossed in one of four sauces, including garlic parmesan, lemon pepper, buffalo, and ghost pepper.
Culver’s
Walleye is available at Culver’s again this year, and fans are thrilled. Wisconsin is known for its fish fry, which is why this Dairy State chain knows how to do it right. The battered and fried walleye filet is available on a sandwich or as a dinner with two sides and a dinner roll. Fried cod and shrimp are also available year-round.
Long John Silver’s
Seafood is on the menu all the time at Long John Silver’s. Currently on the menu for $6, you can get one of three shrimp baskets: six grilled shrimp over rice, six batter-dipped fried shrimp, or popcorn shrimp. The battered and the popcorn shrimp meals comes with your choice of side and two hushpuppies. The grilled shrimp comes with savory rice and a side.
Del Taco
Del Taco has a solid lineup of Tex-Mex seafood items this year. The beer-battered Crispy Fish Taco features wild-caught Alaskan pollock with secret sauce and pico de gallo (3 for $7). Also available are the Crispy Jumbo Shrimp tacos (2 for $6) and the Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Burrito.
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Wienerschnitzel
Wienerschnitzel is all about hot dogs, but it’s also offering a Sea Dog sandwich for Lent that features a fish filet with American cheese and tartar sauce on a steamed bun. Also on the menu for Lent are good old-fashioned fish and chips.
Freddy’s
Freddy’s, a frozen custard and burger chain, is ready for seafood season with a deluxe crispy fish sandwich that features a 4-ounce piece of battered and fried Alaskan flounder along with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, and homemade tartar sauce, cooked to order on a toasted bun.
White Castle
Forget burgers because Shrimp Nibblers are back at White Castle. The Lenten favorite are essentially popcorn shrimp, though a bit larger. There’s also panko breaded Fish Sliders if sandwiches are what you’re after.
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Qdoba
Qdoba, too, offers a unique seafood option. The citrus lime shrimp protein option is back this year, made with a tangy lime citrus sauce. You can order it as your protein in any bowl, burrito, quesadilla, or salad, or order a citrus lime shrimp burrito or bowl topped with chile crema, cotija cheese, and pico de gallo, or a surf and turf burrito or bowl that adds steak to the mix.
Quiznos
If you’re looking for a seafood sandwich that isn’t fried, Quiznos could be your stop. The classic tuna melt is made with tuna salad, melted cheddar, pickles, and tomatoes, and it took one of the top spots in our tuna salad sub taste test. There’s also a Lobster Classic sub made with lobster and seafood salad that’s back on the menu permanently.
Arby’s
The King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe is back at Arby’s this season. It’s got a crispy fish filet on a slightly sweet King’s Hawaiian bun along with cheddar cheese, tartar sauce, lettuce, and tomato. You can also get a simpler fish sandwich and a Fish ‘n Cheddar with cheese sauce.
Wendy’s
The Crispy Panko Fish sandwich is once again available at Wendy’s. It’s a pollock filet coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs along with lettuce and cheese on a bun. But what sets this sandwich apart is that it also comes with pickles and a creamy dill tartar sauce for extra briny flavor.
Zaxby’s
Shrimp has come back to the Zaxby’s menu just in time for Lent. This year, you can get Southern fried shrimp that are coated in buttermilk and garlic, onion, and pepper seasoning. You can get them in a meal with fries, Texas toast, and a drink, or get them as a surf and turf combo with 8 shrimp, three chicken fingers, Texas toast, fries, and a drink.
Sonic
If you’d like your fish sandwich in a drive-in atmosphere (or just with a really huge slushie), Sonic is your place. Its fish sandwich is back and made wild-caught Alaska pollock topped with tartar sauce and shredded lettuce on a toasted bun.
Whataburger
In keeping with Whataburger’s naming convention, its fish sandwich is called Whatacatch. It’s an Alaskan pollock filet coated in panko breadcrumbs and topped with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce on a bun. You can also get two filets and fries on the Whatacatch platter.
Smashburger
Smashburger is getting in on the seafood trend this year with shrimp sandwiches and platters. The Big Shrimp Roll features a dozen crispy fried shrimp, lettuce, and remoulade sauce on a toasted New England-style hot dog bun, and also comes in spicy version. You can also get a shrimp basket with two dozen shrimp (or spicy shrimp) along with fries, remoulade, and chipotle mayo.
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