7 Fast Food Restaurants With Seasonal Fish Sandwiches For Lent

On Easter Sunday, lamb is a classic part of the dinner table, but in the weeks leading up to the Christian holiday, many people refrain from eating meat during Lent. In 2025, the 40-day period of fasting and prayer begins on March 5 and ends on either April 17 or 19, depending on the tradition one follows. In recent years, fast food restaurants have aimed to accommodate those observing the holy period by offering seasonal fish sandwiches as an alternative to their beef and chicken-heavy menus.

McDonald's started the trend in 1962 when a franchise owner in a Catholic-dominated neighborhood noticed sales drop during Lent. He released the iconic Filet-O-Fish, attempting to lure Catholic customers back into the restaurant, and the fish sandwich was a hit. Taking a page from McDonald's success, many other restaurants strive to serve Lent-observing customers something tasty while they abstain from meat. People honoring Lent can always play it safe and eat in, but if you want to get a quick bite at your local fast food joint, here are the places you should look to first.

Although fast-casual restaurant Culver's offers customers a North Atlantic Cod Sandwich year-round, it is adding a special fish sandwich to the menu just in time for Lent. Beginning February 24, the restaurant will be serving a limited-time hand-battered Northwoods Walleye Sandwich. The dish is a fan-favorite at Culver's, so the company encourages people interested in trying one to come to the restaurant early before it runs out for the day.

Folks can also order the Northwoods Walleye Dinner, which features the crispy fried fish sans bun served with two sides, such as coleslaw and fries. If walleye isn't your cup of tea, the North Atlantic Cod Sandwich will still be available on a toasted hoagie roll with tartar sauce, lettuce, and Wisconsin cheese. Culver's also has Jumbo Butterflied Shrimp as a seafood option that can be ordered as a meal or an add-on if you want a few pieces with your fish sandwich.

Well known for its slogan, "We have the meats," Arby's plans to get in on the fish sandwich action this year with not one but three limited-time menu items. The Crispy Fish Sandwich, Fish 'N Cheddar Sandwich, and King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe are all currently available and likely to stay that way through the Easter holiday on April 20. Each offers a fried fish filet, but they are all served a little differently.

The Crispy Fish Sandwich is housed in a sesame seed bun and topped with tartar sauce and lettuce. Arby's Fish 'N Cheddar is nearly the same, with an additional topping — cheddar cheese sauce. If you want an actual slice of cheddar cheese, you will need to order the King's Hawaiian Fish Deluxe, featuring the fried fish filet with tartar, lettuce, tomato, and a slice of cheddar cheese in between a sweet King's Hawaiian roll.

One fast food restaurant that serves customers fish sandwiches around Lent every year is Wendy's, and this year, it will continue that tradition with its Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich. The sandwich features wild-caught Alaskan pollock sourced from the world's largest certified sustainable fishery. Flaky and buttery like cod, the pollock is lightly battered so the crunch doesn't distract from the tender fish containing hints of garlic and onion that make every bite exceptional.

The fish filet is coated with crispy panko breadcrumbs before it is fried and topped with lettuce, pickles, and a creamy dill tartar sauce on one of the restaurant's airy buns. Wendy's fish sandwich also comes covered with a slice of American cheese that complements the crunch of the fried Alaskan pollock and other toppings. In most locations, the meal is solely a seasonal option, although some lucky seafood lovers are fortunate enough to have it available all year.

Another fast food restaurant that offers those observing Lent a special fish sandwich every year is Popeyes. For a limited time, Popeyes serves the Flounder Fish Sandwich, which contains a marinated piece of flounder dredged in a Southern-style crispy coating. The fish is fried until it achieves that beautiful golden-brown color emblematic of exceptionally fried food before it is topped with pickles and tartar sauce on a brioche bun.

In 2024, Popeyes also released a version of the sandwich that brought some heat with spicy mayo in place of tartar sauce, but as of yet, there has been no word whether it will be making a return this year. The Flounder Fish Sandwich is generally available from mid-February through April, and it has become a fan favorite folks look forward to. If you want more seafood with your fish sandwich, Popeyes also serves popcorn shrimp year-round.

Another fast food restaurant featuring wild-caught Alaskan pollock just in time for Lent is Jack in the Box. The chain that predominantly operates on the West Coast has succinctly dubbed the limited-time menu item Fish Sandwich. Wild-caught Alaskan pollock is breaded with panko for extra crispiness before being deep-fried to flaky perfection. A toasted bakery bun holds together the deep-fried fish filet topped with fresh lettuce and tartar sauce.

After suffering massive customer drop-off during its E. coli fiasco in the 1990s,  Jack in the Box now seemingly takes every opportunity to keep customers returning to its restaurants. From menu options specifically tailored for kids to boneless wing specials just for game days, Jack in the Box tries to please everyone at all hours of the day. Serving a fish sandwich for Lent is just one more way the fast-food restaurant aims to please the masses, but only while supplies last.

One of McDonald's biggest fast food competitors, Burger King, has the Big Fish Sandwich available during Lent for those with an appetite. Most fish sandwiches on this list weigh in at just over 400 calories, but BK's Big Fish Sandwich boasts a filling 570. White Alaskan pollock is coated with panko breadcrumbs and deep-fried to crispy excellence. The crunch factor is amped up with crisp pickles and fresh lettuce, and sweet tartar sauce rounds out the sandwich served on a toasted potato bun.

Alaskan pollock — one of the most popular fish options in the United States — offers customers a fresh, tender experience with every bite. Yet, the combination of sweet and crunchy is what sets Burger King's seasonal menu item apart from its competitor's seafood options. The sweetness of the sauce and potato bun complements the savory and buttery fish, while the panko coating and pickles give the palate a welcome differentiation in texture. There is no telling when the Big Fish Sandwich will disappear from the menu, so make sure to grab one during Lent before it is gone.

More renowned for its dessert options, Dairy Queen is serving folks abiding by the rules of Lent a savory treat this year. The Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich is another sandwich featuring wild-caught Alaskan pollock as its protein. It gets lightly battered for an enticing crunch outside the tender, flaky fish. Tangy tartar sauce and fresh lettuce accompany the fried fish on a toasted bun.

Dairy Queen's Wild Alaskan Fish Sandwich is available now, but it is a seasonal, limited-time menu item that won't be around for long. People interested in getting their hands on one can order at their local Dairy Queen or via the company's mobile app. Even if you don't observe Lent, the sandwich is sure to please any seafood lovers who want something a bit lighter than one of the restaurant's burgers, and it is the perfect way to get something substantial in your belly before enjoying some of the company's iconic ice cream treats.