Around February and March every year, fast food menu boards become inundated (okay, maybe just splashed) with foods which would have no business being there if it weren't for Catholics. Not to say deep-fried fish sticks, nuggets, and patties can't be delicious; just that, when seen alongside sizzling slabs of charbroiled beef, they might not be most people's first choice. Oh, but then Lent rolls around, and reminds us all that man cannot live on burgers alone, that we should do unto fish as we would unto burgers, and . . . any other awful biblical misappropriations you can think of.
So we've compiled this quick rundown of the seafood options offered by your favorite fast food chains either yearlong, or especially during Lent. New items are starred.
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Arby's
Reel Big Fillet
Alaskan white fish, tartar sauce, and iceberg lettuce on a toasted sesame bun
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Burger King
Premium Alaskan Fish Sandwich
Panko-breaded white Alaskan pollock, topped with tartar sauce, lettuce, and pickles on an artisan-style bun
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Carl's Jr.
Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich and Taco
*Notably not deep fried. Charbroiled Atlantic cod filet, lettuce, tomatoes, and tartar sauce between two sesame honey wheat buns. The taco version features Santa Fe sauce, shredded jack and cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, and salsa on a flour tortilla.
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Del Taco
Crispy Shrimp Taco and Burrito
Golden fried shrimp, cabbage, pico de gallo, and "secret sauce" wrapped in either a taco or burrito tortilla. The burrito comes with lime rice.
The menu's regular beer-battered fish tacos are also available.
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Jack in the Box
Fish Sandwich
Fish filet topped with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce
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**Long John Silver's
Dippin' Fish Strips
Available in a snack box of five with dipping sauce like McDonald's fish McBites
The rest of LJS's Lent-friendly menu is also available.
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McDonald's
Filet-O-Fish
The old Lenten standby; available for only $1 on Fridays
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**Panda Express
Golden Szechuan Fish
Lightly battered North Pacific cod tossed with sugar peas, red bell peppers and Szechuan sauce
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Popeye's
Seafood Mardi Gras
Cajun fish, popcorn shrimp, butterfly shrimp, and seafood po'boys, all fried in Popeye's spicy, Southern-style breading
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Quizno's
Lobster and Seafood Sub
51% real lobster salad topped with white sauce and iceberg lettuce
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Rubio's
The Original Fish Taco
Beer-battered Alaskan pollock, topped with white sauce, salsa and cabbage
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Wendy's
North Pacific Cod Fillet
Panko-breaded cod topped with tartar sauce and lettuce
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White Castle
Clam Strips, Fish and Shrimp Nibblers, and Fish Sliders
All coated in savory and crispy breading
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Wienerschnitzel
UnDer the Sea Trio
Deep fried Alaskan pollock in hot dog, burrito, or good ol' fashioned fish and chips form.
