Fast-food fish picks for Lent: What to order at McDonald’s, Popeyes, Wendy’s and more
Lent’s familiar food question: what’s for Friday?
As Lent begins, many Christians across the United States enter a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 18, and continues until Holy Thursday, which falls on April 2 this year. For a lot of households, the season comes with a practical, weekly planning challenge: what to eat on Fridays.
One tradition that remains especially consistent among Catholics is abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, while fish is permitted. That custom has helped shape fast-food menus for decades—and it still influences what many chains promote when Lent arrives. In fact, the popularity of fish sandwiches at fast-food restaurants tends to spike during Lent, reflecting how a long-standing religious practice can ripple into everyday dining habits.
Even for customers who don’t observe Lent, the season can be a useful reminder to revisit seafood offerings—particularly because some fast-food restaurants only bring out certain fish items during Lent. If you’re mapping out meals for Lenten Fridays (or you simply want a fried fish sandwich), the following guide highlights several notable options and limited-time promotions mentioned in the provided information.
McDonald’s: the Filet-O-Fish and its Lenten roots
Few fast-food fish items are as recognizable as McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish. It’s also one of the clearest examples of how Lent has influenced fast-food history. According to McDonald’s account of the sandwich’s origins, the Filet-O-Fish began in 1962 in Cincinnati, Ohio, at a restaurant owned by franchisee Lou Groen. The location sat in a predominantly Roman Catholic neighborhood, and Groen noticed a drop in Friday sales during Lent.
To address that decline and serve customers who were fasting from meat, Groen persuaded the company to test a breaded whitefish sandwich. That test eventually led to the Filet-O-Fish being added to the original menu in 1965.
McDonald’s has said that a significant share of Filet-O-Fish sales arrives during the season: in 2016, 25% of all Filet-O-Fish sandwiches were sold during Lent. The sandwich itself is described as a crispy white Pollock fish filet patty with cheese and tartar sauce, served on a steamed bun.
For diners, the Filet-O-Fish remains a straightforward choice: a familiar fast-food fish sandwich with a long-running place on the menu and a seasonal bump in demand when Lent begins.
Captain D’s: a new shrimp-and-fish combo built around a promotion
Captain D’s is known for fish, and during the Lenten period the chain is leaning into that reputation with a new promotion. The company introduced a twist on its classic Butterfly Shrimp called Crispy Crunchy Shrimp—golden Butterfly Shrimp coated in flaky, crushed wontons.
That new shrimp is part of a combo called the Crispy Crunchy Shrimp & Fish Meal. The meal is joining Captain D’s lineup of three $5.99 Full Meal Deals, alongside established favorites such as the 2 Pc Fish and Seafood Trio.
The Crispy Crunchy Shrimp & Fish Meal includes four Crispy Crunchy Shrimp, one Batter Dipped Fish fillet, and Sweet & Sour Sauce. Like the other Full Meal Deals, it also comes with hush puppies and a choice of classic side. For anyone trying to keep Friday meals meatless without overthinking it, the structure of this deal is clear: shrimp plus fish, with standard sides included.
Popeyes: seafood menu returns, with new rub options and fried pickles
Popeyes announced that its seafood menu is back as of Monday, Feb. 16, and it is available at participating restaurants nationwide. The chain is also promoting customization: it introduced four new rubs—Garlic Parmesan, Lemon Pepper Shrimp, Ghost Pepper, and Buffalo—that can be added to the Shrimp and Tackle Box entrée item.
In addition to seafood, Popeyes is bringing back a side item that had a limited-time run last year: fried pickles. For customers building a meal around the seafood menu, the return of fried pickles adds another option for rounding out an order.
The key takeaway for Popeyes customers during Lent is that the chain’s seafood lineup is positioned as a seasonal return, and the new rubs are meant to offer different flavor directions without changing the core order format.
Wendy’s: a limited-time Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich through early April
Wendy’s is also leaning into the season with a limited-time fish sandwich. The company announced on Tuesday, Feb. 17, that its Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich is returning to menus nationwide for a limited time through Sunday, April 5.
The sandwich features a Wild Caught Alaskan Pollock fillet breaded in crispy panko. It includes lettuce, a slice of American cheese, pickles, and creamy dill tartar sauce, served on a premium bun.
For customers comparing fish sandwiches across chains, Wendy’s description emphasizes the panko breading and the combination of pickles and dill tartar sauce, along with the addition of American cheese. The limited-time window also matters for planners: it’s positioned to cover the bulk of the Lenten season.
Long John Silver’s: a recurring Lent deal and rotating baskets
Long John Silver’s is often treated as a go-to option during Lent, and the chain is promoting a deal aimed at Lenten visitors. It is bringing back a $6 Shrimp Basket for Lent. After that, the company plans to rotate full basket meals for $6 through 2026.
For diners, the immediate Lent-specific note is the return of the $6 Shrimp Basket. The longer-term note—rotating $6 basket meals through 2026—signals that value-focused seafood baskets will remain part of the chain’s approach beyond a single season.
Culver’s: Midwestern seafood staples and limited-time walleye
Culver’s positions its seafood offerings as Midwestern staples, a framing that aligns with the idea of an “authentic fish fry.” While Culver’s offers seafood menu items more broadly, certain entrées are only offered for a limited time during Lent.
One highlighted seasonal item is the Northwoods Walleye Sandwich or Dinner, described as limited-time-only. For customers who look forward to specific fish-fry traditions during Lent, that limited-time walleye option is the main point to watch for on the menu.
How to choose among these options during Lent
Fast-food fish and seafood menus can look similar at a glance, but the details in each chain’s offering can help narrow the choice depending on what you want from a meal—whether that’s a classic sandwich, a shrimp-heavy box, or a bundled deal with sides.
If you want a classic, widely recognized sandwich: McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish remains one of the best-known fish sandwiches, with a history directly tied to Lenten demand and a simple build: Pollock, cheese, tartar sauce, steamed bun.
If you want a value meal that mixes shrimp and fish: Captain D’s Crispy Crunchy Shrimp & Fish Meal spells out exactly what you’ll get—shrimp, a fish fillet, sauce, hush puppies, and a side—within its Full Meal Deal lineup.
If you want seasoning options and a side that’s back by popular demand: Popeyes’ seafood menu return includes new rubs for the Shrimp and Tackle Box and the return of fried pickles.
If you’re specifically looking for a limited-time fish sandwich during Lent: Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich is back nationwide through April 5, featuring Alaskan Pollock, panko breading, and dill tartar sauce.
If you prefer a basket-style shrimp meal with a clear Lent deal: Long John Silver’s $6 Shrimp Basket is positioned as a seasonal return, with additional rotating $6 baskets planned afterward.
If you want a fish-fry style option with a seasonal Midwestern angle: Culver’s limited-time Northwoods Walleye Sandwich or Dinner is the standout mention.
Why fast-food fish becomes more visible this time of year
The seasonal surge in fish sandwiches isn’t just a marketing pattern—it reflects a predictable shift in consumer needs. During Lent, many people are actively seeking meals that fit Friday abstinence from meat. That creates a reliable window when seafood options become more prominent, and when certain items return for limited runs.
The Filet-O-Fish origin story illustrates the point in a concrete way: a franchise owner in a heavily Catholic neighborhood saw Friday sales drop, tested a fish sandwich to meet local demand, and ultimately helped create a permanent menu item. Decades later, McDonald’s still reports that a sizable portion of Filet-O-Fish sales happens during Lent.
Other chains take a more seasonal approach, bringing back fish sandwiches or shrimp baskets for a limited time. For customers, that means Lent can function as a calendar cue: if you have a favorite fish item that disappears for part of the year, this is often when it returns.
A practical way to plan Lenten fast-food meals
If you’re observing Lent and trying to keep Fridays meatless, a simple approach is to identify one or two reliable orders you can repeat, then add variety by rotating between sandwiches and basket meals. The options described here naturally fall into a few patterns: classic fish sandwiches, shrimp-forward meals, and bundled deals with sides.
It can also help to note the timing details included in the announcements. Wendy’s, for example, specifies that its fish sandwich is available through April 5, which covers the heart of the season. Popeyes notes that its seafood menu is back as of Feb. 16 at participating restaurants nationwide, and Captain D’s frames its offering as part of a broader Full Meal Deal lineup. Long John Silver’s explicitly ties its $6 Shrimp Basket to Lent while also previewing future $6 basket rotations.
Whether you’re observing Lent for religious reasons or simply taking advantage of seasonal seafood menus, the common thread is convenience: these are quick-service options designed to make meatless meal choices easier during a period when many people are intentionally adjusting their diets.
Summary: what stands out as Lent begins
As Lent begins on Feb. 18 and continues until April 2, fast-food seafood offerings become more prominent—driven in part by the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays while allowing fish. McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish remains the classic example, both for its popularity and its Lenten origin story. Captain D’s is highlighting a new shrimp-and-fish meal built around Crispy Crunchy Shrimp. Popeyes has brought back its seafood menu with new rub options and the return of fried pickles. Wendy’s is offering its Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich nationwide for a limited time through April 5. Long John Silver’s is reviving a $6 Shrimp Basket for Lent and plans rotating $6 baskets through 2026. Culver’s is featuring limited-time Northwoods Walleye options as part of its seafood lineup.
Together, these menus offer several ways to keep Friday meals meatless without sacrificing the familiar fast-food format—whether you prefer a straightforward sandwich, a shrimp basket, or a combo meal with sides.