Observant Catholics who avoid meat on Fridays usually have two choices in the fast-food drive-thru: grilled cheese or fish sandwiches.
Fish sandwiches have become a Lenten staple, and fast-food chains are leaning in with limited-time offerings this season.
It’s not just Filet-O-Fish sandwiches from McDonald’s.
Below are some popular fast-food joints offering limited-time fish sandwiches.
Wendy’s Crispy Panko Fish Sandwich
Wendy’s brought back its fan-favorite fish sandwich for Catholics this Lent.
“This limited-time fish sandwich has earned a strong, dedicated fan base over the years, and we’re here to give the people what they want,” the chain said in a Feb. 17 statement.
The sandwich will be available until Easter, which falls on April 5.
Bojangles Bojangler Fish Sandwich
The Bojangler Fish Sandwich is back on menus.
Bojangles said in a Feb. 19 statement that the release comes “just in time for the Lenten season.”
“The original Bojangler features a crispy, panko-breaded Alaskan pollock filet seasoned with Bo’s famous seasoning, topped with a slice of American cheese and served on a toasted bun with Duke’s tartar sauce,” the chain said in a statement.
Del Taco’s Shrimp + Fish Tacos
Though not quite a fish sandwich, Del Taco is offering its Jumbo Shrimp Tacos and Burrito this Lenten season.
“For a limited time, guests can grab two tacos for $6, packed with crispy Jumbo Shrimp, house-made pico de gallo, crunchy cabbage and Del Taco’s signature secret sauce, all wrapped in a warm flour tortilla and each served with a fresh-cut lime wedge,” the chain said in a Feb. 3 statement.
Dairy Queen’s Wild Alaska Fish Sandwich
“This flaky, mild fish is expertly paired with crisp lettuce and creamy, tangy tartar sauce, all nestled in a warm, toasted bun,” the chain says.
Whataburger’s Whatacatch Sandwich
The Whatacatch Sandwich features a “wild-caught Alaskan pollock fillet, coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and fried to perfection,” according to Whataburger’s website.
Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe Sandwich
For a limited time, Arby’s is offering an indulgent fish sandwich with King’s Hawaiian bread.
Arby’s website describes the King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe Sandwich as a “crispy fish fillet with cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce on a toasted King’s Hawaiian roll.”
From Fox News
Sorry, but restaurant food quality has decreased while prices have greatly increased. I used to eat out 1 or 2 times a week, mostly Chipotle or Carl’s Jr. and Round Table Pizza. Then additionally maybe 1-2 times a month at a nicer restaurant. Now I eat out maybe twice a month total.
A burger combo meal that used to cost $6,00 now exceeds $17, and you get hardly any fries with it, and the burger hardly tastes like food.
The slop that restaurants are serving and charging excessively for and then asking for a 25% tip isn’t worth it.
So I cook for myself more and eat at home. I also don’t care to be around the general public because they smell bad, misbehave, and are generally annoying.
I read about restaurants going out of business and I don’t feel sorry for them at all. They did it to themselves.
I do have reservations about commercializing foods that are supposed to be eaten during a season of penance. It is in the nature of businesses that compete to sell food to strive to make their foods taste better than their competitor’s foods. The logical result of such competition is the selling of food that is more appropriate for feasting instead of fasting. Catholics can end up following the letter of the law and violating the spirit of the law.
It is not my intention to cause any disputes. I do not strive to be mighty in quarreling.
Having eaten a Filet o Fish sandwhich from McDs, I suspect you have nothing to worry about.
I agree with you. Yet, on the positive side, this means there are enough practicing Catholic and Orthodox (and some Protestant) Christians to impact even our commercial culture.
Jason’s Deli, a Texas chain, has a Lenten menu. But, it seems Jason must not be Catholic. Among other things, their menu has some chicken items on it. We all know that chicken is meat and fish is not. Or, is fish meat? Just an exceptional one. According to the Cambridge Dictionary: meat is “the flesh of an animal when it is used for food.” Maybe Jason, like many Texans, thinks meat means beef. I mean, what else could it mean? Barbeque is beef or pork. If you’re eatin’ chicken, that’s either grillin’ or fryin’. We do have some good fishin’ down here, if y’all want to come for Lent or anytime.
We used to eat Fish and Chips at the local chippie every Friday of the week, Lent or not. I actually like that these restaurants are somehow catering more to Catholics during Lent. It’s not a bad thing.
Fast food is unhealthy. In high school, I and other girls were interested in contemplative orders of nuns. One thing that we found, is that some had their own monastery gardens– and were vegetarians. They grew all their own food. Many of the nuns were healthy, even into old age. Their recipes were traditional, brought from European countries. Even their baked goods were healthier– and closer to real food– not “junk food.” Working outdoors, gardening, etc.– is healthy for you. And close to God. These nuns ate for maintaining basic health of the body– not enjoyment. And they had strict fasts, such as during Lent. My parents had a garden, and promoted healthy nutrition to us. We also were animal lovers. I and some family members and friends, then adopted a simpler, more natural way of living, and living more for God– and vegetarianism, for love of animals (all animals, all living creatures, and all fish, too (want to watch the whales, dolphins, etc.? Magnificent!). But none of us became nuns.
Something that I learned, long ago, from my mom, is that you can make many traditional cultural dishes in two versions— either with or without meat. My mom would make– for example– two kinds of lasagna– one with meat and the other, a veggie lasagna. Family members and friends could choose which version they wanted– or a little of both. A great way to feed family and friends! And you can choose vegetarian or vegan versions of traditional recipes, on Lenten Fridays.
Chapter 39 of the “Rule of St. Benedict” forbids eating the flesh of any four-footed animal (beef, pork, mutton, etc.). There are exceptions for the sick and infirm. Ven. Abp. Fulton J. Sheen told his TV audiences that he had not “nightmares”– but “nighthens”– and refused to eat chicken dishes– so please, do not invite him to a chicken dinner! Give him something else to eat! Sheen’s father owned two farms, and as a boy, he and his brothers helped with farm work — and Sheen was sometimes asked to help wring chickens’ necks and kill them, for chicken dinners. He couldn’t stand it! I won’t eat chickens, either– poor birds! And if I must have eggs– I only buy eggs from free-roaming chickens, leading a natural life, on someone’s small farm– well-cared-for, and “cage free” — and where they are never killed for “chicken dinners.”
We have been eating heathier by cooking our own food mostly without a lot of salt, sugar and preservative loaded products. I eat fruit in the morning in a whole grain cereal without out all the unnatural sugar, often with free-range, organic produced eggs. Last week we had homecooked broiled salmon, and this week I made tuna salad sandwiches with stuffed eggs and celery along with a choice of boiled potatoes or rice with other vegetables. We eat brown rice, pasta, and bread instead of white mostly and a little organic meat. Whole grain is much healthier, and fish and berries are two of the “brain foods”.
In reply to “Meatless Benedictines”, my grandfather and grandmother sometimes cut the heads off of chickens for dinner with an ax. I remember one time when one of them ran around the backyard with its head off until it keeled over. That is why I think the story about St. Denis walking around with his head under his arm after he was martyred might be true. None of us are totally vegetarian as there are insect parts in the vegetables we cook, and all canned food have some — name brands have lesser such parts and peelings. I worked in a cannery lab for a while. Now I hope I have not ruined anyone’s dinner.
My mom and I were always lactose intolerant. She introduced me to plant-based milk– particularly, almond milk, oat milk, etc.– a long time ago, and showed me how to use it as a dairy milk replacement in recipes.
My mom, who was of Italian heritage, told me long ago, that many Italians and Southern Europeans lack tolerance to milk. They had a more diverse diet than Europeans in northern, colder climates, who had less diverse diets, and relied on dairy, and developed genetics for milk tolerance. Milk from cows, goats (or any animal) is not natural for humans. Mother’s milk is natural for human babies. And cow’s milk is natural for calves. Italians and many othes, developed varieties of cheese, and yogurt, that are less problematic for lactose issues. 90% of Asians are also reportedly lactose intolerant.
Milk is important for children, however. If a child is unable to tolerate milk, it is important for parents to work with a good pediatrician to ensure that their child gets proper nutrition, and to carefully plan for the child’s daily diet, so that all their nutritional needs are met. To properly care for the dietary needs of children is highly important.
You can also fast on the Fridays of Lent– and on any other Fridays, too, if you want. The fasts prescribed by the Church for Ash Wed. and Good Friday are a good regimen to follow– and very balanced and safe, too. If you are eating out, you can order a cup of tea and something simple– a grilled cheese or veggie sandwich, a salad, veggie soup and bread, etc. The churches often have Friday Lenten Stations of the Cross, and a “Simple Soup Supper,”” afterwards. But you can do your own “simple soup supper” at home, or eating out, too.
One time, when we had a big family gathering in an outdoor area of a big restaurant at Fisherman’s Wharf, in SF– we children, then very small, watched the outdoor cooks throwing the crabs and lobsters into large pots of boiling water— and the poor creatures had a high-pitched scream, when they hit the boiling water. We couldn’t stand it– we were ready to cry. Also, when helping our dad feed the fish in one of his outdoor fish ponds– the fish were all very tame, and would look for us, and follow us around, at feeding time. If you put your hands into the water, they would all come up and nuzzle your fingers. So– I do not eat fish. Jesus ate fish, and He also was raised on a kosher Jewish diet. The Biblical Jews had 613 laws to daily follow. But we are not Jews, and Christ’s mission had nothing to do with Jewish dietary laws.
Don’t let anyone tell you that this is “junk food”. In nutrition, the first law of thermodynamics is “A calorie is a calorie is a calorie”. The second law is “If you eat it, and do not burn it, you will sit on it.” Out of the 39 essential human nutrients, I can see each of the items listed being low in only these 7 nutrients: Water, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamins B6 and B12, Calcium and Magnesium. I’d much rather be stranded on a desert island with these fast food items, than any fortified soy product any day.
I grew up in a semi-rural area, and enjoyed helping to care for neighbors’ animals– farm animals, horses, and dogs and cats, even bunny rabbits — when they went on vacation. Each animal had a cute name and personality. Some kids tried raising animals in the local 4-H club– but cried their hearts out at the end– because they knew the sad fate of their beloved animal that they had proudly raised– from babyhood– and had named and cared for, with love. So, most parents ended their kids being in 4-H. Too many tears! Reminds me of one of my favorite children’s books– “Charlotte’s Web.” Today, my kitty is the only “carnivore” in my house.
Gourmet grilled cheese with seasonings and a variety of delicious craft cheeses hits the spot. End with a scrumptious cheesecake.
Think outside the fishnet.
What? Not supporting your brothers who are fishermen?
Well, “outside fishnet” is supporting his cheesemaking brothers and sisters, St. Lucio of Cavargna for the gentlemen and St. Brigid of Kildare for the ladies, but his menu is hardly a well-balanced diet and apt to clog his arteries if eaten too often.
For several years now there has been plant-based imitation meat available. It tastes like and has the texture of meat but it’s vegetarian. Have your meat and eat it too on Fridays during Lent while following the rules that the pope made.
As I’ve been taught, and believe to be true, that violates the spirit of the fast. Tastes like meat, feels like meat, but isn’t. What would be the point of having fake filet mignon on a Lenten Friday? (Or a Wednesday or Friday for the “other Catholics.”)
At the Religious Education Congress the food vendors served meat entrees in the convention center on Friday, and plenty of Catholics were eating meat on that Lent Friday. Happens every year. And why not? If you’re the type who celebrates gay and wants the church to change its teaching about gay marriage and gay sex, as at least 80% of Congress attendees do, including the organizers and leadership, then what’s the big deal about Lenten Friday abstinence from meat?
You’re correct. Definitely wrong. But, on the hierarchy of sins, it’s relatively low.
Maybe it would be better if the abstinence rule were eliminated and every Friday became a day of fast.
Do you mean fast rather than simply abstinence from meat? And, do you mean year-round (not just during Lent)?
That would be commendable and, of course, could be taken up by any Catholic (even if not required).
Downvotes???? Good grief.
There is one of my comments that they did not find, yet.