For anyone refraining from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, North Texas has plenty of quick, no-meat options.
The practice is popular among Catholics as a sacrifice during Lent, the six-week period before Easter. But it's possible to make that sacrifice manageable — and inexpensive, even — with the surprising amount of fast-food restaurants catering to these pop-up pescatarians.
Below are eight quick options for Lenten meals. Note that these options are not particularly healthy.
Keep reading for options on seafood restaurants that serve fish year-round, not just on Fridays.
Arby's. In years past, Arby's offered Nashville Hot Fish, a dish that didn't stick but gets an A+ for being interesting. This year, their Lenten offerings are a more straight-ahead crispy fish sandwich with tartar sauce and a Cajun fish sandwich with remoulade. Want both? They're two for $5.
Burger King. The formula at Burger King is fried fish with tartar sauce and pickles on a brioche bun.
Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A made headlines for announcing that it would be selling fish sandwiches during Lent, but it isn't available at every Chick-fil-A — and most of the restaurants I called in North Texas said they weren't doing it. However, it's available at 12120 Inwood Road, near Forest Lane (notably, close to St. Rita Catholic School and Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas). Customers can order a fish sandwich (two fried fish patties), a deluxe fish sandwich (the fish sandwich, plus cheese, lettuce and mayo) or fish fillets. Meals come with waffle fries, which hardly seem like a sacrifice. But they sure are good.
Church's Chicken. During March, Church's Chicken is selling a garlic-butter shrimp platter served with fries, coleslaw and a honey-butter biscuit.
Eatzi's. Slide over to Eatzi's for Pizza Friday, when they sell $12 pies, year-round. During Lent, go for The Mushroom, with sauteed mushrooms, goat cheese, caramelized onions, rosemary, pesto and lots of cheese. It'll be a nice change of pace from fried-fish sandwiches.
Long John Silver's. Catholics like me remember Long John Silver's as one of Mom's no-brainer stops on Fridays during Lent. They always have fish. But new this year for Lent, LJS is selling a new fried-fish basket and fried-fish sandwich.
McDonald's. Filet-O-Fish Fridays are here. McDonald's Filet-O-Fish was created in the 1960s and continues to be popular, even among those not observing Lent. McDonald's is also now selling Donut Sticks — not at all a sacrifice, but hey, there's no meat in them.
Taco Cabana. Crispy fish tacos are now available as part of Taco Cabana's new springtime menu, launched March 4. Options include fried fish tacos with jalapeno coleslaw and pico de gallo; or fried fish tacos with shredded lettuce, pineapple pico de gallo and barbecue-salsa-ranch. They're $2.99 each or two for $5.69.
Wendy's. Wendy's offers just one fish option, a fish sandwich breaded in panko and fried. It's served with tartar sauce, three pickle slices and lettuce.
For a fancier Friday
Morton's The Steakhouse. Most Lent observers wouldn't think to go to a steakhouse on Fridays leading up to Easter. Here, Morton's is selling twin lobster tails for $39, now through April 12.
Looking for a restaurant serving seafood?
Here's a list of tons of seafood restaurants in D-FW, sorted with the newest ones at the top. Scroll through to find a seafood restaurant near you in Dallas-Fort Worth.
