The season of Lent is here, and it is the time when fast food chains offer their seafood-inspired menu to attract all customers who are fasting or celebrating the Lenten season. The most common thing you can find on the menu during the Lenten season is fish sandwiches. To help you select the best fish sandwich, we have listed a number of fish sandwiches from different fast food chains and ranked them based on their taste and nutritional benefits.
However, to balance both the taste and health benefits, we have listed both unhealthy as well as healthy sandwiches that you should try this Lenten season. The rating has been done by considering health over taste, where it is based on collected reviews over social media platforms.
9. Whataburger
The popular fast food restaurant chain has recently brought back their Watacatach Fish Sandwich to their menu during this time of Lent. However, the fish sandwich fails in most of the factors to be judged, whether you are talking about the taste or the nutritional benefits. Let’s talk about the nutritional information about the sandwich first. The sandwich contains a lot of sodium, which is clearly an unhealthy sign because the sandwich also gives you a lot of calories and unhealthy fats, making it not a good option for health. Even in taste, the sandwich is not performing well. Most food reviewers considered the sandwich much too plain and complained about the taste of the fish fillet. However, there are also a number of audiences who liked this sandwich, which is why we have considered it in our list.
8. Smashburger
Smashburger has brought back its popular Beer-Battered Pacific Cod Sandwich on high fan demand. The sandwich features an amazing combination of taste but is not healthy because it contains a lot of sodium. There is no reason to criticize the sandwich over its taste, since it is amazing. However, when it comes to nutritional values, the sandwich fails because it contains a high amount of sodium and is also high in calories, making it a very unhealthy option for a single meal. If you pair it up with any combo or sides like fries, it will be a totally awful option for your health.
7. Jack In the Box
The popular fast food restaurant chain has brought back some of its fan-favorite Fish Sandwich for Lent, featuring the delicious and crispy panko breaded fish fillet with tartar sauce and shredded lettuce on a toasted buttery bakery bun. When it comes to Jack In the Box, anyone can assure that the sandwiches are going to taste good. Food reviewers have also rated it with some good ratings, but it is still an unhealthy option as it contains a lot of sodium. The deluxe version of the fish sandwich features two fish fillets and contains around 1880mg of sodium, which is much higher for single meal intake, making the sandwich one of the worst and unhealthiest options for anyone.
6. Burger King
Burger King is offering its popular Big Fish Sandwich during this time of Lent, which features a White Alaskan Pollock with crispy panko breading, sweet tartar sauce, and crunchy pickles on a toasted brioche-style bun. The sandwich has received mixed responses from foodies. Many compared it to just a burger with fish, while many praised it for its taste. However, the sandwich is not a healthier option because it contains not only high sodium but also a lot of fat and even trans fat, which is considered unnecessary for the body. Therefore, the sandwich is again not a healthier option to eat.
5. Popeyes
Okay, it’s a clear win for Popeyes when it comes to taste, but health-wise, Popeyes is the worst option to go for. The Classic Flounder Fish Sandwich contains around 2,385.9 mg of sodium, which is a lot of sodium for a single meal and can lead to a stroke. Additionally, the sandwich is one of the most unhealthy options on the menu, as it also contains a lot of fat and around 1mg of trans fat, which can lead to heart diseases. In my opinion, you should try this sandwich occasionally and opt for healthier options most of the time. However, the addictive taste of the sandwich may keep calling you back, so give it a shot at your own risk.
4. Arby’s
Yes, the famous sandwich shop is once again offering its famous Crispy Fish Sandwich this lent season. The sandwich features a crispy fish fillet with shredded lettuce and tartar sauce. Unlike other fish sandwiches, the food chain has balanced the flavors so amazingly that it really tastes good. However, due to its high sodium content, I would put this sandwich on the moderate side for being unhealthy. I found out that another offering from Arby’s, the King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe, does not live up to its name and does not taste better than the Crispy Fish Sandwich. Also, it’s the most unhealthy option to go for. So, if you’re at Arby’s, you should opt for the Classic Fish Sandwich and avoid the King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe.
3. White Castle
Now, let’s look for some healthier and tastier options for fish sandwiches. As the legend goes, the healthier the food, the less tasty it becomes. However, this does not apply to the Panko Fish Slider from White Castle. Being a slider, this sandwich is a healthier meal to go for, and it also has great taste. It features tender, flaky Alaska Pollock with a crispy Panko breading, topped with American cheese. It’s the right option to go for, but it may not be enough to satisfy your appetite.
2. McDonald’s
Yes, it’s time for something delicious, and the Filet-O-Fish from McDonald’s is a perfect option. It gives you a perfect experience of simple flavors and does not have a negative impact on your health. So, it’s a great option to go for this lenten season.
1. Wendy’s
Yes, the star of the lenten season is the Wild Caught Alaskan Fish Sandwich, which is high in sodium intake. However, it’s a perfect fish sandwich to try out this lenten season, featuring an amazing wild-caught Alaskan Pollock fillet, crunchy Panko breading, topped with creamy dill tartar sauce, pickles, lettuce, and American cheese.
