Many Christians spend the 40 days between Fat Tuesday and Easter observing Lent, a period of abstinence that most commonly involves giving up meat on Fridays. The custom has led to a preponderance of Friday fish fries in the Midwest, where families and communities enjoy the bounty of the Great Lakes. 

This Lenten season, which runs from Feb. 18 to April 2, there are plenty of bars and restaurants offering both traditional platters of battered pike or cod served with fries and coleslaw as well as other specials ranging from lobster rolls to crawfish boils. Those who don’t love seafood can also get their protein from the Chicago-specific pepper and egg sandwich. Stop by these 18 spots for some specials that will keep you from missing meat.

North Side & Northwest Side

Fat Cat

Come early, because the bar often sells out of its $16 Friday fish fries, which feature beer-battered cod served with Champagne slaw and house-made herb tartar sauce or on a Kaiser roll with avocado and lemon aioli. Both come with a side of fries. (4840 N. Broadway, 773-506-3100, fatcatbar.com)

Honey Butter Beach Club

Visit the Lincoln Park spinoff of Honey Butter Fried Chicken Friday through Sunday for a lobster roll ($26) with honey butter and scallion mayo on a toasted bun. (2121 N. Clybourn Ave., honeybutterbeachclub.com)

Irish American Heritage Center

Fish fries running at 6 p.m. Fridays Feb. 20 through April 3 feature live music, Irish dancing and a kids’ area for $20-$25 or $10-$15 for kids under 12. (4626 N. Knox Ave., 773-282-7035, irishamerican.app.neoncrm.com)

King Crab House Chicago

Feast on all-you-can-eat perch ($29) or crawfish boiled with Cajun garlic butter ($40) served with french fries, broccoli or new potatoes throughout Lent. Other specials include blackened catfish ($20) and Norwegian salmon ($22). (1816 N. Halsted St., 312-280-8990, kingcrabchicago.com/specials)

Lark

Feast on an all-you-can-eat fish fry Fridays from Feb. 20 to April 3 that includes fish and chips with coleslaw, french fries and tartar sauce for $19. Add on a $35 Nutrl bucket. (3441 N. Halsted St., 773-799-8968, larkchicago.com)

Nottoli Italian Foods

The deli offers pepper and egg, tuna salad and eggplant parmesan sandwiches throughout Lent, along with spinach arancini and caprese panini. (5025 N. Harlem Ave., 773-295-2330, nottoliitalianfoods.com/lent-specials)

West Side & Near West Side

Cruz Blanca

A Baja spin on the Friday fish fry features a half-pound ($25) or pound ($36) of Great Lakes whitefish served with fries, michelada-style hot sauce, pickled jalapeno tartar and masa hush puppies. (904 W. Randolph St., 312-733-1975, cruzblancachi.com)

Mac’s Wood Grilled

Fish and chips ($19) and fried fish sandwiches ($16) are served daily from Ash Wednesday through Good Friday. (1801 W. Division St., 773-782-4400, macswoodgrilled.com/events)

Tuman’s Tap & Grill

Monks in the Middle Ages would brew strong beer to get them through the Lenten fast, and you can get a taste of the tradition with an $8 Art History Brewing Fastenbier. The bar also offers $20 beer-battered wild-caught Atlantic haddock with hand-cut fries on Ash Wednesday and Fridays through April 3. (2159 W. Chicago Ave., 773-782-1400, tumanstapandgrill.com)

South Side & Near South Side

Pleasant House Pub

Visit Fridays for $17 beer batter-dipped fish served with triple-fried chips and house-made tartar sauce. (2119 S. Halsted St., 773-523-7437, pleasanthousepub.com)

Sanders BBQ Supply Co.

The Beverly spot offers fried catfish and perch for fish Fridays throughout Lent. Supplies are limited, so get there early. (1742 W. 99th St., 773-366-3241, sandersbbqsupply.com)

Suburban and multiple locations

120 Live

The pub offers an all-you-can-eat fried cod dinner ($19) on Fridays including tots, coleslaw and tartar sauce along with other specials such as a pepper and egg sandwich ($12), walleye tacos ($16), clam chowder ($4.99) and cod sandwiches ($14). (120 W. Bartlett Ave., Bartlett, 630-855-8349, 120livebartlett.com)

Buona

The Italian beef chain serves pepper and egg sandwiches laced with melted cheese on Ash Wednesday and Fridays through Easter. This year, they’re also offering a pepper and egg protein bowl if you want the flavors without the bread. (Multiple locations, buona.com)

Di Pescara

Choose from horseradish-crusted whitefish, barbecued ginger salmon, haddock fish and chips and shrimp organata as the center of a $36 three-course dinner offered Fridays during Lent. The meal also includes a choice of salad and desserts, including Key lime pie and peppermint ice cream. (2124 Northbrook Court, 847-498-4321, di-pescara.com/events/fresh-fish-fridays) 

Easy Street

A $15 fish and chips special is available for carryout or dine-in every Friday from Feb. 20 to April 3. (3750 N. Central Ave., 773-993-0464 and 711 Devon Ave., Park Ridge, 847-823-4422, easystreetpizzachicago.com)

L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge

Visit Fridays for a Wisconsin fish fry ($28) featuring lake perch, salt and vinegar fries, and house-made tartar sauce. (7110 N. Lincoln Ave., Lincolnwood, 847-677-3350, lwoodsrestaurant.com)

Saranello’s

Come for lunch Fridays throughout Lent for crispy beer-battered cod fish and chips or enjoy all-day specials including blackened mahi mahi with smashed roasted Yukon potatoes or linguine with clams tossed in a white wine broth. (601 N. Milwaukee Ave., 847-777-6878, saranellos.com/events/friday-fish-specials)

Shaw’s Crab House

Shrimp fettuccine from Shaw’s Crab House. (Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants)

A Friday Fisherman’s Platter ($38) available Fridays throughout Lent includes fried Atlantic cod, calamari and shrimp served with french fries, along with a choice of soup or salad to start and a trio of mini desserts. (1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, 847-517-2722, shawscrabhouse.com/events/fish-fridays)

Samantha Nelson is a freelance writer.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/18/lent-restaurant-specials-chicago-2026/