More Maps

Where to Eat Korean Barbecue Around D.C.

The Hottest New Bars Around D.C. Right Now

Where to Eat Like the Bidens in D.C.

More in Washington DC See more maps

Fish by José Andrés

Where to Find Lenten Fish Fry Deals

Going meatless on Fridays? Check out these fish fry deals.

by Tim Ebner Mar 6, 2017, 12:21pm EST

View as Map

Fish by José Andrés

| MGM National Harbor

by Tim Ebner Mar 6, 2017, 12:21pm EST

It’s an annual rite of passage — each Friday, during the season of Lent, many Christians abstain from eating meat in preparation for Easter. That usually means eating fish for lunch and dinner on Fridays.

If you come from a traditional Catholic upbringing, chances are good that you’ve been to a church fish fry, usually held in a parish hall, rectory, or church basement. Unfortunately, D.C. does not have many church-sponsored fish frys.

Find a rotating fish and chips deal on Fridays at Bar Deco in Chinatown, or for a more dressed-down meal, head to Fish in the Hood on H Street for a range of deep sea dishes — like catfish, trout, perch, whiting, salmon, and rockfish — for under $10.

But for those eating out, there are plenty of fried fish options, whether it’s a traditional fish and chips basket, a jumbo-lump crabcake, or a battered fish fillet. These are just a few of the Lent-friendly deals happening now until Easter (Sunday, April 16).

Read More

If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

A La Lucia

How does a fried seafood fritter served in a fennel saffron sauce sound? For Italian-inspired seafood and pastas, better book a table at A La Lucia.

Open in Google Maps

315 Madison St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Bar Deco

This Chinatown bar and restaurant offers a menu special each Friday throughout Lent. There’s a rotating fish and chips deal, plus happy hour specials on beer, wine, and cocktails to wash it all down.

717 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery (Multiple locations)

N'awlins native David Guas is doing shrimp burgers at both of his locations (Capitol Hill, Courthouse) during Lent, serving up patties of wild-caught Gulf shrimp topped with pickled jalapeno-spiked tartar sauce and baby arugula.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Crisfield Seafood

This Silver Spring institution is named for a small Eastern Shore city that is well known by watermen. The restaurant, like the city, is a place unchanged by time. Each visit requires an order of baked shrimp, stuffed with crab.

Open in Google Maps

8012 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Visit Website

Drift on 7th

There’s something poetic about Drift on 7th’s tots and tentacles basket. Maybe it’s because this dish comes served with a pile of fried calamari and haddock-filled tater tots.

1819 7th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

Visit Website

Also featured in:

The Dabney

Jeremiah Langhorne sources seafood from the Chesapeake Bay region, which means some of the freshest options, including fried catfish, scallops crudo, grilled rainbow trout, and seared black bass. Just be sure to order a dozen White Stone Oysters on the side. These bivalves come from the Virginia tidewater area, and are known for their decidedly clean and crisp taste.

122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Dubliner Restaurant & Pub

The Dubliner keeps it coming with a hefty helping of fish and chips, served with house-made tartar sauce. Order it alongside a pint of Guinness. Slainte!

520 N Capitol St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Fish by Jose Andres

The latest restaurant from José Andrés, Fish, is inside the MGM National Harbor Casino and features an entire tasting tasting menu — Maryland Fry Bar — devoted to fried food. Dishes are prepared at a five-seat bar and cooked Japanese tempura style. Seafood bites include fried uni, fried oyster, and fried shrimp (picked from their fish tank).

Open in Google Maps

Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Visit Website

Fish In The Hood

Remember: Fish In The Hood takes cash only. And It’s well worth the wait for fried fish takeout. There are a variety of options here, including catfish, trout, perch, whiting, salmon, rockfish, and pollock. Need another reason to get hooked? Most dishes won’t run you more than $10.

3601 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Also featured in:

Hank's Oyster Bar

Hank’s has numerous locations, including Capitol Hill and Alexandria, but there’s something about the original location that keeps diners coming back for more. Classic seafood dishes include fried calamari, popcorn shrimp, and the fried clam dinner.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Horace & Dickie's Seafood Carryout

Horace & Dickie's doesn’t fool around. It’s a no-fuss, cash-only, H Street takeout option that's famously served fried whiting and other seafood dishes for decades. Just make sure to top off your to-go order with a generous helping of hot sauce.

809 12th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Jerry's Seafood

Why go all the way to the Chesapeake Bay when you can get bombed on fried crab at Jerry’s Seafood in Bowie, Md.? The renowned crab bomb is a mound of lump crab meat that will easily satisfy a seafood craving.

Open in Google Maps

15211 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD 20716

Visit Website

Mastro's Steakhouse

Mastro’s is for the button-up crowd that wants dramatic mood lighting, and a feeling of power that can only come from a steakhouse. For those going meatless, there are plenty of fried fish options too, including Scottish salmon fillets and seared sea scallops.

600 13th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Po Boy Jim

For New Orleans-style fare, head to Po Boy Jim which serves the city’s best po boy sandwich. Popular options include the oyster, shrimp, or catfish varieties.

Open in Google Maps

709 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

The Wine House

The Wine House in Fairfax, Va., is serving a three-course, prix-fixe menu with a seafood appetizer, plus a seafood entree every Friday until Easter.

Open in Google Maps

3950 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030

Visit Website

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

A La Lucia

315 Madison St, Alexandria, VA 22314

How does a fried seafood fritter served in a fennel saffron sauce sound? For Italian-inspired seafood and pastas, better book a table at A La Lucia.

Open in Google Maps

315 Madison St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Visit Website

Bar Deco

717 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

This Chinatown bar and restaurant offers a menu special each Friday throughout Lent. There’s a rotating fish and chips deal, plus happy hour specials on beer, wine, and cocktails to wash it all down.

717 6th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery (Multiple locations)

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

N'awlins native David Guas is doing shrimp burgers at both of his locations (Capitol Hill, Courthouse) during Lent, serving up patties of wild-caught Gulf shrimp topped with pickled jalapeno-spiked tartar sauce and baby arugula.

1515 N Courthouse Rd, Arlington, VA 22201

Visit Website

Crisfield Seafood

8012 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

This Silver Spring institution is named for a small Eastern Shore city that is well known by watermen. The restaurant, like the city, is a place unchanged by time. Each visit requires an order of baked shrimp, stuffed with crab.

Open in Google Maps

8012 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Visit Website

Drift on 7th

1819 7th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

There’s something poetic about Drift on 7th’s tots and tentacles basket. Maybe it’s because this dish comes served with a pile of fried calamari and haddock-filled tater tots.

1819 7th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

Visit Website

The Dabney

122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Jeremiah Langhorne sources seafood from the Chesapeake Bay region, which means some of the freshest options, including fried catfish, scallops crudo, grilled rainbow trout, and seared black bass. Just be sure to order a dozen White Stone Oysters on the side. These bivalves come from the Virginia tidewater area, and are known for their decidedly clean and crisp taste.

122 Blagden Alley NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Dubliner Restaurant & Pub

520 N Capitol St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

The Dubliner keeps it coming with a hefty helping of fish and chips, served with house-made tartar sauce. Order it alongside a pint of Guinness. Slainte!

520 N Capitol St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

Visit Website

Fish by Jose Andres

Oxon Hill, MD 20745

The latest restaurant from José Andrés, Fish, is inside the MGM National Harbor Casino and features an entire tasting tasting menu — Maryland Fry Bar — devoted to fried food. Dishes are prepared at a five-seat bar and cooked Japanese tempura style. Seafood bites include fried uni, fried oyster, and fried shrimp (picked from their fish tank).

Open in Google Maps

Oxon Hill, MD 20745

Visit Website

Fish In The Hood

3601 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Remember: Fish In The Hood takes cash only. And It’s well worth the wait for fried fish takeout. There are a variety of options here, including catfish, trout, perch, whiting, salmon, rockfish, and pollock. Need another reason to get hooked? Most dishes won’t run you more than $10.

3601 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20010

Hank's Oyster Bar

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Hank’s has numerous locations, including Capitol Hill and Alexandria, but there’s something about the original location that keeps diners coming back for more. Classic seafood dishes include fried calamari, popcorn shrimp, and the fried clam dinner.

1624 Q St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Visit Website

Horace & Dickie's Seafood Carryout

809 12th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Horace & Dickie's doesn’t fool around. It’s a no-fuss, cash-only, H Street takeout option that's famously served fried whiting and other seafood dishes for decades. Just make sure to top off your to-go order with a generous helping of hot sauce.

809 12th St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

Jerry's Seafood

15211 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD 20716

Why go all the way to the Chesapeake Bay when you can get bombed on fried crab at Jerry’s Seafood in Bowie, Md.? The renowned crab bomb is a mound of lump crab meat that will easily satisfy a seafood craving.

Open in Google Maps

15211 Major Lansdale Blvd, Bowie, MD 20716

Visit Website

Mastro's Steakhouse

600 13th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Mastro’s is for the button-up crowd that wants dramatic mood lighting, and a feeling of power that can only come from a steakhouse. For those going meatless, there are plenty of fried fish options too, including Scottish salmon fillets and seared sea scallops.

600 13th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20005

Visit Website

Po Boy Jim

709 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

For New Orleans-style fare, head to Po Boy Jim which serves the city’s best po boy sandwich. Popular options include the oyster, shrimp, or catfish varieties.

Open in Google Maps

709 H St NE, Washington, D.C. 20002

Visit Website

The Wine House

3950 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030

The Wine House in Fairfax, Va., is serving a three-course, prix-fixe menu with a seafood appetizer, plus a seafood entree every Friday until Easter.

Open in Google Maps

3950 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030

Visit Website

Related Maps