Lent is here. Where to find the best fish sandwiches + seafood in Charlotte
Lenten season is in full swing, and there are plenty of spots in Charlotte serving up tasty fried fish sandwiches and seafood platters.
The religious observance, which began Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18), marks 40 days of prayer, fasting and reflection leading up to Easter Sunday (April 5). A big part of the tradition involves abstaining from meat, with observers opting for fish and seafood instead — notably on Fridays.
“Fish, which serves as a representation of Christ (think of the fish bumper sticker and the artwork in our church), is the only animal flesh consumed by Catholics on Friday,” according to St. Patrick Catholic Church. “Thus, the custom of eating fish on Fridays remains a tradition in the Church.”
Whether you’re fasting or just can’t resist a fresh catch, here’s a local guide to finding the best fish and seafood in Charlotte during Lent.
(If we’ve missed your favorite spot, please send us a message at charlottefive@charlottefive.com, and we’ll get it added!)
Arby’s
Location: Multiple
Arby’s has the meats and the fish sandwiches — but only for a limited time. The fast food chain offers a crispy fish sandwich made with a fried Alaskan Pollock filet, shredded lettuce and tartar sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun.
Arby’s King’s Hawaiian Fish Deluxe sandwich also feature a crispy fish filet topped with cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce on a toasted King’s Hawaiian bun.
Both are available through late March.
Brooks’ Sandwich House
Location: 2710 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28205
The fish filet sandwich at Brooks’ Sandwich House is made with flounder, and you can purchase a side of coleslaw, fries or onion rings separately.
Bojangles
Location: Multiple
A seasonal favorite, The Bojangler fish sandwich features a panko-breaded Alaskan Pollock filet seasoned with Bo’s Famous seasoning topped with a slice of cheese on a toasted bun with tartar sauce. Bojangles customers can also make it a deluxe with lettuce, tomato and pickles.
Burton’s Grill & Bar
Location: 1601 E Woodlawn Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 9816 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Location: 8908 Lindholm Dr, Huntersville, NC 28078
At Burton’s, there are more than a few seafood options to choose from. Try the crispy fish sandwich made with fried haddock, pickled red onions, tartar sauce and pickles on a toasted bun and fries on the side. There’s also the crab cake sandwich featuring lettuce, tomato and rémoulade on brioche.
The restaurant’s other seafood plates include:
- Firecracker shrimp
- Lobster roll
- Ahi tuna bowl
- Crab cakes
- Salmon romesco
- Crab-crusted haddock
Captain Steve’s Family Seafood Restaurant
Location: 1975 US-21, Fort Mill, SC 29715
Captain Steve’s offers a variety of fish and seafood platters featuring baby shrimp, filet of flounder, oysters, whole catfish and more. Each is served with coleslaw, hushpuppies and your choice of a side.
Culvers
Location: Multiple
Wisconsin-based burger chain Culvers offers a North Atlantic Cod Sandwich year round and adds on its Northwoods Walleye Sandwich for Lent. Each is topped with tartar sauce featuring olives, capers and sweet relish, plus lettuce. The cod sandwich also comes with Wisconsin Cheddar.
Culvers’ other seafood offerings include:
- North Atlantic Cod dinner (comes with two sides)
- Northwoods Walleye dinner (comes with two sides)
- Butterfly jumbo shrimp
Eddie’s on Lake Norman
Location: 643 Williamson Rd, Mooresville, NC 28117
Eddie’s fish sandwich is made with a whitefish in your choice of grilled, blackened or fried, then topped with lettuce, tomato and pesto aioli on a toasted brioche bun. Fries and house-made coleslaw are included.
A Mahi Mahi sandwich is also on the menu, alongside a salmon burger, fish tacos, crab cake on a bun and fried oyster po boy. Take your pick.
The Goodyear House
Location: 3032 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
If you need a quick weekday lunch option, stop by The Goodyear House for a fried flounder sammy. The new sandwich features fried local flounder, shredded lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce on a potato bun.
Graham Street Grill
Location: 2519 N Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Graham Street Grill, a favorite among locals for its cheap eats, has a few seafood options on the menu.
Try the fish filet sandwich, made with your choice of perch, whiting, flounder or tilapia with tartar sauce and slaw. Lettuce, tomato and other toppings can be added for an upcharge.
There’s also the fish and seafood plate. Choose from perch, whiting, flounder or tilapia, plus a side item.
Haberdish
Location: 3106 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28205
At Haberdish, the Cast Iron Trout Sandwich comes with a pan fried filet with lemon, shallot and thyme aioli, arugula and cold pickled red onions on a potato roll. Seasoned potato wedges are included.
Harbor Inn Seafood
Location: 8805 University E Dr, Charlotte, NC 28213
Harbor Inn’s crispy fish sandwich comes with a flounder, tilapia or whiting filet served on a bun with lettuce and tomato. White fish tacos (fried or broiled) are also on the lunch menu, alongside a shrimp po boy and crab cake sandwich.
Jimmy Pearls
Location: Pop-ups
Led by chefs Daryl Cooper and Oscar Johnson, Jimmy Pearls knows good seafood. The duo was nominated for a 2024 James Beard Award for Best Chef: Southeast, CharlotteFive previously reported.
The restaurant’s Uncle Gene’s Fish Sandwich features a daily catch, topped with Jimmy Sauce, hot sauce and field pea slaw.
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Joe Fish Casual Seafood
Location: 510 River Hwy, Mooresville, NC 28117
The Joe’s Haddock Sandwich comes with a fried North Atlantic Haddock filet, with or without cheese, on a toasted roll. Other seafood sandwich options include:
- Crab cake sandwich
- New England lobster roll
LuLu’s Express Fry House
Location: 2400 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208
LuLu’s Express Fry House has plenty of seafood options to pick from. You’ll find salmon, whiting, catfish and tilapia filets, available grilled or crispy. There’s also a 10-piece shrimp dinner with the option to add lemon pepper or honey lemon pepper for an extra kick of flavor.
Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish
Location: 413 Dalton Ave. Charlotte, NC 28206
Location: 8006 Cambridge Commons Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215
Location: 3100 Statesville Avenue Charlotte, NC 28206
Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish — a longtime favorite in Charlotte — has multiple options for fish sandwiches, including catfish, croaker, flounder, perch and whiting. Each is served on a toasted bun with seasoned fries.
The Office Craft Bar & Kitchen
Location: 7804 Rea Rd, Charlotte, NC 28277
Among the seafood options at The Office Craft Bar & Kitchen, customers will find bang bang shrimp, pan-seared shrimp and Mahi Mahi. The Gone Fishing platter comes with fried cod, fries, coleslaw and a side of tartar sauce.
Original Chicken ‘n Ribs
Location: 1100 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
At Original Chicken ‘n Ribs, customers will find a few fish sandwich options among the various seafood choices on the menu. Choose from flounder, perch or whiting on a bun with tartar sauce. You can also add a side of fries, okra, baked beans and more.
Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant
Location: 744 Cabarrus Ave W, Concord, NC 28027
The fish sandwich at Pier 51 seafood keeps things simple: a classic or spicy filet, lettuce, tomato and tartar sauce. The shrimp po boy is another classic option, made with shrimp, spicy tartar sauce, lettuce, tomato and pickles.
If sandwiches aren’t your thing, there are plenty of fish platters (broiled or fried ) to pick from.
Pinky’s Westside Grill
Location: 1600 W. Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28208
Location: 9818 Gilead Road, Suite 101 B, Huntersville, NC 28078
If you’re looking for a fish sandwich that goes beyond the standard restaurant menu options, say no more. Pinky’s Uptown Tuna Melt comes with albacore tuna salad that includes mayo, wasabi and ginger. It’s then topped with Swiss and American cheese and served on Texas toast. (For an extra fee, you can also get it as a taco, a wrap on a wheat bun or a gluten-free bun.)
Other seafood options include:
- Fish tacos featuring beer battered Alaskan Pollock, cilantro-honey slaw and spicy ranch.
- Salmon Caesar salad wrap made with fried salmon, Romaine lettuce, shaved parmesan, Caesar dressing, avocado and tomato in a flour tortilla.
Po Boy’s Low Country Seafood
Location: 3022 Freedom Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208
Among the selection of po boy sandwiches at Po Boy’s Low country Seafood, there’s fried whiting, swai, perch, flounder, shrimp, soft shell crab or oyster. Each comes with lettuce, tomato and your choice of Po Boys Sauce, mayo or tartar sauce.
Rusty’s Deli & Grille
Location: 8512 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
The Grilled Tuna Steak Sandwich at Rusty’s comes with Special Sauce, lettuce, tomato and mayo on a whole wheat Kaiser roll.
Sea Level
Location: 129 E 5th St, Charlotte, NC 28202
Sea Level takes the fish sandwich to a new place. Its lunchtime Flounder Rueben is made with Swiss cheese, a house-made slaw and remoulade sauce. Choose from hand-cut fries or slaw for your side.
If you’re stopping in for dinner, take your pick of the lobster roll or the East Coast shrimp po boy made with tomato, Romaine lettuce, a pickle and Cajun remolaude sauce.
Showmars
Location: Multiple
Showmars keeps things simple. Its World Famous Fish Sandwich comes with a wild-caught and sustainable fried Alaskan fish fillet topped with house-made tartar sauce.
Stacks Kitchen
Location: 11100 Monroe Rd, Matthews, NC 28105
Location: 1315 N. Broome St., Waxhaw, NC 28173
Location: 200 N Catawba St, Lancaster, SC 29720
Try Stack’s Big Island Fish Sandwich, featuring grilled salmon with red onions and guacamole on a Kaiser roll with roasted red pepper mayo. The breakfast and brunch chain also offers an Atlantic Tuna Melt made with tuna salad, tomato and American cheese on grille rye.
South 21 Drive In
Location: 3101 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28205
South 21 Drive In offers a made-to-order Fish-O-Burger that includes two filets of trout, tartar sauce, a cup of slaw and fries on the side.
Taste of Buffalo Pizzeria
Location: 9610 Sherrill Estates Rd B, Huntersville, NC 28078
A Taste of Buffalo is churning out more than pepperoni pies.
On Fridays from Sept. 5 through Good Friday, the neighborhood pizzeria offers a haddock fish fry meal. The platter comes with a beer-battered haddock filet, fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad, buttered rye bread, tartar sauce and a lemon wedge.
Tatsis Restaurant
Location: 2328 N Graham St, Charlotte, NC 28206
As one of Charlotte’s oldest eateries, Tatsis Restaurant knows good food. It’s best known for its breakfast fare, but you’ll also find classic fish and seafood options here.
The fish sandwich includes a flounder or perch filet on a fresh backed bun (it’s unclear if toppings are available, though). The restaurant previously offered a flounder plate, served with a side of fries and coleslaw.
Towne Tavern
Location: 2000 SC-160, Fort Mill, SC 29708
Location: 9789 Charlotte Hwy, Indian Land, SC 29707
Location: 2012 Cherry Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29732
A quick drive across the state line, and you’ll find Towne Tavern has more than a few seafood options to enjoy. Its beer-battered fish ‘n chips platter comes with a pound of fried haddock served alongside tavern fries, housemade slaw and tartar sauce. The meal is also available as a sandwich, with a side of your choice.
Towne Tavern also offers a blackened shrimp wrap, made with grilled blackened shrimp, lettuce, tomato, avocado and chipotle mayo in a flour tortilla.
The Waterman Fish Bar
Location: 2729 South Blvd suite d, Charlotte, NC 28209
Location: 5501 Josh Birmingham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28208 (at the Charlotte Douglas Int’l Airport)
There are plenty seafood sandwich options to choose from at The Waterman. The Fisherman’s Pick comes with beer battered haddock, a house-made pickle, coleslaw and tartar sauce on a brioche bun. There’s also a lobster roll served cold with mayo (Maine style) or warmed with butter (Connecticut-style).
Lastly, Waterman’s shrimp po boy is made with lettuce, tomato, pickle, Waterman sauce and served on French bread.
This story was originally published February 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM.