Lent 2026: Meat-Free Sandwiches, Ramen Bowls + More Specials Not to Miss

(SPOT.ph) It’s that time of year again when menus start leaning toward the sea—switching pork, beef, and chicken for fish, shrimp, and crab. Some put the spotlight on the ever-versatile tofu and vegetables as their canvas to create meatless masterpieces.

We're talking about the Lenten period, when Catholics abstain from eating meat on certain days of the week. In this guide, we’re rounding up both new and returning favorites that make going meat-free a delicious compromise.

We already expect McDonald's to bring back the Filet-O-Fish the moment Lent rolls around—but this year, they're bringing back the Ebi Burger (P165/solo and P209/meal), which you may remember from their “Flavors of Japan” lineup. It’s still the same sandwich made with a fried shrimp patty, crisp lettuce, and a sweet-tangy sauce, all tucked into sesame-studded buns.

What is new is how you’re meant to eat it. The Ebi Burger returns with two other crowd-favorites: the Cheese Dunk (P50) and Chili Con Carne Dunk (P50). On meat-free Fridays, you can keep things Lent-friendly and dunk the burger into the cup of melted cheese. On other days, you're free to dip it in the sweet-tangy Chili Con Carne.

See list of McDonald's branches. For more information, check out McDonald's Facebook page.

Another shrimp sandwich is swimming back to a fast food chain's menu. At Wendy's, the Shrimp Sandwich (P185/Solo and P255/Combo with Fries and Drinks) returns for the Lenten season. This sandwich has a shrimp patty with a crunchy crust, lettuce, cucumber, and tartar sauce that ties everything together, all sandwiched in between toasted glazed buns.

If you're (unfortunately) allergic to shrimp or any shellfish, you can go for Wendy's Fish Sandwich (P165/Solo and P240/Combo with Fries and Drinks). This is structured the same way as the Shrimp Sandwich; the only difference is that it switches the protein for an Alaskan fish fillet.

See list of Wendy's branches. For more information, check out Wendy's Facebook page.

Tsuke-Men didn't just launch a Lent-friendly tsukemen—they came out with an entire series with crab as the main star. There's the Crab Tsukemen (P688), which comes with a thick crab-infused sauce for dipping your noodles into, plus a fried omelette topping. For those Team Rice > Noodles, try the Crab Chahan (P388)—Tsuke-Men's new crab-infused rice with a fluffy omelette lying on top. Lastly, there’s the Crab Bao (P388): fried mantou stuffed with crab meat and vegetables.

Din Tai Fung has a variety of Lent-friendly dishes like the Chili Crab and Shrimp Xiaolongbao and Sweet and Sour Prawns. More recently, they introduced the new Shrimp Chop Fried Rice (P405)—essentially a shrimp-centric version of their Fried Pork Chop Rice.

The Shrimp Chop Fried Rice is a Lenten season special dish that already has ulam or viand, which is the fried shrimp cutlets with their golden brown, crunchy outer layer, lying atop a serving of aromatic fried rice. This new meatless dish is available from February 18 to April 5, covering the entire Lenten season.

See list of Din Tai Fung branches. For more information, check out Din Tai Fung Philippines' Facebook page.

Like clockwork, 8Cuts' Shrimp 'Wich (P380) has returned to the menu in time for Lent. This is a sandwich with a shrimp patty plus other toppings—pickled jalapeño and housemade pickles for crunch and a bright kick, a jalapeño ranch sauce, and crisp lettuce—all in between brioche buns. Thankfully, you can still order a side of Skinny Fries or Onion Rings and still keep things meatless.

See list of 8Cuts branches. For more information, check out 8Cuts Burgers' Facebook page.

Greenlight Burgers, the new burger spot by Filipino-American Chef Alvin Cailan in BGC, is known for its out-of-the-box approach when it comes to constructing its burgers. And the same goes for their new Lenten special, Fish Burger (P750).

Sure, a burger with a fish patty isn't exactly unique, but all the flexing is in the ingredients used. Think black cod dunked in a batter spiked with Singha (Thai lager), fried until golden and audibly crisp, then layered with a briny caviar tartare and tucked into pillowy buns.

Greenlight Burgers by Alvin Cailan is at West Gallery Place, Bonifacio Global City. For more information, check out Burgers by Alvin Cailan's Instagram page.

The more obvious meatless way to go when you're dining at Max's Restaurant is to go with the crowd-favorite Sizzling Tofu, but this year, you have one new option. New to the menu for Lent is the Garlic Butter Bangus (P498), a gigantic slab of fried bangus belly slathered with a garlic butter sauce and topped with fried garlic bits. This dish is quite big, good for sharing between three to four people, which means you need to order a large portion of rice to go with it. Max's Restaurant's Garlic Butter Bangus is available until April 30.

See list of Max's Restaurant branches. For more information, check out Max's Restaurant's Facebook page.

Shrimp season is clearly having a moment, and 7-Eleven is leaning in with three Lenten-ready options (the price starts at P95) that swap out the pork, chicken, and beef with shrimp. There’s the Creamy Tomato Shrimp Pasta (P95), where tender shrimp meet a rich, slightly tangy tomato cream sauce; the Shrimp Burger (P95), a seafood spin on the classic burger; and Shrimp Balls with Rice (P99), golden, bite-sized pieces paired with rice for something more filling.

7-Eleven's Creamy Tomato Shrimp Pasta, Shrimp Burger, and Shrimp Balls with Rice are available at select 7-Eleven Luzon stores. For more information, check out 7-Eleven Philippines' Facebook page.