KANSAS CITY — Seafood is in the spotlight on menus as restaurants cater to consumers observing the Lenten season. And this year, operators are making waves in the category by offering new spicy seafood dishes.
Arby’s is offering a new Nashville Hot Fish Sandwich, featuring a wild-caught Alaskan pollock fillet that is fried and coated with a blend of cayenne pepper, paprika, salt and garlic powder. The fillet is topped with dill pickles, shredded lettuce and parmesan peppercorn ranch all served on a sesame seed bun. The fillet is also available wrapped in a warm flatbread or as a King’s Hawaiian Nashville Hot Fish Deluxe with cheddar, dill pickle, tomato and shredded lettuce on a sweet King’s Hawaiian bun.
“Arby’s guests love spicy food and have asked for more of it on our menu, so we’re constantly challenging the culinary team to add heat, but to do so in a way that allows our quality proteins to be the hero,” said Jim Taylor, chief marketing officer of Arby’s. “We’ve done just that with Nashville Hot Fish, which brings a popular spice trend and regional staple to Arby’s restaurants nationwide. Fish is very popular this time of year, and anyone looking to change things up is going to love this sandwich.”
Salmon gets the spicy treatment at TGI Fridays, where the chain is introducing Dragon-Glazed Salmon. The dish features an Atlantic salmon fillet brushed with a sweet and spicy Korean barbecue sauce and topped with a mango pico de gallo.
Chipotle chilies lend their fiery flavor to shrimp in El Pollo Loco’s four new seafood dishes, all featuring shrimp marinated in chipotle chilies and garlic. The new Shrimp Avocado Plate consists of two tacos stuffed with Baja shrimp, avocado, Baja sauce, cabbage and pico de gallo. The Shrimp Tostada features Baja shrimp, avocado, mango salsa, beans, rice and cheese. The Shrimp Bowl is a combination of Baja shrimp, broccoli, rice and corn, and the Shrimp Wrap features Baja shrimp, chicken, avocado, brown rice, sour cream and black beans.
Jalapeños heat up Yard House’s new Shrimp & Calamari Diablo. The dish features jumbo shrimp, calamari, pepperoni and jalapeño on a bed of black spaghetti all topped with spicy garlic tomato basil sauce.
Jalapeño and chipotle team up to turn up the heat in Taco Cabana’s new Diabla Loaded Grilled Shrimp Tacos. They feature shrimp seasoned with a fajita spice blend drizzled with spicy chipotle diabla sauce all topped with sweet and spicy jalapeño-pickled red onions, crumbled queso fresco and chopped cilantro.
