It's shrimp's time to shine in the takeout world, but not all fast food restaurants
are nailing it. Dive into our round-up of the good, the bad, and the shrimpy!
Maybe it's unfair to single out a fried chicken joint for lackluster shrimp. But when you see
the nuggets of disappointment that are flying out of Church's Chicken, you'll understand
why the Southern chain sinks to the bottom of our list. The Butterfly Shrimp doesn't appear
regularly on the menu, and that's because it's a temporary item for Lent. Even so, seasonality
is no excuse for the deep-fried atrocities holding that honey-butter biscuit hostage.
Let's begin with the serving size. In total, the poultry purveyor gives you eight pieces
of shellfish for about $6. This wouldn't be an issue if the shrimps themselves weren't so small.
Despite adding in the side entrees, the lean portion resembles a snack you'd pull out of your
pocket rather than what should be a belly-bursting feast that'll stuff you to the gills.
That's not even Church's Chicken's biggest offense. No, that honor goes to the blandness.
At first, we thought our taste buds were playing tricks on us, but that wasn't the case at all.
Turns out the coating — and the shrimp, more importantly — contains zero flavor to speak
of. And if you assumed dipping sauce could remedy the issue, think again.
We hate to bash on an all-American icon, but trust us when we say that the Pub Style
Shrimp Basket goes belly-up. That's because, quite frankly, nothing stands out about them.
These are garden variety breaded shrimp, probably out of a frozen bag courtesy of
some wholesale distributor. The moment you open your basket, you'll be confronted by
soggy bits of shellfish with a breading that struggles to cling onto any crunch.
Once again, the size of the shrimp is also underwhelming. Although the chain
has boasted larger shrimp within the last few years,
the current version doesn't appear to differ much from promotions past.
For anybody craving crispy, plump shrimp that snap upon first bite,
pass on A&W. Your air fryer at home could probably put the restaurant to shame,
so at least you wouldn't waste gas or your hard-earned cash. Most of us go here for
a Papa Burger, Root Beer, and Root Beer Float anyway, so really, what are we missing out on?
"For the record, would hit it, would hit, would hit, hard pass."
"Popcorn shrimp…with club sauce."
One of Popeyes' few seafood options, the 1/4 Pound Popcorn Shrimp Meal combines a
side dish and biscuit with, you guessed it, a quarter-pound scoop of popcorn shrimp. It's
not shocking that the Louisiana franchise would dabble in seafood, as Creole cuisine wouldn't
exist without it. All the same, we were let down by Popeyes' version. Accepting that
popcorn shrimp is supposed to be bite-sized, the Cajun chain takes that as an excuse to
overload on the coating, and skimp out on the most important part of the entrée: the meat.
To be sure, there's a lot of breading in every bite, including a generous helping of seasoning
that's become the chicken chain's signature. The fact that you're not sinking your teeth
into bland husks of bread crumbs like at other places is a plus, and that definitely comes in
handy if the drive-thru forgets your cocktail sauce. But after diving into a bucket of them,
there's only one question we're left with: Where's the shrimp? There's no doubting the
gloriously juicy chicken you get from a well-fried drumstick or tender. With the popcorn shrimp,
our taste buds were calling out for any hint of protein. Don't bother.
Panda Express is Americanized Chinese food, so in theory we should be thrilled by the Honey
Walnut Shrimp. How can you go wrong with big, battered prawns steeped in a sweet glaze? Panda's
shrimps are much more substantial; we'll admit it. However, any crunch you'd get from the coating is
totally wiped out by the honey sauce. It's a given that many people enjoy the sticky consistency,
but in this case, the shrimp soaks it all up, turning every bite into a stodgy, spongy mass.
Not only is there better shrimp out there, but also the Honey Walnut Shrimp isn't even the best
thing at Panda Express. While we acknowledge that the dish has fans, the flavor is just
too much. Lots of sugar, combined with too much sauce, is a sticky situation.
To set things back further, the seafood entrée costs extra. Don't get us wrong; we're not opposed
to paying more for a special dish. But if you must have fast-food shrimp, take a look elsewhere.
Slinging Chinese takeout that's about as authentic as Panda Express is Pei Wei, and one of its
specialties is Kung Pao Shrimp. It's not common to see the tongue-searing flavors of chili and
crushed-up peanuts with meat other than chicken. But is it any good? That's the burning question.
On its own, the shrimp is palatable. You might be tempted by the glistening sauce cascading over the
curled morsels in your rice bowl, but apart from that, the texture leaves a lot to be desired. We
find these inconsistencies are a matter of location. Maybe you'll get a tasty portion
at one restaurant, but at another, you could be served a heap of squishy, overdone shellfish.
There are hundreds of Pei Weis currently open, so enforcing quality control isn't
always possible. We do like that it's somewhat unique and full of spice,
yet in terms of good seafood, this simply misses the mark for us.
"Very big shrimp!" "Yeah, they are. Look at this!
Have you ever seen one this big?" "It's a very big shrimp."
The verdict on Del Taco's shrimp? Not bad, actually. Being a Mexican chain mostly located
on the West Coast gave us some hope that we wouldn't stare down the barrel of crusty,
overdone cocktail chunks, and for the most part,
our assumptions were spot-on. We wouldn't go as far as calling them spectacular, but in a
sea of relatively few choices on the fast food market? Let's give credit where credit is due.
It's true that there are multiple ways to eat shrimp at the Mexican franchise. But to truly
judge it, we went with the most basic of options, the Original Crispy Jumbo Shrimp Taco. First off,
these are decent-sized shrimps. The crispy batter pairs well with the refreshing condiments,
and the shrimp appear somewhat seasoned on the outside. When they are tucked
into the flour tortilla, the ratio of seafood to toppings seems balanced,
letting the shellfish take center stage while benefiting from the tasty fixings too.
Our hypothetical bone to pick with this fried shrimp is the seasonal availability.
You can get superior seafood choices at other drive-thru spots all year long. Overall though,
there's nothing to complain about here.
"Underrated" is a term fans of Long John Silver's often use to describe the seafood
chain's battered wares, and that includes the Popcorn Shrimp Basket. Advertised at just $6
with sides like hush puppies and rice, this basket has a boatload of food for an undeniable
bargain. Compared to Popeye's popcorn shrimp, this shellfish reins in a heftier bite, with a crunch
that's far from the puffs of deep-fried panko that dissolve on your tongue like cotton candy.
Although the Louisiana chain has the Cajun kick to lure in your taste buds,
Long John Silver's has shrimp that is infinitely meatier. Additionally, the shrimp manage to stay
taut and crispy despite the amount of grease. For a deep-fried beast feast, this meal is not
going to require a mountain of napkins to clean yourself off with. Nobody likes soggy shrimp
clumps at the bottom of the bag, and at Long John Silver's, you don't have to worry about that.
The reason Long John Silver's isn't higher on our list? It's definitely decent,
but as our list shows, it's possible to hold out for something even better.
Culver's, the prime custodian of frozen custard, took a stab at the fish fry without totally
dropping the ball. In addition to getting the infamous Butter Burger and crinkle fries,
customers can reel in nautical selections such as the Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp Basket.
These prawns are deafeningly crunchy, thanks to the pebbled shell of fried panko bread crumbs,
and they're shockingly hefty to hold. A six-piece meal might not seem like much,
but watch your hunger cease once you gobble them down with a bed of tangy coleslaw.
Obviously, Culver's shrimp are not perfect. The coating is on the plainer side,
which might be okay, granted the side of cocktail sauce you get. And unless you purchase the meal,
it will be pricier than fast food joints of a similar tier. But Culver's has always
outdone itself with excellent quality, and while you might hesitate to give
up your regular order in favor of the shellfish, do give it a whirl if shrimp
is your forte. It's definitely fast food good, but it's also good, period.
"I love shrimp. I'm a shrimp eater. Put shrimp in front of me and I'll eat it til my stomach pops."
The Citrus Lime Shrimp exploded in popularity when Qdoba first debuted the dish in 2022,
and it's not hard to see why. It's a killer combination, particularly from
the Mexican chain's well-established record of fresh cooking. Prawns have
a knack for turning into rubber if left sizzling too long in the pan,
but these ones stay firm and juicy even when suspended in the light sauce.
We will point out that the Citrus Lime Shrimp, while flavorful, has an obviously strong tang.
It's also a little over-hyped, as evidenced by Reddit commenters who've tried the shrimp
for themselves, but still — it's not often that zesty, citrusy shrimp enters the fast-casual ring.
The menu offers plenty of inspiration for enjoying it stuffed in tortillas or
on beds of rice. We wager you have your regular order on lock when hitting Qdoba up for lunch,
but if you'd like to experiment, a Citrus Lime Shrimp Burrito loaded with rice, black beans,
pico de gallo, and fluffy cotija cheese really highlights these plump pinwheels of shellfish.
With a name like Captain D's, deep-fried prawns are pretty much a guarantee among
the seafood chain's menu lineup. They pop up in variety platters
alongside crab cakes and chicken, but also take the spotlight individually.
Regardless of how you order the Crispy Butterfly Shrimp, one thing's for sure:
You'll be happy to find them on your plate. For starters, they're encased in an exceptionally
crunchy shell, and the mouthfuls of shellfish are tender and firm without
drying up in the fryer. Feasting heartily won't be a problem in the slightest either
because every batch arrives with multiple sides — hush puppies, coleslaw, the works.
Now, what justifies the higher ranking of Captain D's Butterfly Shrimp exactly?
Each basket is anchored with heaps of grub between the main course and all the extras,
but even if you can't finish it all on your own, the deal remains worthwhile.
One customer boasted about paying $5 for the shrimp dinner just a few years ago,
and since then the price has stayed consistently affordable.
There's one burger chain that threatens to sail away with the entire competition:
White Castle. That's right, the home of hole-punched beef patties slings something
pretty special in the seafood department, and they're called Shrimp Nibblers. Once in a blue
moon these heavenly mouthfuls appear during Lent, and we crave their crispiness year-round.
Now, the regular Shrimp Nibblers are already considered fan favorites at White Castle,
so where does that put the sriracha version? In our view, the spiced-up version breathes new life
into a classic. Besides the same irresistible crunch, the chili-flecked heat of the coating
plays off the shellfish flavor nicely. Don't worry about lighting your tongue on fire because
the spice is manageable and absolutely delectable. On the contrary, you'll feel
compelled to empty out a whole bag while wishing you'd ordered seconds — they're that easy to eat.
The word "nibbler" insinuates something you snack on, but we appreciate how they
come in various sizes. A small is ideal for on-the-go grazing, but a sack size is
necessary for the hungriest of hunger pangs. For that, it's a slam-dunk fast food option.
"Really, the only word for it is -"
Swensons' Shrimp Dinner offers battered butterfly shrimp followed by more starch — a
bread roll and french fries — with a tangy cocktail sauce for dunking at under $10.
The shrimp resembles fresh-fried selections you'd order from a beachfront grill — crunchy,
evenly coated, and thereby suited for the tangy dip that ups the flavor ante astronomically.
Tasty, authentic, and out of a drive-thru? Say no more!
Of course, the food is enough for a high ranking. But what separates Swensons from
the rest is how nicely the eatery packs your food up. Although the Shrimp Dinner
is stored in a paper box, all of the items are bagged individually. That way,
you can enjoy the breaded shrimp exactly as it should be enjoyed — crispy and steamy,
without dissolving into a pool of its own grease and being overpowered by the rest of the meal. Our
only reservations about the Shrimp Dinner involve its potential overshadowing by the infamous Galley
Boy Burger, but that's not a problem here. The shrimp stands loud and proud on its own.
Finally, the very best fast food shrimp is from Baja Fresh. The Fire-Grilled Shrimp
just blows every other fast food shrimp we've ever eaten out of the water. Gummy,
frost-bitten seafood isn't a thing here, and that's likely because the
Mexican franchise claims to make everything, well, fresh by rejecting canned and frozen
ingredients. No joke, you will not find quality like this anywhere else.
It's telling that decent-ish shrimp makes the rounds for Lent or summertime at other
fast-casual joints, but luckily for us, Baja keeps it on the menu full-time. Seared to perfection and
seasoned with a light hand, this shrimp packs a wollop of flavor in virtually any dish. Because
the restaurant lets you build your own meal, there are endless possibilities for enjoying them, and
that's what makes them so perfect. These grilled medallions would work wonders in a Chili Lime
Salad, in a burrito, or on a crunchy tostada shell with all the sour cream and salsas you could want.