Fast-Food Franchises Embrace the Carnival Spirit with Fat Tuesday Specials on March 4
Updated March 4, 2025
The raucous, Louisiana-centric Carnival Season culminates on Mardi Gras – literally Fat Tuesday – which falls this year on March 4. It’s the final day of overindulgence before the start of Lent, when Roman Catholics observe a solemn period of penance and fasting leading up to Easter.
New Orleans is ground zero in the U.S. for Mardi Gras celebrations, which include feasting, drinking, colorful parade floats, “throws” of beads from those floats, festive balls, costumes and much more. But other places – including Mobile, Ala., which claims to have hosted the first Mardi Gras celebration in the U.S., as well as cities in Europe, Canada and Brazil – hold their own Carnival extravaganzas.
Fat Tuesday offers revelers one last opportunity to enjoy that cake, meat, booze and anything else they’ll give up during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. To get some of that Carnival fun, fast food franchises offer Mardi Gras-inspired deals to give customers one last hurrah before Lent begins.
Below is a small compilation of participating brands this March 4.
Mardi Gras 2025: Fast Food Deals and Freebies
Applebee’s
Applebee’s has rolled out a Big Easy menu in honor of Mardi Gras, with Bourbon Street dishes starting at $11.99. The new menu options include Bourbon Street chicken (above) or blackened shrimp with andouille sausage penne, Bourbon Street chicken and shrimp, a Bourbon Street mushroom Swiss burger and Bourbon Street steak.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar is getting into the Carnival spirit by making its daily drink specials available all day long on March 4 only. These specials include draft beer for $4, Shaken Monday drinks for $5, wine pours for $3, House Margs for $4 and Sunday Bloody Mary for $5.
Dog Haus
Dog Haus is taking Mardi Gras to the next level with cocktails, craft beers and additional specials like the limited-time Big Hac burger (above) in collaboration with chef Josh Elkin. These specials are available through March 4.
Krispy Kreme
Customers who wear Mardi Gras beads at a Krispy Kreme shop or drive-thru on March 4 can receive a free original glazed doughnut. No purchase is required to redeem this freebie.
La Madeleine
La Madeleine, a French-inspired food franchise, has Mardi Gras menu items through March 4. These dishes include sausage pouchette, a flaky pastry stuffed with Cajun boudin sausage and cheddar cheese; jambalaya; cajun-spiced shrimp baguette sandwiches; and, if you happen to live in Louisiana, king cake!
Logan’s Roadhouse
Logan’s Roadhouse released a Cajun-inspired menu just in time for Mardi Gras. The limited-time menu features dishes such as Cajun seafood dip, beer-battered onion rings, cedar-plank salmon, shrimp-stacked trout, lemon pepper trout, coconut shrimp dinner, blackened shrimp and sausage gumbo, roadhouse gumbo and Key lime cheesecake.
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans is making sure guests get a piece of the Mardi Gras cake with multiple king cake-inspired beverages featuring cinnamon and vanilla flavors. These beverages, which include the king cake shaken espresso, king cake velvet ice and king cake latte, will be available for a limited time through March 4. PJ’s is also offering actual king cakes in-store and online.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is helping guests to one last indulgence in honor of Fat Tuesday. The brand’s famous chicken sandwich (above) is only $4 through March 3. On March 4, customers can enjoy happy hour menu prices all day long, with deals starting at $2.
Shipley Do-Nuts
Customers can snag mini beignets (pictured above), similar to the legendary donut-like square pastries served at NOLA’s Café du Monde, at their local Shipley Do-Nuts locations in celebration of Fat Tuesday. This deal is only available for a limited time.
The Greene Turtle
The Greene Turtle is celebrating Mardi Gras with 2-for-1 drink specials. Guests can enjoy two drinks for the price of one on March 4 only.
