18 Restaurant Chains Offering Free Food for Veterans Day — Eat This Not That

By Ghuman

Introduction

Veterans Day is a special day to honor and thank those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. To show their appreciation, many restaurant chains are offering free food to veterans and active military personnel on November 11th. From free burgers to free desserts, there are plenty of options to choose from. In this article, we’ll be highlighting 18 restaurant chains offering free food for Veterans Day. So if you’re a veteran or active military personnel, be sure to take advantage of these great deals!

18 Restaurant Chains Offering Free Food for Veterans Day

Veterans Day is a time to honor and thank those who have served in the U.S. military. To show their appreciation, many restaurants are offering free food and discounts to veterans and active-duty military personnel. Here are 18 restaurant chains that are offering free food for Veterans Day.

Applebee’s

Applebee’s is offering a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings is offering a free order of 10 boneless wings and fries to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Chili’s

Chili’s is offering a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Denny’s

Denny’s is offering a free Build Your Own Grand Slam breakfast to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Golden Corral

Golden Corral is offering a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Hooters

Hooters is offering a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

IHOP

IHOP is offering a free stack of Red, White, and Blue pancakes to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Little Caesars

Little Caesars is offering a free Hot-N-Ready Lunch Combo to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for carry-out only.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden is offering a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse is offering a free Bloomin’ Onion and a beverage to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Red Lobster

Red Lobster is offering a free appetizer or dessert from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Red Robin

Red Robin is offering a free Red’s Tavern Double Burger and Bottomless Steak Fries to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Starbucks

Starbucks is offering a free tall brewed coffee to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for in-store only.

Texas Roadhouse

Texas Roadhouse is offering a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

TGI Fridays

TGI Fridays is offering a free lunch from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Wendy’s

Wendy’s is offering a free small breakfast combo to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

White Castle

White Castle is offering a free breakfast combo or Castle Combo meal to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

Yard House

Yard House is offering a free appetizer to veterans and active-duty military personnel on Veterans Day. The offer is valid for dine-in only.

We hope you take advantage of these offers to thank our veterans and active-duty military personnel for their service. Happy Veterans Day!

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Active members of the United States military have a hard job that may, at any given time, call for them to go into harm’s way. And those who have retired from service have spent many years of their lives in just the same manner, including many who were indeed called into combat. Offering our military personnel a few dollars off a meal or a free cup of coffee on Veterans Day may not change any soldier’s life in the grand scheme of things, but that’s not the point: the point of Veterans Day deals is just to say thanks.

And to make it easier for active-duty servicemen and servicewomen and military retirees to get the benefits of some of the best Veterans Day restaurant deals this year, we’ve rounded up a squadron’s worth of the best deals out there for veterans in 2022.

RELATED: Dunkin’ Fans Are Outraged By the Coffee Chain’s Changes to Its Rewards Program

Starbucks drink
Shutterstock

Not only is Starbucks offering active-duty servicemembers and vets a free cup of coffee on Veterans Day, but the chain is also offering free coffee to military spouses. Just note that not all locations are necessarily participating.

wendys baconator breakfast combo
Courtesy of Wendy’s

Veterans and active duty service members can get a free breakfast at Wendy’s up until 10:30 in the morning on Friday November 11. Just make sure to have a military ID on hand.

texas roadhouse sign
Shutterstock

Vets and active-duty personnel who come by a Texas Roadhouse on Nov. 11 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. can get a meal voucher that can be used any time through the end of May 2023. (Just remember that the restaurant will not be open for lunch on Veterans Day, but you can get your voucher in the parking lot.)

dunkin donuts white frosted sprinkled donut
Alexis G./Yelp

Veterans and any men or women who are active in the armed services can get a free donut from Dunkin’ on Veterans Day, and no military ID is required, either. But don’t use that to game the chain’s goodwill.

mcdonald's
Shutterstock

There is no universal military discount this year, but at any McDonald’s location, the store owners have the choice to implement a Veterans Day deal on Nov. 11. Some restaurants may be offering free breakfast or a free extra-value meal—go check out your location McDonald’s to find out.

hooters girl and food
Hooters / Facebook

Participating Hooter restaurants will be offering veterans who present a military ID or proof of service one free entrée from the special Veterans Day menu. This will be available for dine-in only and you may qualify with the purchase of a beverage.
The top-five most popular food items at the chain will be included in the Hooters Veterans Day Menu, such as the Buffalo Chicken Salad, Buffalo Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Hooters Burger, and 10-Piece Boneless Wings.

RELATED: The Real Reasons Hooters Locations Are Disappearing

buffalo wild wings platter wings fries slaw
Courtesy of Buffalo Wild Wings

Retired military folks and active-duty members of the military can get an order of 10 boneless wings and a side of fries at BW3 on Nov. 11 when they show an ID, come in uniform, or have pictures of themselves in a military uniform.

dickey's barbecue pit pulled pork
Dicky’s Barbecue Pit / Facebook

The Dickey family always shows its support for the Veteran community, ever since Travis Dickey opened the very first restaurant after serving our country in World War I. This year, military veterans can receive a free Pulled Pork Sandwich either in-store for carryout, the Dickey’s app, or online at Dickeys.com by using the code VETFREE all day.

However, that’s not all. From Nov. 11 to Dec. 31, the code VETERAN15 will take 15% off all orders for veterans ordering from Barbecue at Home by Dickey’s—a major supplier of craft sausages, premium quality meats, and unique rubs and spices that you can have shipped right to your door.

Red, White, and Blueberry Pancakes
IHop / Twitter

Vets and men and women who are active in the armed services can stop into an IHOP on Nov. 11 and get a free stack of Red, White, and Blueberry Pancakes. Bring an ID or come in uniform.

outback-steakhouse-bloomin-onion
Outback Steakhouse / Facebook

The Outback Steakhouse is offering vets and current members of the military a free Bloomin’ Onion and a free soft drink on Veterans Day. The chain also offers military folks (and nurses, doctors, and first responders) 10% off the bill every day, FYI.

olive garden pasta
Olive Garden/Facebook

Military members can get a free meal at the Olive Garden on Veterans Day when they show a military ID. And yes, unlimited soup or salad is included with the thank you offer.

RELATED: America’s Favorite Pasta Chain Is Bringing Back This Iconic Deal

white castle food and drink
rblfmr / Shutterstock

Active and former military personnel can get either a breakfast combo meal or a regular combo meal for free at White Castle on Veterans Day with the display of a valid military ID.

applebees whiskey bacon burger
Courtesy of Applebee’s

Applebee’s is offering Active Duty Military, Veterans, Reserves, and National Guard a full-size entrée from an exclusive menu when patrons dine in. And to continue their thanks and gratitude for military service, the chain will also give away a $5 Bounce Back Card to redeem at your next visit to the restaurant.

California Pizza Kitchen is doing it right this Veterans Day. Not only do active and retired military members (with ID) get a free entrée and drink on Veterans Day, but they also get a Buy One Get One coupon redeemable for a week and two days after.

Bucket of bones from TGI Fridays
Courtesy of TGI Fridays

Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? On Veterans Day, there by all means is when military members or former armed service members go to Fridays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

red robin monster burger and fries
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers / Facebook

Members of the military (or retired veterans) can get a Red’s Tavern Double Burger served with Bottomless Steak Fries on Nov. 11 when they come to Red Robin with proof of their service.

Friendly's all american burger and fries
Courtesy of Friendly’s

Active duty servicemen and servicewomen and veterans who can display an honorable discharge card can get a free burger and a free fountain drink at Friendly’s on Nov. 11.

hot dog and fries
Shutterstock

This up-and-coming specialty hot dog restaurant is offering military personnel a free dog on Veterans Day at a number of participating locations. Just make sure your Dog Haus is among those participating before you count on free eats on Friday.