All the Restaurants Where Military Members Can Get Free or Discounted Meals on Veterans Day
For many restaurants on Veterans Day (which falls on Monday, November 11), it is a time-honored tradition to offer veterans and military personnel free meals or great discounts on food. This year, there are over 25 chains that are honoring service members.
We recommend calling ahead to make sure your local restaurants are participating. You should also ask what you need to bring to identify yourself if anything. Some will ask for a DD-214 or another proof of service, while others will let you show up in uniform!
See below for the full list of discounts, deals, and freebies.
Applebee’s: For the last 12 years, Applebee’s restaurants have offered veterans a free meal on Veteran’s Day. Since this tradition started in 2008, they have served more than 9.8 million free meals. This year, Applebee’s will have a special Veterans Day Menu, which will include items like the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Tenders Platter, Fiesta Lime Chicken, and Double Crunch Shrimp, among others.
Bartaco: The taco chain is offering veterans 20% off all food from November 9 to 11.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: All current and former military members can get a free entrée (up to $14.95) and a free Dr. Pepper beverage on Veterans Day when they dine in-house.
Bob Evans: Veterans and active-duty military members are eligible to receive a free meal (breakfast is served all day, by the way) on Veterans Day at Bob Evans. Choices include the Country Biscuit Breakfast, Brioche French Toast, Stack of Hotcakes, and many more.
Bonefish Grill: This year on Veterans Day, Bonefish Grill is honoring all active and retired service members a complimentary appetizer, such as Mussels Josephine, Calamari, Imperial Dip, or Bang Bang Shrimp.
Bruegger’s Bagels: Grab free bagels and cream cheese on Veterans Day with no other purchase necessary.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.: Military personnel and their families will receive 20% off their meals and retail purchases on Veteran’s Day.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Chicken wing-loving veterans can stop into BWW for a free order of small boneless or traditional wings and a side of french fries as part of their annual Veterans Day deal.
California Pizza Kitchen: Veterans and active U.S. military members will be able to choose a pizza, pasta, full-size salad, and beverage from CPK’s special Veterans Day Menu when they dine-in. Participating diners can also receive a “buy one, get one free” card to redeem during a return visit from November 12 through November 20. The restaurant chain will also hold a nationwide fundraiser in partnership with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) on November 7 to support essential programs and services for veterans and their families.
Carlo’s Bakery: The bakery from the reality TV series Cake Boss will honor veterans and active-duty military members a free large cannoli — plain or chocolate — on Veterans Day at any Carlo’s Bakery location.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Starting Friday, November 8 through Monday, November 11, Carrabba’s will be offering a free order of calamari with any purchase to all veterans, active military, police officers and firefighters with a valid military ID. All restaurants also offer 10% off to all active and retired service members anytime they visit their local Carrabba’s Italian Grill.
Chick-fil-A: Some of the chain’s locations will offer free Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches to all active military personnel and veterans from 10:30 a.m. until close on Veterans Day. No other purchase is required.
Chili’s: The fast-food chain will be giving away free meals to all active military members and veterans this year. Throughout the year, Chili’s also honors our nation’s veterans and their families by partnering with organizations including Veteran Jobs Mission, Snowball Express, and Wreaths Across America.
Chipotle: The Mexican chain restaurant will be offering its annual Military Appreciation BOGO deal to honor military servicemembers around the country. The promotion will be valid on burritos, bowls, salads, and taco orders, and it will be available for all active-duty military, reserves, national guard, military spouses, and retired military.
Cicis: The pizza chain is offering veterans a free adult buffet on Veterans Day. Cicis Veterans Program also offers veterans the chance to have no franchise fee for their first restaurant and two years of no royalties.
Condado Tacos: This taco joint will be offering two free tacos for military veterans and active-duty military on Veterans Day, and no other purchase is necessary. Condado Tacos will also be offering one free taco with food purchase to veterans and active military, valid year-round.
Cracker Barrel: This Veterans Day, Cracker Barrel will be honoring military veterans by serving complimentary slices of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake or Pumpkin Pie Lattes at all 660 Cracker Barrel locations nationwide. From October 28 to November 11, they will also offer $25 off all U.S. military branch-themed rocking chairs and 25% off all other military licensed products in retail stores and online. Plus, 10% of the retail sales price from eligible online and in-store purchases of wooden rocking chairs will be donated to Operation Homefront, a national military non-profit organization that aims to build strong, stable, and secure military families.
Denny’s: The diner-style restaurant chain is inviting all veterans and military personnel into participating Denny’s locations nationwide from 5 a.m. to noon to receive a complimentary Build Your Own Grand Slam. This dish is one of Denny’s signature breakfast entrées and includes a choice of four options from a list of more than 13 choices from fluffy buttermilk pancakes and eggs cooked to order to bacon strips and hash browns.
Freddy’s: All veterans and current military personnel who visit Freddy’s on Veterans Day will receive a combo meal card that can be redeemed through November 30, 2019.
Friendly’s: Veterans and active military members will receive a free Veterans Day breakfast, lunch, or dinner when they dine-in at Friendly’s. The breakfast meal consists of the Big-Two-Do, which includes your choice of Brioche French Toast, two buttermilk pancakes or two slices of toast, two strips of crispy Applewood-smoked bacon or two sausage links, and a side of two made-to-order farm fresh eggs, and a coffee. For lunch and dinner, veterans and active service members get the All-American Burger (with or without cheese), served with fries and your choice of soda, iced tea, or a hot beverage.
Golden Corral: From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Veterans Day, Golden Corral will be offering free meals and beverages for any active or former military members as part of their annual Military Appreciation Night.
IHOP: The pancake house chain will be giving out complimentary red, white & blue buttermilk pancakes or breakfast combos to active military members and veterans on Veterans Day this year. The pancakes will be topped with glazed strawberries, blueberry compote, and whipped topping.
Kneaders: The bakery & cafe chain is offering free, unlimited slices of Chunky Cinnamon French Toast breakfast to veterans and active military until 11 a.m. on Veterans Day.
Little Caesars: Veterans and active military members are eligible to receive Little Caesars’ $5 HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day. The deal includes four slices of Little Caesars Detroit-style DEEP!DEEP! Dish pizza, plus a 20 oz. Pepsi product.
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Metro Diner: The diner chain will offer 50% off to active and retired military members. Diners can enjoy menu items from Fried Chicken & Waffles to Pulled Pork Mac Stacks and Meatloaf Plates (the same one that was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives).
Olive Garden: Veterans and active-duty military can get their meal paid in full by the Italian food chain, including an entrée from a special Veterans Day menu, plus unlimited soup or salad and their famous garlic breadsticks.
Outback Steakhouse: The steakhouse has partnered with Operation Homefront to give all military members, police officers, firefighters, and first responders 10% off their entire check all day every day.
Red Lobster: The seafood chain will offer veterans, active-duty military and reservists a free appetizer or dessert on Veterans Day from a special menu. The appetizer menu includes items like sweet chili shrimp, seafood-stuffed mushrooms, shrimp cocktail, and mozzarella cheesesticks, while the dessert menu includes dishes like key lime pie, vanilla bean cheesecake, and warm apple crostada.
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Red Robin: Veterans and active-duty can check out Red Robin on Veterans Day for a free Tavern Double Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries.
Starbucks: The giant coffee chain is offering free coffee for veterans, active duty service members, and military spouses on Veterans Day.
Texas Roadhouse: Active, former, or retired military members can receive a free meal at Texas Roadhouse on Veterans Day. The chain restaurant also donates 10% of all gift cards purchased to Homes For Our Troops, which builds homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.
54th Street Grill: Veterans and active-duty military personnel can eat for free up to $12 when they dine-in on Veterans Day. Plus, you can honor a military member by sharing a photo of them with @54thStreet on Instagram for a chance to win a gift card to the restaurant.
7-Eleven: The convenience store chain is offering free coffee of any size for Veterans Advantage members from November 8 through November 11.
