Places Across the Nation Veterans Can Get Free Meals and Discounts this Veterans Day
This Veterans Day, veterans and active-duty military can take advantage of an extra day of deals. As they do each year, restaurants are saluting veterans by offering free food and meal deals.
Thanks to the federal holiday falling on Sunday, it’s officially observed Monday. This leads to a split with some businesses showing their appreciation Sunday and others Monday.
Proof of service such as a military ID is typically required and a few businesses will allow dressing in uniform as a form of identification. Discharge papers, VA cards and veteran organization membership cards also can be used to prove service at most businesses.
Deals are available at participating locations and offers can vary. Check with your closest location to confirm.
Sunday free meals and discounts
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill: Free meal from a special menu Sunday.
Back Yard Burgers: Free Back Yard Classic Burger Sunday.
Bakers Square: Free Veterans Day Breakfast Sunday plus get a 20 percent off coupon for a future visit.
Bar Louie: Free flatbread or burger Sunday.
Bertucci’s: Free small cheese pizza Sunday and Monday.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: Free meal up to $12.95 and free Dr. Pepper beverage Sunday. Also in November, military personnel can also reserve a Pizookie through the Buy a Hero a Pizookie Program.
Bob Evans: Free meal from a special menu available all day Sunday at all locations.
Bonefish Grill: Free Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer Sunday.
Boston Market: Buy one individual meal and a drink, get one individual meal free with a coupon posted on their website Sunday or Monday. This deal is not only for veterans.
Buffalo’s Café: 50 percent discount for veteran and military Sunday.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Free small order of traditional or boneless wings with a side of fries Sunday.
Buffalo Wings & Rings: Five free wings and a free beverage Sunday.
California Pizza Kitchen: Free meal from special menu Sunday. Get a buy-one-get-one free card to use Nov. 12-18.
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen: Free appetizer or dessert Sunday.
Chevys: Free three-item combo 3 p.m. to close Sunday.
Chili’s: Free meal from special menu Sunday.
Chipotle: Buy-one-get-one free deal Sunday.
Chuck E. Cheese’s: Free personal one-topping pizza Sunday.
Cicis: Free adult buffet Sunday.
City Barbeque: Free sandwich, two sides and a regular beverage Sunday.
Cotton Patch Cafe: Free Chicken Fried Steak or Chicken Fried Chicken Sunday.
Cracker Barrel: Free slice of Double Chocolate Fudge Coca-Cola Cake or a Crafted Coffee beverage.
Creamistry: 50 percent off any single item Sunday and Monday.
Daphne’s: 10 percent discount Sunday.
Dunkin’: Free doughnut Sunday. No purchase required.
East Coast Wings + Grill: Free meal from special menu Sunday.
El Fenix: Free meal from special menu Sunday.
El Torito: Free three-item combo 3 p.m. to close Sunday.
Famous Dave’s: Free two meat lunch combo Sunday and Monday.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill: Veterans and active duty service members get a free lunch or dinner Monday with purchase of another entrée.
Fogo de Chão: 50 percent off meal Veterans’ Day weekend Friday through Sunday and 10 percent off for up to three guests’ meals.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Veterans and active military who visit a Freddy’s restaurant Sunday get a free combo meal card good through Nov. 30.
Freebirds World Burrito: Veterans and active military get a buy-one-get-one free deal on full-size entrees Sunday.
Friendly’s: Free Big-Two-Do breakfast or free All-American Burger meal for lunch or dinner.
GetGo Cafe + Markets: Free coffee or fountain drink, excluding made-to-order and packaged beverages Sunday. Also available for first responders.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: 15 percent off Sunday and Monday. Not valid in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Hickory Tavern: Free Tavern Burger with the purchase of a beverage Sunday.
Hooters: Free meal from a special menu Sunday.
Houlihan’s Restaurant + Bar: Free meal from special menu Sunday. Plus, the chain has a 15 percent military discount every day of the year.
Huddle House: Free order of Sweet Cakes Friday through Monday.
Hurricane Grill & Wings: Free meal Sunday.
Jimboy’s Tacos: Free meal up to $10 at participating locations Sunday.
Kolache Factory: Free kolache and a free coffee Sunday.
LaMar’s Donuts: Free doughnut and 12-ounce coffee Sunday.
Little Caesars: Free Hot-N-Ready lunch combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
Logan’s Roadhouse: Free meal from special menu between 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
LongHorn Steakhouse: Free appetizer or dessert Sunday.
Margaritas Mexican Restaurants: Free meal Sunday.
Max & Erma’s: Free cheeseburger, fries and fountain drink Sunday.
Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt: Free six ounces of frozen yogurt Sunday.
Miller’s Ale House: 50 percent off meal Sunday.
Mimi’s Cafe: Free meal from special menu Sunday.
MOD Pizza: Free MOD-size pizza or salad Sunday.
Native Grill & Wings:Free menu item up to $11.99 Sunday.
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub: Free meal from special menu with purchase of another entree from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
O’Charley’s: Free meal from special menu Sunday and Monday.
Olive Garden: Free meal from special menu Sunday.
On The Border: Free Create-Your-Own combo meal Sunday.
Outback Steakhouse: Free Bloomin’ Onion and non-alcoholic beverage Sunday, plus 10 percent off everyday.
Peet’s Coffee: Free small cup of coffee or tea Sunday.
Pluckers Wing Bar: Free meal, side and non-alcoholic beverage, up to $15, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Dine-in only.
Ponderosa and Bonanaza Steakhouses: Veterans can choose a free buffet and beverage or 50 percent off a menu item. Some locations will honor veterans Sunday and other locations on Monday so check with your closest location.
PT’s Taverns: The chain will offer happy hour selections throughout the entire day to veterans and active-duty service members who present a valid military ID Sunday.
Quaker Steak & Lube: Offers vary by location.
Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert Sunday and Monday.
Red Robin: Free Red’s Tavern Double burger with Bottomless Steak Fries Sunday.
Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries: Vets eat free Saturday through Monday. Plus, each brewery will be brewing a limited-edition Veterans Day IPA and Saturday through Nov. 12, 25 cents from every pint will go to a local Veterans charity.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: Free Mom’s Ricotta Meatballs and Spaghetti entrée Sunday.
Ruby Tuesday: Free appetizer up to a $10 Sunday.
Scooter’s Coffee: Free drink of any size Sunday. Plus, stores will be taking donations for Wounded Warriors Family Support Sunday and Monday.
Shake Shack: Free scoop of Shake Shack Custard at all locations Sunday.
Sheetz: Free six-inch turkey sub and a regular size fountain drink Sunday.
Sizzler: Free lunch from special menu until 4 p.m. Sunday.
Starbucks: Free tall coffee for any veteran, active duty military and military spouse Sunday.
SweetFrog Frozen Yogurt: Free 12-ounce frozen yogurt Sunday.
Taco Cabana: Free Brisket Taco Sunday.
Texas de Brazil: Two veterans dine for free plus 20 percent off for up to six additional guests on Sunday and Monday.
Texas Roadhouse: Free lunch from a special menu Sunday.
TGI Fridays: Free meal up to $12 Sunday and Monday.
The Greene Turtle: Free meal up to $12 Sunday.
Tijuana Flats: Free entree and drink Sunday with military ID. Dine in or take out. One per person.
TooJay’s: Free meal from a special menu Sunday.
Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar: Free classic burgers Sunday.
Wawa: Free hot coffee Sunday.
Wienerschnitzel: Free Chili Dog, small fries and a small drink Sunday.
White Castle: Free combo meal for veterans and active military members who dine in or go through the drive-thru Sunday and Monday.
Yard House: Free appetizer Sunday.
Zoës Kitchen: Free meal Sunday and Monday with a valid military ID.
Other Veteran’s Day freebies
American Family Care: Free flu shots Sunday.
Great Clips: Veterans and active duty get a free haircut on Sunday or pick up a free haircut card to use through Dec. 31. Also non-veterans who get a haircut Sunday get a free haircut card to give to a veteran.
Sports Clips: Participating Sport Clips locations will offer free haircuts to active duty military and veterans Sunday through its Help A Hero campaign. Also Sunday, $1 from every haircut service will be donated to the program.
Monday freebies and discounts
Benihana: Free appetizer with purchase of an entree Monday.
Ben’s Soft Pretzel: Free regular Jumbo Soft Pretzel 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.
Bertucci’s: Free small cheese pizza Sunday and Monday.
Boston Market: Buy one individual meal and a drink, get one individual meal free with a coupon posted on their website Sunday or Monday. This deal is not only for veterans.
Bruegger’s Bagels: Free drip coffee Monday.
Burgerim: 50 percent off Monday.
Chicken Salad Chick: Free Chick Special and regular drink to veterans and active-duty military Monday.
Claim Jumper: Free meal Monday.
Corner Bakery Cafe: Free “Choose 2” meal Sunday with military ID.
Creamistry: 50 percent off any single item Sunday and Monday.
Denny’s: From 5 a.m. to noon Monday, active, inactive and retired military personnel get a free Build Your Own Grand Slam at participating locations.
Famous Dave’s: Free two meat lunch combo Sunday and Monday for veterans or active military with valid identification.
Farmer Boys: Free Big Cheese cheeseburgers Monday.
Fatz Southern Kitchen: Free World Famous Calabash Chicken Basket Monday. Plus, in November active military and veterans get 25 percent off entrees.
Gigi’s Cupcakes: Free cupcake Monday for to veterans and first responders.
Golden Corral: Free dinner buffet with beverage from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday to any person who is serving or has served in a United States Military branch, including the National Guard and Reserves.
Grimaldi’s Pizzeria: 15 percent off Sunday and Monday. Not valid in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
HMSHost: Free Budweiser BBQ Cheddar Burger at participating HMSHost-operated airport restaurants Monday.
Hopdoddy Burger Bar: Every location will give 50 percent off to veterans, active military and their guests Monday.
Hy-Vee: Free breakfast Monday.
IHOP: Free Red, White and blue pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday or a free patriotic pancake combo offer varies by location.
Metro Diner: 20 percent off Monday.
Pilot Flying J: Saturday through Monday, there will be a coupon on the myPilot app for a free Pilot Coffee with choice of a fresh breakfast sandwich, packaged pastry item or a Cinnamon Center of the Roll. This deal is open to all.
Ponderosa and Bonanaza Steakhouses: Veterans can choose a free buffet and beverage or 50 percent off a menu item. Some locations will honor veterans Sunday and other locations on Monday so check with your closest location.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop: Free cookie with any purchase Monday.
Red Lobster: Free appetizer or dessert Sunday and Monday.
Rock Bottom Restaurants & Breweries: Vets eat free Saturday through Monday. Plus, each brewery will be brewing a limited-edition Veterans Day IPA and Saturday through Nov. 17, 25 cents from every pint will go to a local Veterans charity.
Rock & Brews Restaurants: Free meal from select menu for veterans, active military and first responders Monday.
Shoney’s: Free All-You-Care-To-Eat breakfast bar 6 to 11 a.m. Monday.
Sonny’s BBQ: Free pulled or sliced pork big deal combo for veterans and active duty military Monday. Dine-in only.
Texas de Brazil: Two veterans dine for free plus 20 percent off for up to six additional guests on Sunday and Monday.
Twin Peaks: Free meal from a special menu 11 a.m. to midnight Monday.
White Castle: Free combo meal for veterans and active military members who dine in or go through the drive-thru Sunday and Monday.
Zaxby’s: Free chicken fillet sandwich Monday at more than 600 locations.
Local restaurants: The businesses listed here have more than 20 locations. Many others will also offer deals.