Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and businesses across the country are once again showing their appreciation for those who have served by offering free meals, drinks, and special discounts.
We’ve put together a list of Veterans Day food offers from restaurants across the country, including everything from complimentary coffee and donuts to burgers, barbecue, and full meals. We’ve also included restaurants offering vouchers that can be redeemed after Veterans Day, so you don’t have to try to eat everything in one afternoon.
While we’ve made an effort to verify these promotions, offers and participation may vary by location. We recommend checking with your local restaurant before heading out.
And to all the businesses participating this year, thank you for taking the time to recognize our nation’s veterans.
Free Meals, Food & Drinks
Applebee’s
Free entrée from a specially selected Veterans Day menu. Dine-in only with proof of military service.
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
Free BD’s All American burger with a classic side, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dine-in only; military ID required. Offer confirmed at a participating location; check with your local restaurant.
Bar Louie
Free burger (excluding the Big Louie) on November 10 and 11. Dine-in only at participating locations.
Biscuit Belly
Free breakfast biscuit and drink at participating locations.
Black Angus Steakhouse
Free 6 oz. sirloin meal at participating locations.
Bob Evans
Free meal from a special Veterans Day menu. Dine-in only with proof of military service.
Bonefish Grill
Free Bang Bang Shrimp entrée and nonalcoholic beverage.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Free order of 10 boneless wings and fries at participating locations.
Chili’s
Free meal from a select Veterans Day menu. Dine-in only.
City Barbeque
Free sandwich, side, and drink at participating locations.
Circle K
Free medium coffee at participating locations.
Cotton Patch Cafe
Free chicken-fried steak or chicken-fried chicken meal at participating locations.
Denny’s
Free Original Grand Slam breakfast from 5 a.m. to noon. Dine-in only at participating locations.
Dunkin’
Free donut at participating locations. No purchase required.
Golden Corral
Free dinner buffet from 4 p.m. until closing at participating locations.
Hot Dog on a Stick
Free 16 oz. lemonade at participating locations.
IHOP
Free Red, White & Blueberry Pancake Combo from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dine-in only at participating locations.
In-N-Out Burger
Free burger, fries, and drink at participating locations.
Krispy Kreme
Free doughnut of choice and small hot or iced coffee at participating locations.
Little Caesars
Free HOT-N-READY Lunch Combo from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including four slices of Detroit-style pepperoni pizza and a 20 oz. Pepsi product. In-person orders only with proof of service.
Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing Co.
Free beverage at participating locations.
Olive Garden
Free entrée from a specially selected Veterans Day menu. Dine-in only at participating locations.
Outback Steakhouse
Free Bloomin’ Onion and nonalcoholic beverage at participating locations.
Prince Street Pizza
Free slice of pizza at participating locations.
Red Lobster
Free Shrimp & Chips meal at participating locations.
Red Robin
Free Red’s Big Tavern Burger with bottomless steak fries. Dine-in only at participating locations.
Ruby Tuesday
Free entrée from a selected menu, garden bar, and beverage at participating locations.
Shake Shack
Free single ShackBurger. Must order in person; not available through the app, delivery, or drive-thru.
Sizzler
Free lunch entrée from a select menu and beverage until 4 p.m. at participating locations.
Smashburger
Free All-American Smashburger at participating locations.
Starbucks
Free 12 oz. brewed coffee at participating U.S. locations.
Torchy’s Tacos
Free taco and nonalcoholic beverage at participating locations.
Twin Peaks
Free entrée from five selected options at participating locations.
WOB Bar & Kitchen
Free Smash Burger and fries at participating locations.
Yard House
Free appetizer at participating locations.
Free Meals for Later: Veterans Day Vouchers
Not every Veterans Day meal has to be eaten on November 11! Several restaurants are offering complimentary meal vouchers and return-visit promotions, allowing veterans and active-duty military personnel to enjoy their benefits on another day.
Aspen Creek Grill
Receive a $15 meal voucher on November 11 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. The voucher can be redeemed on a future visit through December 24, 2026.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Visit a participating Freddy’s on November 11 to receive a free combo meal card. The card can be redeemed through November 25, 2026.
Texas Roadhouse
Receive a complimentary meal voucher on November 11 between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at participating locations. The voucher can be redeemed on a future visit through May 31, 2027.
Additional Return-Visit Offers
The following restaurants are also offering future-visit benefits, although additional conditions may apply.
Applebee’s
In addition to its free Veterans Day entrée, participating Applebee’s restaurants are offering a $5 return-visit card, reportedly valid through November 29, 2026.
Hoss’s Steak & Sea House
Veterans can receive a complimentary food bar and iced tea on Veterans Day, along with a $10 discount voucher toward a future purchase of $40 or more. The voucher expires November 25, 2026.
Outback Steakhouse
Eligible Dine Rewards members who redeem the Veterans Day promotion may also qualify for a complimentary Hero’s Meal on a future visit. Rewards membership and redemption conditions apply.
Remember: Voucher pickup hours, redemption deadlines, and participation can vary. Check with your local restaurant before visiting, and hang on to those vouchers!
Veterans Day Discounts & Purchase-Required Offers
While many restaurants are offering complimentary meals on Veterans Day, others are recognizing veterans and active-duty military personnel with special discounts and purchase-required promotions.
Here are a few additional offers worth checking out.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Receive free chips and dip with a purchase of $5 or more at participating locations.
Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
Receive 50% off an entrée at participating locations. This promotion is primarily available at the chain’s Northeast locations.
Rubio’s Coastal Grill
Buy one entrée and get a second entrée free at participating locations. Additional restrictions may apply.
More Than Just Free Food
Free meals are just one of the ways businesses across the country are recognizing veterans and active-duty military personnel this Veterans Day.
Beyond restaurants, you’ll find special offers on retail purchases, groceries, car washes, haircuts, entertainment, and even admission to museums and attractions.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has compiled an extensive list of Veterans Day 2026 discounts and promotions, including many offers we haven’t covered here.
Want to see what else is available?
Check out the VA’s Veterans Day 2026 Discounts and Freebies.
Whether you’re looking for a free meal, a little savings, or something fun to do, it’s worth taking a few minutes to see what’s available.
Before You Go
Before heading out to enjoy your Veterans Day offers, here are a few things worth keeping in mind.
Bring proof of military service.
Many businesses require some form of military identification or proof of veteran status. A military ID, VA identification card, veteran-designated driver’s license, or DD-214 may be accepted, depending on the restaurant.
Check with your local restaurant.
Not every location participates in every promotion, particularly independently owned franchises. A quick phone call can save you an unnecessary trip.
Pay attention to the details.
Some offers are dine-in only, limited to certain menu items, or available during specific hours. Others require you to collect a voucher on Veterans Day and redeem it later.
Be patient and appreciative.
Veterans Day can be a busy day for participating restaurants. A little patience and a thank-you go a long way, especially when employees are working hard to accommodate everyone.
And please, tip your servers.
Just because your meal is free doesn’t mean your server’s time and effort are worth any less. If you’re enjoying a complimentary meal at a full-service restaurant, consider tipping based on what the meal would normally cost, rather than the discounted total.
These businesses are doing something nice for our veteran community. Let’s make sure the people serving us feel appreciated, too.
Enjoy Your Veterans Day!
To all the restaurants and businesses participating this year, thank you for recognizing our veterans and showing your appreciation. These gestures, big and small, mean something to the people who have served.
And to my fellow veterans, I hope you have a great Veterans Day. Whether you’re spending it with family, catching up with old friends, or just enjoying a free burger (or three), I hope you make the most of it.
As for me, I’ve already put together a list of places I plan to visit, and I’ll be heading out for a little Veterans Day Shenanigans of my own. I’ll be sharing some of the experience over on the Casual Firearms YouTube & Rumble channels, so feel free to follow along.
Thanks for reading, and Happy Veterans Day!
— Casual Firearms