Veterans Day 2019 Restaurant Freebies and Discounts for Military Personnel

Veterans Day 2019 saw a wide array of freebies and discounts offered to active duty and retired military personnel across the United States. Restaurants, fast food chains, and coffeehouses provided special deals to honor those who served, with most offers requiring a form of military identification or proof of service. These deals were available on Monday, November 11, 2019, with some extending throughout the month. The following is a detailed overview of the available offers based on the provided source material.

National Restaurant Chains Offering Free Meals

Several major national restaurant chains offered free meals to veterans and active duty military personnel on Veterans Day 2019. These offers typically applied to a limited menu or a specific selection of items.

Applebee’s Applebee’s offered a free meal from a limited menu to veterans and active-duty military in uniform at participating locations on November 11. This was a continuation of a long-standing tradition for the chain, which had served over 9.8 million free meals to service members since 2008. For 2019, the special Veterans Day menu included items such as the Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Tenders Platter, Fiesta Lime Chicken, and Double Crunch Shrimp.

Chili’s Grill & Bar Chili’s provided a free meal to all veterans and active duty service members at participating restaurants on Veterans Day.

Golden Corral Golden Corral offered a free dinner buffet and beverage to military vets, retirees, and active duty members. The deal was valid from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on November 11.

Bob Evans Bob Evans provided a free meal from a select menu for active duty military and veterans on Veterans Day.

Home Town Buffet and Old Country Buffet Home Town Buffet and Old Country Buffet offered one free buffet and a free non-bottled beverage to veterans on Veterans Day. Old Country Buffet specifically noted the offer was available from open to close at participating restaurants, while supplies last.

Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que Lucille’s offered 20 percent off everything in November for Military Family Month, excluding Thanksgiving items. Additionally, veterans and active-duty personnel could claim a free dessert on Veterans Day.

Mimi’s Cafe Mimi’s Cafe offered one free breakfast, lunch, or dinner from a select menu with the purchase of any drink on November 11. Veterans and active military could choose from items including Fried Chicken & Waffles, Brioche French Toast, Four Buttermilk Griddlecakes, Slow-Roasted Turkey, Brioche Cheeseburger, or a Mandarin Chicken Salad.

Wienerschnitzel Wienerschnitzel offered one free chili dog, small fries, and a Pepsi to veterans and active-duty military on November 11.

Pilot Flying J Pilot Flying J provided all active and retired military with free breakfast and coffee on November 11.

Hy-Vee Hy-Vee offered veterans and active duty military with valid ID a free breakfast buffet during regular breakfast hours from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. on November 11.

Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Wild Wings offered six free boneless wings and fries with a valid ID at participating locations.

Cracker Barrel Cracker Barrel provided a free Sunrise Pancake Breakfast.

Denny’s Denny’s offered a free Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. to 12 p.m.

IHOP IHOP offered a free Red, White, and Blueberry Pancake Combo as part of a "Heroes Eat Free" promotion.

Logan’s Roadhouse Logan’s Roadhouse offered a free meal from a select menu from 11 a.m.

Taco John’s Taco John’s offered a free small Beef #1 Combo Meal to all active, reserve, retired, and honorably discharged members of the U.S. military who redeemed the offer in the Taco John’s App on November 11.

Tap House Grill Tap House Grill offered a free meal and a Sam Adams pint to all active, inactive, and retired military personnel on Veterans Day, while supplies last.

Texas Roadhouse Texas Roadhouse distributed vouchers for a free meal to all Veterans and Active Duty military from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Veterans Day. Vouchers were distributed in the parking lots at Texas Roadhouse locations.

Torchy’s Tacos Torchy’s Tacos offered a complimentary taco and beverage from a select Veterans Day menu to veterans and active U.S. military on November 11.

Twin Peaks Twin Peaks offered a free meal from a select menu to all veterans, active duty military, and reservists on November 11.

Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill offered a free entree or individual pizza to military members (past and present) on November 11.

Wendy’s Wendy’s offered a free small breakfast combo with valid military ID.

Fast Food, Coffee, and Snack Offers

In addition to sit-down restaurants, several fast food and coffee chains provided free items.

7-11 7-11 offered a free coffee or Big Gulp on Veterans Day.

Circle K Circle K offered free hot or iced medium coffee.

Dunkin’ Donuts Dunkin’ Donuts offered veterans a free donut while supplies last, available in-store only.

Little Caesars Little Caesars offered a complimentary lunch combo including four slices of signature Detroit-style deep dish pizza and a 20-ounce Pepsi beverage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TCBY TCBY offered the first 6oz free to veterans and active military on November 11.

Insomnia Cookies Insomnia Cookies offered a free deluxe cookie with a $5 purchase from November 8 to 11, with a valid military ID, available in-store only.

Other Discounts and Freebies

Firehouse Subs Firehouse Subs offered a buy one, get one free deal on any size sub.

Chipotle Chipotle offered a buy one entree, get a second one free deal from 4 to 8 p.m.

SmartStyle Hair Salons SmartStyle offered current or former military members and veterans a 10% discount off any services and professional products on November 11. Proof of service was required. The discount could vary by location.

Great Clips Great Clips offered veterans and current military members a free haircut on November 11 or a free haircut card to use at a later date.

Sport Clips Some Sport Clips locations offered free haircuts on November 11.

American Family Care American Family Care offered free flu shots to veterans on Veterans Day, November 11.

Online and Retail Discounts

iGourmet iGourmet offered 10 percent off with the code NEWS from November 11 through November 18.

Hamilton Beach Hamilton Beach offered 20 percent off kitchen equipment with the code VETERAN20 from November 11 through November 17.

Illy Illy offered 25 percent off at illy.com with the code CFNewsweek25.

Bartaco Bartaco offered veterans 20% off all food from November 9 to 11.

Tijuana Flats Tijuana Flats offered active military and veterans 50% off all adult entrees with a valid ID on November 11. The offer was valid for in-store and takeout orders, and orders could be placed online on the Tijuana Flats Rewards app.

Conclusion

On Veterans Day 2019, a diverse selection of restaurants and businesses across the United States honored military personnel with free meals, discounts, and other special offers. These deals were available to veterans and active duty service members, often requiring valid military identification. The offers ranged from full meals at casual dining restaurants to specific items at fast food chains, as well as discounts on services and retail products.