Veterans Day provides numerous opportunities for military personnel to receive complimentary meals and discounts at restaurants across the United States. Many establishments offer specific deals for veterans, active-duty service members, reservists, and in some cases, military spouses and family members. These offers typically require verification of military status and are often valid for dine-in service on specific dates surrounding Veterans Day. While many deals are concentrated around November 10th and 11th, some brands extend their benefits throughout the year.
Restaurant Free Meals and Specials
A wide variety of national and regional restaurant chains offer free meals or significant discounts to honor veterans and active-duty military personnel. These offers generally require proof of service, such as a military ID, and are valid for dine-in customers unless otherwise specified.
Major Chains and Regional Favorites
Several prominent restaurant chains participate in Veterans Day freebie programs. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers offers a complimentary Red’s Big Tavern Burger and bottomless steak fries for veterans and active-duty military. Red Lobster provides a free designated meal for veterans, valid for dine-in only at participating locations. Texas Roadhouse offers a free meal from a selected menu between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at participating locations.
Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill provides a free entrée for veterans and active-duty military, dine-in only. Shoney’s offers a free All-American Burger or breakfast bar, dine-in only, for veterans and active-duty military. Village Inn, a BBQ Holdings national chain, offers a free 2-2-2 Breakfast (2 eggs, 2 bacon strips or sausage links, 2 pancakes) all day for veterans and all military personnel.
Starbucks provides a free 12-ounce (tall) hot or iced coffee for veterans, active-duty military, reservists, and military spouses. Smoothie King offers a free 20-ounce red, white, or blue smoothie for veterans and active-duty military from 12–3 p.m., in-store only.
Regional chains also participate significantly. Sonny’s BBQ in the Southeast offers a free pork big deal (sandwich, side, drink) for veterans and active-duty military. Shane’s Rib Shack (Southeast states, New York, Arizona) offers a free meal (choose from two entrees) for veterans and active-duty military. Primo Hoagies (New Jersey, Pennsylvania) provides a free 20-ounce beverage and 1-ounce bag of chips with the purchase of a Primo-size hoagie for veterans.
Quaker Steak & Lube (Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia) offers free or discounted meals for veterans, active-duty military, and reservists at participating locations. Rock & Brews offers a free pulled pork sandwich or Strawberry Fields salad for veterans and active-duty military. Roy Rogers offers 10% off and a free Uncle Ralph’s brownie with purchase for veterans. Shari’s Café & Pies (Pacific Northwest) offers a Veterans Day special for veterans and active-duty military. Sheetz (Eastern U.S.) offers a free sub and drink for veterans and active-duty military at any location, plus a free car wash.
Silver Fox Steakhouse (Texas) offers a discount for veterans and active-duty military. Thirsty Lion (Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, Texas) allows veterans and active-duty military to eat for free. Tuscan Brands restaurants offer free meals for veterans from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Additional Participating Restaurants
Source [3] lists several other restaurants offering Veterans Day specials, though it notes that these are usually offered and may be subject to change. Graeter’s Ice Cream (Midwest) usually offers a free single dip on sugar cones for veterans and active-duty military. Granite City Food & Brewery (Midwest) usually offers a free lunch from a special menu. Green Mill (Minnesota, Wisconsin) offers a free item from a select menu.
The Greene Turtle (New England) offers a free meal (up to $15 value) to active and retired military personnel, dine-in only, and provides a 15% year-round military discount. Grillsmith (Florida) usually offers a free entrée for veterans and military personnel, dine-in only, and offers a 15%-25% discount on or near Veterans Day. Hacienda Mexican Restaurants (Indiana) offers a free Large Wet Burrito for dine-in or carryout for veterans and military personnel, plus a 10% year-round military discount.
Hickory Tavern (Carolinas) offers a free meal (equal or lesser value) for veterans and active military with the purchase of another meal. Hof’s Hut (California) usually offers a free Hofburger or Buttermilk Pancake combo for veterans and active military.
Source [4] highlights additional deals in the Orlando, Florida area. Outback offers an "Aussie 3-course meal" with a starter, choice of select entrée, and dessert for dine-in on Nov. 10 and 11 for veterans and active-duty military. Olive Garden offers a complimentary entrée from a special menu including Chicken Parmigiana and Fettuccine Alfredo for veterans, dine-in only. Red Robin offers a complimentary "Red's Big Tavern Burger" and a bottomless side. Qdoba offers free chips and dip with a military ID, no purchase necessary.
Specific Item Freebies
Some offers focus on specific items rather than full meals. TCBY offers the first 6 ounces of froyo free for veterans and active-duty military. Icebar Orlando offers free admission for active-duty members and 50% off for veterans with a valid military ID. Kings Orlando offers complimentary bowling and shoes for veterans, active-duty, and reserve service members year-round. LIME Fresh Mexican Grill offers a free meal for veterans and a $50 Challenge Coin to use anytime, allowing veterans to eat free on the 11th of every month. Menchies offers 6 oz of frozen yogurt free for veterans and active-duty military.
Verification and Eligibility Requirements
Accessing Veterans Day freebies and discounts generally requires proof of military service. The specific requirements vary by establishment but typically include one or more forms of identification.
Accepted Forms of Identification
While specific documents are not detailed in every source, the context implies that valid military ID is the primary requirement for most offers. This may include: - Military ID card - VA card - Driver’s license with veteran designation - Proof of service such as a discharge document (DD214)
Source [1] mentions that Veterans Advantage, a free military benefits program, connects veterans and military members with discounts. Some businesses partner with this program, and ID information is part of being a member. It also notes that some businesses offer Veterans Day discounts to members of the reserves, National Guard, ROTC, and more, even if not explicitly stated in the promotion.
ID.me verification is mentioned in Source [5] for specific retail discounts (Bear Mattress, Brooklyn Bedding) and is a common verification method for military discounts across various industries. Source [4] explicitly mentions "valid military ID" for offers from ICEBAR Orlando, Menchies, Outback, Olive Garden, Publix, and Qdoba.
Eligibility Categories
Eligibility often extends beyond just veterans and active-duty personnel. - Veterans: Generally includes anyone who has served in the U.S. military and was discharged under conditions other than dishonorable. - Active Duty: Currently serving members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force. - Reservists and National Guard: Many offers include these categories, though not all specify it. - Military Spouses and Family: Some offers, such as those at Starbucks and specific retail discounts in Source [5], include military spouses and immediate family members.
Other Military Freebies and Discounts
While the primary focus is on restaurant deals, Source [2] and Source [5] provide information on other types of freebies and discounts available to military personnel, which can complement Veterans Day activities.
Travel and Sightseeing
Source [2] outlines several travel-related freebies available during the summer and potentially year-round. - National Parks: Free entry to National Parks and/or the annual America the Beautiful Pass is available for veterans and active-duty military. - Blue Star Museums: Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, thousands of museums offer free entrance to military families. Eligibility includes active-duty United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force members; members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps; and up to five family members. - Space A: Space-available travel on DoD aircraft is permitted for certain categories of individuals, such as active-duty and retired military members, dependents, DoD civilians, and other eligible travelers.
Retail and Consumer Goods
Source [5] details significant military discounts in the retail and consumer goods sector. - Apparel: U.S. Polo Assn. offers a 20% military discount off the entire purchase for Active Duty, Retirees, Veterans, Military Spouses & Family Members. Vera Bradley offers a 15% military discount for Active Duty, Guard/Reserves, Veterans, Retirees, Military Spouses & Immediate military family members. vineyard vines offers a 15% military discount every day. - Baby Gear: Veer Gear offers a 15% military discount for Active Duty Military, Veterans & Dependents. - Home Goods & Electronics: AT&T offers exclusive savings on unlimited wireless plans and savings on new phones for military and veterans. Bear Mattress offers 40% off sitewide plus free sleep accessories with every mattress purchase with ID.me verification. Brooklyn Bedding offers an additional 5% off the entire order and free shipping for the military.
Important Considerations for Consumers
Source [1] emphasizes several important factors for consumers looking to take advantage of Veterans Day deals.
Verification of Offers
Deals and discounts can change year to year. It is critical to double-check that a deal is still in place before heading out to a restaurant or making an online purchase. Restaurant policies can change quickly.
Local Availability
While many chains participate nationwide, not all locations may honor the same deal. Source [1] advises checking locally to see if a favorite restaurant has a Veterans Day deal. Participating locations are often specified (e.g., "at participating locations," "Southeast states," "Midwest").
Requirements and Restrictions
Before heading out or clicking "buy" for online deals, consumers should understand what is required to get the freebie or discount. Common restrictions include: - Dine-in Only: Many restaurant free meals are for dine-in service only (e.g., Red Lobster, Red Robin, Shoney’s, Uno’s Pizzeria & Grill). - Purchase Requirements: Some offers require a purchase (e.g., Primo Hoagies requires purchase of a hoagie to get the free beverage and chips; Hickory Tavern requires purchase of another meal). - Time Restrictions: Specific time windows may apply (e.g., Smoothie King 12–3 p.m., Texas Roadhouse 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Tuscan Brands 11 a.m.–3 p.m.). - App or Promo Code Usage: Some deals require the use of an app or specific promo code (e.g., Taco John’s requires a promo code on their app).
Year-Round Benefits
Some establishments offer discounts year-round in addition to Veterans Day specials. Source [1] and Source [3] mention year-round discounts at places like The Greene Turtle (15%), Hacienda Mexican Restaurants (10%), and Silver Fox Steakhouse. Source [5] details many retail discounts that are available daily or sitewide.
Conclusion
Veterans Day offers a substantial array of free meals and discounts for military personnel across a diverse range of restaurants and retail establishments. The offers typically require valid military identification and may have specific limitations regarding dine-in service, time windows, or purchase requirements. While many deals are concentrated around November 10th and 11th, numerous businesses provide year-round discounts to honor service members. Consumers are advised to verify specific offer details, local participation, and current terms directly with the establishment prior to attempting to redeem any deal.