November 11, 2026 is marked as Veterans Day and businesses all across America are celebrating it with free meals, discounts and offers for the veterans as well as military personnel currently serving in the army. It's not just the restaurants which are offering these discounts; there's much more included in the list.
The majority of discounts are exclusively offered to veterans and service members, and many also restrict their offers to participating locations only. Many of the lists provided by sites like VA News are regularly updated as many businesses decide on their discounts, and hence, it is best to check again.
Many sit-down restaurants provide the largest discount offers. Applebee’s is offering veterans and active service members a free dine-in entree from the special Veterans Day menu. Chili's is providing veterans and active service members a free entrée from the limited menu at the restaurant only.
The special offer provided by Bob Evans is a free meal from among 11 homestyle dishes on the special Veterans Day menu. Red Robin provides veterans and active service members a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger with fries dine-in only.
There is food to be had for the breakfast lovers as well, with Denny’s providing a free Original Grand Slam breakfast menu from 5 am to noon, while IHOP will provide a Red, White and Blueberry Pancake Combo free-of-cost at participating locations.
In the evening, there is a Military Appreciation Night at Golden Corral that provides a free “thank you” buffet to the eligible veterans eating in the restaurant from 4 pm till close.
Other companies featured on the list include Claim Jumper, offering a free choice of meals from a specially selected menu, while Yard House offers one complimentary appetizer for each individual visiting the restaurant. Texas Roadhouse is also providing free meals to veterans and military personnel across the country. 99 Restaurants and 110 Grill are offering a free lunch until 4 pm in the northeast region.
For those who want something quicker, several franchises are participating as well. In-N-Out Burger has a free burger with fries and a drink offer to veterans, active military, reservists and National Guard personnel. Veterans, military personnel and military spouses will receive a complimentary 12-ounce hot or iced brewed coffee from Starbucks while Smashburger is offering a complimentary All-American Smashburger.
Free one-topping pizza will be provided by Blaze Pizza and free taco with drink by Torchy’s Tacos in-store with proof of service required. There are some local restaurants that are participating in the event. Bombshells in Texas and Colorado will provide a free meal comprising of an appetiser, entree and dessert with a 20% discount for family members who come with them.
But that is not all. Free admission to the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee, for veterans and active-duty personnel along with an accompanying adult and four children, and ten percent off at the store and restaurant is part of the list. Consumer Affairs also mentions national parks in addition to haircuts and car wash as part of the places where you can get freebies.
The freebies from organizations dedicated to veteran services include free coffee at Circle K, free haircuts at Sport Clips and Great Clips, and discounts on shopping at retailers like Home Depot, Lowe's, Target and Walgreens. Since there is variation in the type of discount being offered, it is always a good idea to check in advance.
Military ID, Veteran ID card or DD214 discharge document are usually accepted in lieu of proof of military service. Many businesses ask for service ID to be produced to the server before serving you any free or discounted products. Most of the dining out offers are only for dine-in service, while some like Applebee's and Chili's limit themselves to certain parts of their menus.
However, it is worth considering that many of the best offers can be found at participating restaurants only and some independent franchises can have additional requirements. Time should also be considered because Denny’s offer expires at noon while 99 Restaurants and 110 Grill lunch offers last only until 4 p.m. whereas Golden Corral’s promotion does not take place until 4 p.m. So, calling or looking up the information on a website of a nearby restaurant before going there may prevent from making a fruitless journey.
