- Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and more than 20 restaurants are offering Veterans and active duty service members a free meal or another deal.
- Proof of service, such as a military ID, VA ID card or DD-214, and expect most offers to be dine-in only.
- Offers can vary by location, so call ahead to confirm your local restaurant is participating.
Veterans Day is Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and more than 20 restaurants are offering Veterans and active duty service members a free meal or another deal worth the trip. We kept this list to offers with real value, such as free entrées, buffets and combo meals.
Bring proof of service, such as a military ID, VA ID card or DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty). Expect most offers to be dine-in only. Offers can vary by location, especially at franchised restaurants, so call ahead to confirm your local restaurant is offering the deal.
Veterans Day Free Meals at a Glance
The biggest free meals on November 11 are full entrées, buffets and combo meals. These are the ones to plan around for Veterans Day 2026:
- Golden Corral: Free buffet dinner and drink, 4 p.m. to close.
- Applebee’s: Free full-size entrée from a special Veterans Day menu.
- Texas Roadhouse: Free meal voucher you can use later, not just that day.
- Bob Evans: Free entrée from an 11-item menu, served all day.
- Chili’s: Free meal from a select menu, such as Chicken Crispers or an Oldtimer Burger with Cheese.
- Red Robin: Free Red’s Big Tavern Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries.
- Red Lobster: Free Shrimp & Chips meal.
- In-N-Out Burger: Free burger, fries and drink.
These are just a few of the offers out there. Check the full list of Veterans Day free meals and restaurant deals we put together below to find a deal near you.
Veterans Day Free Meals and Restaurant Deals
All offers are for November 11, 2026, unless noted. Each offer is for the Veteran or service member, not the whole table, and most require proof of service.
Breakfast Deals
Bob Evans
Bob Evans offers one free entrée from an 11-item Veterans Day menu, all day and dine-in only, plus a coupon for free sausage gravy and biscuits on a future visit.
Denny’s
Denny’s offers a free Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. to noon on November 11, dine-in only with ID required.
Hy-Vee
Hy-Vee offers free breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. at its Midwest stores, plus 15% off groceries with code VETS2026 in store and online.
Veterans Canteen Service
On Tuesday, November 10, Veterans Canteen Service offers a free breakfast combo at PatriotCafé and free brewed coffee at PatriotBrew at VA locations, with no purchase needed.
Casual Dining Deals
Applebee’s
Applebee’s offers a free full-size entrée from a special Veterans Day menu, dine-in at participating locations, with drinks and tip not included.
Bar Louie
On November 10 and 11, Bar Louie offers a free burger (excluding the Big Louie), dine-in only with ID required.
Bonefish Grill
Bonefish Grill offers free Bang Bang Shrimp and a nonalcoholic drink with ID required.
Chili’s
Chili’s offers a free meal of Chicken Crispers, Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas, an Oldtimer Burger with Cheese, or Soup and House Salad, dine-in at participating locations, with drinks and tip not included.
Cotton Patch Cafe
Cotton Patch Cafe offers a free chicken fried steak or chicken fried chicken, dine-in only with military ID required.
Golden Corral
During Military Appreciation Night, Golden Corral offers a free buffet and drink from 4 p.m. to close, dine-in only, while family members pay regular prices.
McCormick & Schmick’s
On Sunday, November 8, McCormick & Schmick’s offers a half-price entrée for Veterans, active duty members and Gold Star families.
Red Lobster
Red Lobster offers a free Shrimp & Chips meal, dine-in only, for Veterans, active duty and Reserve members with proof of service.
Red Robin
Red Robin offers a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger with Bottomless Steak Fries, dine-in only with proof of service required.
Sizzler
Sizzler offers a free lunch of tri-tip sirloin, Malibu chicken or crispy shrimp with a nonalcoholic drink, open until 4 p.m.
Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse hands out free meal vouchers at the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., so check your voucher for its redemption deadline.
World of Beer
World of Beer offers a free smash burger and fries at participating locations, in store only with ID required.
Fast Food, Coffee and Quick Service
Chipotle
Chipotle offers free chips with guacamole, queso blanco or salsa with a $5 purchase, in restaurant only and not valid for catering, online or delivery orders.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
Freddy’s offers a free combo meal card with no purchase needed, good through November 25.
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger offers a free burger, fries and drink plus a Veterans Day decal for Veterans, active duty, Reserve and National Guard members with proof of service.
Pilot offers a free sandwich and a coffee or fountain drink, claimed in the Pilot app with ID.me verification required.
Smashburger
Smashburger offers a free All-American Smash burger at participating locations with ID required.
Starbucks
Starbucks offers a free tall (12 oz.) hot or iced brewed coffee for Veterans, service members and military spouses at participating U.S. stores.
Torchy’s Tacos
Torchy’s Tacos offers a free taco and drink, in store only with proof of service required.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s offers a free breakfast combo during breakfast hours at participating restaurants.
Thank You for Your Service
However you spend November 11, thank you for your service. Whether you’re grabbing a free breakfast, taking your family out for dinner or spending the day with fellow Veterans, we hope this list helps you enjoy a little something in return.
Veterans Day is also a natural time to think about what’s next. For many Veterans and service members, that includes homeownership. If it’s on your mind, a VA loan expert can help you sort through your questions.
How We Maintain Content Accuracy
Our mortgage experts continuously track industry trends, regulatory changes, and market conditions to keep our information accurate and relevant. We update our articles whenever new insights or updates become available to help you make informed homebuying and selling decisions.
Current Version
Nov 6, 2026
Written ByMitch Casteel
Updated the Veterans Day free meals and deals list for 2026. Added current offers, removed deals that no longer apply and updated participating-location and verification details.
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