Everywhere Veterans Can Get Free & Cheap Food All Year Long

We're used to seeing the deluge of restaurants that offer free meals and discounts to veterans and active-duty members of the military on Veterans Day. 

However, many of those same restaurants offer discounts throughout the year as a way of saying thanks to those who have served more than just once a year. You might not see quite as many places offering a free meal, but there are solid discounts to be had on meals every day. 

Here are the best deals on food for veterans and active-duty military personnel that can be found throughout the year. Though you should note, almost every location requires some form of military ID to get the discount, and stores generally require validation through a service like ID.me or SheerID.

Outback Steakhouse
The deal: Military service members, firefighters, and first responders get 10% off their entire check every day of the year. That's no different on Veterans Day.
When: Ongoing

Old Country Buffet
The deal: Take 15% off if you're active-duty personnel, reserve, or retired and wearing a uniform or carrying a valid ID. 
When: Ongoing

Panda Express
The deal: Military veterans can take 10% off their tab every day of the year. For the remainder of 2020, that discount has been extended to first responders as well. 
When: Ongoing

Grimaldi's
The deal: The pizza shop offers active-duty personnel and veterans 15% off their meals year-round. 
When: Ongoing

Carrabba's Italian Grill
The deal: All service members and first responders get 10% off their visit every day of the year. 
When: Ongoing

Joella's Hot Chicken
The deal: Military personnel and veterans can get 10% off their meals year-round at Joella's. 
When: Ongoing

Fire Dept. Coffee
The deal: There's a 15% discount for life for active military, veterans, first responders, and emergency dispatchers. 
When: Ongoing

BJ's Wholesale
The deal: Veterans who join BJ's get 25% off standard membership fees. There are also other discounts specifically for veterans and active-duty personnel, like a coupon for $10 off your first trip after becoming a member.
When: Ongoing

Costco
The deal: Members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families get a $30 Costco Shop Card when they join Costco as a new member. 
When: Ongoing

Fred Meyer
The deal: Current members of the military, veterans, and military families get an extra 10% off your purchase on advertised days.
When: Ongoing

Bob Evans
The deal: With your military ID, you can get a 10% discount on your check year-round. 
When: Ongoing

Kind
The deal: Order Kind bars through the company's site to get 15% off everything on the site. That offer is available to military veterans, active-duty personnel, first responders, nurses, and doctors. 
When: Ongoing

Omaha Steaks
The deal: Take 10% off your order if you're an active-duty member, retirees, veteran, military spouse, or a dependent. 
When: Ongoing

Dutch Bros. Coffee
The deal: The discount is up to each location, but there are discounts to be had. 
When: Ongoing

Smokey Bones
The deal: Take advantage of a 10% discount every day of the year when you show your valid military ID.
When: Ongoing

Bonefish Grill
The deal: The Heroes Discount gets service members, veterans, and first responders 10% off their check every day of the year. 
When: Ongoing

Sport Clips Haircuts
The deal: The Help A Hero campaign is back. Participating locations are offering discounted or free haircuts to veterans. 
When: October 9 - November 12

True Rest Float Spa
The deal: All locations are going to be closed to the public to give veterans an opportunity "to experience the benefits of a sensory-fre and zero-gravity environment" for free. 
When: November 11

Bull's Horn Food and Drink - Minneapolis, MN
The deal: Veterans get a 10% discount year-round, which includes one of the best burgers in the Twin Cities. 
When: Year-round

Wendy's
The deal: The Boo Book is back. For a dollar, you can get a coupon book that gives you five free junior Frostys. Plus, you'll be supporting the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. 
When: Through October 31

Wendy's
The deal: Grab a premium sandwich for $1 when you buy another. Grab that weekly through the end of the month. 
When: Through September 30

Wendy's
The deal: Place an order that hits the $10 minimum in the Wendy's app and you'll get a free large order of fries. 
When: Through September 30

Wendy's
The deal:  Take advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free deal on the Sausage, Egg and Cheese or Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit. You can get that discount in the mobile app once per week until the deal expires. 
When: Through September 25

Moe's Southwest Grill
The deal: The burrito chain's new "Kids Eat Free" program offers a free meal to kids 12 and under every Sunday at participating locations. No purchase is required.
When: Ongoing

Boston Market
The deal: The rotisserie chain is offering free kid meals. No purchase is required at all. Kids 12 and under can just grab a free one. 
When: For just a little while

Sign up here for our daily Thrillist email and subscribe here for our YouTube channel to get your fix of the best in food/drink/fun.