The Best Holiday Gift Card Deals at Restaurants This Year

Giving gifts is hard. Sometimes it's difficult because you don't give a damn about the person whose name you drew, like the cousin who definitely gave you a travel mug he got for free last time he had your name. Thanks, Caleb.

At a minimum, you can at least get a little something for yourself while you're buying gifts. No, we're not talking about a coffee to get you through a day of holiday shopping -- though, you probably deserve that as well. We're talking about the many gift card deals that reward you with a little something for yourself. 

Tons of restaurants and stores offer gift card perks for the holidays where, if you buy a gift card for someone else, they'll give you another gift card in a smaller amount for free. You don't have to tell anyone you got that bonus card. You can just pocket it for later.

Here are the best gift card deals available this holiday season. (And check back. We'll be updating this regularly as deals expire and new deals are announced.)

White Castle
The deal: Buy $25 in gift cards for a loved one and get a $5 card for free. That might not seem like much, but you can absolutely get yourself an entire lunch for $5. 
When: November 4 - December 31

Grimaldi's
The deal: Buy a $50 gift card, and you'll get a $10 card for free. If you instead get a $100 gift card, the bonus card will be worth $20. The cards can be purchased in-store or online.
When: October 28 - December 31

Bahama Breeze
The deal: You're taking home a free $20 card when you spend $50.
When: November 11 - January 2

Yard House
The deal: Take a free $10 gift card for every $50 you spend on gift cards. 
When: November 25 - December 31

Snuffer's
The deal: You'll get hooked up with $5 in free gift cards when you buy a $25 gift card. 
When: November 1 - December 31

Firehouse Subs
The deal: Stop in to buy a $25 gift card and they'll hand you a card for a free medium sub on the spot. 
When: Through January 31

Red Lobster
The deal: Drop $50 on gift cards and get either a free appetizer or $10 off a future visit (that has to be in January). 
When: Through December 31

Chili's
The deal: Take home a free $10 e-bonus with any $50 gift card purchase. 
When: December 1-31

Carl's Jr. and Hardee's
The deal: Buy a $25 gift card for someone you know and they'll give you a free burger on the spot. Shopping and lunch taken care of all at once. At Carl's Jr, you'll get a Single Western Bacon Cheeseburger. At Hardee's, the freebie is a One-Third Pound Thickburger.
When: Through December 31

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
The deal: Nab a $10 bonus card for every $50 e-gift card purchased. Alternatively, you get a $25 bonus card and a 20% off VIP card for every $100 e-gift card purchased. Bonus cards are valid from January 1 - February 13, 2020. If you do the $100 gift card in-store, you'll instead get two commemorative pint glasses. You cannot eat pint glasses, so you should probably order online.
When: November 7 - January 1, 2020

Longhorn Steakhouse
The deal: A $10 bonus card is headed your way with every $50 in gift cards you buy. The bonus card is only valid in January.
When: November 13 - December 30

Noodles & Company
The deal: Pick up a $5 gift card for every $25 you drop on gift cards. 
When: November 6 - December 31

Condado Tacos
The deal: Buy $50 worth of gift cards in-store, and you'll get a bonus $10 gift card that's valid from January 1 to February 29, 2020.
When: November 1 - December 31

Bruegger's Bagels
The deal: The bagel shop will hand you a free $5 gift card with the purchase of a $25 gift card. 
When: Through December 31

DoorDash
The deal: Buy a DoorDash gift card at Walmart.com to get 10% off the card.
When: December 1-8

Boston Market
The deal: Get a $5 bonus card with the purchase of a $25 gift card. The bonus card can be redeemed from November 29 to January 31, 2020. 
When: October 28 - December 31

Mimi's Bistro + Bakery
The deal: You're going home with a $10 Bonus Bucks coupon for every $50 you spend on gift cards. 
When: December 1-31

Fajita Pete's
The deal: There's a $10 gift card coming your way for free when you buy a $50 gift card. 
When: December 1-31

Grubhub
The deal: Get a $10 gift card for yourself when you buy $100 in cards from Grubhub or Seamless. 
When: Through December 31

North Italia
The deal: Get $20 back on every $100 gift card you purchase online or in-restaurant.
When: November 1 - December 31

Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses
The deal: Find a PonBon (it's fine, you can say that) and get a $5 bonus card for each $30 gift card you buy. One for them, one for you. 
When: Through December 31

Village Burger Bar
The deal: Place a catering order of at least $250, and you'll get a free $25 gift card, as long as you book via phone or email. 
When: November 1 - December 31

El Fenix
The deal: Every $25 gift card you buy, a $5 gift card will rise like a mighty phoenix for free. 
When: November 1 - December 31

bd's Mongolian Grill
The deal: A $5 bonus card is headed your way when you buy a $25 gift card. 
When: November 12 - December 31

Logan's Roadhouse
The deal: Buy in-restaurant or online and you'll get a $10 bonus when you pick up a $50 gift card. 
When: November 4 - December 31

On the Border
The deal: Drop $40 or more in-store on gift cards and you'll get a $10 card valid from January 1 to February 15, 2020.
When: Through December 31

Wahoo's Fish Taco
The deal: Buy $30 worth of Wahoo-rific gift cards and you'll take $10 in a bonus card for yourself. The bonus gift certificate is valid from January 1 to May 1, 2020.
When: November 20 - December 31

Rusty Bucket's Restaurant & Tavern
The deal: You'll get a free $10 gift card when you buy a $50 card. The bonus card will be valid from January 2 - February 29. 
When: November 4 - December 30

Davanni's
The deal: Grab a free $5 gift card with each $25 gift card you purchase in-restaurant or online. 
When: November 11 - December 31

Sky Zone
The deal: Buy a $30 gift card and you'll get a free pair of SkySocks and a 30-minute jump pass. 
When: November 4 - December 31

Liberty Burger
The deal: The small burger chain in Texas and Wyoming will toss you a $10 card for buying a $50 card.
When: November 11 - January 31

Flagship Restaurant Group
The deal: You'll get a $25 gift card for the purchase of any $100 gift card, which can be used at any of the group's restaurants across the country. That includes Anthem, Blue Sushi, Sake Grill, Plank Seafood Provisions, and more. 
When: November 18 - December 24

Cousins Subs
The deal: Pick up a $25 gift card, and you'll get a free seven-and-a-half-inch sub. 
When: Through December 28

Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
The deal: Spend $100 on gift cards and get a bonus $20 card that can be used from January 1 to February 9, 2020. 
When: Through December 31

BurgerFi
The deal: Get a free $5 card that can be redeemed from January 1 to February 29, 2020 when you buy a $25 card. 
When: Through December 31

Bonefish Grill
The deal: A $10 bonus card is yours to keep when you buy a $50 card. The bonus card can be redeemed from January 1 to February 9, 2020. 
When: Through December 31

Metro Diner
The deal: It's a $10 card coming your way when you buy a $50 card. The bonus card can be used from January 1 to February 29, 2020. 
When: Through December 31

Carrabba's Italian Grill
The deal: Buy $50 in gift cards and get a free $10 card.
When: Through December 31

California Pizza Kitchen
The deal: Get a $20 bonus gift card with the purchase of a $100 gift card. 
When: November 21 - December 31

Piada Italian Street Food
The deal: Pick up a $25 gift card to land a free entrée. If you purchase the card online, you'll get a card for a free entrée via email. 
When: November 4 - December 30

Blaze Pizza
The deal: You're getting a coupon for $5 off your next pizza when you spend at least $25 on a gift card. 
When: Through December 31

Torchy's Tacos
The deal: Snag a $5 bonus for yourself when you buy $25 in gift cards. The bonus card can be used any time through March 31, 2020. 
When: Through December 31

Joella's Hot Chicken
The deal: You'll get $5 off your next meal for every $25 gift card you purchase. 
When: November 1 - December 31

Freebirds World Burrito
The deal: Buy a $50 gift card (it comes with a very Guardians of the Galaxy-esque cassette tape vibe) and you'll get $10 off your own food order that day.
When: Ongoing

Tony Roma's 
The deal: Participating locations across the US are offering a $15 bonus card for every $50 card you buy online or in-store. 
When: Through December 31

El Vaquero
The deal: Buy a $100 gift card and the Ohio chain will set you up with a $20 gift card for free. 
When: November 29

Fresh Brothers
The deal: Buy a $50 gift card to get a free medium Cheese Original Crust Pizza and a $5 bonus gift card. 
When: November 29

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
The deal: Purchase at least $30 in gift cards, and you'll get a free burger or sandwich that can be redeemed throughout January 2020. 
When: December 2-8

B.GOOD
The deal: For every $15 you spend on gift cards, you'll get a coupon for a free side, shake, or smoothie. Plus, the restaurant will donate $1 to FoodCorps. 
When: December 3-31

STK Steakhouse
The deal: Take a $10 bonus card for every $50 card you buy and a $25 bonus card for every $100 card. The bonus cards can be redeemed from January 1 to March 31, 2020. 
When: November 1 - December 31

Jamba Juice
The deal: Get a $5 freebie with each $25 gift card you buy.
When: November 14 - December 30

Fogo de Chão
The deal: If you're going big on gift cards, Fogo has big rewards. Get a free $25 card for buying $125 worth of gift cards. It's $75 for free when you spend $300 or $100 for free when you spend $400. Bonus cards can be used from January 1 to March 29, 2020.
When: October 28 - December 31

Del Taco
The deal: Stop into a store to get a coupon for two free Grilled Chicken Tacos when you buy a $15 gift card. Or you could get two coupons when you buy $25 worth of gift cards. Online, you'll get a free coupon for a small Combo Meal when you buy $30 in gift cards.
When: December 4 - January 1, 2020

Barcelona Wine Bar
The deal: You’ll get handed a $10 bonus card for every $50 card you purchase. The bonus card is valid from January 1 - March 31, 2020.
When: Through December 31

Fazoli's
The deal: For every $20 gift card you purchase, you'll land a freebie worth $5. 
When: Through December 31

Twin Peaks
The deal: You'll have to stop into a store to get this one. But for every $25 you spend, you'll get a $5 bonus card.
When: November 25 - December 24

Genghis Grill
The deal: Take home a $5 bonus card (valid January 1 to March 31, 2020) for every $25 you spend. 
When: November 11 - December 31

Taco Cabana
The deal: You'll land a free $5 card for every $25 in gift cards you buy. 
When: Through December 31

Kona Grill
The deal: The fast-casual chain with sushi is rewarding gift card hunters with a $10 bonus card for every $50 gift card they buy. That bonus feller will be redeemable from January 1 to March 31, 2020. 
When: Through December 31

Sullivan's Steakhouse
The deal: There's a sliding scale for getting a bonus when you buy an e-gift card at Sullivan's. You won't get anything until you hit $100 in gift value, at which point you'll get a bonus card worth $10. Until you spend at least $500, you'll just get another $10 for each increment of $100 you hit. 
When: November 5 - December 31

Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
The deal: Buy a gift card worth $100 and you'll get set up with a bonus card worth $20. 
When: November 1 - January 1

bartaco
The deal: Looking for "upscale street food" inspired by "Southern California and Brazil and Uruguay"? Wow. That's bartaco's exact description! Take home a bonus $10 gift card for every $50 you purchase. 
When: Through December 31

Tocaya Organica
The deal: Buy a $50 gift card get a $10 bonus card for free. 
When: November 21 - December 31

Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant
The deal: Every $75 you load up on a gift card will earn you a free $20 bonus card. 
When: Through December 31

Inchin's Bamboo Garden
The deal: It's a $10 bonus card you're landing when you spend $50 on a gift card. 
When: Through December 31

Modsy
The deal: Use the code "ENJOY20" to get 20% off a gift card from the interior design site. 
When: Through December 31

Jade Dragon Tattoo - Chicago, Illinois
The deal: Put $100 on a gift card and you'll get another loaded up with $25. That's a nice gift for a friend or for yourself. 
When: Ongoing

PJW Restaurant Group - Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey
The deal: Get a $10 bonus card for every $50 your drop on other gift cards. 
When: Through December 31

Surly Brewing - Minneapolis, Minnesota
The deal: One of Minnesota's best breweries is offering a free $15 gift card when you buy a $50 card. The card is only redeemable at the Minneapolis brewery, though.
When: Through December 31

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