Everywhere You Can Get Free & Cheap Food on Memorial Day

Memorial Day weekend generally involves hanging out in a park or yard and enjoying some good food with family and friends. It's a damn fine way to spend an afternoon. But, for a variety of circumstances, not everyone can make that happen. 

Fortunately for everyone, whether you prefer having someone else cook, are in a hurry, or just need a win on a slow day off, restaurants across the country are offering free food and deals in honor of Memorial Day. (That's in addition to all the other Memorial Day sales taking place.) Some are going to exclusively offer deals to active-duty military personnel and veterans -- it is Memorial Day, after all -- and some have offers for anyone who comes through the door. You'll find offers from local restaurants as well as national chains like Dairy Queen, Pilot Flying J, Mountain Mike's Pizza, Applebee's, and many others.

Here are the best food deals you'll find on Memorial Day. 

Dairy Queen
The deal: Get a totally free burger when you buy a malt or shake through the DQ mobile app. 
When: May 28-31

Hooters
The deal: Active-duty service members and veterans can grab a free entrée at participating locations by flashing a valid military ID. 
When: May 27

Logan's Roadhouse
The deal: Veterans and active-duty military personnel can have a free meal from the chain's American Roadhouse menu.
When: May 27, 3-6pm

Potbelly Sandwich Shop
The deal: Potbelly is offering BOGO sandwiches and salads to veterans and active-duty military personnel who show an ID.
When: May 26-27

Rubio's Coastal Grill
The deal: All military personnel and veterans can grab a free entrée with the purchase of any other entrée. They do, however, ask that you have a valid military ID present, as well as this coupon. 
When: May 27

Potbelly Sandwich Shop
The deal: Potbelly is celebrating summer with Free Shake Weekend. Make any purchase and get a free short shake in-store. 
When: May 24-26

Potbelly Sandwich Shop
The deal: Yes, there's a third, totally separate deal available from Potbelly. This one just for the graduates in the room. Potbelly is offering grads a BOGO deal on sandwiches if they show either a student ID or their tassel. 
When: May 27 - June 2

White Castle
The deal: This might be the only deal you'll find for National Brisket Day on May 28, but it'll work just as well on Memorial Day. Grab a coupon from White Castle's social media for BOGO Brisket Sliders. 
When: Coupon valid May 24 - June 1

Kolache Factory
The deal: Buy three kolaches and get three of lesser or equal value for free. To get the deal, you'll need to grab a coupon off the restaurant's site. 
When: May 27-31

LongHorn Steakhouse
The deal: It's not really free food, but you can get a bit of free advice. For the seventh straight year, LongHorn is opening a hotline staffed with grilling experts who can answer your grilling-baed inquiries. Call 1-855-LH-GRILL. 
When: May 27, 10am-4pm

Mountain Mike's Pizza
The deal: Take 15% off your Memorial Day Weekend pizza fix. The offer is good on day-of orders and preorders when you use the code "095841."
When: May 23-27

Tijuana Flats
The deal: Treat yourself to a $5 burrito or bowl all weekend. Upgrading to steak is just a buck.
When: May 24-26

Pilot Flying J
The deal: In honor of National Road Trip Day -- because not only does every foodstuff get its day, so does every activity -- you can take $5 off your next in-store purchase of at least $10 with the code "ROADTRIP" in the pit stop's app. 
When: May 24-27

Carrabba's Italian Grill
The deal: With the purchase of an entrée, you can celebrate National Wine Day throughout Memorial Day Weekend by grabbing an endless glass of blackberry, peach or red sangria for $12.99. 
When: May 24-27

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen
The deal: Grab a big ol' watermelon margarita. The drinks are $5.99 and it's topped with a slice of fresh-cut watermelon. The drinks are being made available starting this weekend. Happy summer. 
When: For a limited time. 

Winc
The deal: The wine subscription service is offering new customers $26 off with the code "MEMORIALDAY19."
When: Through May 30

Cumberland Farms
The deal: Swoop into a Cumberland Farms retail location for a f'real smoothie or milkshake. They're just $1.99 throughout Memorial Day weekend. 
When: May 22-28

Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill
The deal: Starting May 27, Naf Naf will launch a program to offer first responders and active or retired military personnel a 15% discount on their order. You have to flash a valid ID and order in-store. (No catering.)
When: Ongoing

Sauce Pizza & Wine
The deal: Join the E-Family rewards program to get 25% off the entire Memorial Day order. 
When: May 27

Café Gratitude, Gracias Madre, and Gratitude Kitchen & Bar
The deal: The Southern California restaurants with a focus on organic and locally grown food will, for a string of Mondays, offer you 50% off a meal from a rotating special menu.
When: May 27

Fatburger
The deal: To celebrate the launch of its new burgers on King's Hawaiian Buns, you can get free delivery through Postmates right up through National Hamburger Day on Tuesday.
When: May 24-28

Bahama Breeze
The deal: The month-long Cinco de Mayo celebration is still going. Get a $5 classic margarita or a $10 create-your-own premium tequila or rum flight. 
When: Through May 31

Islands
The deal: Ditto on this deal. Everyone is getting $2 off the House Rocks, Frozen, Strawberry, or Mangorita Margarita every day this month. 
When: Through May 31

Jersey Mike's
The deal: Buy two giant subs and the third one will only run you $2.99.
When: May 24-27

Applebee's
The deal: Every day in May, Applebee's is offering $1 margaritas.
When: Through May 31

Circle House Coffee - Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The deal: Circle House is offering BOGO empanadas every Monday in May. So, this is your last chance at scarfing two empanadas for the price of one. 
When: May 27

One90 Smoked Meats - Dallas, Texas
The deal: Order in-store to get 20% off all packaged meats, whether you're picking up salmon or brisket, smoked tenderloin or turkey. 
When: May 25-26

Pacific Hideaway - Huntington Beach, California
The deal: Those who serve and who have served will get 30% off their check at Pacific Hideaway, located inside the Kimpton Shorebreak Resort. 
When: May 27

Ono Hawaiian BBQ
The deal: Buy $30 or more in gift cards to get a bonus card worth $10 for free. The bonus card will be valid June 18 through August 21. 
When: Through June 17

Subway
The deal: Every order of a Fresh Fit for Kids meal -- three-inch sub, fruit, and juice box -- will come with a voucher for a free ticket to see Aladdin in theaters. 
When: Through June 27

Firehouse Subs
The deal: When you order catering from Firehouse and get two deluxe platters, you'll get a free cookie platter for your troubles. 
When: Through June 16

Uno Pizzeria & Grill
The deal: The pizza shop has extended its margarita promo. Grab a Sauza margarita for just $2 every day. 
When: Ongoing

Carl's Jr.
The deal: Sign up for the Carl's Jr. promo club, and you're going to get a free small order of fries and a small beverage with the purchase of a Western Bacon Cheeseburger. You're two-thirds of the way to lunch already. 
When: Ongoing

Arby's
The deal: Get your favorite sauces ready. When you sign up for the Arby's email newsletter, you'll get a coupon for a free roast beef sandwich.
When: Ongoing

Baskin-Robbins
The deal: When you download the Baskin-Robbins app for the first time, you get a free regular-sized scoop as an in-app offer.
When: Ongoing

Wendy's
The deal: Wendy's has brought back the Giant Junior Bacon Cheeseburger for a limited time, and you can get it as a combo meal -- with a four-piece chicken nuggets, small fries, and a drink -- for $5. 
When: Ongoing, but for a limited time

Arby's
The deal: Sign up for the chain's email list and you'll get a coupon that earns you a free signature sandwich (Arby's Reuben, Loaded Italian, Smokehouse Brisket, or any of its Gyros) with the purchase of a drink. The coupon lasts for just a week, though.
When: Ongoing

Burger King
The deal: Grab a stack of three fluffy pancakes for 89 cents. You can also take advantage of the royal burger chain's popular 10-piece nuggets for $1 offer, among other deals. 
When: Ongoing

Popeyes
The deal: Grab a three-piece of chicken tenders or bone-in chicken with a biscuit for just $3.99.
When: Ongoing

Red Lobster
The deal: Pair up the Ultimate Lobster Roll and the Lobster Bisque for just $15 every Tuesday until 6pm through the end of Lobsterfest. (There's no end date for Lobsterfest at the moment, but a representative says is only around for a limited time.)
When: For a limited time

Hungry Howie's
The deal: Take home a $1 medium one-topping pizza with the purchase of a large one-topping pizza at regular price. Use the code "MEDIUM1" to take advantage. 
When: Ongoing

Conrad's Grill
The deal: Conrad's wants you to believe it's "the year of the tater tot." With how 2018 went, why not? It's as likely as anything else. To celebrate the best-ever year to be Napoleon Dynamite, they're giving out free Tot Wraps for an entire year to anyone named Conrad, Tate, or Tot. All you have to do is show your ID. Though, the generous offer is only available at the Wicker Park location.
When: Through December 31, 2019

Dave & Busters
The deal: Not a food deal, but food adjacent. From open to close on Wednesdays, you can get half-priced games. 
When: Ongoing

Jack in the Box
The deal: Celebrating its tacos that have been around since the 50s, Jack in the Box is offering two tacos for $.99 when you buy via the restaurant's mobile app. In the app, click on "Menu" and the "App Exclusives," then enjoy some tacos. 
When: For a limited time

UNO Pizzeria
The deal: Get a pizza to go, and the second pizza is $6. (Prices may vary a bit by location.) The pizza shop has also extended its promotion for $2 Sauza margaritas. Those are available every day for a while. 
When: Ongoing

Church's Chicken
The deal: For a limited time, Church's is bringing back its $5 pick-your-platter promotion. Get any one of three dishes for $5, including its new Garlic Butter Shrimp Platter.
When: For a limited time

Bonefish Grill
The deal: Buy a $50 gift card to Bonefish and you'll get a $10 bonus gift card for free. 
When: April 1 - June 16

Noodles & Company
The deal: For every $25 gift card purchased, you'll get a free $5 gift card. The cards can be purchased in-store or online. 
When: Through June 30

Hwy 55
The deal: Get a four-inch cheesesteak with fries or tots and a drink for $6.99.
When: Through June 30

Baja Fresh
The deal: Join the restaurant's Club Baja membership program, and you'll get an offer for a totally free taco, valid for one chicken, carnitas Baja, or Americano taco.
When: Ongoing

Quiznos
The deal: Sign up for the Toasty Points loyalty app and get rewarded with a free 4-inch sub with any purchase.
When: Ongoing

Del Taco
The deal: Sign up for Del Taco's Raving Fan eClub and get two free grilled chicken tacos or Del Tacos for signing up. If you download the Del App, you can also land another pair of free Del Tacos. 
When: Ongoing

Wingstop
The deal: Get a free order of fries when you sign up for "The Club."
When: Ongoing

Bojangles 
The deal: Sign up for the E-Club, and you'll get a coupon for a half-gallon of Legendary Iced Tea with any purchase. You'll also get a coupon for a free Bo-Berry Biscuit with any purchase on your birthday. 

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