Everywhere You Can Get Free & Cheap Food for Mother's Day

Sunday, May 12, is Mother's Day. And even if your mother is Cersei Lannister, you can probably find a good reason to celebrate the occasion (that may mean you choose to celebrate a grandparent, guardian, friend, or yourself instead). It's a good...

Mother's Day Deals 2019
Courtesy of NineTwentyFive
Courtesy of NineTwentyFive

Sunday, May 12, is Mother's Day. And even if your mother is Cersei Lannister, you can probably find a good reason to celebrate the occasion (that may mean you choose to celebrate a grandparent, guardian, friend, or yourself instead). It's a good day to make sure someone who has taken large swaths of their life to care for others gets their due. 

Like basically every holiday, popular chains all across the country are more than willing to offer their appreciation so you come to their restaurant, which can work in your favor. Loads of restaurants are offering free and cheap food and drinks for Mother's Day. You'll find offers from Dairy Queen, Sizzler, TCBY, Wienerschnitzel, and many other national chains and local restaurants. 

To help you sift through all the noise, here's our running list of the best food deals you'll find on Mother's Day. 

Free Food for Mother's Day

Wienerschnitzel
The deal: Give mom what she always wanted this Mother's Day: a free Chili Dog Meal. That includes a chili dog, small fries, and a small order of fries. Moms just have to bring their kids, a photo of their kids, or tell the cashier a funny story about their kids. 
When: May 12

TCBY
The deal: Any mom who stops by will get their first six ounces of frozen yogurt for free. 
When: May 12

Mountain Mike's Pizza
The deal: Buy a large specialty pizza with the code "641916" and you'll get set up with a free Cinnamon Dessert Pizza. 
When: May 12

Tim Hortons
The deal:
 Moms can get a free "Mom-sized" iced coffee. That's a 52-ounce glass that basically fills an entire Hortons pot. 
When: May 12

Hurricane Grill & Wings
The deal: Buy an entrée and two drinks to get a free entrée for your mom. 
When: May 12

Jersey Mike's
The deal: 
Get free chips and a drink with any order. 
When: Through May 12

Jack in the Box
The deal:
 For National Have a Coke Day (we're as surprised as you are), you can get a free Jumbo Jack Cheeseburger with the purchase of a large Coke. You have to sign up for the e-club, though. 
When: May 8-12

Ike's Love & Sandwiches
The deal:
 All Ike's locations are offering a BOGO deal on any sandwich you find on the menu. Dig in. 
When: May 12

Beef 'O' Brady's
The deal:
 Moms can eat for free with the purchase of another meal up to $10. 
When: May 12

Kolache Factory 
The deal: Buy a muffin, get one for free. The deal is only valid in-store and you'll have to print out a coupon from the shop's social media. 
When: Through May 19

Mother's Day Food Deals 2019
Courtesy of Mountain Mike's Pizza

Food Deals for Mother's Day

Sizzler
The deal: You'll get a $5 coupon valid from May 13-31 if you spend $25 at Sizzler over Mother's Day weekend. 
When: Dine May 9-13

Taco Cabana
The deal: All of the chain's Texas restaurants will offer $2 off any shareable, including Kickin' Grande Nachos and the new Buffalo Sampler.
When: May 10-12

BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
The deal: Order your Mother's Day meal through DoorDash, and they'll waive the delivery fees. You can also get a free kids meal thrown in with the code "THANKSMOM."
When: Through May 12

SAJJ Mediterranean
The deal: Buy an entrée and get one half-off. It applies to a signature sajj wrap, pita sandwich, turmeric rice, or freekeh bowl.
When: May 6-12

Kung Fu Tea
The deal: Download the Kung Fu Tea app and find a buy-two-get-one-free promo. 
When: May 12

Atlas Coffee Club
The deal: 
The subscription coffee club has special packages put together for Mother's Day that could get you as much as $50 off an order. 
When: through May 12

Dairy Queen
The deal: 
Take $2 off any mobile app purchase of at least $10. 
When: May 6-12

Jet's Pizza
The deal: 
Pick up a Super Special Pizza (sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, onions, and green peppers) for $6.99 with the code "MOM."
When: May 12

Quiznos
The deal: All Chicken Carbonara subs are 20% off. 
When: May 10-12

Daphne's
The deal: Buy an entrée and get the second one half-off.
When: May 12, 11am-8pm

Instacart
The deal: You can pick between free grocery delivery or a $5 coupon when you purchase at least $20 worth of Annie's products through Instacart. 
When: Through May 26

Kreation Kafe
The deal: Buy an entrée of $20 or more and get a free O-Mega Bowl and Matchappreciated Latte.
When: May 12

Drink Specials for Mother's Day

Casa Ole
The deal: Get $1 strawberry margaritas at participating locations all weekend. 
When: May 10-12

El Fenix
The deal: Mothers can pick up an 8oz margarita for a buck on Mother's Day. 
When: May 12

Ibotta
The deal: Buy a mimosa anywhere you'd like, then upload a photo of the receipt to the Ibotta app. The app will give you $5 back into your Ibotta account. Just download the Ibotta app, click "Restaurants and Bars" and then click "Mimosas for Moms:" to redeem.
When: May 12

Home Run Inn
The deal: 
You can grab half-price bottles of wine all weekend for Mother's Day. 
When: May 10-12

Nando's PERi-PERi Chicken
The deal: Every location will be serving up half-price sangrias. Happy Mother's Day, everyone. 
When: May 12

Slater's 50/50
The deal: Honor mom with a $15 bottomless mimosa. 
When: May 12, 11am-3pm

Bahama Breeze
The deal:
 It's a month-long Cinco de Mayo celebration that runs through Mother's Day. Get a $5 classic margarita or a $10 create-your-own premium tequila or rum flight. 
When: Through May 31

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

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

Local Food Deals for Mother's Day

BLACKBARN - New York, New York
The deal: Mothers and grandmothers are getting a free brunch that includes courses like Sweet Potato Pancakes with Spiced Whipped Cream.
When: May 12

Chloe's NYC - New York, New York
The deal: Every customer who comes by on Mother's Day will get a free Pop for mom with a purchase. 
When: May 12

ninetwentyfive - Wayzata, Minnesota
The deal: The restaurant will offer a Mother's Day buffet from 10am-3pm and Moms can eat for free.
When: May 12

RPM Steak and RPM Italian - Chicago, Illinois
The deal: Bring in mom and she'll leave with "a special edible gift" and a $25 gift card for her next visit. 
When: May 12

Stella Barra Pizzeria - Chicago, Illinois
The deal: The shop will have $5 bloody marys, bellinis, and mimoas, as well as a surprise free gift for moms. 
When: May 12

Village Burger Bar - Allen, Dallas, and Plano, Texas
The deal: Moms get a free single mimosa when dining in on Mother's Day. 
When: May 12

Other Food Deals Available on Mother's Day

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

Wendy's
The deal: For a limited time, Wendy's has dropped the price of a Frosty to just 50 cents
When: For a limited time

The Cheesecake Factory
The deal:
Buy a $50 gift card for dear ol' mum, and you'll get a free $10 gift card for yourself. 
When: Through May 12

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. 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

Bruegger's Bagels
The deal: You get how this goes now. Sign up for their Inner Circle club, and new members get a coupon for a free bagel with cream cheese.
When: Ongoing

Einstein Bros. Bagels
The deal: Find a similar deal here. Sign up for the Shmear Society and grab a free bagel.
When: Ongoing

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. 
When: Ongoing

MOOYAH
The deal: A free order of personal fries are headed your way if you sign up for MOOYAH Rewards.
When: Ongoing

Cold Stone Creamery
The deal: If you're new to My Cold Stone Club Rewards you'll get a buy-one-get-one-free coupon on Creations. 
When: Ongoing

Mimi's Cafe
The deal:
 Sign up for the e-club, and you get a free two-pack of croissants or muffins because breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
When: Ongoing

El Pollo Loco
The deal: If you sign up for Loco Rewards you'll bag a free pollo bowl.
When: Ongoing

Red Cow
The deal:
Join the Minneapolis-based chain's e-club and you'll get a coupon in your inbox for $10 your bill next time you dine-in. 
When: Ongoing

Rubio's Coastal Grill
The deal: Sign up for the Beach Club and you're getting a free taco to say cheers to your new friendship. 
When: Ongoing

Wetzel's Pretzels
The deal: Download the Wetzel's Pretzels app, and you'll be gifted a free pretzel item from the pretzel shop. You'll also get a freebie on your birthday. Happy early birthday!
When: Ongoing

BJ's Brewhouse & Restaurant
The deal: 
Join the Premier Rewards Plus program, and they'll hook you up with a free Pizookie. (That's a deep-dish-inspired cookie if it wasn't immediately clear from the weird portmanteau.) Bonus: You'll get another free Pizookie on your birthday. 
When: Ongoing

Black Angus Steakhouse
The deal: 
Join the restaurant's Prime Club, and you'll automatically get a free dessert. (You also get a free steak dinner on your first birthday after joining the club.)
When: Ongoing

Maggie Moo's and Marble Slab Creamery
The deal:
 Sign up for the rewards program -- Slab Happy Rewards -- and a free ice cream is headed straight for your mouth.
When: Ongoing

Corner Bakery
The deal: 
Get a free sweet when you sign up for Corner Bakery's e-club, which is basically just the email newsletter. 
When: Ongoing

Papa Murphy's
The deal: Sign up for the take-and-bake chain's email offers, and you'll get a code for 25% off your next online order of $20 or more. 
When: Ongoing

Bonefish Grill
The deal: Become a Bonefish Grill Insider (that's their rewards program), and you'll get 50% off your meal on every fourth visit. 
When: Ongoing

More Mother's Day Deals?

Did we miss some Mother's Day deals? Drop a note to news@thrillist.com and we'll add 'em here. 

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Dustin Nelson is a Senior Staff Writer on the news team at Thrillist. Follow him @dlukenelson.