How to Score Free Birthday Meals, Appetizers, Desserts, and Discounts
Did you know that you can get free birthday meals at restaurants to help you celebrate each year?!?!!
Restaurants Free Birthday Meals
The list below features more than 90 places across the USA that offer food birthday freebies each year. Take advantage of free breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert, coffee, and more at popular restaurants from casual to fine dining.
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Birthday Freebies at Restaurants, Cafés, and Coffee Shops
Many people I know will gladly stretch their birthday celebrations to a “birthday week” or even to a “birthday month“. Fortunately, there are also plenty of restaurants that agree with this approach and allow you to redeem your birthday freebie for weeks!
Click the restaurant name to go ahead and sign up or click “see details” to learn more about the current birthday freebies.
Birthday Freebies at Cafés and Coffee Shops
These locations open early to help you start your day off right. Sign up to take advantage of these free offers and start the day with great birthday deals for breakfast and lunch!
Free Birthday Gifts at Cafes and Coffee Shops
- Another Broken Egg Cafe: free pancakes (see details)
- Au Bon Pain: free full-sized cookie (see details)
- Cinnabon: free 16 oz cold brew (see details)
- Dunkin’ Donuts: earn 3x points for one day (see details)
- Einstein Bros. Bagels: free egg sandwich w/ purchase (see details)
- First Watch: free entrée w/entrée purchase (see details)
- Krispy Kreme: free original glazed dozen (see details)
- Panera Bread: free choice of pastry or sweet (see details)
- Shipley Do-nuts: free half-dozen donuts (ID required) (see details)
Birthday Freebies at Casual Dining Restaurants
Free Birthday Food Gifts at Casual Dining Restaurants
Grab a few friends and enjoy an easy meal at one of these casual restaurants with birthday freebies. Enjoy free entrees, desserts, and full meals for up to a month long!
- A1A Ale Works: free entree (see details)
- plus sign up kids to get them a free kids meal for their birthday too!
- Abuelo’s: free entrée w/entrée purchase (see details)
- Applebee’s: free dessert w/$15 purchase (see details)
- Back Yard Burgers: free dessert (milkshake or cobbler a la mode) (see details)
- Baja Fresh: free burrito with large drink purchase (see details)
- Bakers Square: free slice of Birthday Pie (see details)
- bd’s Mongolian Grill: buy one bowl, get one free (see details)
- Bertucci’s: free anniversary gift of a piece of chocolate cake w/purchase (see details)
- Black Bear Diner: free Bear’s Choice Breakfast (build it your way) (see details)
- Boston’s: free dessert w/ meal purchase (see details)
- Bravo: free dessert w/purchase (see details)
- Buca Di Beppo: free Colossal Brownie Sundae (To-Go orders receive a free Double Dark Chocolate Cake) w/purchase
- plus $20 off a $40 purchase (see details)
- Cheddar’s: free dessert w/purchase (see details)
- Chili’s: free dessert (see details)
- plus free Chips & Salsa OR non-alcoholic beverage w/ each visit
- Chipotle: free chips & guac with $5+ purchase (see details)
- City Barbeque: $5 discount w/ purchase (see details)
- Corner Bakery Cafe: free sweet (see details)
- Cowboy Chicken: free entree w/$10 purchase (see details)
- Denny’s: free Everyday Value Slam (see details)
- Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: free Classic Sandwich (see details)
- Famous Dave’s: free dessert (up to $5) (see details)
- Friendly’s: free dessert w/purchase (see details)
- Genghis Grill: free app or dessert (see details)
- Golden Corral: free buffet with the purchase of adult buffet (must show ID) (see details)
- Gordon Biersch Brewery: free entrée (see details)
- IHOP: free full stack of pancakes (see details)
- IKEA: free slice of cake w/purchase (see details)
- plus a $10 gift certificate to spend in the store!
- Jersey Mike’s Subs: free points-based rewards (see details)
- Johnny Rockets: free burger with purchase of entree and drink or shake (see details)
- Lennys Grill & Subs: free 7.5″ sub (see details)
- Marco’s Pizza: free small 1-topping pizza (see details)
- Marie Callender’s: $5 off two entrees and two free slices of pie (see details)
- Mellow Mushroom: free pretzel bites with a purchase (see details)
- Mimi’s Café: free mixed berry muffin sundae (see details)
- Moe’s: free burrito redeemable via app (see details)
- The Old Spaghetti Factory: free meal (ID required) (see details)
- The Old Spaghetti Factory also sends a free treat for half birthdays!
- plus parents can sign up for the Kid’s Birthday Club to get free kid’s meal on their child’s birthday
- Papa John’s: free dessert cookie (see details)
- Perkins: free Magnificent Seven breakfast meal (see details)
- Piccadilly: free dessert with coupon (see details)
- Pizza Hut: free breadsticks or free cinnamon sticks (see details)
- Provino’s Italian Restaurant: free pasta specialty dinner with dessert (ID required, no signup necessary) (see details)
- Qdoba Mexican Eats: free chips and queso (see details)
- Red Robin: free burger (see details)
- Shane’s Rib Shack: free sandwich of your choice (see details)
- Sonny’s BBQ: free Big Deal Combo (see details)
- Sizzler: $5 off any entree (see details)
- Waffle House: free waffle (see details)
- Willy’s Mexicana Grill: 50% off of one item (see details)
Birthday Freebies at Fast Food Restaurants
Free Birthday Food at Fast Food Restaurants
Grab a quick birthday bite at these fast-food restaurants and enjoy free birthday offers!
- A&W: free Root Beer Float (see details)
- Arby’s: free regular shake w/purchase (see details)
- Bojangles’: free Bo-Berry biscuit (see details)
- Burger King: free bonus loyalty points (see details)
- Culver’s: free scoop of frozen custard with one topping (see details)
- Dairy Queen: buy one, get one free Blizzard w/app (see details)
- El Pollo Loco: free “tasty birthday gift” w/$5 purchase (see details)
- Fazoli’s: free birthday dessert with $6.49 purchase (see details)
- Hardee’s: buy one, get one free 1/3 lb. Original Thickburger (see details)
- Jason’s Deli: $5 off any food item – ID required (see details)
- Portillo’s: free slice of chocolate cake (see details)
- Sbarro: free slice of pizza (see details)
- Schlotzsky’s: free small sandwich w/$1 purchase (see details)
- Sonic: free small classic shake w/ app reward (see details)
- Taco Bell: free Mountain Dew Baja Blast Freeze w/ app (see details)
- The Habit Burger Grill: free choice of burger (see details)
- Wingstop: free fresh-cut seasoned fries (see details)
- Zaxby’s: free cookies (3) (see details)
- Parents can also sign up for the Zax Kidz Club to get a free kid’s meal on their child’s birthday
Birthday Freebies at Fine Dining & Steakhouses
Free Birthday Gifts at Fine Dining Restaurants
Treat yourself to a fantastic meal for your birthday with these birthday freebies that include discounts, free desserts, free meals, or other great birthday bonus treats!
- Benihana: $30 certificate for dinner with purchase of a full-priced adult entree (see details)
- additional program for kids to get a special mug on their birthday (advance sign-up and postcard required to redeem)
- Bennigan’s: free entree (up to $15) with purchase of an entree (see details)
- Black Angus Steakhouse: free Cowboy Cookie (ID required) (see details)
- Brio: free dessert w/ purchase (see details)
- California Pizza Kitchen: depends on membership level, but is at least a free dessert (see details)
- Chompie’s: free breakfast on your birthday (ID required)
- Fogo de Chao: $25 credit towards brunch, lunch, or dinner (see details)
- Fresh to Order: $5 off (birthday only) (see details)
- Hard Rock Cafe: free entree w/ purchase of an entree (see details)
- Houlihan’s: free entrée (up to $15) – ID required (see details)
- Kona Grill: get a $15 birthday discount (see details)
- LongHorn Steakhouse: free dessert w/ purchase of adult entrée (see details)
- Macaroni Grill: free dessert w/ purchase of adult entree (see details)
- Maggiano’s Little Italy: $10 coupon towards $30 minimum purchase (see details)
- plus $10 off a $30 purchase for your half birthday
- plus $10 off a $30 purchase for your anniversary
- Medieval Times: discounted birthday tickets for adults and children (see details)
- Melting Pot: free box of 6 Signature Dipped Strawberries w/ purchase (see details)
- plus an additional free box for your anniversary!
- O’Charley’s: free cobbler (see details)
- plus Kids Eat Free every day!
- PF Chang’s: choice of free appetizer or dessert (valid birthday month) (see details)
- RA Sushi Bar Restaurant: $20 birthday certificate (valid Monday – Thursday) (see details)
- plus you’ll also get a $20 half birthday certificate!
- Ruby Tuesday: free Garden Bar Add-On or free dessert (see details)
- Smokey Bones: free dessert (see details)
- Ted’s Montana Grill: free dessert with purchase of an entrée (see details)
- Texas De Brazil: $20 off dinner for 2 (see details)
- Texas Roadhouse: free appetizer or sidekick (see details)
Birthday Freebies at Dessert, Sweet, & Snack Shops
Free Birthday Gifts at Dessert and Sweet Shops
Indulging your sweet tooth on your birthday will feel a little less guilty with a free birthday treat!
- Auntie Anne’s: free pretzel (app required) (see details)
- Baskin Robbins: free 2.5 oz ice cream scoop or free 3 oz swirl of soft serve (see details)
- Bruster’s Ice Cream: $3 reward to spend at Bruster’s (see details)
- Carvel: free birthday cone plus coupon for $2 off any cake or $3 off any sheet cake (see details)
- Cold Stone Creamery: buy one, get one free (see details)
- Dippin’ Dots: free cup of Dippin’ Dots (see details)
- Godiva: $10 off (online or in-stores) (see details)
- Great American Cookies: $5 off via app (see details)
- Marble Slab Creamery / Maggie Moo’s: $5 off any purchase redeemable via app (see details)
- Nothing Bundt Cakes: free bundtlet (ID required) (see details)
- Orange Julius: purchase any small Orange Julius beverage at discount (see details)
- Planet Smoothie: free 22 oz smoothie (see details)
- Rita’s Ice Custard: free small Italian Ice (see details)
- Sprinkles: free cupcake for “perks” members on your birthday and more rewards for higher tier members / up to a dozen free birthday cupcakes! (see details)
- Yogurtland: free cup of froyo (up to $5) (see details)
Tips for Getting Free Birthday Meals
Free Birthday Meals Restaurants
The locations above make it easy for you to sign up and get your free birthday gifts. However, each restaurant rewards program is unique and they will all have different redemption requirements. Follow these tips to make sure that you get the most out of your birthday offers.
Sign Up Early
Sign up for your freebies at least a few weeks in advance of your birthday. There are two main reasons for this:
- The gift email lists that the restaurants make are usually prepared weeks in advance
- Some restaurants only send gifts at the beginning of the month
Check Offer Details and Fine Print
Each gift is unique and retailers often change their gifts from one year to the next. Make sure to be aware of common redemption requirements including:
- Minimum purchase amounts
- Expiration date
- Blackout dates
- ID requirements
- Account numbers
- Printed and/or electronic coupons
- Installed app on a smart device
Tips for Dining Out at Restaurants
Most of these restaurants will do everything they can to make sure that you have an impressive meal that exceeds all expectations. Occasionally there may be some surprises during your visit, but planning ahead and having these types of items can make sure that you can tackle tough issues like:
Keep Personal Items Close
These different styles of folding hooks make sure that your bag is close by and does not need to rest on the floor.
Read Small Print or in Low Light
Make sure you can always read a dessert menu, no matter how dim or romantic the lighting may be.
Be Ready for Culinary Adventure
Feel confident in ordering the spiciest dishes — you’ll be ready with lots of tissues in case you find that your sinuses have suddenly opened up.
Quickly Clean Stains
These small items fit easily in your bag and will make sure that no stains will set into your clothing.
Freshen Your Smile
These dental tools are small and easy to travel with so that you are never caught off guard by something stuck in your teeth.
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Fun Places to go on Your Birthday
You may also enjoy learning more about:
- Free food for joining mailing lists or loyalty programs
- Kids eat cheap or free promotions
- 130+ free beauty birthday gifts
- Student discounts of up to 100% off
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Happy Birthday and Bon Apetit!
thanks so much for compiling this list!! YOU ARE THE REAL MVP!
How often do you update? A few of these have changed since last year. Applebees this year is only giving $5 off $25 instead of free dessert, Einstein bros is now a free bagel and shmear w/ purchase, Zaxby’s gave a free snak plate meal, and Marcos this year was a whole free small 1 topping!
Hi Rachel, The offers generally change once a year and I try to keep up with the changes as they come through my inbox. Thanks so much for sharing the updates that you found for 2020 — I will double check on those an update the lists!
Wow, i must say i like your work on this article, Who doesn’t love dessert and one a birthday it would be one of the biggest surprises that one could give to a celebrant. i really like these ideas that you have given out i hope it works for me as i would like to try it out for my sisters birthday.
These are always a great idea for yourself but your sister might like the surprise as well. Enjoy!!
Hello there, thanks for sharing this awesome article i know it would help a lot of people as it has been of great help to me.If ther is one thing i like about food is dessert and when it comes to a birthday function desserts is a must-have for me….i really like these once there is a lot to choose from.
Hi David, With over 100 great offers, it’s easy to find a few that will appeal to almost everyone!! Enjoy!!
Did you just mention that there are amazing restaurant free birthday meals and gifts that are eligible to help me celebrate my birthday for each year? Wow this is amazing indeed. I am so glad am seeing this article. My birthday is very very close, I am seeing going to make use of this opportunity. Thanks for sharing.
The tips for enjoying restaurant meals are cool, i pretty love smilling but am sure going to work on the other tips.
Awesome, I hope you have a great birthday filled with lots of sweet freebies!
It is great to learn of so many places where I can do a quick online sign up and get so many free birthday things to eat (or drink). I like that I can enjoy some of them on my actual birthday, but that so many of the birthday food offers are good for a birthday week, two, or for my full birthday month. This really gives me even more reason to stretch out the birthday celebrations. I love to celebrate, and this really does give me an excuse to enjoy my birthday for a full month. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Fabian, I’m glad you’re going to be able to enjoy a handful of these great birthday food offers! There are a lot of really tasty options to choose from!!
Thank you for sharing this information about so many programs that one can take advantage of and get free birthday food. Your list is truly impressive!
It is amazing that even fine dining restaurants and steakhouses offer birthday discounts, free meals and other birthday treats and surprises.
We fully agree that these programs are too good to be missed. Once everything goes back to pre-COVID days, we will surely take advantage of these.
Hi, I’m not sure when your birthday is, but go ahead and sign up for these great birthday offers. Many places are honoring their birthday offers for their customers who are currently ordering takeout and delivery.
Wow thanks for this lovely article….thanks for compiling this article about some free birthday meal place where we can go and have a good treat. most time I don’t tell anyone about my birthday . sometimes it’s because I don’t have the money to celebrate it.but I never knew that we can get a free treat for birthday.It is so amazing and this post will help alot of persons just like me.
I can understand that sometimes you just want to lay low and let those birthdays sneak on by… but when you can get FREE food and treats for your birthday, you have an easy way to enjoy the day without feeling too guilty about a splurge!
Great article
Birthdays are awesome and memorable event, i love and enjoy birthdays especially that of family member, birthdays are one of the great event celebrated and birthday meals are exceptional, it is really nice putting up those option, and with all these option the birthday will be memorable.. Thanks for sharing, i will certainly make one choice
Hi Alexy, I hope you have a wonderful birthday with at least a couple of freebies from your favorite local restaurants! Cheers!!
Um, yeah I’m going to have to bookmark this page haha. As someone who goes out to eat ALOT…this was a treasure trove! I probably eat at panera bread twice a week during work so definitely just signed up for that one, and I think I would be hard pressed to find a chain restaurant that you didn’t have already listed here. Benihanas and California Pizza Kitchens are both some of my casual dining faves, so yeah keeping my eye on this page!
Thanks John, I’m glad to hear the list is helpful and can probably save you some money in the future!
Now I know where to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on my birthday lol. I think it’s going to be a whole day of eating out with your page as a guide. I like Black Angus Steakhouse deal the most because one entree gets you a free steak dinner. Thanks, Alyce!
It’s good to have so many options to choose from for 3 meals plus dessert!
Wow !this is really amazing. Now no birthday can be boring anymore with all these offers birthdays just get better. This is a very much lost of shops and cafes and there is no reason why I shouldn’t try one of these gift offers for my next birthday. These offers are much and would waste if I don’t inform my friends about it too. Thanks for this great informative review. I hope to see more interesting post.
I hope you and your friends all enjoy the free meals and sweets!!
Wow, Excellent post about some free birthday meal place where we can go and treated. Most of the time I avoided to tell everyone about my birthday or sometime intentionally show them I forget my birthday only to save money. But I never knew this that we can get a free treat for Birthday? It is amazing and you know this post will help millions of people who are like me. I will find out if I can find out any place near me. Otherwise, I am definitely gonna share this with my friends and family. Thanks a lot for these wonderful resources.
Thanks so much for sharing!
I wish that I would have stumbled across this list last week. My birthday had been last week. I had no idea that there was this many people offering free birthday meals and desserts. Even though I missed my chance, this list will be very helpful in deciding where to go to treat a friend or family member on their birthday.
Thanks!
Aww… that is really close, but hopefully you’ll be ready for a month full of free birthday treats next year!
There’s so many restaurants I’m familiar with on this list, but had no idea they gave food away or deep discounts when it’s a person’s birthday. I have a few friends who have birthdays coming up; I might just recommend them going to one of these joints! Thanks for writing this up.
I’m sure your friends will appreciate all the freebies and birthday treats!
That was a really awesome and extensive list of free gifts you can get on your birthday. I didn’t realize there were so many places you can go on your birthday in the US for free stuff. About a week before my birthday (in April), I found a Canadian list that was similar but not as long. There are a lot of places that allow you to use the coupon for your entire birthday week as well. I may have to travel down to the US one year for my special day to take advantage of all the better offers lol
Hi Nicki, some of these restaurants will have locations in Canada, but the list is tailored to a US audience. If you do expect to be in the Unites States near your birthday, then keep in mind that although some offers are only valid on your birthday, many of the free birthday meal offers are valid for an entire month! Enjoy!!
I appreciate the hard work it took to compile this, and understand that there are different establishment in different areas, but don’t feel left out. I live in the most populous area of the country, and hardly any of these are anywhere near me. Actually 4, 2 free cones, a free pretzel, and a free dessert with meal purchase are, without traveling an hour or more. I’d say 80% of these, including the entire Fast Food Restaurants category, I’ve either never heard of, or thought they went out of business 20 or 30 years ago. That was a, ‘wow’ though. Dairy Queen, which I liked when I was 5 years old, and haven’t seem since, still exists, BoJangles still exists, and still has that name, Sizzler still exists, Hardee’s still exists, ect.. Oh yeah. There is a Ruby Tuesday that I can get to in about an hour and a quarter, and might be near sometimes anyway. It sends out a coupon for a free birthday coupon which states at the bottom that it specifically excludes that location. Kind of like the ‘unvitation’ Eileen received on Seinfeld, a disincentive to go there again.
Amazing! Incredible information for birthday present. I was astounded by the measure of choices to have a blessing or a free dinner at cafés or spots to eat. I think I found a couple of spots here to take up on their offer. It is a decent route for eateries to keep in the psyches of clients likewise I truly like giving somebody a card since they can impart it to others which upgrades the chance. A debt of gratitude is in order for such an extraordinary thought
We all like feeling special on our birthdays, and personally, I think that a free birthday bonus is always going to be welcome!!
Thanks a lot for this super extensive list of foods that I could apply in my next birthday. My birthday is in a couple of months so when the time comes I will be doing some of those desserts that were shown. I will share with my friends so they can check something they might like.
Thanks for sharing Barbara!! I hope you all have great birthdays!!!