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!
Birthday freebies at restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops are a delightful way to celebrate your special day. It’s a win-win situation: businesses get to show appreciation for their loyal customers, and patrons enjoy free treats on their birthdays! It encourages a sense of community and fosters a stronger bond between the establishment and the customer.
However, I agree that it’s crucial to sign up early and pay close attention to the offer details and fine print. Some might require a minimum purchase, have an expiration date, or require an app on your smart device. Being prepared is the key to fully enjoying these birthday perks.
I also appreciate the tips for dining out. Keeping personal items close, being prepared for a culinary adventure, and quick fixes for any unexpected mishaps are great advice for any dining experience, not just birthday outings.
Overall, birthday freebies add a fun element to the celebration. It’s always enjoyable to see which of your favorite places offer birthday perks, and sometimes, it can even introduce you to new favorites!
Hello, John! It’s always nice to get a little token of appreciation for loyalty, and it’s nice that these annual free birthday gifts can add up to a lot of savings too!! Enjoy!
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I just have to comment on all your posts, because they are just wonderful! I followed your link on another post to this one about meals, appetizers and desserts. These are all just fantastic ideas to save money on birthdays. Thank you again for all the research! It is helpful to have this list of free birthday meal offers in one place.
Thanks so much, Scott! I hope you found a bunch of great offers to sign up for and that you have fun with all the delicious free birthday food you’ll get this year!
Woww what an excellent job putting all these places together in one article. My birthday is coming up soon so I will have to spend some time to decide where to go and have a great time with my wife and friends.
I love coffee and pastries so I think ‘Au bon pain’ or ‘Panera bread’ would be my choices! Thank you so much for sharing this valuable information!
I hope you enjoy your free birthday treats! The free birthday coffee and pastries sound great!!
I did not know so many restaurants provided free food and discounts for birthdays. This is wonderful to find out about all these discount, especially for families. You did a great job researching and sharing your finding for all of your readers. I definitely plan on using a few of these. Thank you for such an article. keep it up.
Hi Paul, getting free birthday treats is always a pleasant surprise. Enjoy!
Alyce,
Thank you so much for compiling this list. Everyone has a birthday and not everyone knows about these freebees that help with celebrating that day of birth that comes around but once a year. It is always nice to be recognized for each of us it seems. I would think that anyone would find it a pleasant surprise to have a present given to them. I myself will remember the places that offer a frebee and will bring people with me to celebrate in these establishments that offer so much cheer on that special day.
My friends and I love stretching our birthday celebrations out for a full month — all these deals make it easy!
I knew of some of the places that you highlighted in your article. I agree that signing up early for the restaurants early is the smart thing to do. Not only does this give the restaurant the opportunity to have the item or gift available but it gives you the opportunity to plan for it for you or for a loved one. There may be times where there is an extra savings besides what is posted in the rules category. Some restaurants do not advertise these special savings until you are enjoying your meal.
Jerry
Hi Jerry, It is always helpful to plan in advance, and especially if you want to take advantage of as many free birthday deals as possible. Enjoy!
Not necessarily free to start out…. but worth mentioning….
LANDRY’S restaurants….Bubba Gump, Landry’s Seafood, Morton’s, McCormick & Schmick’s, Oceanaire, Rainforest Cafe, Saltgrass Steak House, Chart House… and others.
$25 to join their Landry’s Select rewards. The day after you register your card online you get a $25 off coupon. (No min purchase)… THEN… every year for your birthday you get another $25 reward!!! (Only pay the membership cost once!!)
Plus, you get priority seating, no need for reservations.
Once went when thr wait was an hour, and get seated next available table.
Thanks for sharing!
Not necessarily free to start out…. but worth mentioning….
LANDRY’S restaurants….Bubba Gump, Landry’s Seafood, Morton’s, McCormick & Schmick’s, Oceanaire, Rainforest Cafe, Saltgrass Steak House, Chart House… and others.
$25 to join their Landry’s Select rewards. The day after you register your card online you get a $25 off coupon. (No min purchase)… THEN… every year for your birthday you get another $25 reward!!! (Only pay the membership cost once!!)
Plus, you get priority seating, no need for reservations.
Once went when thr wait was an hour, and get seated next available table.
Amazing article and I am amazed at how many freebies there are. Lots of great options for every birthday girl and boy to choose from and plenty of offers to check out. My birthday is about 2 months away, and your article is a great place to start. Again amazing article,
Hi Terence, It’s definitely good timing to find the article, as you can go ahead and sign up for your favorite free birthday offers with plenty of time to make sure your name is on the lists! I hope you score some great free food on your birthday!
This is amazing. I only knew a few places that does this and some of course never provide this offer. I am certain there nyst be very strict rules in order to obtain these specials, because sadly there will always be users that lie its their birthday and try to obtain a free gift or discount. That is most likely the reason why many places do not offer these specials. But, tgank you for the share.
Hi Bernard, Click the “see details” link next to the offer to learn more about the rules for redeeming free birthday food. A few places do require proof of your actual birthdate, but most places just let you pick any date that you want without the need for proof. In fact, the birthday offer from Wingstop makes light of the situation and says they will pretend like it’s your birthday even if it isn’t!
I prefer that only a few companies have my actual birthdate, so I often use a different date in order to keep my personal data more secure.
What a fantastic list of free gift and meal venues for birthdays. I actually never thought about this but in a family household it could become a regular thing and we all have our favorite venues. I gather that these are all places in the US but I’m sure that there must be places in Australia that want to promote their venues. I will be looking around to make my own local list now that you have bought it to my attention.
Thanks so much for all your hard work.
Hi Lily, Thanks for checking in from Australia! This list is of free birthday food at restaurants in USA, but I would imagine if you check the websites of your favorite local restaurants, that you’ll be able to find some great free deals near you as well.
Oh this is great information! And my son’s and my birthday are both coming up. I am going to click on the link and sign up for a few. Would love to get a free birthday meal! What a great post this is. Benihana is first on my list. And $25 off no less, which is awesome!
Hi Leahrae, The Benihana birthday offer is very generous and certainly helps to celebrate the special day! Enjoy!
Wow, this article was really a huge shocker and an eye opener as well, I never knew that there was an opportunity like this with SO MANY FREE MEALS AND FOOD. I know many out there do not know about it as well, so I shared this with some of the huge restaurant fans that I know. I expect they are going to be very happy to learn about all of these opportunities for birthday freebies for foodies!
Hi Victor, These companies are smart to offer a free birthday gift as an annual thanks for your business. I usually have fond memories of birthday celebrations, and those associations can often extend to feeling good about the place where the celebrations occur, usually at a great restaurant!
I love getting free stuff. It was the highlight of some of our meals when my dad would pick someone in the group to be a “birthday person” Having the servers come up and sing to the individual was pretty funny when it wasn’t their birthday. The free dessert is a nice touch by some of my favorites. I never even thought about asking for birthday extras to some of these places on your list. Thanks for putting this together. I will seek out more in a few months on my next Birthday.
Hi Rich, These free birthday meals are a nice way to let yourself be spoiled on your birthday. Most of the companies don’t require proof of your birth date, so I imagine there are a lot of folks who chose a day to celebrate that isn’t actually their birthday. Enjoy!