No, we are not kidding, this is the ultimate guide to eating like a king for free on the only day that’s completely dedicated to you.
Tucano’s
This fairly obscure Brazillian chain restaurant actually might change your diet-game up. Unlike most chains, Tucano’s prides themselves on their fresh ingredients and how well they’re presented. For reference, this spot specializes in delivering freshly grilled meats and vegetables right to your plate. If you go to a Tucano’s during your birthday month, after signing up for their email list, you will receive a buy-one-get-one-free voucher for one meal.
Texas Roadhouse
Although we think it’s pretty nasty that Texas Roadhouse allows their patrons to throw their spit-covered peanut shells on the floor under their tables, they do offer one of the coolest birthday perks in the business. The Roadhouse crew will sit you down on their saddle (yes, they have a saddle in every location) and sing happy birthday to you. When reserving via email for your birthday, you’re eligible for either a free appetizer or dessert.
The Old Spaghetti Factory
For a restaurant named “The Old Spaghetti Factory,” they actually have some top-notch Italian-American fare. Serving classic Mediterranean favorites like Mizithra cheese and spumoni ice cream, you can’t see the attention to detail like this at your average chain Italian spot. If you’re a kid or have kids, you can sign up for their “birthday club” and get a free three-course meal on your birthday AND your half-birthday.
Mimi’s Cafe
This French-American cafe can be found primarily on the west coast, but they’re slowly stretching east. Either way, if you decide not to sign up for their e-club, you can show up and get a free dessert and a group singing of happy birthday as long as you have proof that it’s your birthday. Sign up for the e-club and you’ll get a voucher for free muffins or a free entree, which are both phenomenal deals.
Krispy Kreme
This all-time American favorite will leave the light on for you when it’s your birthday. If you sign up online, you will receive a voucher that gives you a free donut and a small drink/coffee. Pro-tip, if you live in an urban area, or a place that has more Krispy Kremes than the average town, you can take a tour to all of them and end up with dozens of donuts and coffees for FREE.
California Pizza Kitchen
Holy moly, have you tried the Carne Asada pizza here? It’s not the pizza that you would expect to be the favorite on the menu, but there is a reason people love it. Besides that, if you stumble into the CPK on your special day, you get a free dessert, no reservation required.
Buffalo Wild Wings
The synagogue of sauce, the church of chicken, the palace of potato skins, and the kingdom of kind of reasonably priced local beers, Buffalo Wild Wings is a frat boy paradise. If you decide to make the traverse to your local BWW (have a DD on your birthday, duh) and have proof of ID, you will receive a free snack-size boneless or bone-in wings covered in any sauce of your choosing.
Benihana
Habachi is the closest thing to fine dining that some people get in their lives. Benihana is the Mecca for those who want to try “Japanese” food for the first time, and we can’t blame them, sometimes all you want is a big scoop of fried rice and to catch that little piece of broccoli in your mouth so you look cool in front of a dozen families. Sign up for Chef’s Table and you’ll receive a $30 voucher for your birthday, which is perfect if you want to spend your special day alone with your new best friend (the chef).
Cracker Barrel
Now, I know what you’re thinking, why would you go to Cracker Barrel at all, ESPECIALLY on your birthday? For one, most people don’t know that Cracker Barrel sells handmade custom rocking chairs, which is very, very cool. You also might not have known that the ol’ CB will hand you a free dessert on your birthday, and gives you the option to deny the full-staff birthday song.
Cold Stone Creamery
After your free dessert from Cracker Barrel, head to the nearest strip mall to get dessert #2 from Cold Stone. After signing up for their e-club, the dairy specialist will scrape you a personal bucket of cold sweet cream, free of charge. Oh yeah, this includes all toppings as well, get wild pal.
Chili’s
When you’re craving sizzling fajitas, chicken tenders, and a pretty decent frozen margarita, Chili’s should be the main stop on your birthday voyage. Those who sign up for their email chain receive a free dessert at an *unstated* maximum price. Those who are not a member of the email club will receive a scoop of ice cream, no questions asked.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Home of big plates of delicious pasta, Italian wines, and some of the best chain meatballs around, the Macaroni Grill will change your birthday game permanently. Much like other places, the Macaroni Grill offers you a free dessert on your birthday. Here’s the kicker, they also offer you and your significant other a free dessert on your anniversary. Plus, they’ll sing happy birthday to you in Italian *chef kiss*.
Wingstop
Another prominent wing destination that started in the south and is now drifting north and west, Wingstop makes some of the tastiest sauces in the game. When your hands aren’t completely covered in sauce, sign up for the Wingstop Club and you’ll receive a free serving of fries, no singing required.
Einstein Bros Bagels
A morning favorite of college students and senior citizens alike, the Einstein brothers will whip up an egg sandwich for you, free of charge on your day of birth. Pair that with one of their teeth-chatteringly caffeinated coffees and you’ll have enough energy to celebrate for the rest of the day.
Hooters
Although some individuals (the department of health) have their complaints about scantily clad service workers delivering food to patrons, you cannot deny that Hooters has some killer wings. Sign up for Hooters’ email list, and 10 of those wings will be yours, for free, on your birthday.
Jamba Juice
One of the most elite and celebrated private clubs on Earth, the Jamba Insider Rewards club, awards all their members with a free smoothie or juice on their birthday. This is for the folks who are trying to be healthy on their b-day for some reason.
Denny’s
We don’t care who you are, or what your background is, heading to Denny’s on your birthday is an American past-time that hopefully never changes. The reason being, they give you a free grand slam if it’s your birthday, no email list required. Plus, Denny’s is open 24 hours always.
Olive Garden
Loved by most, hated by Italians, Olive Garden is undeniably the most popular American institutions for Italian food. Coincidentally, the OG is also a poppin’ spot for birthday-celebrators. When you sign up on their website, you will receive a dessert or app of your choosing, but everyone knows you’re going to be choosing the fried lasagna.
Panera Bread
The most redundantly named chain in America (Panera Bread literally translates to “Bread Basket Bread Bread”) offers a can’t-miss birthday deal that will change your life forever. Choose one (1) pastry from their selection and it’s yours, no strings attached.
Baja Fresh
Baja Fresh offers a multi-tiered rewards program, kind of like a pyramid scheme without any potential of earning cash. If you sign up for their rewards program, you get a free taco (ok, sick). If you pop into a Baja Fresh on your birthday, you get a free burrito (now that’s what I’m talkin’ about).
Jersey Mike’s
This New Jersey (represent!!) based sandwich shop hands out a free sub and a drink if you can prove that it’s your birthday. Now that’s what I call hospitality!
IHOP
IHOP, formerly IHOB, formerly IHOP, offers a free short stack of steaming hot-cakes on your birthday. If you’re feeling really ambitious, go from Denny’s straight to IHOP.
Islands
If you join Islands’ email list, you will receive a free dessert (never heard that one before). But, if you’re really in the know about Islands, make friends with the bartender and you might get a freebie.
Starbucks
Pop on into the local Bux and claim your free birthday beverage, and 15% off whatever else you wanna munch/sip on. Some restrictions may apply, its Starbucks so it’s pretty much a tossup.
Subway
It is unknown whether Subway still honors this system since they got called out about flubbing their sandwich sizes. Is nothing sacred anymore? Anyways, if you sign up for Subway’s Eat Fresh Club you’ll get a free six-inch sub and a beverage in your hands without having to take out your wallet.
Baskin Robbins
Baskin Robbins will give you a free scoop of any flavor on your birthday. It is debatable whether this is a publicity stunt to put them ahead of Dairy Queen, we are assuming that it is though.
Dunkin’ Donuts
No free donuts with this one (stick to Krispy Kreme if you don’t want to be disappointed). You get one free drink of any size from Dunkin’ on your b-day. Still, no free donut.
P.F. Chang’s
Everyone is entitled to one free dessert, small plate, or piece of Dim Sum from P.F. Chang’s on your birthday. To be honest with you, their chocolate cake is to die for.
Pinkberry
If you dig frozen yogurt, Pinkberry will hook you up on your birthday. You get a free BIG yogurt with whatever toppings, pretty much a free $10 just because you were born.
Pizza Hut
If you make a Pizza Hut Online account (sounds like some weird branded MMORPG), they mail you a voucher for an order of cinnamon sticks on your birthday, which is arguably the best thing on their menu.
Waffle House
Now we’re getting into the good stuff. If you sign up online (shocker), Waffle House will make you a free waffle on your birthday, all you have to do is show them an email and your ID.
Applebee’s
Love it or hate it, Applebee’s will take care of you on your birthday. Although it technically isn’t free, they do offer a buy-one-get-one-free entree for you and your slightly hungrier friends.
Firehouse Subs
Not as friendly as Jersey Mike’s, but they still help the birthday person out. Firehouse will award you with one free medium-sized sub if you flash ID and a smile.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
One free burrito? For me? Only if I download the app? That’s a pretty good deal!
Zaxby’s
So for this one, you need to sign up for a mailing list. Not an email list, an actual physical mailing list. If you do, you get a free chicken sandwich meal, this includes toast, fries, and a drink.
Ruby Tuesday
Show up at a Ruby Tuesday and you’ll be getting a voucher for a free burger or entree up to an $11 value, however, this expires within a month of your birthday so you need to get on top of it.
Qdoba Mexican Grill
Companies love giving out free burritos, we’re not complaining though. Drop into Qdoba with an ID and one burrito is yours to keep.
Noodles & Company
Not very “noodle” or “company” about this one, but you get one free Rice Krispie Treat on your b-day if you drop in on the N&Co.
Arby’s
This one is pretty lame but it’s still free, Arby’s gives you one free small shake on your birthday. If you’re already in the neighborhood, grab that shake and some curly fries.
Sprinkles
You get one free cupcake on your birthday at Sprinkles. Even cooler, if you visit the store 40 times in one year, you get a dozen free cakes in a cup.
Dairy Queen
Dairy Queen offers a BOGO blizzard for all Blizzard Fan Club members. We suggest getting two different ones and sharing with a close friend or you can eat both in your car.
Beef O’ Brady’s
Who says it has to be your birthday to get free stuff? Beef O’ Brady’s offers you a free appetizer if you can prove that it’s your first time eating at one of their restaurants. Just do that on your birthday!
Bob Evans
If you’re under 12, Bob Evans offers kids free meals just for showing up. They also offer all kids free breakfast before school.
Bonefish Grille
If you sign up for the Bonefish e-club, you get a free appetizer voucher. Talk about customer satisfaction!
Caribou Coffee
Sign up for Caribou Perks and you’ll get a free medium coffee. Sign up with different emails and you can have unlimited free coffees.
The Cheesecake Factory
Show up on your birthday and prove that you at least know someone who is in the rewards program and you’ll get a free scoop of ice cream and the staff will sing to you.
Del Taco
Two free chicken tacos for signing up on their website? Count me in!
Famous Dave’s BBQ
Earn a free sandwich or burger if you sign up for the Famous Dave’s fan club, AKA the PIG club.
Gold Star Chili
Earn yourself the Cincinnati classic 3-way chili if you purchase one 3-way chili on its own, no birthday required.
Houlihan’s
Grab yourself a free appetizer if you sign up for the Houlihan’s email list, and ask very nicely. Ps. Their wings are slammin’.
Johnny Rockets
We love Johnny Rockets, and you should too. To build that love, Johnny Rockets offers a free burger with a first time purchase of any sandwich, if you have a voucher.
Orange Julius
Pop into any Orange Julius and ask for the BOGO coupon, one question can double your order’s value without doubling the price, you’re welcome.
Rainforest Cafe
Earn a free chocolate lava cake on your birthday, and if you come in with a Landry Rewards Card, you’ll get a $25 coupon for any purchase.
Sbarro
This one is a little strange, but if you search for an online voucher, you can get a free slice of cheese pizza with the purchase of any drink at Sbarro.
Smoothie King
Ask for a coupon at the counter, and your next purchase could be a 20oz smoothie for only $1.99.
Taco Cabana
An online voucher will score you a free fajita taco on your next trip down south.
Village Inn
Signup for their online club and you can swing a free slice of pie, which is delightful might I add. Also, if you wait for international pi day (3/14) they give away pie for free all day.
Back Yard Burgers
Get a free burger the first time you step through the door at a Back Yard Burger’s location. Why doesn’t everyone do this?
Acres of Clams
Yes, this is a real restaurant. If you join the “Carte Clam Club” you can get 10% off of every meal.
Chipotle
Chipotle is pretty stingy, their ingredients are pretty expensive to give them some credit. However, you can add extra beans, salsas, cheese, and fajita vegetables to any burrito, bowl, or salad for no additional charge.