A veteran just got a $120 family dinner for $48. Another saved $840 last month just by showing his veteran ID at restaurants. These aren’t just Veterans Day specials – they’re year-round discounts that most veterans don’t even know about. And yes, most of them work for your whole family.
Steakhouse Secrets Most Veterans Miss
Texas Roadhouse loves veterans more than they advertise. Sure, everyone knows about their Veterans Day free meal, but here’s the real deal: They offer 20% off your entire check any day of the week. One Navy veteran takes his family every Sunday: “Dinner for five usually costs $140, but we pay about $85 with the discount. That’s $220 saved every month just at one restaurant.”
Outback Steakhouse goes beyond its basic veteran discount. Show your veteran ID, and you’ll get 10% off plus a free Bloomin’ Onion with any purchase – even during peak hours. “We save about $30 every visit,” shares an Army veteran. “Plus they let you combine it with their lunch special prices.”
Chain Restaurants That Really Care
Applebee’s doesn’t just do free Veterans Day meals – they offer 10% off year-round for veterans. The secret sauce? It works on alcohol and applies to your entire party. One Marine veteran saves big on family dinners: “We do weekly family nights there. The discount covers all our appetizers and drinks, saving us about $100 monthly.”
Buffalo Wild Wings runs “Military Mondays” that most veterans don’t know about. Show your ID for 15% off your entire check, and yes – that includes those massive wing orders during game days. An Air Force veteran shares: “Monday night football just got cheaper. Our group saves about $50 every week.”
Fast Food That Adds Up Fast
Wendy’s keeps quiet about their veteran program, but it’s worth asking about. Most locations offer 10% off, and some bump it to 15% during military appreciation months. One veteran family saves $45 monthly just on their regular Wendy’s runs.
McDonald’s varies by location, but many offer free drinks or 10% off for veterans. The real hack? Some locations give veterans the same discounts as senior citizens – which means cheaper coffee and breakfast deals all day. A veteran couple saves $30 monthly just on their morning coffee runs.
Coffee Shops That Keep You Caffeinated
Starbucks does more than just give veterans free coffee once a year. Many locations offer 10% off daily for veterans, and some bump it to 15% during early hours. One veteran saved $164 last month on his daily coffee runs: “Morning coffee and lunch breaks for me and my wife. The savings add up.”
Dunkin’ matches Starbucks with their veteran perks. Show your ID for 10% off everything, and some stores throw in a free donut. Veterans who switched their daily coffee stop to Dunkin’ report saving $40-50 monthly.
Pizza Places That Pile on Savings
Domino’s veterans discount varies by location, but here’s the inside scoop: Many stores offer 20% off when you order online and verify veteran status. One veteran feeds his kids’ sports team for less: “Team pizza parties cost about half what other parents pay. Saved $200 last season just on post-game meals.”
Pizza Hut’s military and veteran discount hits 15% at most locations, and it works on their family deals too. A veteran family of five saves big: “We do pizza night twice monthly. The discount saves us about $25 each time, plus they let us stack it with their regular specials.”
Casual Dining Deals
Chili’s veteran discount isn’t advertised much, but it’s solid – 10% off your entire check, including drinks. One veteran couple eats there weekly: “Date night costs us $15-20 less each time. That’s $60-80 monthly just at one restaurant.”
Red Robin gives veterans 10% off and often throws in free sides. Better yet? The discount applies to your whole party. A veteran saves big on family gatherings: “When we take the extended family, we save $40-50 per visit. Makes hosting relatives way more affordable.”
Breakfast Spots That Fill You Up
IHOP’s veteran discount varies by location but averages 10-15% off. Some locations offer free drinks or special veteran menu prices. One veteran family makes it their Sunday tradition: “Breakfast for four costs us about $15 less each time. Over $60 saved monthly just on pancakes.”
Denny’s goes beyond their published deals. Many locations offer 15% off for veterans, and some include free drinks. A veteran couple discovered extra savings: “We get the senior menu prices plus veteran discount. Breakfast costs us half what our friends pay.”
Local Joints That Love Veterans
Don’t ignore local restaurants – they often beat chain discounts. One veteran checked every local spot in his town: “Found six places offering 20% off for vets. Two give us half off on Mondays. We’re saving about $200 monthly just by asking local spots about veteran deals.”
Many family-owned places create special veteran menus with better prices. A veteran found gold at his local diner: “They give vets 25% off everything. The owner’s daughter served in the Army. We save $300 monthly by eating there regularly.”
Italian Restaurants That Appreciate Service
Olive Garden keeps its veteran program quiet but valuable. Show your ID for 10% off, and it works on their never-ending pasta deals too. One veteran family times it right: “We go during endless pasta promotions. The discount saves us about $30 each visit.”
Carrabba’s Italian Grill matches their sister restaurant Outback’s deals. Veterans get 10% off plus occasional free appetizers. A veteran couple maximizes savings: “We eat there twice monthly. Between the discount and the free apps, we save about $45 each time.”
Your Service Should Still Serve You
These restaurant discounts add up fast – we’re talking hundreds monthly for regular diners. Keep your veteran ID handy and always ask about discounts, even if you don’t see them advertised. Share these tips with other veterans; everyone who served deserves to save when dining out. After all, you earned these deals through your service.