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Free Birthday Food Deals for Restaurant & Fast Food

Who doesn’t love FREE? Especially when it comes to Restaurant & Fast Food appetizers, sides and meals.
We’ve rounded up a list of places offering free and discounted birthday restaurant & fast food to help you celebrate your big day. You’re a big deal, your birthday is a big deal, and nobody should have to cook on their birthday. You just have to play the game a tiny bit.

Make sure you do all the things to get your FREE & Discounted Birthday appetizers, sides and meals. Download our FREE Birthday Checklist!

Birthday Food Free & Discounted List

This is always a work in progress, check back often!

Acapulco Restaurant & Cantina – FREE entree on your birthday when you join their Xperience Rewards program.
Au Bon Pain – FREE lunch when you sign up for their eClub. Additionally, you may receive a free full-size cookie and other perks on your birthday.
Auntie Anne’s – FREE pretzel with Pretzel Perks.
Baja Fresh – usually a FREE burrito with purchase of any beverage.
Benihana – offers a birthday reward of a $30 birthday certificate for members of their loyalty program, which can be used during your birthday month. Additionally, children enrolled in the Kabuki Kids program receive a special birthday gift.
Bennigan’s – FREE entree with the purchase of an entree of equal or greater value on your birthday when you sign up for their rewards club.
Bertucci’s – offers a special birthday gift when you join their eClub.
Bricktown Brewery – FREE entrée of their choice during their birthday month. This reward is available to members who have activated their account before their birthday month begins.
Bruegger’s Bagels – FREE bagel and cream cheese after purchasing a drink. To get this reward, you need to sign up for their e-club.
Buffalo Wild Wings offers birthday rewards through their rewards program, where members can receive special offers or discounts on their birthday. It’s best to sign up for their rewards program to ensure you receive your birthday treat.
Burger King – Earn 2x Crowns during the full month of your birthday on all eligible transactions, in addition to a special FREE item on your birthday.
California Pizza Kitchen – FREE Starter when you register for a rewards account & FREE birthday entree for Diamond & Elite members, 2x Points during birthday month.
California Tortilla – FREE burrito on your birthday for Burrito Elito Silver members.
Carl’s Jr. – New Members – Choose from our fan fave flavors including a FREE Western Bacon Cheeseburger, Famous Star, or Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich w/minimum $1 purchase.
Chevys Fresh Mex – offers birthday rewards for members of their rewards program, which typically includes a special gift or discount on your birthday.
Chipotle – FREE side of chips and guacamole with a purchase of $5 or more, valid for 30 days.
Church’s Chicken – FREE treat on their birthday as part of their REAL REWARDS program.
Cicis – FREE adult pizza buffet for members of their Cicis Rewards™ program. To receive this offer, you need to sign up and check your rewards section in the app around your birthday.
Country Kitchen – Join the CK eClub – Country Kitchen Restaurant Perks – FREE Pancakes for Joining, Exclusive CK Offers and a FREE Birthday Meal!
Cracker Barrel – Free sharable just for joining!
Firehouse Subs – FREE medium sub on your birthday for members of their Firehouse Rewards program.
Hooters – 10 FREE wings on your birthday. To qualify, you need to join the rewards program and earn points through purchases.
IHOP – on your birthday you will recieve 5 PanCoins, which can be redeemed for a FREE stack of pancakes.
Jack in the Box – two FREE tacos with any purchase if you sign up for their newsletter. Make sure to subscribe before your birthday to get this offer.
Jersey Mike’s – FREE regular-sized sub on your birthday if you are a MyMike’s member, have opted into their email program, and made at least one qualifying purchase in the past year. You will receive 72 Shore Points on your birthday, which can be redeemed for the free sub.
Johnny Rockets – FREE burger and ice cream sundae on your birthday. Be sure to sign up in advance to enjoy this treat!
Romano’s Macaroni Grill – offers an exclusive birthday reward for members of their rewards program. You can receive a special gift or discount during your birthday month when you join their rewards program.
McDonald’s – FREE fries or other special offers on their birthday when they sign up for MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
Moe’s Southwest Grill – FREE cup of queso just for signing up, plus receive a FREE birthday burrito and other special offers through the Moe’s app.
Ninety Nine – FREE appetizer up to $12.99 with one entrée purchase after your first visit. As well as a FREE dessert on a birthday
Not Your Average Joe’s – offers Text Club members, 15% off your meal when you join, as well as an offer on your birthday.
On The Border – FREE bonus item when you sign up and offers a birthday reward for members of their Club Cantina loyalty program, which includes a special surprise on your birthday. It’s best to sign up in advance to ensure you receive the reward.
P.F. Chang’s – FREE appetizer or dessert on their birthday. To qualify, you need to provide your birthday when signing up for the program.
QDOBA – FREE queso and chips as your birthday reward while Gold Status receive a FREE entrée.
Quiznos – Buy one get one regular sub, our gift to you!
Red Robbin – FREE appetizer* with your first purchase and a upgrade your Birthday Milkshake reward to a Birthday Burger when you spend just $10 throughout the year.
Texas Roadhouse – FREE appetizers or desserts to make your day extra sweet (offers may vary by location).
Waffle House – FREE waffle if you join their Regulars Club. Additionally, you will also get a FREE order of hash browns just for signing up.

How to cash in on Free Birthday Food Deals!

I know. Signing up for email lists feels like inviting clutter into your life. But hear me out.

Most birthday rewards only go to loyalty members—email, app, or rewards program required. My best advice?
Sign up about a month before your birthday.

Does it mean you can’t do it the week of? No.
Does it mean some places won’t recognize your birthday in time if you wait too long? Unfortunately… yes.

Think of it like giving the system time to notice you exist.

If a place you love has an app, go ahead and download it—even if you swear you won’t use it again until next year.

Why?

Some birthday drinks live only inside the app
Some rewards won’t show up in email at all
Some places require you to “activate” the offer

Is it mildly inconvenient? Yes.
Is a free latte or cocktail worth it? Also yes.

Birthday rewards usually start rolling in 1–7 days before your birthday. Not always on the actual day, which feels rude, but okay.

Check:

Email (including promotions + spam folders)
App notifications
Rewards sections inside apps

Pro tip from someone who’s missed a free drink before:
Set a calendar reminder to check your rewards.

Future-you will be grateful.

Some birthday drinks are:

🎁 Totally free, no strings attached (angels walk among us)
🧾 Free with a small purchase
⏳ Only valid for a few days

None of this is bad—it’s just good to know before you’re standing in line emotionally committed to a free drink that requires a snack purchase.

Still a win. Just a slightly different kind.

The Bottom Line

Your birthday is not the time to be financially responsible in spirit—only in strategy.

Join the programs. Download the apps. Watch your inbox. Read the fine print.
Then celebrate another year of being a functional-ish human with a drink you didn’t fully pay for.

Celebrate more. Spend less.
And if you stack three (or more) birthday deals in one day?
I support you. Fully.

Want to save even more on your birthday?
Check out ALL our Birthday Freebies!

Know of a place that we missed! Let us know in the comments!