One of the great things about many of the bigger chain restaurants is that they offer some excellent specials to keep customers coming in the door, especially when it’s your birthday. Many people don’t know this but most restaurants at the very least will offer you a free dessert. At some locations, you can even get an entire entree on the house on your special day! The tough part is knowing where to go and which places offer the best deals.
That’s why we made this list of 60 popular restaurants that offer birthday freebies.
Choosing where to go out to eat out on your birthday can often be very a difficult affair, but hopefully, this list will help make your decision a little easier.
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pxhere
1. Wendy’s
Who doesn’t love to treat themselves to a Wendy’s Frosty from time to time? Swing by any location to get a free one on your birthday. The only catch is that you need to join the MyWendy’s email list.
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Famartin
2. Applebee’s
Dine out at Applebee’s on your birthday and they’ll give you your choice of any dessert for free. They’ll also sing you the “Happy Birthday Song”. Yes, we know, it can be a bit embarrassing for adults, but kids love it!
3. Waffle House
Join the Regulars Club online and you’ll get a free waffle at Waffle House. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner…no judgment here. Waffles are delicious and the perfect snack for any time of the day.
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Kim Siciliano
4. Arby’s
Stop into Arby’s on your special day and they’ll hook you up with a free 12 oz milkshake. No purchase of anything else is required, but you still might want to grab a roast beef sandwich while you are there too. It couldn’t hurt, right?
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Mike Mozart
5. T.G.I. Friday’s
If you go to T.G.I Friday’s for your birthday, they’ll give you a free dessert with the purchase of any entree. While that means this one is not entirely free, it is still a nice little bonus. They’ll also sing you happy birthday if you’d like.
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Americasroof
6. Au Bon Pain
Au Bon Pain is one of America’s favorite fast casual eateries. Stop in on your birthday for a free salad or sandwich. We recommend you order one of their tasty croissants or cookies as well.
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Phil Manker
7. Tony Roma’s
Specializing in ribs, seafood, and steak, Tony Roma’s is a great place to go for your birthday. While many places only offer a free dessert, at Tony Roma’s you can get any entree costing up to $15.99 for free. Although, you do have to sign up for their eRewards club to collect on the offer.
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Roberto Rodríguez
8. Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Passing by an Auntie Anne’s Pretzels on your birthday? Make sure to stop in and get your free classic pretzel. Although they aren’t quite as good as the cinnamon sugar ones, for the price of $0.00, how could you say no?
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scaredykat
9. Subway
As one of the fastest growing franchises in the world, we can almost guarantee you have a Subway somewhere nearby. Head on over on your birthday and they’ll hook you up with a six-inch sub and drink on the house. There are no restrictions on the sub choice, so feel free to splurge on one of the premium ones.
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WandererCreative
10. Baja Fresh
At Baja Fresh, they’ll give you a free birthday burrito and even throw in a taco as well. If you are craving Tex-Mex, you can’t go wrong with this choice. However, be forewarned, once you have one taco, you’ll almost always want to order a second one.
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jimg944
11. Steak ‘n Shake
Famous for their epic Steakburgers, Steak ‘n Shake is definitely a solid birthday choice for meat lovers. Sign up for their e-club and they’ll send you off with a free double steakburger with cheese and a side of fries.
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Andrii Koval
12. Baskin Robbins
Got a sweet tooth? Baskin Robbins ice cream is some of the best. Head to one of their locations on your birthday and they’ll give you a free scoop of ice cream or soft serve, as well as $3 off one their ice cream cakes.
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cherylleong
13. Starbucks
Coffee lovers are crazy about Starbucks, something non-coffee drinkers will never understand. On your birthday they’ll give you a free drink or treat of your choosing. If you’d like, you can also get a coupon for 15% off of purchases on their online store too.
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yespick0402
14. Ben & Jerry’s
Another popular ice cream hot spot is Ben & Jerry’s. They have a similar birthday deal to Baskin Robbins — one free scoop of ice cream or $3 off an ice cream cake. Choosing between the two chains is definitely going to be a difficult choice.
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uziel302
15. Sonic
If fast food is what you want, fast food is what you got. Head on over to the Sonic drive-in. While they won’t hook you up with a free burger, they will give you a medium drink, regular cream slush, or medium tater tots free of charge.
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Belinda Hankins Miller
16. Benihana
If you love Japanese cuisine, Benihana offers one of the best birthday deals around. They’ll give you a $30 gift certificate redeemable anytime throughout your birthday month. The “Happy Birthday Song” is also offered upon request.
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jimmyg
17. Smashburger
Sign up with Smashburger for Smashclub rewards and they’ll let you order any flavored shake you like for free on your birthday. Our advice is to add on a side of Smashfries as well. For those who haven’t tried them, Smashfries are french fries tossed in rosemary, garlic, and olive oil. Delicious!
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5chw4r7z
18. Boston Market
Boston Market doesn’t offer a total no strings attached freebie. However, they will give you a free dessert on your birthday when you purchase a create-your-own-meal plate. That’s something at least!
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Nick Nguyen
19. Sbarro
You can’t go wrong with pizza, especially free pizza. While it might not be enough to totally replace your birthday lunch, Sbarro will give you a free slice. They are pretty big slices too!
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Jason Kuffer
20. Bruegger’s Bagels
Although the company recently closed a lot of their locations, if you still happen to have a Bruegger’s in your area, pop on in for a free bagel and cream cheese. The only requirement is you sign up for their e-club.
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nils9three
21. Ruby Tuesday
Fun fact — Ruby Tuesday got their name from a Rolling Stones song of the same title released back in January 1967. The founders must have been big music fans! As for the freebie, stop into any one of their locations on your birthday and they’ll serve you a free burger.
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shelnew19
22. Buffalo Wild Wings
You would think this popular chain would give you some free wings since they are named Buffalo Wild Wings. However, on your birthday here, they actually give you a free dessert. You just have to join their email list.
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Alexander Migl
23. Rubio’s
Known for their coastal inspired fresh Mexican food, Rubio’s is a great place to go if you’re craving fish tacos. On your birthday, they’ll set you up with a free meal with a value of up to $7. Make sure to squeeze some extra lime juice on your tacos for the best results.
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56832361@N00
24. California Pizza Kitchen
This one is specifically for the youngsters. Register your kids online for the CPKids Birthday Club and they’ll get a free kid’s meal when their birthday rolls around. Adults will definitely be able to find something tasty on the menu as well.
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SalvatoreMonetti
25. Roy’s Restaurant
This upscale restaurant is all about Hawaiian and Japanese cuisine. The fusion of the two cultures makes for some absolutely delicious dishes. On your birthday here, they send you out a free dessert after your meal.
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Mcaffry
26. Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Sign up for the Amici Club at Carraba’s and they’ll give you a free dessert with the purchase of any entrée on your birthday. Fancy some pasta, a wood-fired pizza? Even seafood. This Italian chain has it all.
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Mike Mozart
27. Rita’s Italian Ice
Everyone has heard of Rita’s. Their Italian ice is to die for, especially the gelatos. Head here for your free birthday treat and get either a scoop of Italian ice, ice cream, or ice custard. The choice is yours.
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mr_t_in_dc
28. Carvel’s
Carvel’s has delicious ice cream cakes and soft-serve. If you stop by one of their restaurants on your birthday, you can typically expect to get a free ice cream cone. Just make sure to sign up for their Fudgie Fanatics email list first.
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Famartin
29. Red Robin
If you like burgers, Red Robin is the place to go for your birthday meal. Lot’s of places offers free burgers, but Red Robin is one of the only places that offers a free “gourmet burger”. Foodies will understand.
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Red Robin International
30. The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory will help you to celebrate your birthday by bringing you out a free cup of ice cream. Like many restaurants, their friendly staff will also sing you the “Happy Birthday Song” if you’d like. Sorry, no free cheesecakes here!
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m01229
31. Red Lobster
Craving some seafood? At Red Lobster, in order to cash in on your birthday, you’ll need to bring a friend along. They offer $5 off two adult entrees, a free slice of cake, and of course, they’ll sing you happy birthday as well.
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pxhere
32. Chili’s
This casual dining restaurant is a favorite among many families. Spend your birthday at Chili’s and get a free brownie sundae. They’ll sing for you as well, just to make sure everyone in the restaurant knows that it’s your special day too.
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scaredykat
33. Quiznos Subs
Join the Q club and Quiznos will hook you up with a tasty free cookie on your birthday. Choose between oatmeal, cinnamon sugar, or chocolate chip. Also, if you decide to get a sub, make sure to get it toasted. That is the way to go.
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Piotrus
34. Cinnabon
Cinnabon has some very tasty baked goods. Before you head in on your birthday, sign up for Club Cinnamon. They’ll give you a choice of free cinnasweeties, cinnabon stix, or cinnabon bites in addition to a free minibon cinnamon roll.
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Btotanes
35. Qdoba Mexican Grill
One of the most popular build-your-own burrito joints out there is Qdoba. As you might expect, they offer a free burrito as their birthday special. Don’t worry, at Qdoba, guacamole is typically included free as well.
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mr_t_in_dc
36. Cold Stone Creamery
If you want to get birthday benefits at Cold Stone Creamery, you’ll need to join the My Cold Stone Club. Once you’re a member, you’ll get the awesome benefit of a free ice cream in a waffle cone. Waffle cones are the best.
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Max Pixel
37. Planet Smoothie
Fancy something other than a free ice cream for your birthday treat? Planet Smoothie will give you a free smoothie when you sign up for their Birthday Club at their website. The best part is that they use real fruit, blended fresh.
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Austin Kerr
38. Cracker Barrel
Cracker Barrel offers their birthday customers a choice of any dessert on the menu, totally free. Although, going into Cracker Barrel just to claim your free dessert would probably be kind of weird. You’ll likely want to purchase some other food as well.
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Eugene Kim
39. Pinkberry
Pinkberry specializes in all types of frozen desserts and is especially famous for amazing frozen yogurts. If you are a Pinkberry Loyalty rewards member, you can stop in on your birthday to claim a free frozen yogurt with whatever topping you would like.
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gezellig-girl
40. Dairy Queen
One of the small pleasures of life is treating to yourself to a Dairy Queen Blizzard. It’s even better when it’s free. On your birthday, pop into your nearest DQ and they’ll give you a coupon for a free mini, small, or medium Blizzard on the house.
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m01229
41. Papa John’s
Papa John’s runs a pretty good loyalty program for customers. If you are a member, they’ll give you 10 free bonus points on your birthday. That is enough for an order of cheese sticks, garlic knots, or one of their giant chocolate chip cookies.
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lmeguides
42. Del Taco
Del Taco has a mix of American-style Mexican cuisine as well as regular American food like burgers, fries, etc. On your birthday, they offer a promotion where you can get a free milkshake. Have you ever tried dipping your fries in a milkshake before? If not, you should.
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Andrew Mager
43. P.F. Chang’s
As P.F. Chang’s focuses heavily on Asian style cuisine, it’s kind of surprising what they offer for their birthday freebie. They give you a slice of cheesecake. Nothing goes together quite like Asian food and cheesecake.
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Steven Depolo
44. Denny’s
One of the best breakfasts in town can be found at Denny’s. Show up for your birthday and they’ll set you up with their popular grand slam breakfast for free. They sing happy birthday to patrons as well.
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Simon Doggett
45. Panera Bread
Panera is a great place to go for lunch. They have some great soups, salads, sandwiches, coffees, and of course, baked goods. Head there on your birthday to receive a complimentary pastry.
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scottb211
46. Dunkin’ Donuts
Dunkin’ Donuts offers a free medium birthday beverage for all members of their DD Perks Rewards Program. Whether you choose a Hot Caramel Macchiato, a Hazelnut iced coffee, or something else entirely, you can’t argue with free. It will be well worth the visit.
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StockSnap
47. Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse is an Australian-themed restaurant that ironically, serves great American food. They have some fantastic steaks and burgers. While they won’t hook you up with any of the good stuff on your birthday, they will give you a free kid-size vanilla sundae with chocolate syrup.
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Steven Depolo
48. Einstein Bros Bagels
This bagel and coffee chain has a great selection of — you guessed it, fresh bagels. Some might not be aware, but they also have plenty of other sandwich and snack options as well that are quite tasty. Spend your birthday at Einstein Bros and you’ll get a free breakfast sandwich with the purchase of any drink.
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Celeste Lindell
49. Olive Garden
Join the Olive Garden e-club and receive several cool perks like a free appetizer or dessert on your birthday. They also always offer unlimited breadsticks and salad too. Combine all these perks together and you could get a pretty nice dinner for next to nothing.
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Anthony92931
50. El Pollo Loco
If you are a Loco Rewards member, stop into El Pollo Loco on your birthday for free chips and guacamole. For those who don’t speak Spanish, “El Pollo Loco” translates to “The Crazy Chicken” in English. As you’ve probably already guessed, yes, it is a Mexican restaurant.
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Sdbradley86
51. Noodles & Company
Noodles & Company is a solid lunch choice, or any time of day really. They have lots of noodle and pasta dishes, as well as soups and salads. At this restaurant, on your birthday you can get a free bowl of soup.
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Tony Webster
52. El Torito
If you are a California resident, you’ve probably heard of El Torito. That is where most of this Mexican restaurant’s locations are based. They offer all birthday customers a free entree, plus they’ll sing you happy birthday.
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Miansari66
53. Morton’s The Steakhouse
Advertised as “the best steak anywhere”, Morton’s The Steakhouse is definitely a good birthday dinner choice. They don’t offer free steaks, however, you can get a dessert to complement your dinner when you sign up as a VIP member through Landry Select Club Cards as well as a free $25 gift card for future use.
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z_wenjie
54. Friendly’s
At Friendly’s, you’ll get a free Happy Endings medium sundae when you sign up for their BFF Club. If you live on the East Coast where most of their locations are based, it’s definitely worth it to swing by and pick one up.
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Mike Mozart
55. Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s has a wide variety of Southwest style Mexican and Tex Mex food, from nachos to burritos, sandwiches, salads, etc. There are a lot of choices. Sign up for Moe’s eWorld coupons in order to claim a free burrito on your birthday.
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Mike Mozart
56. Hooters
In the mood for some buffalo wings on your birthday? Hooters has one of the best birthday specials. They’ll give you 10 wings for free and the Hooter’s girls will sing you happy birthday. It’s sure to be a very memorable experience.
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BrokenSphere
57. Longhorn Steakhouse
Whether you are craving steaks, wings, burgers, or anything else, Longhorn has got you covered. As long as you’re a meat lover, you’ll definitely be able to find something to eat here. Once you sign up for a Longhorn Account, this famous steakhouse will gift you a free birthday dessert.
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22280677@N07
58. IHOP
One of the best places to go for a pancake birthday breakfast or lunch is IHOP. They’ll hook you up with their Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity breakfast for free. I.E. four delicious buttermilk pancakes topped with your choice of fruit.
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عمرو
59. Lone Star Steakhouse
Another great steakhouse choice is Lone Star. Members of their e-club get a free appetizer on their birthdays. Because of the cool saloon atmosphere inside, Lone Star Steakhouse is always a fun place to go for a meal.
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Dwight Burdette
60. Jersey Mike’s
The fact that Jersey Mike’s gives you an entire regular sub and a 22oz drink for free makes them an awesome place to visit on your birthday. They have over 1500 locations, so you definitely shouldn’t have a problem finding one near you. The real question is which sub to choose? They are all so good.
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regroupinc
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