Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts 2026: Every Deal Confirmed So Far, the Fine Print and a Printable List

Last updated Oct. 20, 2026, 4:55 p.m. ET. Nine chains have announced 2026 offers so far. Restaurants keep announcing through Nov. 10, and we add each deal once the chain or Military.com's list confirms it.

Veterans and active-duty service members can eat free at a growing list of restaurants on Veterans Day, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. Nine chains have announced 2026 offers so far, according to Military.com’s list updated Oct. 20. The biggest names, including Applebee’s, Denny’s, International House of Pancakes (IHOP) and Olive Garden, offered free meals last year and usually confirm in early November. Below are the 2026 deals, last year’s terms for the chains still to announce, the fine print that trips people up, and a one-page cheat sheet to print.

Free meals confirmed for 2026

All on Nov. 11, at participating locations, from Military.com’s 2026 list:

Restaurant	Offer	Fine print
Bob Evans	Free meal from a select menu	Dine-in only
Bonefish Grill	Free Bang Bang Shrimp and a nonalcoholic drink	Valid ID; veterans, active duty and families
Chili’s	Free meal from select items	In-restaurant only
Golden Corral	Free “thank you” meal, Military Appreciation Night	Dine-in, 4 p.m. to close
Hoss’s Steak & Sea House	Free soup, salad, bread, nacho and dessert bar with iced tea	Dine-in only; plus a $10-off-$40 voucher good through Nov. 25
In-N-Out Burger	Free burger, fries and drink, plus a Veterans Day decal	Proof of service; veterans, active duty, Reserve and National Guard
Marzoni’s Brick Oven & Brewing	One free 12-ounce draft beer or nonalcoholic drink	Dine-in only, one per veteran
Rubio’s	Buy one entrée, get one free with code VETS26	In-store only, military ID
Sizzler	Free lunch and nonalcoholic drink: tri-tip, Malibu chicken or shrimp	Open to 4 p.m.

Free breakfast and coffee: last year’s offers

These chains offered the following on Nov. 11, 2025, according to Military.com, and have not yet announced 2026 terms. Expect similar deals, and check before you go.

Restaurant	2025 offer	Fine print
Cracker Barrel	Free Sunrise Pancake Special	Valid ID
Denny’s	Free Original Grand Slam	5 a.m. to noon; military ID or DD-214
Dunkin’	Free donut	In store only, not in the app
IHOP	Free Red, White & Blueberry Pancakes or pancake combo	Dine-in only
Krispy Kreme	Free doughnut and small coffee	In shop only
Starbucks	Free tall brewed coffee, hot or iced	Veterans, service members and military spouses
Wendy’s	Free breakfast combo, no purchase required	Breakfast hours

Free lunch and dinner: last year’s offers

Restaurant	2025 offer	Fine print
Applebee’s	Free meal from a select menu	Dine-in only
Buffalo Wild Wings	10 free boneless wings and fries	Dine-in or walk-in, valid ID
Chipotle	Buy one entrée, get one free	4 to 8 p.m., in restaurant, military ID
Little Caesars	Free lunch combo: four Detroit-style slices and a drink	11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Olive Garden	Free entrée from a special menu	Dine-in, proof of service
Outback Steakhouse	Free three-course meal	Dine-in, Nov. 10 and 11, valid military ID
Red Lobster	Free Shrimp & Chips	Dine-in, proof of service; drink, tax and tip not included
Red Robin	Free Big Tavern Burger and bottomless side	Dine-in only
Shake Shack	Free Big Shack	Military ID, while supplies last
Texas Roadhouse	Free meal voucher	Handed out Nov. 11 and redeemable later; the 2025 voucher ran through May 30, 2026

Stores, haircuts and parks

Home Depot gives veterans, service members and spouses 10% off eligible purchases, up to $400 a year, every day after you register in the store’s app. Lowe’s takes 10% off most full-price items, with no annual cap, once you verify your service through ID.me. Neither is a Veterans Day-only deal, so you can use them any week.

Great Clips gave veterans and active-duty members a free haircut, or a card for a later visit, at any U.S. salon on Nov. 11, 2025, the program’s 13th year. It has not announced 2026 details.

National parks waive entrance fees on Nov. 11, 2026, one of the National Park Service’s fee-free days. New this year, the free entry applies to U.S. citizens and residents only. Veterans and Gold Star families can also get the free Military Lifetime Pass, which covers entrance at national parks and other federal lands any day of the year.

The fine print that trips people up

• Proof of service required. Bring a Veteran ID Card or Veteran Health Identification Card from the Department of Veterans Affairs, a military ID (Common Access Card or Uniformed Services ID), a driver’s license or state ID with a veteran designation, or your DD-214.
• Dine-in only. Most free meals do not work for takeout, delivery apps or online orders unless the restaurant says so.
• Beverage and gratuity not included. Drinks, tax and tip are usually extra. Tip on the full value of the meal if you can.
• Veteran only. Guests pay, with the few exceptions noted above.
• Participating locations. Franchise restaurants can opt out. Call ahead, and go early at lunch: Nov. 11 is a Wednesday, so offices and banks close but most restaurants run normal weekday crowds plus the holiday rush.

What else is open on Nov. 11

Veterans Day is a federal holiday under 5 U.S.C. § 6103, and it never moves to a Monday. Federal offices, banks and post offices close, and there is no regular mail delivery; the stock markets trade normally. Our Veterans Day 2026 guide has the full open-and-closed list and the history of the date.

Print the cheat sheet

The free one-page cheat sheet lists every confirmed 2026 offer and last year’s big-chain deals with tags for dine-in, ID, family and hours, plus a cut-out wallet card of accepted IDs. Check off places as you go, and pin the day on our November 2026 printable calendar or a weekly planner. For the rest of the month, see November 2026 important dates.