How To Get Free Food At Restaurants


How To Get Free Food At Restaurants

Eating out can be expensive, but there are plenty of ways to get free food at restaurants. Whether through loyalty programs, special promotions, or simple tricks, you can enjoy meals without spending money. Here are the best ways to get free food at restaurants.

1. Join Restaurant Loyalty Programs

Many restaurants offer free food just for signing up for their loyalty programs. These programs often reward you with free meals, discounts, or points that can be redeemed for food. Some popular programs include:

  • Starbucks Rewards – Earn stars for every purchase and redeem them for free drinks or food.
  • Chipotle Rewards – Get free chips and guacamole for signing up and earn points for more free items.
  • Panera Bread MyPanera – Receive a free pastry or drink upon joining and periodic free rewards.
  • Dunkin’ Rewards – Get free drinks and food after accumulating points.

Signing up is usually free, and you can stack rewards over time for multiple free meals.

2. Get Free Birthday Meals

Many restaurants offer free meals or desserts on your birthday when you sign up for their rewards programs. Some examples include:

  • IHOP – Free pancakes on your birthday.
  • Denny’s – Free Grand Slam breakfast on your birthday (no purchase required).
  • Red Robin – Free gourmet burger during your birthday month.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings – Free snack-size wings on your birthday.

Sign up for multiple birthday clubs and enjoy free meals all month long!

3. Take Advantage of Free App Promotions

Restaurants often give out free food when you download their mobile apps. Some ongoing offers include:

  • McDonald's App – Get free fries or a burger when you download and register.
  • Wendy’s App – Free nuggets or a small Frosty for new users.
  • Burger King App – Free Whopper or fries with first purchase.
  • Taco Bell App – Free Doritos Locos Taco for signing up.

Once downloaded, check the app regularly for new deals and free food offers.

4. Sign Up for Email & SMS Offers

Many restaurants send exclusive offers, including free food, to customers who subscribe to their email or text message lists.

  • Subway – Free 6-inch sub with an email sign-up.
  • Papa John’s – Free pizza when you sign up for texts and place an order.
  • Auntie Anne’s – Free pretzel when you sign up for emails.

Signing up takes just a minute and can get you free meals or snacks instantly.

5. Attend Grand Openings & Special Events

When new restaurants open, they often offer free food to attract customers. Look out for grand opening events at:

  • Fast food chains (Chick-fil-A, Krispy Kreme, etc.).
  • Local restaurants giving away free samples.
  • Food festivals where vendors hand out free bites.

Follow local restaurant pages on social media to stay updated on these events.

6. Score Free Food with Receipt Surveys

Many restaurants print survey invitations on their receipts, offering free food in exchange for customer feedback.

  • Chick-fil-A – Free sandwich after completing a short survey.
  • Panda Express – Free entrée with receipt survey completion.
  • Burger King – Free Whopper with a purchase after taking a survey.
  • Arby’s – Free roast beef sandwich for filling out a survey.

Always check your receipt before tossing it out—you could be missing out on free food!

7. Use Referral Programs

Some food delivery apps and restaurant apps offer referral programs where you earn free meals by inviting friends.

  • Uber Eats – Give friends a discount and get credit for free food.
  • DoorDash – Earn credits when friends sign up using your referral link.
  • Chick-fil-A – Occasionally offers free items when referring new app users.

If you have a few friends who love food, you can keep earning free meals indefinitely.

8. Look for Free Samples & Promotions

Restaurants and food brands frequently offer free samples, especially when launching new menu items. Keep an eye out for:

  • Krispy Kreme – Often gives out free doughnuts for promotions.
  • Starbucks – Offers free coffee samples during special events.
  • Baskin-Robbins – Gives out free ice cream samples at select locations.

Social media pages and local news sources often announce these promotions in advance.

9. Volunteer at Food Events

If you’re willing to put in a little effort, volunteering at food-related events can get you free meals. Look for opportunities at:

  • Food festivals.
  • Charity food drives.
  • Community events with catered meals.

Some restaurants even offer free meals to employees or volunteers, so this can be a win-win!

10. Enter Social Media Giveaways

Restaurants and food brands frequently host giveaways on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Some ways to win free food include:

  • Following restaurant pages and commenting on giveaway posts.
  • Sharing promotional content for extra entries.
  • Tagging friends in free meal contests.

Look for hashtags like #FreeFood, #Giveaway, and #Contest to find current promotions.

11. Become a Mystery Diner

Some companies pay people to visit restaurants and evaluate their service. In return, you get free meals and sometimes even extra cash. Some platforms to check out:

  • BestMark
  • Market Force
  • Secret Shopper

As a mystery diner, you’ll eat at restaurants for free and get reimbursed for your meals.

12. Use Food Rescue Apps

If you’re open to eating food that restaurants would otherwise throw away, you can get free or heavily discounted meals using food rescue apps.

  • Too Good To Go – Get discounted surplus food from local restaurants.
  • Olio – Connect with people giving away extra food for free.

These apps help reduce food waste while providing free or cheap meals.


There are plenty of ways to get free food at restaurants, from signing up for rewards programs to attending special events and taking advantage of surveys. By using these strategies, you can enjoy free meals without spending a dime. Try a few of these methods and start enjoying delicious food for free!