How You Can Get Free Food for Your Birthday

Do you have a birthday coming up, but don’t have a ton of money to spend on celebrating? If so, this is the perfect time to find out which of your favorite restaurants offer free food for your birthday. Plenty of eating establishments offer perks for your big day — and not just on your actual birthday. At some places, you have your whole birthday week or month to drop by and get your treat. 

We found the best ways for you to enjoy free food for your birthday at your favorite restaurants. We’ll talk about how each freebie works, plus what you may need to do to get them, like sign up for a loyalty program. 

How Free Birthday Food Offers Work

Some places offer free food, but others offer discounts, coupons or deals with purchase. They may only be valid on your actual birthday, but some could be available throughout your birth week or even birth month. It’s a great way for restaurants to incentivise people to sign up for rewards and loyalty accounts or emails. Plus, if it’s a reward you get by eating a meal at a sit-down restaurant, it encourages you to have your celebration lunch or dinner there. So, while free food may sound too good to be true, there’s usually something in it for the restaurant as well. 

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What You Need to Claim Free Food Deals

Keep in mind there may be something you need to do besides show up on or around your birthday. This could include bringing your ID to show it’s your birthday, signing up for a loyalty or rewards program, signing up for an email list or making a minimum purchase. 

If you have a restaurant in mind you want to scope out for free food on your birthday, be sure to research the requirements first.

Top 25 Places to Get Free Food for Your Birthday

• Chick-fil-A: Join Chick-fil-A One to get “something sweet” for your birthday.” Offers vary person to person, but it’s likely a cookie. Find your offer by checking the ‘Rewards’ tab in the Chick-fil-A app on your birth date.
• Chipotle: Join the Chipotle rewards program to get a birthday “surprise” on your big day. In the past, this has been an offer for free guac, but offers vary. When you sign up, you’ll get another free instant guac offer.
• Chili’s: Get a free dessert for your birthday when you join My Chili’s Rewards Club. 

• Dairy Queen: As a member of DQ Rewards, you’ll get a “special birthday surprise.” Check your email for instructions on how to access the offer in the DQ app.
• Dunkin’ Donuts: Provide your birth date when you sign up for Dunkin’ Rewards and you get various birthday offers. 
• Honey Baked Ham: Get $9 in HoneyBaked Cash on your birthday when you join Honey Baked Rewards. You’ll also get $9 in HoneyBaked Cash just for signing up and making your first purchase.
• IHOP: Get a free full stack of pancakes on your birthday by signing up for the International Bank of Pancakes (IHOP’s loyalty program).
• Krispy Kreme: Krispy Kreme Rewards members get ‘a sweet birthday gift,’ which is typically free donuts. You can get this freebie any time during your birthday month. 
• McDonald’s: Download the MyMcDonald’s Rewards app, and you may get an in-app push offer for free birthday eats. Usually, you get to pick from a specific list of menu items.
• Moe’s Southwest Grill: Sign up for Moe Rewards and pick between a free birthday cup of guac or queso.
• Nothing Bundt Cakes: Get a free Bundtlet on your birthday for joining the Nothing Bundt Cakes eClub.
• Olive Garden: Get a complimentary dessert on your birthday — no sign up required. But you can get an email reminder and access other discount offers by signing up for the eClub.
• Panda Express: You’ll get to choose from a “selection of gift items” on your birthday when you sign up for Panda Rewards.
• Panera: Get a sweet pastry on your birthday when you join MyPanera Rewards. 
• Papa John’s: Join Papa Rewards and you’ll get a free dessert during your birthday month. You have to claim it via your online account. You’ll also need to call your preferred location to see if they will honor it.  
• P.F. Chang’s: Provide your birth date on your Chang’s Ca$h profile, and P.F. Chang’s will give you a free appetizer or dessert during your birthday month. 
• Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers: Get a “special offer” on your birthday when you join the Caniac Club. You’ll need to ask for a membership card the next time you visit the restaurant in person. Then, you’ll hop online and register your card on this page.
• Red Lobster: Enjoy a birthday reward when you sign up for the My Red Lobster Rewards program. 
• Red Robin: Get a free birthday burger by registering for the Red Robin Royalty Program. To qualify, you will have to opt-in to promotional marketing, on top of verifying the number associated with your account. You will have to have made at least one purchase of $4.99 or more during your birthday month in order to qualify.
• Sonic: Add your birthday when you sign up for the Sonic mobile-ordering app, and you’ll get a push offer for a small shake (classic or master) or a push offer for a side on your birthday (with purchase).
• Starbucks: Get a birthday beverage or food item as a member of Starbucks Rewards, but only on your actual birthday. You’ll also need to have made at least one star-earning purchase in the past year.
• Texas Roadhouse: Sign up for the VIPclub and you’ll get a free appetizer or a sidekick of ribs or shrimp on your birthday. 
• The Cheesecake Factory: Sign up for Cheesecake Rewards to get a free slice of cheesecake with any purchase on your birthday.
• Waffle House: Make sure you’re a member of the Waffle House Regulars Club and you’ll get a free waffle on your birthday. 
• Wingstop: Get a free “birthday gift” when you sign up for Wingstop’s email list – known as The Crew.

Tips for Maximizing Birthday Free Food Offers

Sign up for rewards programs and email lists as you research where to get free food on your birthday. That way it’s already taken care of by the time your birthday rolls around. Keep track of the ones you can use throughout the month or just on the day, then stack rewards to their full potential. You could even do a birthday food crawl where you hit multiple places. Just make sure you’re prepared to meet the requirements. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Signing Up for Deals

How to get free food on your birthday will vary widely among restaurants. That means one of the biggest mistakes you can make is not looking at the requirements ahead of time. If you don’t, you might sign up too late, not have the app downloaded, order something that’s not free, go to a location that doesn’t participate in the program or forget your ID. If you can’t easily find a birthday perk on a restaurant’s website, call ahead of time. And don’t forget to check your email’s spam folder for reward emails. 

Other Ways to Celebrate Your Birthday for Free

There happen to be more than 100 ways to celebrate your birthday with freebies, deals and discounts. Our full list also includes retail and other miscellaneous perks. You can get free items at popular beauty retailers, coupons from your favorite department stores and much more. 

Conclusion: Celebrate Smart and Save Big

Birthdays aren’t just a time for celebration — they’re also a great opportunity to enjoy some free food, birthday treats and special surprises. Many restaurants and chains offer free birthday food or discounts, making your special day even sweeter. Whether you’re a foodie looking to treat your taste buds or just want a quick snack, your birthday is the perfect excuse to indulge in something extra delicious without denting your wallet. With a little bit of planning, it could be your tastiest birthday yet. 

Reporting from Brynne Conroy contributed to this report.