Businesses salute veterans with free meals, deals for Veterans Day

Veterans Day what's open and closed

State of play: Most businesses are open Tuesday, but the United States Postal Service is closed and won't deliver mail.

• Banks and federal government offices are closed, but the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq stock markets are open on the holiday.
• Many schools across the country also are closed.

Veterans Day 2025 free food and deals

Zoom in: The following deals are valid only Tuesday at participating locations nationwide, unless otherwise noted.

• Proof of service, such as a military ID, is required for most deals. Exclusions apply.

Applebee's Veterans Day free meal 2025

Veterans and active-duty military personnel eat free at Applebee's from a select menu when dining in Tuesday, Nov. 11.

• They'll also receive a $5 Bounce Back Card to use on a future visit.

Blaze Pizza Veterans Day free pizza

Participating Blaze Pizza locations nationwide are giving veterans and active-duty military a free one-topping pizza Tuesday.

Bob Evans Veterans Day free meal

Bob Evans restaurants will offer a free meal from a select Veterans Day menu Tuesday for veterans and active-duty military.

Buffalo Wild Wings Veterans Day free wings

Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants are offering 10 free boneless wings and fries to all past and present armed service members with a valid ID Tuesday.

• It's available for dine-in and walk-in orders at participating locations.

Casey's Veterans Day free coffee and car wash

Casey's is giving military service members a free coffee or fountain drink and a free car wash where available on Veterans Day.

Chili's Veterans Day free meal deal 2025

Chili's restaurants are offering veterans and active military members a free entree from a special menu when dining in Tuesday.

Chipotle Veterans Day meal deal

Chipotle has a buy-one-get-one free entrée offer from 4 to 8pm local time Tuesday for guests who order in-restaurant and show a valid military ID.

• The deal applies to bowls, burritos, tacos and salads at participating U.S. locations.

Cracker Barrel Veterans Day free breakfast

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is honoring service members with a complimentary Sunrise Pancake Special Tuesday for veterans and active-duty military dining in.

Denny's Veterans Day free Grand Slam

Denny's will have free Grand Slams for all military personnel from 5am to noon Tuesday with valid military ID or DD-214.

Dunkin' Veterans Day freebie

Dunkin' is offering all active and retired military a free doughnut when they show their military ID at participating restaurants nationwide Tuesday.

Einstein Bros. Bagels, Bruegger's Bagels free coffee

The two bagel chains are giving veterans and active-duty service members a free hot or iced coffee Tuesday. Get the coffee in-bakery, through the mobile app or online using code FREECOFFEE.

Golden Corral free meal for military and vets

Golden Corral's 25th anniversary Military Appreciation Night is from 4pm until close Tuesday, with a free buffet and beverage for all current and former U.S. military members.

IHOP Veterans Day free pancakes

IHOP is giving away free Red, White and Blueberry Pancake Combos to veterans and active military Tuesday at participating locations.

Krispy Kreme Veterans Day free coffee and doughnut

Krispy Kreme is giving veterans and service members a free small coffee, hot or iced, and a free doughnut of choice on Tuesday.

• No purchase or proof is required for this deal, the company said.

LongHorn Steakhouse Veterans Day discount, freebie

LongHorn Steakhouse is giving veterans and active-duty military 10% off their meal and a free appetizer or dessert for their table Tuesday.

Olive Garden Veterans Day free meal deal 2025

Olive Garden is offering a free meal from a special menu Tuesday that includes an entrée and comes with unlimited breadsticks and soup or salad.

Outback Veterans Day free meal

Outback Steakhouse says it's honoring "military mates" for the Marine Corps Birthday Monday and Veterans Day Tuesday with a free Aussie 3-Course Meal with valid military ID, dine-in only, Nov. 10–11.

Playa Bowls Veterans Day free bowl

Playa Bowls is offering free bowls for all veterans, active duty, and retired military personnel with a valid ID Tuesday at participating locations nationwide.

Pilot Flying J Veterans Day free meal

Pilot Flying J is offering veterans, active-duty service members and their families a free breakfast sandwich and coffee or lunch item and fountain drink Tuesday at participating Pilot, Flying J and One9 Fuel Network locations.

• To redeem, veterans need to verify military status through ID.me in the Pilot Flying J app.

Red Lobster Veterans Day free meal

Red Lobster restaurants are giving all active-duty military, reserves and veterans a free Shrimp & Chips entrée Tuesday at participating locations with proof of service. Dine-in only.

Red Robin Veterans Day free burger

Red Robin is offering veterans and active-duty military members a free Red's Big Tavern Burger with bottomless side Tuesday at participating restaurants.

Shake Shack free Veterans Day meal

Shake Shack is giving veterans and military service members a free Big Shack Tuesday when they show their military ID. The offer is for in-restaurant orders only at participating locations.

Sheetz Veterans Day free meal and car wash

Sheetz is giving veterans and active-duty military a free meal and a free car wash at participating stores with car washes Tuesday.

Starbucks Veterans Day free coffee

Starbucks is offering a free tall hot or iced brewed coffee for veterans, military service members and military spouses at participating U.S. stores Tuesday.

Texas Roadhouse Veterans Day meal voucher

Texas Roadhouse is giving veterans and active-duty military a free meal voucher for stopping by the restaurant Tuesday between 11am and 2pm with proof of service. The vouchers are redeemable through May 31, 2026.

Free Veterans Day drink at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is giving veterans, active-duty military members and their spouses a free regular sized drink with proof of military ID at participating locations.

Wienerschnitzel Veterans Day free meal

Wienerschnitzel is serving a free Original Chili Dog, fries and soda Tuesday to veterans and active-duty military with valid military ID or uniform at participating locations.

White Castle Veterans Day free meal

White Castle is offering all veterans and active-duty service members a free individual combo meal or breakfast combo meal Tuesday.

Great Clips Veterans Day free haircut

Veterans and active-duty service members can get a free haircut or a free haircut card Tuesday at participating Great Clips.

• Non-military customers who get haircuts that day will receive a "thank a veteran" card to gift to a veteran or service member.

Veterans Day store discounts: Target, Walgreens

• Staples is giving veterans and active military 25% off in-store purchase through Tuesday with a valid military ID at checkout, the retailer told Axios. Exclusions apply and to get the discount you need to mention the offer at checkout.
• Target is giving military members, veterans and their families 10% off two qualify purchases through its Circle program through Tuesday. To get the discount you need to verify your status.
• Walgreens and Duane Reade are giving veterans, active-duty military and their families 20% off regularly priced products nationwide through Nov. 11. A valid military ID or proof of service and a myWalgreens account are required.
• Find more store discounts, travel offers and wireless phone plan savings from SheerID and ID.me, which verify military service.

More from Axios:

• McDonald's McRib returns to select restaurants Tuesday
• Amazon stretches Black Friday week into 12 days of deals
• Starbucks and Dunkin' unwrap holiday menus, red cups
• IKEA moves into Best Buy as part of $2.2 billion U.S. expansion

Editor's note: This story was updated with additional deals throughout.