75 Restaurants Where You Can Eat for Free on Your Birthday

If you play your cards right and sign up for a whole lot of mailing lists and rewards programs, you can easily eat your way through lots of restaurants for free on your birthday. Chain restaurants love giving incentives for email signups, so take advantage of it and see how many things you can eat for free around your birthday this year. You might even double down and pick a date where kids eat for for free too. 

Related: 32 Secrets for Better, Cheaper Meals at Your Favorite Chains

At Applebee's, you'll get free food on your birthday, but what you get depends on which location you visit. You may get a free app, entree, or dessert, depending on the franchisees in your area. Sign up for the restaurant's Eclub to receive your offer. Then just sip the $1 drink of the month while you enjoy your free food on your birthday.

Related: The Most Decadent Desserts at Applebee's and Other Chain Restaurants That Aren't Chocolate

The birthday program at Firehouse Subs gives birthday-havers a free medium sub. Sign up for their Firehouse Rewards to get your coupon that is good for a week. Then plan to try a dozen new hot sauces when you redeem it.

You've got options at Corner Bakery: You get to choose a free sweet pastry during your birthday month. Options include cookies, bars, and cake slices, depending on what your location has. Sign up for the eClub to get your coupon.

You'll be emailed a coupon for a free appetizer for your birthday from Lone Star Steakhouse that's good for about two weeks. Join their e-club to receive your coupon.

Relive memories of childhood stops at A&W with a free root beer float on your birthday. Just sign up for the Mug Club, which will also email you monthly offers.

Get your barbecue on for your birthday at Famous Dave's. The freebie seems to vary by location, but has included free entrees or desserts in the past. Sign up for their Famous Nation email club to find out.

This chain is famous for its biscuits, so naturally it's also your birthday freebie. Sign up for the restaurant's E-Club to receive a coupon for a free Bo-Berry biscuit — a sweet, icing-glazed treat — on your birthday.

Get a free Justaburger from Whataburger when you sign up for their email newsletter. It comes topped with mustard and pickles, but it's your birthday, so get it however you want. 

Related: Local Burger Chains the Rest of the Country Needs

Sign up on Arby's website to receive email coupons, and you'll get a free shake coupon emailed to you about a week before your birthday. 

This French-style bakery and cafe chain will email you a coupon for a free salad or sandwich lunch good during the week of your birthday. Sign up on their website and you'll get a free travel mug, too.

Join the Waffle House Regulars Club and they'll email you a coupon for a free waffle to enjoy on your birthday. No word on if they stick candles in it and sing to you. 

Related: Where to Find Good Cheap Breakfast in Every State

Chow down on a free entree for your birthday when you sign up for Houlihan's email list.

You can get a free signature or classic pretzel during the month of your birthday at Auntie Anne's. You'll need to download their phone app and use it to join their Pretzel Perks rewards program, but those buttery pretzels are worth it.

Grab a free burrito at Baja Fresh for your birthday. Sign up for Club Baja at least four days before your birthday and the coupon will be in your inbox just in time to celebrate with some carnitas and guacamole.

You'll get a free treat on your birthday when you sign up for the Rotisserie Rewards club at Boston Market.

You may not get a free barbecue chicken pizza, but during your birthday month, you'll get a free dessert at CPK instead. Sign up for their CPK Rewards program to get your coupon. (You'll also earn rewards every time you dine at their restaurant.)

Bagel lovers who join the Shmear Society rewards program are rewarded on their birthday with a free breakfast sandwich with purchase.

At Chevy's, you can get free birthday offers and a coupon for a free appetizer with the purchase of two adult entrees when you join their e-club.  

How does a free burrito sound? You'll get one each year on your birthday from Moe's Southwest Grill. Sign up for their rewards program to get your annual coupon.

If you're lucky enough to live near a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop, sign up for their Chunkmail newsletter. You'll get promotional coupons and one for free ice cream on your birthday.

You get a Colossal Brownie Sundae for your birthday as well as a free pasta for joining Buca di Beppo's e-club. 

Get a free side or shake with any purchase for your birthday at Smashburger. Join their SmashClub and download the app to get your birthday reward, plus a free entree for joining.

One of the highest value items on this list, Benihana sends you a birthday certificate for up to $30 if you join their Chef's Table email club. There are stipulations, of course: You must purchase another adult meal, you must dine for dinner Monday through Thursday, and the $30 will only be applied to the birthday person. But if you love teppanyaki, it's a great deal.

The eClub of Cold Stone Creamery will send you a buy-one-get-one free coupon for ice cream on your birthday. So grab a friend and celebrate, or just plan on eating a whole lot of ice cream yourself. You'll get a coupon when you sign up, too.

You'll get a free big barbecue sandwich at Dickey's for your birthday. Sign up for their Big Yellow Cup Club to get your offer via email. 

Related: Bucket List Barbecue in Every State

As a member of Chili's rewards program, you’ll be eligible for a free dessert on your birthday and other freebies.

Breakfast lovers take note: IHOP gives you free pancakes for your birthday. You also get a free stack right away when you sign up for their rewards program.

You have options for your birthday freebie at Bonefish Grill: either a Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer or a dessert. Sign up on their website to be a Bonefish Grill Insider and your coupon will be emailed to you.

If you're so inclined to head to Hooters for your birthday, you can get 10 free wings. Join the restaurant's eClub and you'll get the coupon by email.

If a free frozen custard sundae or value basket sounds like a great way to end a birthday, just sign up for Culver's eClub and you'll get the coupon mailed to you before your birthday. (You'll also get a buy-one-get-one free value basket coupon just for signing up, too.)

Head to the mall food court for a free slice of pizza from Sbarro. Valid for about two weeks, you'll receive the coupon by email when you sign up for their Slice Society club (and you'll get a free slice for joining, too).

A free bagel and cream cheese will be all yours on your birthday if you sign up for Bruegger's Bagels eClub. Bonus: You get a free bagel and schmear just for signing up, too.

Grab a free shake on your birthday from Del Taco. You get to choose from chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry. Join their eClub to get your coupon.

Zaxby's does things via text and also the old fashioned way by sending you a postcard coupon on your birthday. Get a free Nibbler postcard or text as well as a free sandwich meal when you sign up for their club.

It’s hard to top a steak dinner for a birthday reward, but that’s what diners can expect when they join Ponderosa’s eClub. They can also choose to enjoy a buffet dinner. In either case, the offers requires the purchase of regularly priced meal, as well. Same is true for Bonanza.

This chain known for its burgers and toppings bar will give you a BOGO burger offer for your birthday. Sign up for Fuddruckers eClub and they'll send you a coupon around your birthday.

You'll get two free tacos with any other purchase during the week of your birthday at Jack in the Box. Just show your ID and the coupon you get by email when you sign up for their emails and enjoy your tacos.

Carrabba's offers the birthday person a free dessert during the month of their birthday. Join their Dine Rewards program and you'll receive an email the month of your birthday.

You have options when it comes to your birthday freebie at P.F. Chang's. When you sign up for their rewards program, you'll get an email coupon for your choice of a free appetizer or dessert.

After a big bowl of mac and cheese, you can get a free crispy — better known as a Rice Krispies treat — for your birthday. Sign up for their NoodlesREWARDS to get the coupon emailed to you. It's valid for two weeks.

Members of the Caribou Perks program can receive a free beverage in any size. You will have up to seven days to redeem the offer.

Who doesn't love ice cream, especially on their birthday? Join Carvel's Fudgie Fanatics email program and you'll get a free scoop on your birthday.

Red Lobster keeps their birthday freebie a secret, so likely it's based on location or randomly doled out. Sign up for My Lobster Rewards to get your mystery coupon around your birthday. Diners have reported getting coupons for free desserts or apps, and discounts.

Birthdays come with free dessert for members of LongHorn’s rewards club. You’ll also get member-exclusive promotions and $5 for your next visit after completing your first transaction.

Friendly's offers a free sundae on your birthday for you and your kids. Join their BFF Club to get your coupon by email.

Get a free small sundae or dessert at Outback Steakhouse when you sign up for their Dine Rewards program.

You get a free pastry or sweet from the bakery at Panera for your birthday. Sign up for the My Panera rewards program to get your coupon by email.

If you somehow have room after a giant meal at Cheesecake Factory, you'll get a free ice cream sundae on your birthday. Sign up for their email newsletter to get your coupon. It'll go great with that slab of Oreo cheesecake.

This fondue chain restaurant gives you a free half dozen chocolate-covered strawberries for your birthday and for signing up for their Club Fondue emails.

Grab yourself a free hamburger when you purchase another entree and drink at Johnny Rockets on your birthday. Get the coupon through email when you sign up for the Rocket E-club.

Starbucks is generous with their birthday rewards: They let you choose a free beverage or food item. Sign up for their rewards program and the free item will be automatically added to your account.

Joining Club Cinnabon will get you a free birthday treat. What you get appears to be random, or perhaps based on your location. It may be a drink or a cinnamon roll, for instance. But you do get a coupon for a free Minibon when you sign up, so might as well take your chances.

Who needs birthday cake when you can have pie? Join the Baker's Square eClub and get a coupon for a free slice of pie for your birthday. Plus, you'll get a coupon for 20% off when you sign up as well.

Denny's has one of the most well-known birthday rewards deals: a free Grand Slam breakfast meal.

The East Coast sub chain gives you a free regular size sub for your birthday. Join their email club and they'll send you a coupon, which is good for an entire year.

This seafood chain, based on characters from the movie "Forrest Gump," gives you a free $25 certificate to use during the month of your birthday. Sign up for their email club to get yours.

Some Cracker Barrel locations will give you a free dessert (and song!) on your birthday without having to sign up for any programs. It's up to the franchisor though, so call ahead and see if they participate in this promotion before going.

You'll get a BOGO coupon for a free Blizzard for your birthday at Dairy Queen. Sign up for the Fan Club to receive it.

When you sign up for the Quiznos' QClub app, you'll get a coupon for a free 4-inch sub. You also get 10 bonus Toasty Points on your birthday.

You'll definitely want to sign up for Steak 'n Shake's eClub. They send you a coupon for a free double steak burger and cheese fries when they sign up and a free milkshake on their birthday.

While you'd assume you might get a free donut on your birthday, at Dunkin' Donuts you get a free beverage of your choice instead. Sign up for their DD Perks program to get your birthday coupon (and one just for signing up).

Related: Dunkin' vs. Krispy Kreme - Who Has The Better Tasting Doughnuts

Join Ruby Tuesday's So Connected club and get a coupon for a free burger for your birthday.

At Jamba Juice, you'll get a free juice or smoothie for your birthday. Sign up for the Jamba Insider Rewards to get your coupon automatically around your birthday.

You'll get a free frozen yogurt on your birthday at Pinkberry. Sign up for their Pinkcard loyalty program and download the app to get your coupon. (You'll also get a free frozen yogurt after you buy 10.)

Pick from a free leg, thigh, or tender strip of chicken for your birthday at Church's Chicken. Get your coupon delivered to your inbox by signing up for their email club.

Sign up for Joe's Catch E-club and you'll be emailed a coupon for a free treat around your birthday. You'll also get a free appetizer coupon just for signing up.

At Krispy Kreme, you get a fresh, warm glazed donut free on your birthday, though participation may vary. Join the Friends of Krispy Kreme E-club and you'll get a free donut just for signing up.

McDonald's sometimes gives out free Happy Meals for birthdays, but only to kids. It's also location dependent, so you may want to ask if they participate next time you're in the restaurant. Sign up for their email newsletter for more information.

Related: Why McDonald's Fries Used to Taste Better

Sign up for the Hut Rewards program and get a coupon for a free order of cinnamon sticks. The only catch is that you must place your order online to redeem the offer.

The chain known for burgers gives away — surprise! — a burger for birthdays. Join the Red Robin Royalty rewards program to get a free burger coupon that's good for the entire month of your birthday.

Buffet fans will love the birthday freebie from Old Country Buffet. You'll get BOGO buffet meals for your birthday and just for signing up for their Crave Connection email club, too.

Join On the Border's Club Cantina and receive a coupon for free queso on your birthday. You'll also get a coupon for free queso or sopapillas right away.

If there's still room in your stomach after all that meat, you'll get a free dessert at Rodizio Grill for your birthday. Join Club Rodizio to get your offer by email that will be sent five days prior to your birthday.

Spaghetti Warehouse has one of the most generous rewards programs. Join the Warehouse Club and get a free meal on your birthday.

Sign up for TGI Friday's rewards program and you'll get a coupon for a free dessert. It's good for the entire month of your birthday, so you have plenty of time to use it.