INDIANAPOLIS — Each year, many restaurants offer free food and deals to veterans and active-duty military members on Veterans Day to pay it forward as a way of saying "thank you for your service."
Most places require a military ID or proof of service to redeem the offer.
Here is a list of locations offering special deals on Saturday, Nov. 11, unless otherwise stated:
Applebee's
All veterans and active-duty military can get a free meal from a choice of seven of Applebee's most popular menu items. The free meal excludes tax and gratuity, and can only be redeemed for dine-in.
A valid military ID or proof of U.S. military service is required.
Aspen Creek Grill
Aspen Creek Grill is offering one free meal voucher worth up to $15 to all veterans and active-duty military. Current and former military members can visit their local Aspen Creek Grill location to pick up their voucher from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 12.
The $15 voucher can be redeemed starting Monday, Nov. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 24. The offer is valid for dine-in visits only and excludes alcoholic beverages.
Military members must show proof of service through military ID cards, Veterans Affairs cards or discharge papers.
Bar Louie
All active and retired military and veterans can get a free Bar Louie craft burger, including the Bourbon BBQ Burger, GastroBurger and more.
A valid military ID is required to redeem the offer, which is only valid for dine-in.
BJ's Restaurant
All current and former military can get a free Chocolate Chunk Pizookie with an $11.95 purchase.
Veterans can also get a free appetizer on their next visit with a $14.95 purchase.
Bob Evans
Veterans and active duty military personnel can get a free meal from the following 10 options:
- Country Biscuit Breakfast: A buttermilk biscuit topped with one egg cooked-to-order, crumbled Bob Evans® Sausage, country gravy and cheddar cheese. Served with hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit.
- Sunrise: Two fresh-cracked eggs, cooked to order, and your choice of hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit. Served with your choice of freshly baked bread.
- The Classic Breakfast: Classic combination of two fresh-cracked eggs, cooked to order, with a choice of premium breakfast meat. Served with your choice of freshly baked bread.
- The Mini Sampler: One egg cooked-to-order, hash browns, home fries or fresh-cut fruit, two sausage links, one turkey sausage link or two hardwood-smoked bacon strips and a freshly baked biscuit.
- Brioche French Toast: Two slices of griddled brioche bread, dipped in real egg batter made with vanilla and cinnamon. Served with butter and syrup and topped with powdered sugar.
- Sausage Gravy & Biscuits: A cup of Bob Evans signature house-made sausage gravy with two freshly baked buttermilk biscuits.
- Buttermilk Hotcakes: Four fluffy buttermilk hotcakes served with butter and syrup.
- Banana Berry Oatmeal: Rolled oat oatmeal topped with wild blueberries, sweet blueberry sauce, fresh banana slices and honey-roasted pecans. Served with fresh milk and a side of freshly baked banana nut bread.
- Bowl of Rolled-Oat Oatmeal: Made fresh daily. Served with real brown sugar, fresh milk and dried cranberries or honey-roasted pecans.
- Down-Home Country-Fried Steak: Topped with savory country gravy and served with mashed potatoes and green beans with ham, served with your choice of freshly baked bread.
Proof of service is required. Accepted identification includes US Uniformed Services ID Card, US Uniformed Services Retired Card, current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), veterans organization card (i.e. American Legion, VFW), a photograph of yourself in uniform, wearing uniform, DD214, and citation or commendation.
Bubba's 33
All veterans — including active, retired or former U.S. military — can choose one of six entrees, including a Classic Cheeseburger, Bubba’s Bacon Burger, Bacon Chicken Mac-n-Cheese, Grilled Chicken Salad, Chicken Tender Salad or any 12-inch pizza, plus a choice of any Coca-Cola product, sweet tea/iced tea or coffee during lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Proof of service includes military or VA card, or discharge papers.
Casey's
Casey’s is offering any size complimentary coffee or fountain drink to all veterans Nov. 11.
The same offer can be redeemed year-round by active duty military personnel and on-duty, uniformed first responders, including law enforcement, fire and EMS.
Circle K
All current and veteran military personnel can get one free cup of iced or hot award-winning coffee, which can be redeemed through the Circle K app.
The coupon expires Nov. 11 at 11:59 p.m.
Crew Carwash
From 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, Crew Carwash will provide a free Ultimate Wash to all past and current service members.
The offer will be available at all Crew Carwash locations.
No military ID is needed for the offer.
Denny's
Any active or retired military personnel can get a free Original Grand Slam Breakfast on Friday, Nov. 10 from 5 a.m. to noon with a valid military ID or DD 204.
Emagine Theaters
On Monday, Nov. 13, all active military and veterans can visit the box office at any Emagine Theatre location and receive a ticket for any film of their choosing.
A military service ID card or discharge papers are required to redeem the offer.
Golden Corral
All active, retired military members and veterans can get a free dinner and drink on Monday, Nov. 13 from 5 p.m. until closing.
The Military Appreciation Night promotion is valid for service members only and does not extend to spouses, friends or other family members. The offer is for dine-in only, with no military identification required.
Golden Corral has given away more than 6 million free meals to members of the military since the restaurant started Military Appreciation Night celebrations.
Hooters
All veterans and active military members can get a free meal, with the purchase of a beverage, Saturday, Nov. 11 from the following options:
- 10-Piece Boneless Wings
- Hooters Burger
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
- Buffalo Chicken Salad
Proof of service or a military ID is required.
IHOP
Veterans and active duty military personnel can get a free stack of red, white and blueberry pancakes at IHOP on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Jaggers
Veterans and active military members can get a free lunch — double cheeseburger, one side and a drink — on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Proof of service, including a military ID vard, VA card or discharge papers, is required.
Jiffy Lube of Indiana
Any active/past service members, with a valid military ID, can visit their nearest Jiffy Lube of Indiana location before noon ET Nov. 11 to receive a free oil change. No appointments are needed.
Last year, the locally-owned shops across Indiana serviced more than 1,250 veterans by providing them with free oil changes.
Kohl's
Active and former military personnel, veterans and their immediate families can get 30% off in stores Friday, Nov. 10 through Sunday, Nov. 12 with a valid military ID.
Kohl's also recognizes active and former military personnel, veterans and their immediate families every Monday of the year with a 15% discount on purchases made in stores.
Kolache Factory
All veterans and active military, with a government-issued military photo ID or DD 214, can get one free kolache of any kind and one cup of freshly-brewed Katz coffee, any size. The offer excludes croissants, Polish varieties and espresso drinks.
The deal can be redeemed Nov. 11 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Krispy Kreme
Veterans and active military members can visit any participating Krispy Kreme store in the U.S. for a free doughnut and a free small coffee on Saturday, Nov. 11.
McDonald's
Participating McDonald’s restaurants are offering a combo meal to all veterans, with a valid military ID, all day on Saturday, Nov. 11. All options come with any size soft drink, tea or hot coffee, and a hash brown for breakfast or French fries for lunch or dinner.
The meals are only available via dine-in or drive-thru.
O'Charley's
O’Charley’s is offering a special free lunch menu on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, veterans and active duty military can order one of the following free entrées and/or receive a free slice of pie at dinner. Both offers are for dine-in only.
The special lunch menu includes:
- Tenders & Fries — Double hand-breaded chicken tenders served with honey mustard dressing and hot, seasoned fries.
- Classic Cheeseburger — Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles. Served with hot, seasoned fries
- Honey-Drizzled Southern Fried Chicken — A buttermilk-breaded and fried chicken breast drizzled with honey. Served with mashed sweet potatoes and broccoli
- Southern Fried Chicken Tender Salad — O’Charley’s famous chicken tenders chopped with tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, hickory-smoked bacon and cheddar cheese with honey mustard dressing
- Bayou Shrimp Pasta — Sautéed shrimp with red and green peppers, tomatoes and onions are tossed in Cajun alfredo sauce and served with linguini. And to top it all off, there’s shaved parmesan cheese
- Or, for $10, veterans can upgrade to the Louisiana sirloin meal.
Red Robin
Red Robin is offering veterans and military members a free Red's Big Tavern Burger and fries at participating locations on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Scooter's Coffee
Scooter's Coffee is offering veterans and military members a free handcrafted drink of any size on Veterans Day.
To receive the free drink offer, veterans and military members simply need to present their valid military identification. The offer is not available for Order Ahead through Scooter's Coffee's mobile app.
Starbucks
The world's largest coffee chain is offering a free tall hot or cold brewed coffee for veterans, active military service members and military spouses who visit participating U.S. Starbucks stores on Saturday, Nov. 11.
Twin Peaks
Veterans can get a free lunch on Nov. 11. Veterans can pick one of the following menu items:
- Cheeseburger
- Chicken tenders
- Caesar salad (chicken or shrimp)
- Chicken street tacos
White Castle
The fast-food chain is offering a free individual combo meal or breakfast combo meal to all veterans and active-duty service members.
White Castle will also serve its Sliders in specially designed patriotic packaging.
No purchase is necessary, but they will be asked to show a military ID.
Wings Etc.
All active-duty personnel and veterans can get a free entrée, valued up to $13.99.
The offer is good for dine-in only.
