On your birthday, you’re probably accustomed to getting a card, flowers or a whole bunch of “Happy birthday!” posts to your Facebook wall. But your birthday means you can also dine out for breakfast, lunch and dinner without spending a dime! Or get gifts from some of your favorite retailers!
From food to gifts, these 100+ merchants and restaurants put the icing on the cake as our favorite places to get freebies on your special day. This list includes the best places to eat free on your birthday, score birthday treats and how to get free stuff on your birthday, including free beauty birthday gifts!
An important caveat: There may be requirements like signing up for a mailing list or enrolling in a free rewards program. Do some sleuthing to figure out the requirements so you’re not disappointed on your birthday (though you can certainly cry if you want to).
(Psst … don’t miss out on anniversary freebies, and discounts for teachers, seniors, students, and members of the military.)
Where to Get Free Food On Your Birthday
These restaurants all offer ways to eat free and get discounts on your birthday. Be sure to check the terms and conditions. In some cases, you just need to tell a waiter and show an ID with your birth date. In others, you’ll need to have the restaurant’s app and show a coupon that will be delivered to you.
Even more, many restaurants offer free birthday rewards and freebies with every email sign up – essentially you’re signing yourself up for free stuff!
99 Restaurant & Pub: Get a free gift in your big day when you join their rewards program!
Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant: Join their Mi Abuelo’s Rewards program to get a special offer on your birthday. Plus, you’ll earn one point for very dollar spent all year long.
Applebee’s: Join its email club and get a birthday special—most likely a free dessert-y treat. Just note if you come with your B-day crew, you can’t make reservations: They’re first come, first serve. You can also get exclusive deals, specials and more!
Arby’s: Get 50% off any full priced sandwich or wrap when you register with Arby’s.
Atlanta Bread: Score a free cookie on your birthday when you join Rise Rewards. You can also you earn one point for every $1 you spend.
Au Bon Pain: Members of the Au Bon Pain eClub get a coupon for a free sandwich or salad.
Auntie Anne’s: Become a member of My Pretzel Perks, download the app and you’ll get a tasty reward on your birthday: a signature/classic Auntie Anne’s pretzel. Drool.
A&W All American Food: You can get a free root beer float on your birthday when you join their Mug Club.
Baskin-Robbins: With the ice cream chain’s Birthday Club, members get a free scoop of ice cream on their birthday plus a special discount on a birthday cake (how handy!).
Benihana: Members of the Chef’s Table get a complimentary $30 gift certificate during the month of their birthday, and staff will sing “Happy Birthday” in Japanese!
Big Boy: Get a birthday dessert freebie when you join the email club.
BJ’s Brewhouse: Join Premier Rewards Plus and get a free Pizookie (a warm cookie with ice cream) for your birthday.
Black Angus Steakhouse: This is a good one! Join the Prime Club to get a free steak dinner on your first birthday as a member. If you have a large group, it’s not a bad idea to make a reservation (though it isn’t required).
Bonefish Grill: BFG Insiders get a free appetizer or desert for their birthday as part of the Bonefish birthday club. Plus, you’ll receive 50% off every 4th visit!
Bruegger’s Bagels: Receive a free bagel just for signing up for the Bruegger’s Bagels eClub, along with a free treat on your birthday!
Buca di Beppo: Score a free pasta just for signing up for the Eclub, as well as a $20 birthday gift.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Join the Blazin’ Rewards program, and get a free order of birthday wings during your birth month. Check out other ways to score free food from Buffalo Wild Wings.
Chevys Fresh Mex: Join the e-club for a birthday freebie – like a free entree! – and other special offers. Be ready to wear a sombrero and be serenaded with a spirited birthday chant.
Culver’s: Sign up for a MyCulver’s account to receive a free birthday treat (usually a small sundae).
Dairy Queen: Receive a buy-one-get-one Blizzard coupon on your birthday by signing up for the Blizzard Fan Club.
Del Taco: Enjoy a regular-size premium shake for your birthday, plus you’ll get two free grilled chicken tacos just for signing up for their Del Yeah! Rewards.
Denny’s: Sign up for Denny’s loyalty program to get a free delicious gift. Note: Word on the street is you don’t need to register for the program to get this freebie; the server will give you your meal simply when you show your ID proving it’s your birthday.
Dippin’ Dots: Join the Dot Crazy Email Club and get free Dippin’ Dots.
Domino’s: Not exactly, free, but when you sign up for Domino’s “Piece of the Pie Rewards” you’ll get a promo code for 20% off your next online order, plus you’ll earn 10 points on each order of $10+. When you havƒe earned 60 points, you can redeem a free medium two-topping pizza at participating locations. So, you can get a domino’s birthday reward is you save up your points!
Dunkin’: By signing up for DD Perks, guests receive a free medium beverage at signup and another free drink on their birthday. Plus, earn 5 points for every $1 spent.
Edible Arrangements: Join Edible Rewards and receive a special treat during your birthday month. There’s also other perks!
Firehouse Subs: Sign up for Firehouse Rewards for a free medium sub.
Famous Dave’s: Get a tasty gift for your birthday when you join the Famous Nation.
Fuddruckers: Members of the Fuddruckers Fudds Club (try saying that 10 times fast!) get exclusive promotions and specials, including a BOGO burger offer on their birthday.
Godiva: Join the Godiva Rewards Club and score an exclusive birthday gift and enjoy special perks like exclusive offers, free shipping on one order of your choice during your first year and more.
Great American Cookies: Get a coupon just for signing up, plus a surprise for your birthday when you join the Cookie Club.
Habit Burger Grill: Join Habit Burger Grill’s CharClub and get a birthday freebie.
Hard Rock: Sign up for Hard Rock Rewards for an annual birthday offer.
Houlihan’s: Get $10 off just for joining their email club, plus a free entrée on your birthday.
IHOP: You’ll get a free stack of pancakes on your birthday when you join the My Hop club. The waiters may even sing to you if you ask! Plus, IHOP has brought back their all-you-can eat pancakes.
Jersey Mike’s Subs: Get a coupon for a free birthday sub and drink when you sign up for the email club. The best part? The coupon is good for the entire year!
Joe’s Crab Shack: Sign up for Joe’s Catch and receive a birthday offer, as well as a free appetizer just for signing up.
Krispy Kreme: Download the Krispy Kreme app and sign up to receive a free birthday treat.
Longhorn Steakhouse: Receive a free treat on your birthday just for signing up for Longhorn Rewards.
Marie Callender’s: Join the Eclub for an exclusive birthday offer.
Macaroni Grill: Sign up for the email club to get a free dessert on your birthday. Plus, a waiter will serenade you with “Happy Birthday” in Italian. Buon compleanno!
Moe’s Southwest Grill: Fancy a birthday burrito? Download the Moe’s app and you’ll get one on your birthday. Note: Moe’s kindly asks that you don’t wear your birthday suit when redeeming the offer. Ha!
Nestle Toll House Café by Chip: Join the CafeClub at nestlecafe.com and receive a free cookie on your birthday!
Noodles & Company: Receive a special offer the week before your birthday when you sign up for Noodles Family (must sign up at least 60 days before your birthday).
O’Charley’s: O’Club members get a free surprise on their birthday. Word on the street says it’s a piece of downhome classic pie or a brownie lover’s brownie topped with ice cream. That’s a surprise we’re happy to know about!
Olive Garden: Save room after those unlimited breadsticks! Join Olive Garden’s eClub to get a dessert on your birthday. While you’re there, the staff will serenade you with their very own—and very catchy—birthday jingle.
On the Border: Get a free surprise on your birthday when you’re part of their Club Cantina.
Panda Express: Register for emails and receive an exclusive offer on your birthday.
Panera: Get a bonus reward on your birthday, plus a reward just for signing up for MyPanera.
Pei Wei: Sign up for My Wei Rewards and score a free birthday freebies.
Perkins: Sign up for MyPerkins to receive birthday gifts for yourself and family members (age 12 and under).
P.F.Chang’s: Create an account and get a complimentary dessert or appetizer to use during your birthday month.
Pinkberry: Sign up for a Pinkcard or download the app to get a free yogurt on your birthday.
Pita Pit: Sign up for the Pita Pit card and receive a free pita on your birthday.
PizzaExpress: Create a MyPizzaExpress account, and you’ll get a birthday surprise. Pro tip: If your party is more than six people, request a group booking in advance. Pizza party!
Pizza Hut: Sign up for Hut Rewards and score a birthday reward!
Red Lobster: Join the My Red Lobster Rewards and get a free birthday surprise. But don’t wait: New members must join at least seven days before their birthday to get the coupon.
Red Robin: Become a Red Robin Royalty member and get a free birthday burger as well as rewards, such as every 10th item free and $20 toward your sixth visit (as long as you visit five times within the first five weeks of joining).
Rita’s: Join the Birthday Club for a free birthday treat and other offers throughout the year.
Ruby Tuesday: Sign up for the SoConnected plan, and you’ll get a free burger or garden bar entrée on your special day. And $5 off when you join!
Sbarro: Get free surprise on your birthday by joining the Slice Society Email Club—we hear it’s a free slice with drink purchase!
Sonic: Create a My Sonic account, download the app and score a special treat on your birthday.
Sonny’s BBQ: Join the ‘Q Crew and get a free Big Deal Meal on your birthday, plus a welcome gift just for joining.
Souper Salad: Register for Souper Fresh Club to get a free meal during your birthday week, plus a $3 coupon just for signing up.
Sprinkles: Join Sprinkles Perks to receive a free cupcake for your birthday. You can also earn points to score free sweets!
Starbucks: Register a Starbucks prepaid card with My Starbucks Rewards and start earning your way to all sorts of perks. Register at least 30 days ahead for a free drink or treat on your birthday. You’ll get an email two days before your birthday regarding your free birthday drink or food item.
Steak ‘n Shake: Join the eClub and get a free menu item on your birthday and your anniversary. Plus, earn $5 reward for every $50 spent.
Subway: What does Subway give you on your birthday! Sign up for the Subway Rewards Program and get a free 6″ sub and cookie!
TCBY: Receive special offers for your birthday when you sign up for TCBY emails.
Texas Roadhouse: Sign up for the email club and get a birthday surprise and free appetizer. If you’re brave enough, you can get on the saddle and wave the napkin while servers sing to you. Yee-haw!
TGI Fridays: With the Fridays Rewards plan, you’ll get a free birthday dessert—it may even have sparklers! Talk about flare.
The Melting Pot: Get a voucher for free chocolate fondue for two on your birthday, as well as six of the Melting Pot’s signature chocolate-covered strawberries when you sign up for Club Fondue.
The Spaghetti Warehouse: Join the Warehouse Club to get a free meal on your birthday, plus a free appetizer with an entrée purchase just for becoming a member of the club.
Tijuana Flats: Become a Flathead and receive a free treat for your birthday.
Tony Roma’s: Join the email club for free birthday entrée and special promotions.
Uno Chicago Grill: Get your ’za on with this popular eatery. It will send you a coupon toward something gratis when you’re a member of the Uno Insider’s Club.
Waffle House: Become a member of the Waffle House Regulars Club to receive a free waffle on your birthday.
Pro tip: Hungry now? Download the free RetailMeNot coupons app to score nearby food deals.
Where to Get Other Free Stuff On Your Birthday
After you’ve hit up your favorite restaurants for free meals (and free dessert), check your email. If you signed up for your favorite retailers’ mailing lists, you’ve probably got a ton of birthday offers to collect.
What Stores Give You Free Gifts On Your Birthday?
Many stores offer birthday freebies — often something small, like a sample-sized beauty item. However, plenty of others offer discounts for those on their mailing lists. So, if you’re in the mood for a little self-gifting, a discount could be waiting in your inbox.
Note that many retailers offer their birthday freebies, gifts and discounts your entire birth month. So you can spread things out — no need to shop till you drop on your birthday (unless you want to).
American Eagle: Share your email address, and you’ll get an exclusive offer the month of your birthday.
Anthropologie: Join AnthroPerks and receive a birthday discount!
Aveda: Join the Pure Privilege rewards program and get a birthday gift and 2x points on your birthday.
Banana Republic: Sign up for emails and receive a birthday gift. Our guess? It’s a coupon.
bareMinerals: Join the Friends and Benefits Program, and receive a free gift on your birthday.
Best Buy: Best Buy’s birthday coupon offers 10% off a single-item, and is offered to a random selection of members who have a birthday attached to their rewards account, so be sure to add your birthday to your My Best Buy account.
The Body Shop: Sing up for The Body Shop’s Love Your Body Club and get a $10 reward to spend on your birthday among other perks and rewards.
Columbia: Outdoorsy? Join the Greater Rewards program and get a birthday gift.
The Container Store: Become a POP! (Perfectly Organized Perks!) member and not only will you start saving on fab organizational products, but you’ll get a birthday freebie as well.
CVS: Join the ExtraCare rewards program and get a special offer on your birthday — $3 ExtraBucks Rewards that you can turn around and spend.
Disney Movie Insiders: Sign up for Disney Movie Insiders, and earn free points on your birthday!
DSW: Become a member of the DSW Rewards program, and DSW will give you a $5 birthday certificate!
Famous Footwear: Step on up and join Gold Rewards to get a $5 Birthday Reward Cash and earn 2X points per dollar on all purchases during your birthday month.
JCPenney: Receive a birthday gift when you sign up for JCPenney Rewards.
Journeys Kidz: Join the Kidz Birthday Club and get a 15% off your next purchase. Bonus: Kids get a birthday present in the mail during their birthday month–such a nice gesture!.
Kohl’s: Receive a special birthday gift when you sign up for Yes2You Rewards.
Medieval Times: Sign up for email updates and get free admission on your birthday.
Old Navy: Go to the email newsletter signup page and scroll down to the Birthday Club to get a free gift on your special day—we hear it’s a coupon!
Pet Supplies Plus: Sign up for a Pet Supplies Plus online account to receive birthday freebies.
Petco: Join Petco’s palsrewards and get a free gift for your pet’s birthday.
PrettyLittleThing: The online clothing retailer promises a “birthday surprise” if you sign up for an account. The PrettyLittleThing birthday discount remains largely a mystery, so you’ll have to enter your birth date when you sign up and then … wait until your birthday.
Regal Cinemas: Sign up for a Regal Crown Club account and receive a free birthday reward, as well as a free small popcorn when you opt in to receive text messages.
Sephora: Become a Beauty Insider and get a birthday gift during your birthday month. You just have to ask at the register, no purchase necessary. Past gifts have included Marc Jacobs gel eyeliner, Fresh face cleanser, Tarte lip gloss and more. Amazing! Check out the latest Sephora birthday gifts.
Smashbox: Sign up for the rewards program to receive a free gift during your birthday month.
Ulta Beauty: Join Ultamate Rewards and get a gift on your birthday, plus earn double points on purchases made during your birthday month. And if you’re Platinum or Diamond, you get an extra birthday gift. Time to stock up on makeup!
World Market: Sign up for the World Market Rewards Program and get a birthday surprise. Most recently, the reward was 15% off. Make sure you’re opted in to texts, so you don’t miss it.
Not your birthday? No worries! Here’s where to get free food every day of the week, no matter when you were born.
The post 101+ Birthday Freebies in 2022 to Get the Party Started appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
