2 for 1 DiningDeals by day

Two-for-one dining and restaurant deals

Eating out for less is mostly about timing. Here is when and where restaurants run their best deals, and how to never miss one.

Friends sharing plates of food at a restaurant table
Photo: fauxels / Pexels

Where the deals are

Restaurant deals by day of the weekTaco Tuesday, wing nights and the weekly deal rhythmNational food holiday freebiesPizza Day, Taco Day, Donut Day and other deal daysRestaurant birthday freebiesJoin rewards programs and eat free on your birthdayKids eat free dealsHow to find kids-eat-free nights near you or on vacationHappy hour guideHalf-price appetizers, drink specials and the rules by stateEarly bird and senior specialsEat early, eat for less, and 55+ menus

Six rules for finding 2-for-1 restaurant deals

  1. Download the app. Most chain restaurants now put their best offers, including buy-one-get-one deals, inside their own app or rewards program rather than in ads.
  2. Join the email list. Sign-up bonuses are common: a free appetizer, dessert or dollar amount off your first order.
  3. Eat on slow nights. Monday through Wednesday is when restaurants most need customers, so that is when specials cluster.
  4. Use the clock. Happy hour, lunch menus and early-bird dinners can cut the bill by a third or more for the same food.
  5. Mark the food holidays. National Pizza Day, Taco Day and Donut Day bring some of the year's biggest freebies.
  6. Stack, don't overspend. A deal only saves money if you would have gone anyway. Watch out for minimum-spend offers.

Deals on the road

Traveling? The same tricks work on vacation, and they matter more when you eat out three times a day. Our sister guides cover where to eat in Orlando, Hawaii, Florida and Fort Lauderdale, and Dine for Less has more ways to cut the cost of eating out. Save on the room, too, with hotel deals at Rooms Cheap.

Frequently asked questions

What does 2-for-1 dining mean?

A buy-one-get-one (BOGO) offer: buy one entree, drink or item and get a second free, or two meals for one set price.

Which night has the best restaurant deals?

Early in the week, usually Monday to Wednesday, when restaurants are quietest. Taco Tuesday and wing nights are classic examples.

Where do restaurants post their best deals?

Increasingly in their own apps and rewards programs, so join the programs of places you visit often.