Here’s a list of 20+ metro-east restaurants offering free meals on Veterans Day
On Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, multiple restaurant chains are offering free meals, beverages or meal vouchers to veterans and active-duty military members in thanks for their service.
These offerings may only be available at select locations, so be sure to check with your local restaurant to see if it’s participating. Proof of service or valid military ID may be required.
Here’s the list:
54th Street Bar & Grill
- 3140 Green Mount Crossing, Shiloh;
- 6660 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Glen Carbon.
Veterans and active duty military will receive a $10 discount on any entrée on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Dine-in only. Not valid with other offers or discounts. 54thstreetrestaurants.com
Applebee’s
- 2624 N. Illinois St., Swansea;
- 4300 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh;
- 610 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville;
- 923 N. Illinois Route 3, Waterloo;
- 3551 Nameoki Road, Granite City;
- 3600 S. State Route 159, Glen Carbon;
- 1921 Vaughn Road, Wood River;
- 13975 Progress Drive, Breese;
- 319 Homer Adams Parkway, Alton.
For its 18th year, Applebee’s will offer free dine-in meals, selected from any of the available entrées, on Nov. 11 to all veterans and active duty military personnel. applebees.com
Arby’s
- 5790 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville;
- 3180 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh;
- 1 Market Place, Fairview Heights;
- 721 N. Market St., Waterloo;
- 3501 Nameoki Road, Granite City;
- 1800 Troy Road, Edwardsville;
- 5509 Godfrey Road, Godfrey;
- 2 Airway Court, Bethalto.
Arby’s locations will honor all veterans and active-duty military with a free Classic Roast Beef Sandwich on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Must be redeemed in store, no purchase necessary. Limit one sandwich per veteran. Must show military ID or proof of service. Valid at Flynn Group owned and operated locations.
Bandana’s BBQ
- #4 Commerce Lane, Collinsville;
- 4608 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights.
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, veterans can get a free Pork Sandwich Meal with a regular side. Dine-in only. Dine-in only.
Bob Evans
- 10 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights;
- 600 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville.
Veterans and active duty personnel can receive one free item from the Bob Evans Veterans Day special menu. Not valid with other offers, discounts or coupons. Must show proof of military service. Dine-in only.
Chili’s
- 6311 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights.
Veterans and active-duty military members get a free meal on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, at all participating Chili’s Grill & Bar restaurants. Available in-restaurant only for select items. Military ID required to redeem offer. chilis.com/restaurant-events/veterans-day
Cracker Barrel
- 3160 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh;
- 2421 Old Country Lane, Caseyville;
- 2001 Formosa Road, Troy.
Veterans and active-duty military members with valid ID get a free Sunrise Pancake Special at any of its 660 locations. crackerbarrel.com
Denny’s
- 1130 S. Illinois St., Belleville;
- 522 Ramada Blvd., Collinsville;
- 27 Junction Drive, Glen Carbon;
- 737 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon;
- 1310 E. Chain of Rocks Road, Pontoon Beach;
- 959 Illinois Route 3, Waterloo.
This Veterans Day, Denny’s invites active and retired military personnel to America’s Diner to enjoy a FREE Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. (store open) to noon local time at participating locations nationwide. dennys.com
Drake’s
- 1160 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon.
Dine-in only complimentary meals will be available to veterans and military service members Tuesday, Nov. 11, at participating locations. drakescomeplay.com
Fazoli’s
- 5811 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights;
- 210 E. Homer Adams Parkway, Alton.
Veterans and active‑duty military will receive free spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce using code VET25. Must present valid military ID or wear a military uniform where required.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
- 5570 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville;
- 301 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville;
- 2204 Troy Road, Edwardsville;
- 3320 Green Mount Crossing, Shiloh.
Veterans and active military personnel will receive a free Freddy’s combo meal card, suitable for any combo meal. Cards can be redeemed through Dec. 31. freddys.com/veterans-day
Golden Corral
- 3360 Green Mount Crossing, Shiloh;
- 350 Homer Adams Parkway, Alton.
Golden Corral will host a Military Appreciation Night from 4 p.m. to close on Tuesday, Nov. 11, at participating locations. Active and former military members will receive a free “thank you” meal. goldencorral.com/military-appreciation
Hooters
- 301 Market Place, Suite C, Fairview Heights.
Veterans can enjoy a free menu item (10 original wings, cheeseburger, Buffalo chicken sandwich or chicken Caesar salad) with a valid ID and the purchase of a beverage. hooters.com
IHOP
- 1028 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon;
- 4233 S. State Route 159, Glen Carbon;
- 181 Homer M. Adams Parkway, Alton.
Veterans and active duty military can enjoy a free Red, White & Blueberry Pancake Combo on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Dine-in only from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at participating locations. ihop.com
Little Caesars
- 1050 Carlyle Ave., Belleville;
- 3254 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh;
- 1042 Collinsville Crossing Blvd., Collinsville;
- 1671 Camp Jackson Road, Cahokia Heights;
- 516 Edwardsville Road, Suite A, Troy;
- 3751 Troy Road, Glen Carbon;
- 305 E. Edwardsville Road, Wood River;
- 3717 Nameoki Road, Granite City;
- 1601 Washington Ave., Alton;
- 5218 Godfrey Road, Godfrey.
Participating locations will offer a free Hot-N-Ready lunch combo that includes a four-slice Detroit-style deep dish pizza with pepperoni and one 20-ounce Pepsi beverage. The offer is in-store only 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11. Military ID or proof of service required. littlecaesars.com
Olive Garden
- 25 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights;
- 6651 Governors Parkway, Edwardsville.
Veterans and current military members can receive a free entrée from a special menu. Proof of military service required. olivegarden.com
Outback Steakhouse
- 1102 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon
Veterans and active-duty military members can receive a complimentary Aussie 3-course meal when dining in on Monday, Nov. 10, and Tuesday, Nov. 11. Valid proof of service is required.
Pappo’s Pizzeria & Pub
- 15 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights
All veterans can get a free 8-inch pizza (any specialty or build your own up to three toppings) on Tuesday, Nov. 11. All day, all locations. Dine-in only. Limit one per customer. pappospizzeria.com
Red Robin
- 6500 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights;
- 6699 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville.
On Tuesday, Nov. 11, veterans and military members can get a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger and bottomless steak fries. redrobin.com/veterans-day
Scooter’s Coffee
- 102 W. Bethalto Blvd., Bethalto;
- 684 N. 12th St., Breese;
- 280 N. Brooks Ave., Centralia;
- 1312 Vandalia St., Collinsville;
- 5709 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights;
- 4208 S. State Route 159, Glen Carbon;
- 5330 Godfrey Road, Godfrey;
- 1511 Johnson Road, Granite City;
- 12571 State Route 143, Highland;
- 2119 S. Center St., Maryville;
- 1300 W. Main St., Mascoutah;
- 1004 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon;
- 2700 N. Illinois St., Swansea;
- 808 N. Illinois Route 3, Waterloo.
Veterans can get a free handcrafted medium drink on Tuesday, Nov. 11, when they present a valid military ID at a participating location. scooterscoffee.com
Smoothie King
- 660 Carlyle Ave., Belleville;
- 1128 Merchants Way, O’Fallon;
- 1104 Collinsville Crossing, Collinsville;
- 1501 Troy Road, Edwardsville;
- 3401 Nameoki Road, Granite City;
- 317 “L” Homer Adams Parkway, Suite L, Alton
Active-duty military and veterans can enjoy a free 20-ounce smoothie at participating Smoothie King locations nationwide from noon to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11. Choose from three flavors: Strawberry X-Treme (red), Slim-N-Trim Vanilla (white) and Blueberry Heaven (blue). smoothieking.com
Starbucks
- 1723 Homer Adams Parkway, Alton;
- 5601 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville (Target);
- 404 Beltline Road, Collinsville;
- 1077 Collinsville Crossing Blvd., Collinsville;
- 2350 Troy Road, Edwardsville (Target);
- 6105 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville;
- 6680 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville;
- 10860 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights;
- 4701 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights (Target);
- 1411 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon;
- 105 E. Highway 50, O’Fallon;
- 1126 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon;
- 907 E. Highway 50, O’Fallon (Schnucks);
- 3400 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh (Target).
Veterans, military service members and military spouses can enjoy a free tall (12-ounce) brewed coffee (hot or iced) at participating Starbucks locations. Offer valid Nov. 11, 2025, on café and drive-thru orders only. Cold brew, nitro and beverage customizations excluded. starbucks.com
Texas Roadhouse
- 1412 Central Park Circle, Shiloh;
- 6640 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville.
Military members and veterans will receive free meal coupons that will cover one of 10 entrées with two sides and a beverage. The coupons will be given out 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 11. Vouchers are good until May 30, 2026. Must present proof of service. texasroadhouse.com
Wendy’s
- 1825 Homer M. Adams Parkway, Alton;
- 2600 Green Mount Commons Drive, Belleville;
- 5959 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville;
- 1061 Collinsville Crossing, Collinsville;
- 6104 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville;
- 6204 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights;
- 2638 N. Illinois St., Swansea;
- 1845 Vaughn Drive, Wood River.
Current military members and veterans can get a free breakfast combo Tuesday, Nov. 11, during breakfast hours. wendys.com
White Castle
- 2998 Homer M. Adams Parkway, Alton. 618-462-4928.
- 5820 Belleville Crossing, Belleville. 618-233-2385.
- 1141 N. Green Mount Road, Belleville. 618-622-0627.
- 1260 Camp Jackson Road, Cahokia Heights. 618-337-0495.
- 3 Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville. 618-346-4328.
- 10849 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights. 618-398-7608.
White Castle will provide a free individual combo meal or a breakfast combo meal to veterans and active-duty military personnel dining at participating restaurants on Nov. 11. whitecastle.com
This story was originally published November 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
