Veterans Day Free Meals and Discounts in Pennsylvania

As Veterans Day comes around this year, I would like to say thank you for your service. I hope you receive the respect and honor you earned for serving your country and your community. 

Each year, I like to look at local Veterans Day discounts and deals for our servicemembers and their families living in specific states. This year, I decided to tackle Pennsylvania. Before I go further, these are discounts focused on local businesses offering free meals/discounts on Veterans Day around the Keystone State, but these are what have been done historically. So, be sure to check ahead of time to make sure the business didn’t adjust the discount. Also, all of these discounts will be just part of our main list, which shows all the free meals and discounts available on Veterans Day.

If you want a more in-depth look at planning your Veterans Day from start to finish to help you maximize your discounts, check out our Veterans Day Discount Day Planner.  

Veterans Day Breakfast Deals

For Veterans Day, here are some deals at popular breakfast spots.

• Dennys: Active and retired veterans can enjoy a free Original Grand Slam from 5 am to noon.
• Rutter’s (Central PA locations): Gives a free coffee, cappuccino, fountain drink, or slushy of any size to those with a valid military ID or in uniform
• Maple Donuts in York County: The donut store will offer a free hot coffee or a free donut on Veterans Day at all locations.
• Starbucks: Active-duty military members, veterans, and their spouses can enjoy a free tall hot or cold coffee drink. 
• IHOP: Veterans can enjoy free Red, White, and Blue Pancakes.
• Wawa Coffee: Veterans can receive a free hot coffee all day. 

Veterans Day Free Meals When You Dine-In for Lunch or Dinner

Here are some restaurants around Pennsylvania and the East Coast where veterans and military service members can get a free meal. 

• Mission BBQ: Veterans can receive a free sandwich at all locations. 
• ​​Marco’s Pizza (Philadelphia locations): honors veterans and active military personnel with a free medium, 1-topping pizza.
• Primanti Bros.: Active and retired military personnel receive a free Almost Famous sandwich for dine-in at all locations.
• Hoss’s Steak and Sea House (Dine-in only): Veterans can receive a free Soup, Salad, Bread, Nacho, and Dessert Bar, and an iced tea.    
• Chilis Bar & Grill: Veterans can get a free meal from a special menu.
• Applebee’s: Veterans can get a free meal from a special menu.
• Red Robin: Veterans get a free burger and bottomless fries.
• Olive Garden: Veterans receive a free meal from a select menu. The breadsticks, soup or salad are included.   
• Texas Roadhouse: Veterans receive a free meal voucher. 
• Bob Evans: Offers a free meal from a special menu for veterans.  

Veterans Day Fast Food Discounts

If you want something a little less niche, and you cannot get to your local places, here are some fast food discounts.

• Sheetz: The convenience store will offer a free meal to veterans complete with a half turkey sub sandwich (extras included), and a regular-size fountain drink. On top of that, at locations that have a car wash facility, you can get a free car wash.
• Chipotle: From 4 pm to 8 pm, veterans get a BOGO deal: buy a meal, get a second for free. 
• 2Street Sammies (Food Truck): Historically offers free meals to all veterans (often from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.) during an annual event organized by local veterans in Philly.
• McDonald’s: While McDonald’s does not offer the same deals and discounts at every location. Many Pittsburgh-area locations have participated in some sort of free or discounted item. So, I’d call ahead on this one. 
• Wendy’s: At special locations, Wendy’s offers veterans a free breakfast combo.

Veterans Day Entertainment Discounts in Pennsylvania

Now, Veterans Day discounts don’t stop at food. Several places in the state want to honor your service with either free or discounted admission. Those deals offer a great chance to spend time with the family. 

• Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium: Veterans get free admission into the zoo and aquarium.
• Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens: There is no Veterans Day-specific discount for military service members; the Pittsburgh Botanical Gardens offers a general military discount of $2 off general admission. 
• Morris Arboretum and Gardens: There is no specific Veterans Day discount, but year-round, the Arboretum offers veterans a $12 discount.
• Philadelphia Zoo: The Philly Zoo does not offer a specific Veterans Day discount, but year-round, the zoo offers veterans a $5 discount on general admission. 

Final Thoughts

Again, I want to say thank you for your service and the sacrifices that you have made for this country. As a reminder, don’t forget to bring your Military ID with you to these restaurants and entertainment spots so you can receive your deals and discounts. You will not want to miss out.