Veterans Day starts with free coffee and breakfast, if you time it right

A free cup of coffee can be the easiest Veterans Day deal deal to claim. A free breakfast may take a little more planning.

Starbucks, Denny’s, IHOP, Dunkin’ and other chains are offering veterans and military members complimentary food and drinks on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Some include military spouses or other family members, while others limit the offer to the person who served.

The differences matter before you leave home. Denny’s breakfast offer ends at noon, while IHOP’s pancake combo runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Starbucks is offering veterans, military service members and military spouses a free tall hot or iced brewed coffee. Cold brew and customizations are excluded. At Pilot and Flying J, eligible guests must verify their military status through ID.me and claim the free meal in the Pilot app.

Also read: Veterans Day brings free food and discounts. What’s the catch?

Many offers require military identification or another accepted proof of service, and restaurant participation can vary. Check the location’s hours, order through the required channel and ask what is included before adding a drink, side or upgrade.

A free entree may also leave you paying for a beverage or a tip. Several coffee offers, by contrast, include the drink without another purchase.

Here are Veterans Day 2026 breakfast and coffee offers from major chains, including grocery stores and convenience stores. All offers below are for Nov. 11 unless otherwise noted.

Veterans Day 2026 free breakfast, discounts

Confirm the restaurant is participating and check local hours. Bring accepted proof of service, even if a chain doesn’t say it requires it to be on the safe side.

Denny’s restaurant Original Grand Slam breakfast

Image source: Kathryn Scott Osler/Getty Images

Denny’s Veterans Day free Original Grand Slam

Denny’s is offering active, inactive and retired military personnel a free Original Grand Slam from 5 a.m. to noon local time at participating restaurants. The meal includes two pancakes, two eggs, two bacon strips and two sausage links.

Dine-in only, with a valid military ID or DD-214. Beverages are excluded. No substitutions or online orders. While supplies last. Check your restaurant’s opening time.

IHOP Veterans Day free pancake combo

IHOP is offering veterans and active-duty military a free Red, White & Blueberry Pancake Combo from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time at participating restaurants, according to IHOP’s Instagram post. USA TODAY says it includes two buttermilk pancakes topped with glazed strawberries, blueberry topping and whipped topping, plus two eggs.

Dine-in only. Limit one per guest. Proof of military service is required. Hours may vary by location.

More Restaurants:

Cracker Barrel Veterans Day free breakfast

Cracker Barrel is giving veterans and active-duty military a free Sunrise Pancake Special on Nov. 11. The offer is available for dine-in orders with proof of military service, while supplies last.

Limit one per order. Premium items, add-ons and gratuity are excluded. No substitutions.

Bob Evans Veterans Day free breakfast choices

Bob Evans is offering veterans and active-duty military one free entree from an 11-item Veterans Day menu, served all day for dine-in customers. Breakfast options include the Country Biscuit Breakfast, Brioche French Toast, Buttermilk Hotcakes and Banana Berry Oatmeal.

Proof of service is required. Eligible guests also receive an offer for a free cup of sausage gravy and biscuits on a future visit.

Perkins Veterans Day free Magnificent Seven

Perkins is offering veterans and active-duty military a free Magnificent Seven Breakfast Meal at participating restaurants on Nov. 11, according to Blue Star Families, which cites a Perkins communications representative. Bring a valid military ID.

Hardee’s Veterans Day free sausage biscuit

Hardee’s is giving veterans and active-duty military a free sausage biscuit with a valid military ID at participating locations on Nov. 11.

Hy-Vee Veterans Day free breakfast buffet

Hy-Vee is serving veterans and active-duty military a free breakfast buffet from 6 to 10 a.m. at stores with hot food service. The grocer also offers eligible shoppers 15% off groceries that day at Hy-Vee and Dollar Fresh Market, in stores and online.

Kwik Trip and Kwik Star free breakfast combo

Kwik Trip and Kwik Star are offering veterans and active-duty military a free breakfast sandwich with a 16-ounce Karuba coffee, milk or orange juice on Nov. 11. Identify yourself as a veteran or service member at checkout.

White Castle Veterans Day free breakfast combo

White Castle is offering veterans and active-duty service members a free individual combo meal or breakfast combo meal when dining at participating restaurants on Nov. 11. Check with your restaurant for breakfast availability.

Starbucks Veterans Day free coffee

Starbucks is giving veterans, military service members and military spouses a free tall, 12-ounce hot or iced brewed coffee at participating U.S. stores on Nov. 11.

Order in the cafe or drive-thru. Cold brew, Nitro and beverage customizations are excluded. The offer does not apply to mobile or delivery orders. Limit one per customer per visit.

Dunkin’ Veterans Day free doughnut

Dunkin’ is offering veterans and active-duty military a free doughnut on Nov. 11 at participating locations, the company told TheStreet.

Limit one per guest, in-store only, while supplies last. Proof of service is not required.
Not available for orders placed using mobile ordering through the Dunkin’ app.

Krispy Kreme Veterans Day free coffee and doughnut

Krispy Kreme is offering veterans and active-duty military a free small hot or iced coffee and a doughnut of their choice at participating shops on Nov. 11. No purchase or proof of service is required, the company told TheStreet.

Einstein Bros. Bagels free coffee and bagel

Einstein Bros. Bagels is giving veterans and active-duty military a free coffee and bagel with shmear on Nov. 11, according to FOX’s Veterans Day guide. The offer covers any size hot or iced coffee and any bagel with any shmear at participating bakeries.

Mention the offer when ordering in the bakery. No loyalty membership or digital offer is required.

7 Brew Veterans Day half-price drink

7 Brew is giving veterans 50% off any drink all day on Nov. 11 at participating stands. Tell the barista you’re a veteran.

Scooter’s Coffee Veterans Day free drink

Scooter’s Coffee is offering veterans and active-duty military a free medium drink all day on Nov. 11. The offer covers any beverage on the menu. Bring a valid military ID.

Wawa Veterans Day free hot coffee

Wawa is offering veterans, active-duty military and their families a free hot coffee of any size all day on Nov. 11. No military ID is required, according to The Herald-Mail.

Circle K Veterans Day free coffee

Circle K is offering veterans one free medium hot or iced coffee on Nov. 11 at participating U.S. locations, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Present a valid military ID at checkout. No additional purchase is required.

Casey’s Veterans Day free coffee or fountain drink

Casey’s is offering veterans and military service members a free coffee or fountain drink on Nov. 11. Bring military ID or proof of service. A free car wash is also available at stores equipped with one.

Pilot and Flying J Veterans Day free sandwich and drink

Pilot and Flying J are offering veterans and active-duty service members a free sandwich and a coffee or fountain drink on Nov. 11 at participating locations. Verify your status through ID.me and claim the offer in the Pilot app.