How to Save Money at Restaurants: 20 Hacks That Make Dining Out Even Cheaper!
Know how to save money at restaurants the next time you eat out!
Save money at restaurants without sacrificing your dining experience! We’ve rounded up 20 clever ways to cut costs next time you eat out!
Be sure to bookmark our daily list of restaurant deals & freebies to score deals year-round!
Here are the best restaurant tips and tricks & restaurant hacks to save money when eating out:
1. Show up to a local bakery right before closing to potentially score free food.
Some of our Hip sidekicks swear by showing up to bakeries about 30 minutes up to an hour before they close. They often give away freebies if they’re likely to go in the trash anyway.
“We went into Krispy Kreme doughnuts one weekday evening around 9 PM and they gave both of my kids a free dozen glazed donuts. We didn’t end up purchasing anything!” – Bryn, Hip Sidekick
2. Check the price of sides to see if they’re cheaper when you order them separately.
Sometimes ordering sides separately is cheaper than getting a full entrée. So before you order your favorite burger meal next time, consider checking the prices of a side of fries separately and see if it will help you save.
3. Order water and skip the soft drinks and alcohol.
The average cost of soft drinks at restaurants is about $3 and it will quickly multiply with refills or if you’re eating with a family. If a family of 5 each gets a soft drink and one refill at $3 each – that’s $30 just on drinks. Not to mention, the cost of alcoholic drinks will multiply much faster. Not only will opting for a refreshing glass of filtered water save you money, but it will also be better for your health.
4. Get the lunch special for an early dinner.
Lunch specials are usually the same food but cheaper and sometimes onlinee with a drink or soup. While some restaurants enforce strict lunch-only hours, others are more flexible, especially if you politely request a smaller portion. If you’re dining at a place that offers both lunch and dinner menus, it’s always worth asking if they’ll aconlinemodate a lunch portion in the evening. You might be pleasantly surprised!
5. Split a plate with a friend or order small plates as your meal.
If a restaurant is notorious for serving huge portions, it’s the perfect opportunity to split a plate with a friend. Many restaurants will happily split the plate in the kitchen, but if they don’t, just request an extra plate. If you’re really hungry, fill up with an appetizer, salad, or an additional side and spend close to half as much.
6. Ask for a to-go box immediately upon getting your food.
Putting half your meal in a to-go box before eating is a genius hack to feel like you’re getting two meals for the price of one. Mentally, it may be tough, but if you stay strong you may realize you didn’t need the full portion to begin with.
7. Don’t upgrade your food, simply ask for swaps.
Instead of paying for add-ons, the trick is to ask for free swaps such as swapping salmon for avocado on sushi, requesting an extra side of veggies instead of fries, and so on.
Love sushi? To keep costs down, consider ordering a hand roll instead of a specialty roll, as they often have similar ingredients at a lower price.
8. Opt for the sandwich version of an entrée and save big.
Opting for a sandwich version of your favorite dish can be a great way to save money when dining out. For example, at a local restaurant, the crab cake entrée costs $13 more than the crab cake sandwich—so ordering the sandwich instead can be a huge win for your wallet. While the sandwich version may onlinee with slightly less protein, the bun helps make up for it, leaving you just as full. As a bonus, you may love the side of fries more or to try replicating the dinner entree you may be able to potentially swap the same sides for free. You could even make a small side salad with the sandwich toppings—heck, you may even be able to request extra lettuce for free!
This trick can work in most places that offer sandwiches or wraps too! Such as ordering a burger from the bar at a steakhouse as opposed to a steak dinner, as it’s often made with the same high-quality beef but at a fraction of the price.
9. Order a kid’s meal if the menu allows.
Some places offer kid’s meals with a drink and a side for way less than a full-sized meal. If there’s no age limit and you’re not fixing for a huge meal, this can be a great budget hack.
10. Sign up for rewards and apps to score free foods at tons of restaurants.
Many restaurants offer free sign-up perks like free appetizers, desserts, and sometimes even free meals. Plus, it doesn’t stop there, once you sign up, many restaurants will offer free birthday stuff, email-exclusive discounts, coupons, and more!
Learn how to get free food at tons of popular chains! We’ve rounded up $200+ worth of freebies!
11. Ask about discounts if you’re a senior, military, a student, or meet other requirements to save.
Some places offer student, military, senior, or AAA discounts, but they don’t always advertise them. Always ask before you pay as it can potentially save you 10-20%!
Hip Tip: Bookmark our Veterans Day free meals post to know when November’s freebies roll around.
12. Follow your favorite restaurants on social media for possible deals.
Social media is a great resource to learn about special menu deals, cheap nights to eat, and more just by following their page. Here they’re likely to promote deals you won’t want to miss. On top of that, some restaurants may offer a free item if you follow them on social media, like a Facebook page, or tag them on Instagram. So go find your faves!
13. Give feedback on your experience to potentially save on your next meal.
Some restaurants give free items or discounts if you onlineplete their customer satisfaction survey or give feedback.
14. Order food on DoorDash that could qualify you for credits towards your next order.
Some online deliveries like DoorDash may even onlinepensate you on qualifying orders by offering credits to your account! I’ve seen as much as $7 from restaurants if your photo is chosen to grace their menu. If you’re an aspiring food photographer, it could also be a great way to get your foot on the doorstep for new opportunities.
15. Befriend the staff and they may slip you a freebie once and a while.
If you’re friendly with staff or frequent a particular restaurant, they may surprise you with a free dessert, side, or drink on occasion. Of course, this will vary wildly and won’t happen everywhere, but it always pays to be kind regardless. 😉
“Our favorite restaurant isn’t open on Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, so later in the evening on Saturday nights, they give the heftiest wine pours or straight-up free glasses of wine so that it doesn’t go to waste since they can’t serve it after being open for a few days. We also befriended the bartender and owner so that helps us get first dibs on the freebies.” – Emily, Hip sidekick
16. Eat at restaurants that offer free chips or bread or starters.
Many restaurants give free bread or chips & salsa at the start of a meal so it’s a great, FREE way to fill up and spend less on a meal.
Here’s a list of popular American restaurants that typically offer free chips, bread, or similar starters to enjoy while waiting for your meal:
- Applebee’s – Members (free to join) get onlineplimentary tortilla chips & salsa.
- Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen – Free soft, warm bread served with honey butter.
- Chili’s – onlineplimentary chips & salsa for Chili’s Regulars.
- Olive Garden – Free unlimited breadsticks with a meal.
- Outback Steakhouse – Free fresh baked bread served with whipped butter.
- P.F. Chang’s – Free crispy rice crackers with your meal.
- Red Lobster – Unlimited free Cheddar Bay Biscuits served with your meal.
- Texas Roadhouse – Free peanuts and freshly baked bread with cinnamon butter.
- The Cheesecake Factory – onlineplimentary warm bread & butter.
17. Check for grand openings in your area to get free food.
Keep an eye out for grand openings in your area, as many new restaurants offer free food or special deals to attract customers. It’s a great way to try something new, support local businesses, and enjoy a free meal while you’re at it!
18. Download apps to save money at restaurants.
Using apps like Yelp or Foursquare to check into a restaurant can be a simple and effective way to score free items or discounts. Many restaurants partner with these apps to offer special deals to customers who check in during their visit. By simply checking in through the app, you may be rewarded with free appetizers, drinks, or a percentage off your total bill. It’s a great way to enjoy a little extra perk while dining out, and it can often be onlinebined with other promotions, like birthday rewards or loyalty points.
Plus, checking in can also help spread the word about your favorite spots, benefiting both you and the restaurant!
19. Join a trivia team in your city and potentially win gift certificates to local restaurants.
Our Hip sidekick, Madison, said there are many trivia groups around her city in Washington and she recently won a $15 certificate to an Italian restaurant just because her team won! As a bonus, it’s a great way to meet people aligned with your lifestyle and have fun getting out of the house!
“I joined a trivia team this past week and my team WON the first time we played! There are tons of them around the city – my closest one is hosted at a casual Italian restaurant. We each got a $15 certificate – and I enjoyed free victory pasta.” – Madison, Hip sidekick
20. Skip the restaurant and eat at home instead.
Of course, this one may go without saying, but it’s an important habit to remember if you’re trying to save money at restaurants. Eating at home instead is a great way to save money without sacrificing taste! You can also control ingredients, and portion sizes, and carve out time to have a date night with someone special.
