How to Eat Out Cheap in 2025! (30 Secrets to Save BIG)

Wondering how to save money eating out?  You won’t believe how much you’ll save with these little-known budget friendly tips to Eat Out Cheap at your favorite restaurants!

Then… don’t forget to take advantage of these 101 Birthday Freebies for Adults and Kids!

Eat Out Cheap Ideas

Do you love eating out??  Then you need to check out these easy ways to Eat Out Cheap at your favorite restaurants this month!

These simple money saving tips, menu hacks, and little-known secrets will help you save BIG dining out for dinners, grabbing coffee, or picking up takeout on busy nights!

In addition to my top tips for How to Save Money Eating Out, I’ve also put together secret menu hacks for Applebee’s, Chili’s, Cracker Barrel, Domino’s, Longhorn Steakhouse, Outback Steakhouse, Panera, Starbucks, and Texas Roadhouse.

With so many budget-friendly ways to eat out cheap with your family, friends, or sweetie, eating out is about to get a whole lot more fun!

Don’t make a trip to your favorite restaurant without first reading these tips… your wallet will thank you!

Here’s what you need to do…

Related: 101 Birthday Freebies for Adults and Kids!

#1. Save Money When You Skip the Tip Restaurants!

One of the easiest ways to save BIG when eating out is to simply avoid restaurants that require a tip!

I know, I know… tipping restaurants are fun, but adding around 15% to 20% on top of your food can skyrocket the bill!

My hubby and I love the occasional splurge of a sit down restaurant… and we always give generous tips, but most of the time we go out of our way to avoid restaurants where tipping is required.

And speaking of tipping… have you noticed how strongly tipping is being pushed lately?

Tipping has always been for services, but lately more and more restaurants are asking for a tip BEFORE any service is provided… and even when no extra service will be provided.  Yes, I’m looking at you fast food!  Often times those tips never make it to the employees either… but rather just go straight to the corporations.

There are even airport and sports stadium ‘self checkout’ stations now asking for tips on food!

As always, you do you, but just know… it is perfectly okay to politely decline the tip and select the ‘No Tip’ button at checkout when you’re standing in line waiting for your food, coming up to the counter to get your own food, refilling your own drinks, etc.

Your wallet will thank you!

#2. Join Restaurant Rewards Programs & Loyalty Clubs for Coupons & Freebies!

If you’ve got a specific restaurant you’ve been craving, a few days before you go out simply head to your restaurant’s website to look for any email or text coupons.

These often come when you join their ‘Rewards Program’ or ‘Loyalty Club’.

Many restaurants will give you a coupon to use on your next visit just for signing up!  I’ve gotten so many free appetizer coupons this way!

Sometimes it takes up to 48 hours to receive your coupons, so that’s why a little planning ahead can be helpful.

#3.  Add Your Favorite Restaurant Apps to your Phone & Earn FREE Rewards!

Also take a few minutes to go get select Apps for your Favorite Restaurants!

You can often score exclusive deals and discounts within the app, that aren’t available elsewhere.

Many of the apps will also allow you to accrue points with every purchase.

If the option exists, be sure to scan your app when checking out to earn rewards for every purchase.  Or you may also be able to earn points for every purchase when ordering ahead through the app.

Later, you can exchange those points in for FREE rewards!

#4.  Eat FREE All Week Long During Your Birthday Week!

Don’t forget to sign up for these 101 Birthday Freebies!

Loading up on free food for your birthday is the ultimate way to celebrate!!

As a bonus, many of the freebies are valid for several days before and after your birthday.  That means you’re going to have one of the most delicious weeks of the year… all on a dime!

#5. Fill Up the Family on ‘Kids Eat Free’ Days

If you’ve got little ones, don’t forget to take advantage of Kids Eat Free days!

Scoring free kids meals is one of the easiest ways to eat out cheap with the whole family!

Offers can change and vary by location, but some restaurants that have run Kids Eat Free promotions recently include…

• Chili’s
• Denny’s
• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
• Famous Dave’s
• Fricker’s
• IHOP
• IKEA
• Luby’s
• Ruby Tuesday
• Smashburger
• and more!

Simply call ahead to your local restaurant to see if they are participating, and for more information, like the day of the week and hours for the current Kids Eat Free promotion.

#6: Or Order a Kids Meal For Yourself!

Now this trick won’t work at every restaurant, because some have strict rules on age limits.

However… I have asked around at many different restaurants, and the majority have said they have no problem with adults ordering off their kids menu.

For example, here’s what a Chipotle employee recently told me: “There are no age restrictions when it comes to the kids meals at Chipotle, and adults are free to order anything off the menu!”

So as always… it never hurts to ask!

#7. Don’t Forget About the Sam’s Club or Costco Food Court!

Whether you’re on your big grocery run or out running other errands, don’t forget about the Costco or Sam’s Club Food Court!

You can score a meal for as low as $1.50!  It’s such an inexpensive way to feed the family, too!

#8. Take Advantage of Happy Hour Appetizer Deals… and Skip the Meal!

Do you want to know something that’s really fun?

Skipping dinner all together, and just enjoying appetizers.  It’s even better when appetizers are half off!  My hubby and I have done this at Applebee’s with friends, and it was fun, delicious, and such a great deal!

Barb writes: “Use an appetizer as an entree or share a meal.”

To take advantage of happy hour deals, make sure to call your local restaurant to confirm happy hour menu prices and times before you go.

Just know that you may need to visit without the kiddos and sit in the bar to receive the happy hour pricing.

#9. Check Your Receipts for Surveys and score FREE food!

Just by paying attention to the bottom of my receipts, I’ve noticed that SO many restaurants offer free food or coupons in exchange for your opinion!

Typically, you’ll just need to complete a quick online survey, write down the code given to you after your survey, and return the receipt with the survey code to your restaurant the next time you go out to eat!

Following are a few of the surveys I’ve recently completed for free food or coupons:

• Burger King:  FREE Whopper or Chicken Sandwich with purchase of fries and drink
• Chick-fil-A:  FREE Chicken Sandwich (no purchase required)
• Culver’s: Free Single Dish or Cake Cone with any purchase
• Dunkin Donuts: FREE Donut with purchase of medium coffee
• Panda Express:  FREE Entree item w/ purchase of 2-entree plate
• Rubio’s:  FREE Drink with purchase
• McDonald’s: Buy 1, Get 1 Free Quarter Pounder with Cheese or Egg McMuffin
• So… go check those receipts!

#10. Skip the Pricey Drinks, and Order Water

Did you know drinks are one of the highest marked up items on a menu?

Now obviously I won’t be skipping drinks at my favorite coffee shops, but when I go out for lunch or dinner… water is ALWAYS my drink of choice.

It’s such a simple way to slash your bill!

Jerri writes: “Drink water. Other drinks usually add at least $3 to your bill.”

#11. Dine Early, and Order From The Lunch Menu

If your restaurant has a lunch menu, an easy way to save money is to simply go to dinner a little early and order from the lunch meal!

#12. Or Split Your Meal with a Friend, Family Member… or Yourself!

Restaurant portions can be HUGE, so don’t forget about the option of splitting your meals with a friend, your hubby, or your child.

No one to split with?

No worries… you could always split a meal with yourself!  Simply eat half your meal and take the rest home as leftovers for the next day.

Erika writes: “Splitting meals with the person you are with is a huge money saver!!”

Marilyn writes: “My husband and I split a meal.”

Katherine writes: “I share a meal with my 11 year old son”

#13. Don’t Save Room for Dessert

Now if you’re just going out for dessert, just ignore this one.  However, if you’re going out for lunch or dinner… try passing on the dessert.

Dessert is another item on the menu that has massive markups, and that’s exactly why we’re always being pressured to leave room for dessert!  If you still want a treat, just have one at home and you’ll save SO much money!

#14. Try Local Restaurants with a Groupon or Restaurant.com Voucher! (Often 50% Off!)

Are there certain restaurants in your city you’ve been wanting to try?

Before you go, check out Groupon or Restaurant.com to see if you can snatch up a discounted voucher to take along!  Selection may be limited, but you can often save up to 50% off while having an adventure trying out a new cafe or diner near you!

I’ve done this so many times, and discovered some delicious new restaurants with my family.  We even used a Restaurant.com voucher at Downtown Disney to save money at Disneyland!

#15. Check the Mail for Mailer Coupons to Local Restaurants!

You know those mailer packs of coupons that come in the mail every month?  Well, before you toss them out with the junk mail, breeze through them really quick.

This is where you can find fantastic deals to smaller local restaurants.  It’s also a great way to test out a new restaurant you’ve been eyeing on a budget!

Just this week alone I’ve received coupons in my mailbox for a Free Coffee, 99c for 1 Dozen Donut Holes, Free Egg Rolls, Kids Eat Free Pizza, and a Buy 1 Get 1 Free Lunch… all at smaller local restaurants!

#16. Then Follow Your Favorite Restaurants on Social Media

Another simple way to be notified of deals and current promotions is to follow the pages of your favorite restaurants on Facebook and Instagram.  They may even share some social media exclusive deals, too!

For example, I’ve found out about so many Freebies and Buy 1 Get 1 Free offers from Starbucks on Instagram. 🙂

#17. Skip the Food Delivery, and Pick Up Your To-Go Order

Oh I know food delivery can be convenient, but if you’re able to… you can often save a bundle by picking up your own order.

On top of fees and tip, food delivery apps often even charge higher prices for the exact same item at the restaurant!

#18. Or Use These Savvy Tricks Before Ordering Food Delivery

Use Multiple Food Delivery Apps for food deliveries to get the best pricing.  It really pays to price shop the top food delivery apps for your area.  These could include UBER Eats, DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates, etc.

Avoid the Uber Eats Small Order Fee! Uber Eats charges 3 different fees, including a Delivery Fee, a Service Fee. and a Small Order Fee for orders less than $10.  To make sure you’re not paying too much, review these 3 different fees before checking out.  

Whatever you do, make sure you skip the Small Order Fee!  

Skipping the Small Order Fee is easy, just order more than $10!  Even if you order more food than you want right now, you can always save the extra in the fridge as leftovers.

Always Use A Promo Code when you order food delivery! For example, there are promo codes available for Uber all over the web.  Simply go to Google and search “Uber Promo Codes” for the latest promo codes available.

#19. Get Military Discounts for Restaurants

There’s no reason to pay full price at your favorite restaurant when you can score a Military Discount!  So which restaurants offer a military discount?

I’ve put together this list of Military Discounts For Restaurants that will make finding restaurant discounts so much easier!

#20. How To Master A Buffet Restaurant

So are you wondering, how do I get the most value out of my buffet?

When you understand the economics of how a buffet is arranged, you can outsmart the buffet restaurant and get more value for your money.

The beginning of a buffet line will be filled with low cost, high carb foods.  Then towards the end, you’ll find the higher value meats and seafood items.

The buffet is designed this way to entice you to fill up on cheap carbs.  Then, by the time you reach the more expensive meats, your plates will already be fairly full.  Thereby making it harder to add too many of the more expensive items to your meal.

So start by keeping your plate empty, and pass over all those inexpensive sides and higher carb items.  Instead, fill your plate first with the more expensive premium meats and seafood items.  Then, when you’ve had your fill of these higher value items, head back into the line to enjoy some of the less expensive sides and desserts.

Congratulations.  You’ve just outwitted the buffet!

#21. Learn How to Make Your Favorite Copycat Recipes at Home!

Too tired to go out?  I’ve got you covered!

You can save SO much money enjoying your favorite dishes from the comfort of your own home with these easy copycat recipes!

Restaurant Copycat Recipes to Try At Home

More Ways to Eat out Cheap:

Shirlee writes: “The daily specials are usually cheaper!”

Amy writes: “Save a little each month to buy gift cards with promotional bonuses for your favorite restaurants during November/December.”

Jen writes: “Eat at home before going out and drink a lot of water while dining.  It will fill you up and you won’t eat as much.”

Kathleen writes: “Go for breakfast or lunch!”

Crystal writes: “Lunch is cheaper than dinner.”

Eat Out Cheap Ideas for Your Favorite Restaurants…

Applebee’s Menu Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know!

Enjoy even more of your menu favorites at Applebee’s when you use these clever Applebee’s money saving tips and tricks!

Chili’s Menu Hacks You Haven’t Heard Before + Delicious Copycat Recipes

These popular Chili’s Menu Hacks for Chili’s restaurant specials will help you save money while indulging in your menu favorites at Chili’s, at the same time!

Cracker Barrel Menu Hacks You Probably Didn’t Know!

Use these clever Cracker Barrel Menu Hacks to save yourself time and score deals on your favorite homestyle Cracker Barrel goodness!

How To Get Free Domino’s Pizza
(+ Little Known Deals to Save BIG)

Pizza is fun, but free pizza is even better.  That’s why I want to show you how to get free Domino’s Pizza!

Longhorn Steakhouse Menu Tips (Plus How To Eat Free)

Use my frugal Longhorn Steakhouse Menu Tips and Tricks to give yourself the gift of a delicious steak dinner this weekend!

Outback Steakhouse Deals to Save You SO Much Money

Your next steak dinner is going to taste even more amazing when you start using these easy ways to save money at Outback Steakhouse

How To Get Free Food at Panera

Pause your week and enjoy a fun break for Free Food at Panera Bread!  Have you tried any of these easy hacks yet?

20 Starbucks Money Saving Hacks (Little Known Tricks)

Start saving money and getting free coffee with these easy Starbucks Money Saving Hacks!

How To Eat For Free at Texas Roadhouse + Genius Ordering Hacks

 When you know how to eat free at Texas Roadhouse, going out to eat gets a whole lot more fun!

Be sure to check out these money saving tips for stretching your dollars even further…

How to Cut Your Grocery Bill In Half (35 Brilliant Tips)

Want to know how to cut your grocery bill in half?  Keep more cash in your wallet with these easy money saving tricks!

How to Travel for Free or Cheap (20 Budget Travel Hacks)

Dreaming of a getaway?  Make your next vacation a reality when you learn how to travel for free or cheap!

Save Money Fast (20 Easy Ways to Save $2200 this Month!)

Are you wondering how to Save Money Fast?  It’s easy when you start slashing expenses and adding these extra sources of income to your finances!

27 Side Hustles Ideas to Make More Money

Use these creative part time job ideas to supplement your income while you also enhance your social life and stay better connected with others!

So what are your favorite ways to save money at restaurants and eat out cheap?  

Share with us in the comments below!