Smart Spending

5 Restaurants Where You Can Snag a Free Meal Right Now

By Brad Tuttle | @bradrtuttle | August 24, 2011 | +
Jupiterimages / Getty Images
Jupiterimages / Getty Images

Among the current top offers from national restaurant chains are buy one, get one free breakfasts and dinners, kids eat free promos, and a straightup free steak dinner—no strings attached, no purchase required—from Outback Steakhouse.

Here are five restaurants where at least one person in your party can eat for free right now:

Denny’s
Kids 10 and under eat free from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays (and sometimes, Saturdays as well) with the purchase of an adult entrée at Denny’s throughout much of the country. Up to two kids eat free with each adult entrée purchased. Check out KidsMealDeals.com for the particulars of Denny’s promotions in your area.

IHOP
Kids also eat free from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at IHOP—but the offer isn’t limited to specific days of the week. As part of a promotion for both the back to school period and the new “Spy Kids” movie, children 12 and under can order off the “Just for Kids” menu for free with the purchase of an adult entrée throughout the month of August.

(MORE: ‘Breastaurants’ and 7 Other Hot Restaurant Trends)

Mimi’s Café
Print out this coupon for a buy one, get one free breakfast entrée offer at Mimi’s Café, a chain inspired by French bistros with locations in the South, Midwest, and Southwest. But act quickly: The coupon is only valid through August 25.

Outback Steakhouse
Outback Steakhouse is hosting the “Great Aussie Steakout” starting tonight, August 24, at 9 p.m. in your time zone. To participate—and get a free steak dinner—fill out a form at the restaurant’s website at the appointed time. The offer ends August 26, or as soon as Outback awards 1,000,000 free steak dinners, whichever comes first. If you’d like to be reminded when the promotion officially begins, send a text message with the word “Outback” to 27438, and you’ll receive a message in response the moment forms can be filled out. Check out the deal site Buxr for more detailed instructions.

(MORE: Olive Garden Admits Making Up ‘Authentic’ Italian Dishes Like Pastichetti)

Ruby Tuesday
Through August 30 at Ruby Tuesday, bring in this coupon and when you buy one entrée, a second entrée of equal or lesser value is free. The maximum discount is $15.

Brad Tuttle is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @bradrtuttle. You can also continue the discussion on TIME’s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME.

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Related Topics: back-to-school, Denny's, family, food, freebies, IHOP, kids, Mimi's Cafe, Outback Steakhouse, restaurants, Ruby Tuesday, Spy Kids, steak, Saving & Spending, Smart Spending

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