Discount Dining: The Day of the Week To Find Restaurant Deals
Everything these days seems just a little bit more expensive, especially when it comes to feeding yourself or your family. Whether it’s free food, buy one get one free deals or places that offer a kids eat free package, it’s good to know where to eat or get good to-go orders. Many restaurants near you may have different deals depending on the day of the week, so strap on the feedbag as it may be time to discover discount dining.
Read: How To Save $200 on Your Grocery Bill Every Month
What’s the Best Day of the Week To Find Meal Deals?
If restaurants are open on Mondays, it is often one of their slowest days so there is a good chance it will have additional specials to help entice you to come in. However, many restaurants and deal seekers alike actually say Tuesday is the best day of the week to eat at a chain restaurant. Here are some key takeaways:
As many chefs take Mondays off, Tuesdays have become the day for fresh food deliveries such as produce, seafood or meat products.
New creative dishes are often created on Tuesdays as it’s easier to expedite for a quieter weekday crowd than on the weekends.
There are also often specials on more than just food, but many restaurants also offer extended happy hour prices on drinks as well.
There are classic Tuesday specials such as Tuesday events at chains. For example, Del Taco runs a Taco Night special for three grilled chicken tacos for $2.69 every Tuesday from 3 p.m. to close.
Many restaurants’ coupons or promotions are also only good during the week to try and drum up business during quieter nights such as Monday or Tuesday.
This Tuesday trend for getting deals and better quality meals on Tuesdays has been around for a while. In fact, famous chef Anthony Bourdain in a 1999 article for The New Yorker stated the following:
Chefs prefer to cook for weekday customers rather than for weekenders, and they like to start the new week with their most creative dishes. In New York, locals dine during the week. Weekends are considered amateur nights–for tourists, rubes, and the well-done-ordering pretheatre hordes. The fish may be just as fresh on Friday, but it’s on Tuesday that you’ve got the goodwill of the kitchen on your side.
When To Find Restaurant Chain and Fast Food Deals
Whether deals are for a limited time or just during a particular day of the week for restaurants, many can be honored no matter if you order online or in the app for a particular chain. Be sure to take advantage of a rewards program if available and here are some examples of some restaurant chain and fast food deals throughout the week:
Red Lobster: $21.99 for unlimited shrimp on Mondays
Del Taco: Three snack tacos for $1.69 on Tuesdays
Wingstop: $0.70 boneless wings on Mondays
Burger King: $3 Whoppers or Impossible Whoppers for Whopper Wednesdays
Ikea: $3 veggie and plant balls on Meatless Monday
Ruby Tuesday: $9.99 for access to the Endless Garden Bar on Mondays
Final Take To GO
Whether you are stopping in, driving through or placing an online order it might be time to edit what day of the week you frequent your favorite grub hubs. Mondays and Tuesdays are typically the best day to look for some deeply discounted dining as well as happy hour specials. This can be true for fast food or national restaurant chains as well as locally owned eateries.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about discount dining and restaurant deals.
What is the slowest day of the week for restaurants?
Depending on the restaurant, typically Mondays and Tuesdays are some of the slower days for your average chain restaurant or locally-owned establishment. Often, you can check online or call the location to see what food or happy hour specials they are running as the deals are generally more discounted on Mondays or Tuesdays.
What is a restaurant coupon or promo code?
A restaurant coupon, promo code or voucher is a certificate that gives you rights to a specific discount, special or limited-time offer. It is typically only good at a specific restaurant or chain and may come with restrictions such as times and hours of operation you can use it as well as certain days of the week on which it's valid. These coupons are often ways to drive business to the restaurant as well as advertise for upcoming specials or events.
What restaurants have weekday specials?
Though specials and discounts may vary by location, here are some examples of discount dining you could find near you at restaurants and fast food chains:
Red Lobster: $21.99 for unlimited shrimp on Mondays
Del Taco: Three snack tacos for $1.69 on Tuesdays
Wingstop: $0.70 boneless wings on Mondays
Burger King: $3 Whoppers or Impossible Whoppers for Whopper Wednesdays
Ikea: $3 veggie and plant balls on Meatless Monday
Ruby Tuesday: $9.99 for access to the Endless Garden Bar on Mondays
Information is accurate as of Aug. 11, 2023.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Discount Dining: The Day of the Week To Find Restaurant Deals
