Find out how to save money at a restaurant the next time you eat out!
Save money at a restaurant without sacrificing your dining experience! We’ve rounded up 20 smart ways to cut costs the next time you eat out!
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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 prices on the sides and see if they are cheap when ordering individually.
Ordering the sides individually can be cheaper than getting a complete entree. Next time, before ordering your favorite burger meal, check the prices of sides of fries individually to see if they help you save money.
3. Order water and skip soft drinks and alcohol.
The average cost of soft drinks in restaurants is around $3 and will grow quickly if you are refilling or eating with your family. If a family of five each receives a soft drink and a $3 refill each, it’s $30 for a drink alone. Needless to say, the cost of alcoholic beverages increases much faster. Not only can you choose refreshing filtered water, it will save you money, but it will also be better for your health.
4. Make lunch special for an early dinner.
Lunch specials are usually the same food, but are inexpensive and come with drinks and soups. Some restaurants enforce strict lunch only times, but others are more flexible, especially if you politely request less portions. If you’re dining in a place that serves both lunch and dinner menus, it’s always worth asking if you’d like to accommodate the lunch portion in the evening. You may be happy and surprised!
5. Split the plate with a friend or order a small plate as your meal.
If the restaurant is famous for serving a large portion, it is a great opportunity to split the plate with friends. Many restaurants will be happy to split the kitchen plates, but if not, request an additional plate. If you’re really hungry, fill up with appetizers, salads or additional sides and spend nearly half of it.
6. As soon as you get your food, ask for the box.
It’s a genius hack to keep half of your meal in a box before eating half of your meal, and it feels like you’re getting two meals for one price. Mentally, that can be difficult, but if you stay strong, you may realize that you don’t need the perfect part from the start.
7. Do not upgrade your food. Simply ask for a swap.
Instead of paying for add-ons, you’re asking for a free swap, such as swapping salmon for sushi avocados, or asking for an extra side of vegetables instead of fries.
Do you like sushi? To keep costs down, consider ordering a hand roll instead of a specialist roll, as they often have similar ingredients at a lower price.
8. Select the sandwich version of the entree and save it larger.
Choosing a sandwich version of your favorite dish is a great way to save money when eating out. For example, at a local restaurant, Crab Cake Antrée is $13 more than Crab Cake Sandwich. Instead, you can order a sandwich for your wallet. The sandwich version may have a little less protein, but BUN helps make up for it and will make you feel just as full. As a bonus, you might be able to love the fries side or try recreating the dinner entree and exchange the same side for free. You can also make small side salads with sandwich toppings.
This trick works in most places that also serve sandwiches and wraps! They are often made with the same high quality beef, such as ordering burgers from the bar at the steakhouse rather than a steak dinner, but often for a small portion of the price.
9. Order your child’s meal if the menu is permitted.
Some places offer drinks and sides for kids’ meals thanks to less than full-size meals. If there is no age limit and you haven’t corrected for a huge meal, this can be a great budget hack.
10. Sign up for rewards and apps to earn free food at many restaurants.
Many restaurants offer free sign-up perks, including free appetizers, desserts and sometimes free meals. Plus, once you sign up, many restaurants will offer free birthday items, email-only discounts, coupons and more!
Learn how to get free food from many popular chains! We’ve rounded up prizes worth over $200!
11. Ask about the discount if you are a senior, military, student or meet other requirements to save.
Some locations offer student, military, senior or AAA discounts, but they don’t always advertise. Always ask before paying, as it can potentially save 10-20%!
12. Follow your favorite restaurants on social media for possible transactions.
Social media is the perfect resource to learn just by special menu deals, cheap nights, and following the page. Here they may promote transactions you don’t want to miss. In addition to that, some restaurants may offer free items if they follow on social media, like their Facebook pages, or tag them on Instagram. So go and find your favorite!
13. Give feedback about your experience to potentially save you on your next meal.
Some restaurants offer free items and discounts when completing customer satisfaction surveys or giving feedback.
14. Order food at Doordash, where you can qualify for credit for your next order.
Some online streams, like Doordash, may even compensate for qualifying orders by providing credit to your account! If your photos were chosen to decorate their menu, I also saw $7 from the restaurant. If you’re an aspiring food photographer, it might also be the perfect way to get your feet into the doorstep for new opportunities.
15. Be friends with the staff. They may let you slip the prizes from time to time.
If you are friendly with the staff or use a particular restaurant frequently, you may be surprised by the complimentary desserts, sides, or drinks. Of course, this is very different and doesn’t happen anywhere, but it’s not always kind. 😉
“Our favorite restaurant is not open on Sundays, Mondays or Tuesdays, so late on Saturday evenings, they can’t offer it after opening for a few days, so we give them the worst wine pours and straight, free wine so that it doesn’t go into waste. – Emily, Hipside Kick
16. Dine at a restaurant that offers free chips, breads or starters.
Many restaurants offer free bread or chips and salsa at the start of a meal, so it’s a great complimentary way to make it less in your meal.
This is a list of popular American restaurants that usually offer free chips, bread, or similar starters to enjoy while waiting for a meal.
AppleBee’s – Members (Free to join) Get free tortilla chips and salsa. Cheddar Scratch Kitchen – Free soft and warm bread with honey butter. Chile – Free tips and salsa for Chilean regulars. Olive Garden – Free unlimited breadsticks with meals. Outback Steakhouse – Complimentary freshly baked bread with whipped butter. PF Chang’s – Free crunchy rice crackers with meals. Red Lobster – Unlimited free cheddar baby biscuits serve with your meal. Texas Roadhouse – Freshly baked bread with free peanuts and cinnamon butter. Cheesecake Factory – Free warm bread and butter.
17. Check out the spectacular openings in your area and get free food.
Keep an eye out for the spectacular openings in your area as many new restaurants offer free food and special deals to attract customers. A great way to try new things, support local businesses and enjoy free meals while you’re in it!
18. Download the app and save money at restaurants.
Checking in to a restaurant using apps like Yelp or Foursquare is a simple and effective way to get free items and discounts. Many restaurants work with these apps to offer special deals to customers who check in during their visit. Simply check in via the app and you may be rewarded with a free appetizer, drink, or percentage of total bills. It’s a great way to enjoy a little extra perk while eating out and can be combined with other promotions, such as birthday rewards and loyalty points.
Plus, checking in will spread the word about your favorite spots and benefit both you and the restaurant!
19. You may join your city’s trivia team and win gift certificates at local restaurants.
Our waist buddy Madison says there are many trivia groups around her city in Washington, and she recently won a $15 certificate to an Italian restaurant because her team won! As a bonus, it’s a great way to meet people who fit your lifestyle and enjoy leaving the house!
“Last week I joined the trivia team and my team won the first time I played! There are a lot of people around town. My closest ones are hosted at a casual Italian restaurant. We each got a cert for $15. – Madison, Hipside Kick
20. Instead, I skip the restaurant and eat at home.
Of course, this goes without saying, but it’s an important habit to remember whether you’re trying to save money at a restaurant. Dining at home instead is a great way to save money without sacrificing taste! You can also control the ingredients and portion sizes and carve out the time to spend a date night with a special person.
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