Veterans and active-duty service members who sit down at a participating Applebee’s on Wednesday, November 11, 2026 can order a free full-size entrée. They also leave with something easy to overlook: a $5 Bounce Back Card for a later visit. The card can’t be used today, but it works for dine-in, To Go or delivery until it expires on November 29, according to the offer terms published by FSR Magazine.
That means the thank-you keeps working after the holiday ends.
Today’s free meal is dine-in only
The Applebee’s Veterans Day offer covers Active Duty Military, Veterans, Reserves and National Guard members. Guests pick one entrée from a seven-item menu: 6 oz. Top Sirloin, Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Tenders Platter, Double Crunch Shrimp, Fiesta Lime Chicken, Oriental Chicken Salad or Three-Cheese Chicken Penne.
Drinks and tip are not included, and the deal is limited to one meal per veteran or service member. It can’t be combined with other coupons, and participation varies by restaurant, so calling your local Applebee’s before you go is the safest move.
To prove service, Applebee’s accepts a U.S. Uniformed Services ID or Retired ID card, a current Leave and Earnings Statement, a veterans organization card such as American Legion or VFW, a photo of yourself in uniform, wearing your uniform, or a DD214 with a citation or commendation.
The $5 card comes with its own fine print
The Bounce Back Card goes to eligible guests who dine in today. Starting tomorrow, it can be used at participating restaurants or online through applebees.com or the Applebee’s app. These are the terms as of November 2026:
- It’s single-use and expires November 29, 2026.
- It doesn’t cover tax, alcohol, delivery fees, gift cards or tip.
- Only one card is accepted per party, table or visit.
- It can’t be combined with other offers, and a lost, copied or altered card is void.
The last days of that window fall on Thanksgiving weekend, so the card can take a little off a takeout order when nobody wants to cook again.
A tradition now in its 19th year
This is the 19th year in a row that Applebee’s has offered free meals on Veterans Day, and the chain says it has served more than 12.7 million of them since the program began.
John Peyton, Applebee’s president and Dine Brands CEO, called Veterans Day “one of our Team Members’ favorite days of the year.”
Tuck the $5 card in your wallet tonight and set a reminder for the weekend after Thanksgiving.
