Veteran’s Day Freebie Guide: Where to Dine, Drink and other freebies in San Francisco on November 11!
Although I am from suburban America and there’s something oddly comforting about shopping in a retail plaza that consists of everything I need in one location, I am not a fan of corporate chain restaurants. I have spent many a day with my suburban group of friends under the faux intimate lighting of a TGI Fridays, Chili’s, Applebee’s, Chevy’s and Elephant Bar. And then I moved to SF and grew a backbone, thus becoming the thorn in my suburban friends’ side; refusing to eat at any of these places in a city that only had these places.
However, I’m not against free food. And I’m definitely not against veterans benefiting from freebies, which they should get every damn day of their lives. I’m against war, but I am not against someone risking their lives for whatever utopian or economic decision that drove them into the military and becoming a soldier.
And so to those dudes and dudettes…here is a list of places in San Francisco where you can dine, drink and even get a haircut for free with your military ID.
Non-edibles
Great Clips is giving anyone who gets a haircut on November 11 a card that a veteran or active-duty military service member can later use for a free haircut | Here is your San Francisco location on Fulton.
Meineke | Free basic oil changes for veterans.
National Parks | All the national parks that normally charge, are free to the public, not just to veterans. Click here to find a park near you.
Food + Beverage
Applebee’s | While veterans over a certain age should definitely steer clear of the food this place is dishing out – excessive amounts of cholestorol, sugar and fats – active military persons could probably burn this shit off in two seconds.
California Pizza Kitchen (dogpatch) | I don’t know anyone that has actually eaten inside the restaurant, but their frozen chicken bbq thai explosion wonderland thin crust is awesome.
Denny’s | From 5am – noon you can enjoy a free “build your own” grand slam
Golden Corral | If you’re in the Sacramento area, Golden Corral is offering free buffet dinners from 5pm-9pm. What better way to celebrate your time dodging bullets and shrapnel that inevitably landed in your ass than to stand attention at the chocolate fountain with a marshmallow on a stick? #hellaneed
IHOP | Veterans will receive a free stack of red, white and blue pancakes – buttermilk pancakes with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream
IKEA | From nov 8 – nov 11 Free Entrée for Veterans! Entrée includes a sandwich, hot dish or entrée salad. Value up to $9.99 Offer valid for active, reserve or retired service members.
Olive Garden (Stonestown Mall) | Enjoy a free entree from a list of approved entrees of cheese ravioli, spaghetti with meat sauce, lasagna, chicken farm or garlic rosemary chicken. As always, with free soup. salad and breadsticks. You’ll walk away stuffed and retaining lots of water from all the salt intake!
Peet’s Coffee | There are so many locations in San Francisco that you could realistically sustain a caffeine buzz throughout the day Complimentary drip coffee or tea is available to all vets and active-duty military on Wednesday.
Sizzler | If you can get yourself down to Daly City, Sizzler is giving away free lunches that includes choice of steak, chicken or shrimp entrée with beverage.
Starbucks | Starbucks will be giving out free tall hot brewed coffees to veterans, active-duty military, and their spouses on Veterans Day.
Click here for more locations on where to score freebies for Veteran’s Day
