National Hamburger Day on May 28, 2027! Many restaurants offer pretty fantastic freebies for this special holiday!
What is National Hamburger Day?
You gotta love a holiday that gives you free burgers! National Hamburger Day is celebrated every year on May 28th and is the perfect excuse to grab a juicy burger and score some delicious deals while you’re at it. While nobody agrees on exactly who invented the hamburger, the classic American favorite dates back to the late 1800s and has become one of the most popular foods in the country.
Restaurants across the country celebrate National Hamburger Day with free burgers, BOGO deals, discounts, rewards offers, and special limited-time promotions.
⚠️ BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT: Because a massive chunk of these fast-food locations are individually owned franchises, participation can vary wildly. To avoid a wasted trip and save your gas, we highly recommend giving your local spot a quick call to verify they are honoring the promotion before you head out!
2027 National Hamburger Day Deals & Freebies
Here are the verified burger freebies and discounts available right now:
⚠️ PRO-TIP: The absolute best deals require you to be logged into their free store loyalty apps or mention specific codes to the cashier. Stack your app rewards accounts before you roll up to the window so you don’t miss out on the zero-cost freebies!
FREE BURGERS (No Purchase Required or Small App Stacks)
Buffalo Wild Wings
New rewards members get a FREE burger added to their account automatically with any food or drink purchase of $15 or more. Limit one. Find your nearest Buffalo Wild Wings here.
Burger King
Grab a FREE Hamburger with any digital purchase of $3 or more. This promotion is running nationwide but is exclusive to app or website checkouts. Find your nearest Burger King here.
Irv’s Burgers
Be one of the first 50 guests through the doors on May 28 and mention the secret code “Just for me” to the cashier to receive a completely FREE Roadside Single. Limit one free burger per guest. Find your nearest Irv’s Burgers here.
Jack in the Box
Score a FREE Jr. Jumbo Jack with any app order of $1 or more on May 28. Find your nearest Jack in the Box here.
Sonic Drive-In
Rewards members can get a FREE burger with any $5 purchase all month long through May 31. Find your nearest Sonic Drive-In here.
Steak ’n Shake
Show up in-store on May 28 wearing or holding any American Flag item (a shirt, a hat, a pin, or a keychain) and score a completely FREE Double Steakburger. Valid in-store only, limit one per person. Find your nearest Steak ’n Shake location here.
Universal Joint & Brake Pad
Joint Rewards members get a free smash burger all day long on Thursday, May 28, 2026. The offer will be available at all Universal Joint locations throughout the Southeast (including Decatur, Lawrenceville, Greenville, Clayton, Asheville, and Chattanooga), as well as sister concept Brake Pad. No purchase necessary. Visit the Universal Joint website here.
Whataburger
Rewards members can score a FREE Whataburger when you order a medium fry and medium drink online or in-app on May 28th. For in-store orders, you must scan your app checkout barcode. Find your nearest Whataburger here.
THE BEST BUY-ONE-GET-ONE (BOGO) DEALS
Arby’s
From May 28, to May 31, fans can take advantage of a buy-one-get-one offer on their favorite Arby’s sandwiches, including the Classic Roast Beef, Beef ’n Cheddar, and Crispy Chicken sandwiches. Valid thru 5/28/2026 to 5/31/2026 at participating U.S. locations for in-store/drive-thru ordering & pick-up orders. Sandwich must be of equal or lesser value. Excludes French Dip Royale and the 1/4 BBQ Sandwiches. Must have an active Arby’s Rewards account to redeem. Find your nearest Arby’s here.
Carl’s Jr.
On May 28 only, buy any Famous Star burger and get a second Famous Star for 1 penny at participating locations. Find your nearest Carl’s Jr. here.
Checkers & Rally’s
For two days only, May 27 and May 28, the brand will offer a Buy One, Get One Free deal on its Classic Burger. The promotion gives guests the opportunity to purchase one Classic Burger and receive a second at no additional cost. Find your nearest Checkers & Rally’s here.
Del Taco
Buy one, get one free Double Del Cheeseburgers on May 28th-30th. Find your nearest Del Taco here.
Habit Burger
From May 28 through June 3, guests can score two Charburgers for the price of one. To redeem the offer, guests must be registered MyHabit members. The deal can be accessed through the Habit app or website by visiting the “My Offers” tab. Find your nearest Habit Burger here.
Hardee’s
On May 28, Hardee’s is running a matching promotion: Buy One Famous Star, Get One for 1 penny at participating restaurants. Find your nearest Hardee’s here.
The Greene Turtle
Score a BOGO Free classic burger deal all day long on May 28. Find your nearest Greene Turtle here.
Skinny Louie
Buy-one-get-one offer on its Skinny Louie Cheeseburgers across all locations on 5/28. Guests can redeem the promotion by replying to Skinny Louie’s Instagram Story to receive a coupon message, which can then be presented at checkout. The offer applies to any size Skinny Louie Cheeseburger and will be available all day long. Visit Skinny Louie on Instagram here.
CHEAP MEALS & NATIONWIDE DOLLAR UPGRADES
Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
$10 BD’s All-American Burger and a classic side on May 28. Find your nearest Bad Daddy’s here.
Bobby’s Burgers By Bobby Flay
In celebration of National Burger Month throughout May, Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay is offering a specific lineup of weekly in-restaurant deals. On May 28 (National Burger Day), you can grab a $5.28 Crunchburger.
Weekly Deal Schedule: May 1–3 & 18–24: $9 Palace Classic with fries | May 4–10: Free fries with any burger | May 11–17: Buy One, Get One (BOGO) Free burgers.
Month-Long Specials: Limited-Time Menu featuring the Buffalo Burger and Dulce de Leche Shake available through May 31. Plus, rewards members can enter the “Burger Boss” Sweepstakes to win “Free Burgers for a Year” (12 total), with extra entries given for purchases. Visit the Bobby’s Burgers website here.
Burger 21
Grab their signature Cheesy burgers for only $5 (regularly $10.29) all day long on May 28. Find your nearest Burger 21 here.
Dairy Queen
$1 off any Signature Stackburger. Options include Backyard Bacon Ranch, Bacon Cheese Deluxe, FlameThrower, Cheese Deluxe, and Original Cheeseburger. Offer valid May 25 – 31 for Rewards members. Find your nearest Dairy Queen here.
Epic Burger
Grab any slider and a small drink for $3.99, all day on May 28. Find your nearest Epic Burger here.
Farm Burger
For one day only, guests at participating Farm Burger locations will be able to purchase a build-your-own grassfed, grass-finished burger for $6. Find your nearest Farm Burger here.
Farmer Boys
$3.99 Big Cheese Cheeseburger for VIF members all day long on May 28. Find your nearest Farmer Boys here.
Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard
Get deluxe burgers for $2.99 each from 10:30 am – close on May 28. Find your nearest Good Times Burger here.
Jack’s
On Thursday, May 28, guests can enjoy $1 hamburgers at all Jack’s locations from 2 p.m. to close. The offer is available in-store and online, with a limit of five hamburgers per order. Find your nearest Jack’s here.
Krystal
Club Krystal members can enjoy an in-app exclusive deal for $0.50 Krystals on May 28 (maximum of five sliders). Find your nearest Krystal here.
Perkins American Food Co.
Order a burger, fries, and a slice of pie deal for $9.99 all day long on May 28. Find your nearest Perkins here.
Ruby Tuesday
Single patty American Smashed Burger with fries or tots and the Endless Garden Bar for $8.99. Offer valid on May 28. Find your nearest Ruby Tuesday here.
Smashburger
Get any single burger (excludes any items on the $4.99 All-The-Time menu) for $5.28 on May 28th when ordering in-store by mentioning the deal at checkout. For online or in-app orders, use promo code 528SINGLE at checkout. Offer valid on May 28 only. Find your nearest Smashburger here.
Wayback Burgers
$5 Classic Burgers when you order in-restaurant or through the Wayback Rewards program! Limit two per order/rewards account. Find your nearest Wayback Burgers here.
STEAKHOUSE DEALS & SPECIAL EVENTS
Eddie Merlot’s
Grab an Eddie’s Prime Cheeseburger and housemade potato chips for $15 when you order online. If you choose to dine-in you can score this deal during Happy Hour from 4 – 6:30 p.m. local time. Find your nearest Eddie Merlot’s here.
Happy Joe’s Pizza
Offering their Super Max Pizza (topped with ground beef, onions, cheese, and more), starting at $14.99 all week. Find your nearest Happy Joe’s Pizza here.
Shake Shack
Score a FREE ShackBurger with a $10 minimum purchase from May 25-31! Just order in the Shack App, online, or at a kiosk and use code FREEBURGER (must be in ALL CAPS). Find your nearest Shake Shack here.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
Score a Signature Angus Burger and fries for $15 when you order online. Dine-in guests can get this same deal during Happy Hours from 3 – 6 p.m. local time. Find your nearest Sullivan’s Steakhouse here.
Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers will celebrate National Burger Day on Thursday, May 28, with the launch of an even bigger prize: a chance to win a private lunch with Chef Paul Wahlberg at one of three locations in Massachusetts (Hingham, Fenway, or Springfield). Chef Paul Wahlberg will personally announce the contest details via a special video shared on Wahlburgers’ Instagram page. Check there for entry guidelines and official rules. Visit Wahlburgers on Instagram here.
White Castle
Take advantage of late-spring slider specials running throughout National Hamburger Month:
Apr. 6 – June 14: Crave Clutch Deal – $3 off a Crave Clutch of any 20 Sliders. Use code: CLUTCHDEAL
Apr. 6 – June 14: Combo Meal Deal – $1 off any Combo Meal. Use code: WC1OFF
May 1 – May 31: Get a physical $25 gift card for $19.21 (purchased inside Castles only).
May 1 – June 13: 10-Sack of Original Sliders for $8.99 (In-Castle and Mobile App orders only). Find your nearest White Castle here.
National Burger Day FAQ
What is National Burger Day?
National Hamburger Day is an annual food holiday celebrated every year on May 28. It is one of the biggest fast-food savings events of the year, with major nationwide chains offering massive discounts, buy-one-get-one deals, and completely free burgers to kick off the summer season.
Do I really need to download the restaurant apps?
Yes, for about 90% of them. With the exception of unique restaurant events like the Steak ’n Shake flag promotion, almost every major food holiday freebie requires you to be a registered loyalty member inside their official mobile app. The coupons are pushed directly to app accounts to prevent people from using them multiple times.
Can I combine multiple burger coupons in one order?
No. Fast-food apps strictly limit users to one digital coupon per order. If you want to claim a penny burger at Wendy’s and a free burger at Burger King, you will need to make separate stops at each restaurant.
Pro-Tips to Maximize Your National Hamburger Day Savings:
- Sign up the night before: Do not wait until you are standing in the drive-thru line to download an app. Slow network connections or verification email delays can cause you to miss out on the deal entirely.
- Look for the cheapest qualifying items: For deals that require a small purchase (like Burger King or Wendy’s), check the value menu. Adding a small cup of water, a chocolate chip cookie, or a value fry for around a dollar is all it takes to trigger your free or penny burger coupon.
- Watch out for customization fees: While the base burger configuration is covered by the coupon, adding extra cheese, premium sauces, or bacon will usually result in an extra upcharge on your final ticket.
🍔 Looking for more permanent restaurant discounts? Check out our comprehensive guide to Freebies & Rewards, or browse our master Good Report Card Freebies Directory to reward your students with free treats!
