Having someone else handle the cooking feels wonderful, but it can strain your wallet. Whether you’re grabbing food at a drive-thru or dining at a sit-down spot, the expenses add up. So we gathered strategies to help you reduce spending when dining out so you can still enjoy an evening on the town.
What Does Dining Out Cost?
The price of a restaurant meal in the U.S. varies by restaurant type, location and the broader economy. Recent inflation and supply disruptions have caused restaurant prices to fluctuate in recent years. The Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that “food away from home” increased 3.9%¹ over the past year.
By using these practical tips, you can lower the cost of lunch or dinner at a restaurant by more than half.
26 Tips to Save Money While Dining Out
1. Use Military or Veteran Discounts
Many eateries — especially large chains — offer discounts to active duty military and veterans. Discounts typically run from 10% to 20% year-round, and some venues provide complimentary meals on Veterans Day. You’ll likely need to present military identification.
2. Bring Coupons
After redeeming more than 100 restaurant coupons, here’s one tip: read the fine print!
A “buy one entrée, get one half-off” deal effectively offers only a 25% saving, and even less if you must purchase two drinks to qualify.
BOGO offers are usually the most valuable, and you can find them in mailers or on sites like Valpak.com.
3. Purchase Discounted Restaurant Gift Cards
Many people don’t realize discounted restaurant gift cards are available online through services likeCardCash.
Want to stretch savings further? Buy discounted gift cards through cash-back portals and pay with a high-reward cash-back credit card to shave even more off your dining bill.
4. Use This Free App to Earn About $290/Year on Gas and Food
Install the free Upside app and set up an account. Then, view the map to find participating restaurants and gas stations nearby and claim an offer.
Pay with a card linked to your Upside wallet, then tap “Check In” or snap a photo of your receipt to confirm the purchase — this works for dine-in or takeout.
Upside tracks your cash back, and when you’re ready you can transfer funds to a bank account or PayPal, or redeem for gift cards from popular brands like Starbucks or Amazon. Payouts arrive in two days or less.
Download the Upside app to begin — it’s free and accepted at more than 50,000 locations.
5. Take Advantage of Free Kids’ Meals
If you’re dining with children, there are restaurants where kids eat free. That can slash your bill dramatically.
Also check the kids’ menu at your go-to spots. Portions are often nearly as large as adult entrees but priced much lower.
6. Dine Out on Your Birthday
Explore spots that offer complimentary items for your birthday. Free food is always welcome!
Fill out restaurant loyalty profiles, including your birthday. Many places will send a coupon for a free dessert or appetizer to celebrate.
7. Don’t Skip the Survey
Sometimes restaurants invite you to complete a satisfaction survey and offer a discount for a future visit. Spend a few minutes leaving feedback and enjoy the savings.
8. Check Menus Online Before You Go
Most restaurants post their menus online, letting you pick a place with affordable options you like. Look for daily specials to determine the best day to visit.
You can also view menus nationwide (including some places without a website) at AllMenus.com.
9. Make a Meal from Appetizers and Sides
When we shifted to vegetarian meals, my spouse and I ordered sides and appetizers instead of entrées. Often those dishes were the tastiest on the menu, and the cost was far lower than two main courses.
10. Eat During Happy Hour
Consider dining at the bar during happy hour. You’ll save on beverages and often find half-priced appetizers, typically available in the bar area only.
Seating is another perk. If we’re happy to sit at the bar, we often avoid long waits for tables in the dining room.
11. Opt for a Late Lunch
Lunch menu prices are almost always lower, even when the entrée is the same one offered for dinner. Those few dollars saved per dish add up quickly.
You can have an early dinner at lunch rates if you visit restaurants that serve lunch until 4 p.m. We especially like using lunch to sample pricier restaurants more affordably.
12. Stick to Water When Dining Out
Alcohol with dinner can balloon your bill. Make dining out about the food and leave drinking for home. We order water with lemon (usually free).
If a beverage menu arrives, hand it back to the server as soon as you sit to avoid temptation.
13. Skip the Starters
Unless you’re planning to make a full meal of appetizers to save money, skip starters. Most entrees provide more than enough food.
If you’re at a “small plates” restaurant, ask about portion sizes before ordering multiple dishes.
14. Share a Dish
Many restaurants serve large portions. Order one meal to share. Sometimes restaurants charge a couple dollars for an extra plate, but even with that fee you’ll usually cut your bill significantly.
Dining alone? Ask for a to-go box and set aside part of the meal before you start to create two meals from one.
15. Choose the Daily Special
Daily specials are often priced lower than other entrées.
Be cautious: there are two types of specials. Daily “today only” specials can be a way to use leftover ingredients, while regularly rotating daily specials are more reliable for fresh, budget-friendly meals.
Also look for early bird deals that encourage diners to come before the evening rush.
16. See If You Can Bring Your Own Wine
Some restaurants let guests bring their own wine and will open and serve it at the table for a corkage fee. Corkage typically runs $10–$40, allowing you to save by bringing your own bottle.
17. Use Credit Card Promotions
Check the benefits section of your credit card account. We once got a free meal from a $10 statement credit for buying something via Amex Express Checkout.
I also used an Amex card to buy a $10 printable Applebee’s gift card; the $10 credit posted within days, effectively reimbursing the purchase. Credit card offers often vary by account — one of my cards showed 64 offers (three restaurant-related), while another had only 25.
18. Join Restaurant Loyalty Programs
Many restaurants offer loyalty programs for regulars, so sign up! You’ll receive emails with special deals and sometimes a complimentary appetizer or dessert.
Note that OpenTable provides rewards or dining points for restaurants in its reservation network.
19. Dine at Casinos
Complimentary meals at casinos are less common than in the past, but many casinos still have budget-friendly dining options. Check casino websites for events — like slot tournaments — that sometimes feature free food.
20. Join a Vegan or Potluck Group
Find vegan meetups on MeetUp and join one that holds potlucks. At a recent vegan potluck, we brought two cans of dolmas from Trader Joe’s plated with a lettuce garnish.
Cost: $5.
They were a hit, and we enjoyed 10 dishes prepared by others. You don’t have to be vegan to join; it’s a welcoming way to socialize and partake in a large, mostly home-cooked meal.
21. Go Tasting
We sometimes buy a few items while hitting the free samples at Whole Foods, and occasionally the samples are enough to make a light meal. Ask your local grocery store when they host sample days.
Costco is famous for generous samples and those hot dog and soda combos at the food court are tough to beat for value.
22. Be Thrifty on the Road
When traveling, it’s easy to overspend on food, but there are ways to save. Choose lodging with a microwave or kitchenette so you can prepare simple meals.
Pack snacks and drinks to avoid frequent convenience store stops. Bring a refillable water bottle to skip buying bottled water. And once you arrive, visit a grocery store for affordable meal options.
23. Visit Buffets
An all-you-can-eat buffet can deliver the most food for your money. If a big lunch leaves you too full for dinner, you’ll reduce your overall food spending for the day.
24. Dine at Two Places in One Night
Want the atmosphere of a high-end restaurant without the high-price entrée? Eat a light meal at an inexpensive spot first, then visit the pricier venue solely for drinks or dessert and the view.
25. Order Pickup or Pizza
The classic option.
If your aim is simply to avoid cooking, order pizza or fast-casual food for pickup. A couple pizzas can feed four people for much less than dining at a restaurant. Delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats offer pickup options that cost less than delivery and can still earn rewards for future discounts.
Ideally, pair this with a coupon. If you want to get out of the house, take the pizza to go (see No. 26).
26. Pack a Picnic
If you want to be somewhere lovely and have someone else prepare the food, order takeout (like Chinese food) and bring it to a park or lakeside.
Takeout containers often hold more than a plated restaurant portion, so order one meal to share and enjoy it in a scenic spot.
Combine Strategies to Maximize Savings
The most effective way to cut dining-out costs is to layer two or more of these tactics.
For example, you might enjoy half-price appetizers at a bar during happy hour using a discounted gift card, then have your second drink at home.
Alex Mercer is a former contributor to Savinly. Jamie Roberts, a senior writer for Savinly Readers, contributed.
Sources:
- Consumer Price Index.
