Here are 20+ restaurants feeding veterans free meals in southwestern IL this weekend

Jennifer Green
·7 min read

To honor our veterans and active military service members, many restaurants are offering freebies and discounts on Saturday, Nov. 11, for those who served or continue to serve the country.

These discounts and free meals or drinks for veterans may only be available at select locations, so be sure to check with your local restaurant to see if it’s participating.

Here’s the list:

54th Street Bar & Grill

  • 6660 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Glen Carbon. 615-656-5455.

  • 3140 Green Mount Crossing, Shiloh. 618-624-5454.

Veterans and active duty military will receive a $10 discount on any entrée on Saturday, Nov. 11. For details, visit 54thstreetrestaurants.com.

Applebee’s

  • 319 Homer Adams Parkway, Alton. 618-462-6575.

  • 13975 Progress Drive, Breese. 618-526-2220.

  • 610 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville. 618-345-6840.

  • 3600 S. State Route 159, Glen Carbon. 618-205-8550.

  • 3551 Nameoki Road, Granite City. 618-798-9780.

  • 4300 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh. 618-632-6210.

  • 2624 N. Illinois St., Swansea. 618-235-4577.

  • 923 N. Illinois Route 3, Waterloo. 618-504-8400.

  • 1921 Vaughn Road, Wood River. 618-258-1051.

Applebee’s will offer free dine-in meals with eight different entrée options available. For details, visit applebees.com.

Bandana’s BBQ

  • #4 Commerce Lane, Collinsville. 618-344-4476.

  • 4608 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-222-2060.

  • 308 S. 44th St., Mount Vernon. 618-315-6550.

Veterans and active military can get a free pulled chicken or pulled pork Budget Buster or sandwich. The Budget Buster meal includes garlic bread and choice of two sides. The sandwich meal comes with one side. Valid military ID required. Dine-in only. facebook.com/bandanasbbq

Bob Evans

  • 600 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville. 618-344-1311.

  • 10 Ludwig Drive, Fairview Heights. 618-397-5386.

A Veterans Day dine-in menu is available at bobevans.com/veterans-day.

Chicken Salad Chick

  • 2323 Plum St., Edwardsville. 618-650-9018.

  • 1128 Merchants Way, Suite 310, O’Fallon. 618-206-6191.

Enjoy a free Chick special and regular-size drink. Stop by in uniform or with a military ID. Get the details at facebook.com/chickensaladchick.

Chili’s

  • 6311 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-398-9805.

  • 4511 Broadway St., Mount Vernon. 618-244-4687.

Veterans can choose one of four entrées and enjoy the meal free as thanks for their service. For details, visit chilis.com.

Denny’s

  • 1130 S. Illinois St., Belleville. 618-277-1360.

  • 522 Ramada Blvd., Collinsville. 618-345-8995.

  • 27 Junction Drive, Glen Carbon. 618-659-1922.

  • 4610 Broadway St., Mount Vernon. 618-244-1325.

  • 737 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-622-0471.

  • 1310 E. Chain of Rocks Road, Pontoon Beach. 618-797-1684.

  • 959 Illinois Route 3, Waterloo. 618-939-1700.

Denny’s locations are offering a free meal 5 a.m. (or store open) to noon Friday, Nov. 10.

Learn more at dennys.com.

Drake’s

  • 1160 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon. 618-726-2050.

Dine-in only complimentary meals will be available to veterans and military service members from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at participating locations. drakescomeplay.com

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers

  • 5570 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville. 618-746-2856.

  • 301 N. Bluff Road, Collinsville. 618-772-7184.

  • 2204 Troy Road, Edwardsville. 618-692-5096.

  • 101 Potomac Blvd., Mount Vernon. 618-816-6169.

  • 3320 Green Mount Crossing, Shiloh. 618-206-6236.

Vets and active military will receive a free meal card for a Freddy’s Original Double with Cheese combo meal. Cards can be redeemed through Nov. 30.

For details, visit freddys.com/veterans-day.

Golden Corral

  • 350 Homer Adams Parkway, Alton. 618-462-4125.

A location in Shiloh remains temporarily closed.

Golden Corral will host a Military Appreciation Night 5 p.m. to close on Monday, Nov. 13, at participating locations.

Learn more at goldencorral.com/military-appreciation.

Hawaiian Bros Island Grill

  • 2386 Troy Road, Edwardsville. 618-688-2996.

  • 1630 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-852-1103.

Hawaiian Bros will give free classic plate lunches to active military and veterans with valid ID. Get the details at facebook.com/HawaiianBros.

Hooters

  • 301 Market Place, Suite C, Fairview Heights. 618-398-3374.

Enjoy a free entrée with a valid ID and the purchase of a beverage. Learn more at hooters.com.

IHOP

  • 1028 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-632-5400.

Veterans and active duty military can enjoy free pancakes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at participating locations. ihop.com

Little Caesars

  • 1601 Washington Ave., Alton. 618-465-4001.

  • 1050 Carlyle Ave., Belleville. 618-234-1800.

  • 1671 Camp Jackson Road, Cahokia Heights. 618-215-0210.

  • 1042 Collinsville Crossing Blvd., Collinsville. 618-343-4140.

  • 3751 Troy Road, Glen Carbon. 618-288-1500.

  • 5218 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. 618-466-7979.

  • 3717 Nameoki Road, Granite City. 618-876-2111.

  • 3254 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh. 618-628-1122.

  • 516 Edwardsville Road, Suite A, Troy. 618-667-0084.

  • 305 E. Edwardsville Road, Wood River. 618-254-2888.

Participating locations will offer a free lunch combo that includes a four-slice Detroit-style deep dish pizza with pepperoni and one 20-ounce Pepsi product. The offer is in-store only 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11. littlecaesars.com

Red Robin

  • 6699 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville. 618-655-9513.

  • 6500 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-628-9746.

On Saturday, Nov. 11, veterans and military members can get a free Red’s Big Tavern Burger and bottomless steak fries. redrobin.com/veterans-day

Scooter’s Coffee

  • 102 W. Bethalto Blvd., Bethalto. 618-717-0231.

  • 684 N. 12th St., Breese. 618-526-9160.

  • 280 N. Brooks Ave., Centralia. 618-918-2737.

  • 1312 Vandalia St., Collinsville. 618-223-8166.

  • 5709 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-416-1603.

  • 4208 S. State Route 159, Glen Carbon. 618-205-3344.

  • 5330 Godfrey Road, Godfrey. 618-208-7099.

  • 12571 State Route 143, Highland. 618-651-4070.

  • 2119 S. Center St., Maryville. 618-223-1808.

  • 1300 W. Main St., Mascoutah. 618-448-0888.

  • 1004 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon. 618-206-8163.

  • 2700 N. Illinois St., Swansea. 618-416-1607.

  • 808 N. Illinois Route 3, Waterloo.

Veterans can get a free handcrafted drink of any size on Saturday, Nov. 11, when they present a valid military ID at a participating location. scooterscoffee.com

Smoothie King

  • 317 “L” Homer Adams Parkway, Suite L, Alton. 618-433-8322.

  • 660 Carlyle Ave., Belleville. 618-641-9028.

  • 3030 Frank Scott Parkway West, Suite 11, Belleville. 618-234-2658.

  • 1104 Collinsville Crossing, Collinsville. 618-855-8248.

  • 1501 Troy Road, Suite A, Edwardsville. 618-692-5552.

  • 6208 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-726-7795.

  • 3401 Nameoki Road, Granite City. 618-501-1438.

  • 1128 Merchants Way, Suite 300, O’Fallon. 618-589-9112.

Smoothie King will offer veterans and active-duty military members a free 20-ounce red (Cherry X-Treme), white (Slim-N-Trim Vanilla) or blue (Blueberry Heaven) smoothie on Nov. 11. smoothieking.com

Starbucks

  • 5601 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville (Target).

  • 404 Beltline Road, Collinsville.

  • 1077 Collinsville Crossing Blvd., Collinsville.

  • 2350 Troy Road, Edwardsville.

  • 6105 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville.

  • 6680 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville.

  • 4701 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights (Target).

  • 1411 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon.

  • 1126 Central Park Drive, O’Fallon.

  • 3400 Green Mount Crossing Drive, Shiloh (Target).

Veterans, military service members and military spouses can enjoy a free tall (12-ounce) hot or cold brewed coffee at participating Starbucks locations. starbucks.com

Texas Roadhouse

  • 6640 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville. 618-656-8000.

  • 1412 Central Park Circle, Shiloh. 618-628-8811.

Military members and veterans will receive free meal coupons that will cover one of 10 entrées with two sides and a beverage. The coupons will be given out 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 11. Vouchers are good until May 30, 2024. texasroadhouse.com

Wendy’s

  • 1825 Homer M. Adams Parkway, Alton. 618-462-3593.

  • 2600 Green Mount Commons Drive, Belleville. 618-234-3029.

  • 5959 Belleville Crossing St., Belleville. 618-355-7618.

  • 1061 Collinsville Crossing, Collinsville. 618-343-3767.

  • 6104 Center Grove Road, Edwardsville. 618-692-8160.

  • 6204 N. Illinois St., Fairview Heights. 618-628-6984.

  • 2638 N. Illinois St., Swansea. 618-277-2414.

  • 1845 Vaughn Drive, Wood River. 618-258-0813.

Current military members and veterans can get a free breakfast combo Saturday, Nov. 11, during breakfast hours. wendys.com

White Castle

  • 2998 Homer M. Adams Parkway, Alton. 618-462-4928.

  • 5820 Belleville Crossing, Belleville. 618-233-2385.

  • 1141 N. Green Mount Road, Belleville. 618-622-0627.

  • 1260 Camp Jackson Road, Cahokia Heights. 618-337-0495.

  • 3 Eastport Plaza Drive, Collinsville. 618-346-4328.

  • 10849 Lincoln Trail, Fairview Heights. 618-398-7608.

White Castle will provide a free individual meal combo or a breakfast combo to veterans and active military personnel dining at participating locations on Nov. 11. whitecastle.com