Over Labor Day weekend, many Americans will labor over a grill orchestrating a holiday cookout. If that's not how you want to celebrate, there are plenty of restaurant deals to partake in.
Observed each year on the first Monday of September, Labor Day, which is Sept. 2 this year, was founded to commemorate the contributions of the labor movement. While some places, including post offices and banks are closed, many restaurants remain open (it doesn't hurt to call ahead, should you want to go to one).
Two-thirds of Americans (67%) plan to celebrate the Labor Day holiday, according to a survey of 1,059 U.S. consumers conducted by research firm Numerator. Grilling is the favored Labor Day weekend activity (63% say they they will), followed by gathering with friends and family (58% plan to), and cooking or baking at home (32%).
But if you plan to go out for food and drinks, several spots, like Krispy Kreme and KFC, have deals to score.
Here are some Labor Day weekend deals – many kicking in on Friday. remember to check your favorite local restaurants' social media channels where you will likely find more specials.
Labor Day shopping:I'm a deals editor and these are my top 20 Labor Day deals
Food deals, discounts over Labor Day weekend
Buffalo Wild Wings: There's a lesser-known holiday hitting over the weekend, International Bacon Day on Saturday, and Buffalo Wild Wings is celebrating with a limited-time bacon-inspired lineup that includes a Bacon Mac & Cheese Burger, Bacon Patty Melt, and BLT Sandwich. Plus there's a new Buffalo Bacon Sauce, which you order with your wings. Speaking of which, you can use the promo code GOBONELESS to get 10 free boneless wings in any flavor, including the new Buffalo Bacon sauce, with your order of $15 or more.
Daily Harvest: The organic food company is giving new customers 30% off on orders of more than $100 with code LABORDAY30 on its website. New dishes include Butternut Squash + Cauliflower Mac n' Cheeze and a Sesame Fried Rice + Edamame.
Dave & Buster’s: All Labor Day weekend, you can take advantage of the entertainment chain's Power 5 Lineup – a new $5 bites menu that includes nachos, fried pickles, Queso Fries, Cheese Flatbread, and more; $5 22-oz. drafts of Miller Lite, Coors Light, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra; and five free games when new and current D&B Rewards members buy a $20+ Power Card.
DoorDash: Here's a hot limited-time snack deal – buy one get one free Doritos Flamin' Hot Limón Shrimp Tempura Sushi Rolls, available for delivery only from the Kroger family of supermarkets (including Dillon's, Fred Meyer and Ralphs) through DoorDash during the Labor Day weekend. The rolls are made with crispy shrimp tempura, spicy crab, cucumber, and avocado wrapped in seaweed and sushi rice. Next, they are coated with the Doritos chips, topped with sriracha sauce and sweet sushi sauce and garnished with ginger and wasabi.
El Pollo Loco: Members of the grilled chicken franchise's Loco Rewards loyalty program can order up some special deals this Labor Day weekend, from Friday to Monday, including Fire-Grilled Chicken Burritos for $8.99 each, a $30 12-Piece Leg & Thigh Family Meal, plus you get two Cinnamon Churros free with any order.
Fazoli's: Get $10 off your order of $30 or more from Friday to Monday, at participating locations (just mention the offer when you order in stores or use the code LaborDay24 online).
Freddy'sFrozen Custard & Steakburgers: Over the Labor Day weekend, Friday to Monday, get $5 off your order when you spend $15 or more. Be sure do download the Freddy's app to get the reward, then add it to your bag at checkout in the app or online. In-store, scan the reward at the register. The Freddy’s app must have been downloaded by Wednesday to receive this reward.
Gopuff: The delivery service is giving members of its FAM subscription service ($7.99 monthly) 40% off everything you need for your Labor Day weekend grilling fest including charcoal, hamburger, condiments, snacks and more. Also available for a limited time is the Gopuff Spooler, a cooler with built-in speakers ($19.99).
Hooters: Labor Day weekend means football at Hooters. New on the menu for a limited time at participating locations is The Fan Filler ($16.99) with 10 boneless wings, curly fries and a Pepsi product fountain drink. Also, members of the HootClub Rewards loyalty program can get $10 off their order of $40 or more with coupon code FOOTBALL24 (offer valid for online, in-app, or in-restaurant orders at participating locations only; additional exclusions may apply).
Jose Cuervo: If rain puts a damper on your Labor Day weekend party, the tequila brand might give you a $50 rain check. Upload your photo to the contest site to prove you had a rainy weekend earlier this summer or over Labor Day weekend, through Monday – examples include a screenshot of your local weather forecast or actual rain you encountered. Winners will be selected through Monday.
KFC: The chicken chain has several menu specials available over the holiday weekend on its website and in the KFC app, including a 40-Piece Saucy Nuggets Party Pack ($19.99, your choice of four flavors), 50% off chicken sandwiches (choose from Classic, Spicy or Saucy), and 40% off a 12-piece Chicken on the Bone bucket (choose between the Variety Bucket – three drums, three thighs, three breasts, and three wings – or the all-dark meat Drum & Thigh Bucket.
Kind Snacks: To help you stock up on back-to-school snacks over the Labor Day weekend, Kind is offering 25% off its Kind Kids chocolate chip and blueberry muffin variety pack on Amazon.
Kodiak: Get $3 off all of the healthy food maker's bars during its Labor Day sale beginning Sunday at 5 p.m. Mountain Time – the company is based in Utah – that's Sunday, 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT, through Friday, Sept. 6 at 11:59 p.m. MT (or 1:59 a.m. ET Saturday, Sept. 7). Order on the Kodiak Cakes website and use discount code SAVE3. Orders over $45 get free shipping to the lower 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia.
Kona Grill: First responders and teachers get 50% off their food all weekend long (over Labor Day weekend from Friday to Monday). Just show your first responder or teacher ID; excludes tax, gratuity and cannot be combined with any other offer. Not valid on alcohol. (Cannot be combined with any other offer.)
Krispy Kreme: Already kicked off is Krispy Kreme's "Go for 2" promotion, which gets you a dozen Original Glazed doughnuts for $2 when you purchase any dozen doughnuts at regular price from through Monday.
Main Event: Labor Day weekend is the last weekend to take advantage of the family entertainment destinations' Summer Season Pass deals. The basic deal (starts at $32.99) gets you unlimited games, discounted food and non-alcoholic beverages, and free bowling shoe rental. The premium option (starts at $57.99) adds all you can play bowling, billiards, laser tag, gravity ropes, plus 20% off food and non-alcoholic beverages and a 5% bonus with purchase of any fun card and more. Drink specials include a $4.99 Summer Splasher mocktail topped with freeze-dried Skittles and whipped cream and the $9.99 Spiked Splasher-Rita, which also is topped with freeze-dried candy, a blue sugar rim and a sour candy strip skewer.
Marco's Pizza: The pizza chain has a $10.99 special for a large Margherita Magnifico over Labor Day weekend. The new menu item is made with a blend of three cheeses, plus mozzarella (use code MARGMAG). Or opt for the Mega Meal Deal ($19.99), which includes a large 1-topping pizza, CheezyBread and CinnaSquares (use code MEGAMEAL).
Mountain Mike’s Pizza: Get 15% off all pizzas on Monday using code LBRDAY24. Also, mark your calendar for National Cheese Pizza Day (Sept. 5) when members of the Mountain Rewards loyalty program can get $3 off any cheese pizza (excluding mini pizzas).
Noodles & Company: Let the noodles chain and the Care Bears enrich your weekend with two limited-time menu items available from August 28 to September 9. The Share Your Care Junior Meal ($8.95) comes with a small entrée, kids' drink, and a collectible Care Bears mini plush toy (available while supplies last), and The Care Bears Besties Meal ($17.25), including a large entrée, a small entrée, and a Cheer Crispy.
Pieology: Labor Day weekend specials at the pizza chain include two free perks with any Craft Your Own Salad, Calzone or Pizza for members of Pieology's Pie Life Rewards loyalty program who have reached Pies & Perks status. Members who have not reached Pies & Perks status can unlock it for all of 2024 by purchasing a CYO Pizza, Calzone, or Salad over the Labor Day weekend.
Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe: Start the Labor Day weekend off Friday, Aug. 30, at the restaurant chain will have special Cajun Pop-Up Day dine-in deals (just show up) – you can get $10 Butterflied Shrimp Baskets, $10 Fried Fish Baskets, $10 Shrimp and Fish Combos, and $5 Frozen Swomp Thang cocktails.
Red Robin: The restaurant's new Monster Monday deals will be available on Labor Day with $2 burger upgrades (add an extra beef patty and cheese to any burger), $4 milkshakes served with a refill tin, and $5 Monster Margaritas.
Round Table Pizza: Get 15% off your order at participating locations Friday to Monday (just mention the offer when you order).
Scooter's Coffee: Starting Sunday, Sept. 1, and until Sept. 28, which is National Coffee Day, you can get any size iced or hot brewed coffee for just $1 when you use the Scooter's Coffee mobile app.
STK Steakhouse: The modern steakhouse and lounge chain, with restaurants in Georgia, Illinois, California, New York and other parts of the U.S., is giving first responders and teachers 50% off their dine-in orders over Labor Day weekend (Friday-Monday; must show first responder or teacher ID; excludes tax, gratuity and cannot be combined with any other offer. Not valid on alcohol).
Contributing: Gabe Hauari
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider &mikegsnider.
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