Today, Friday, August 21, brings a strong lineup of fast-food and restaurant bargains for anyone looking to stretch the weekend dining budget.
This week’s best offers include free fries from McDonald’s and Wendy’s, $1 Frostys, a $5 KFC meal, discounted pizza from Domino’s and Pizza Hut, half-price SONIC drinks and an all-you-can-eat dinner deal at Applebee’s.
As always, most national promotions are available only at participating locations, and several require a restaurant app or rewards account. Check the offer inside the app before placing your order or heading to the restaurant.
Best Friday Freebie: Wendy’s Free Fries
Wendy’s has one of Friday’s strongest app deals.
Customers can get a free order of any-size fries with a qualifying $5 purchase through the Wendy’s app or website. The Friday promotion is part of the chain’s current lineup of digital offers.
There is another reason to stop at Wendy’s this weekend: small Classic Chocolate and Vanilla Frostys are just $1 through Sunday, August 23.
For customers making a larger order, Wendy’s is also currently offering $3 off a purchase of $20 or more at participating locations.
McDonald’s: Free Medium Fries With $1 Purchase
McDonald’s Rewards members can get a free medium order of fries with a purchase of at least $1.
The deal can be redeemed once per week through October 4 at participating restaurants and requires customers to use the McDonald’s app and opt into Rewards. McDelivery orders are excluded.
McDonald’s also has a breakfast deal worth checking before lunch: customers can purchase a participating breakfast sandwich for $2 once per week through October 4.
Choices can include favorites such as the Egg McMuffin, Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit and Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddles, depending on location.
Wendy’s $1 Frosty Weekend
For families looking for an inexpensive dessert, the $1 Wendy’s Frosty promotion may be one of the easiest deals to use this weekend.
Small Classic Chocolate or Vanilla Frostys are $1 through August 23 at participating restaurants. The deal is available through multiple ordering channels, including participating restaurant counters and drive-thrus as well as Wendy’s digital ordering options.
With Friday temperatures still firmly in summer territory across North Texas, this could be an especially popular one.
KFC: $5 Taste of KFC Meal
KFC continues to promote its Taste of KFC value lineup, with meals starting at $5 at participating locations.
One of the featured $5 options includes two pieces of dark-meat fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a biscuit.
Prices and menu availability can vary by restaurant, and KFC notes that promotional pricing may not apply to delivery orders.
For anyone wanting a full meal rather than an app freebie, this is one of Friday’s better deals around the $5 mark.
Popeyes: Two Chicken Wraps and a Drink for $9.99
Popeyes has a longer-running bundle that works well for lunch or dinner.
Customers can get two Chicken Wraps — with participating flavor choices including Classic, Spicy or Blackened Ranch — plus a premium beverage for $9.99 at participating U.S. restaurants.
The promotion is scheduled to remain available through December 31.
New Popeyes Rewards members should also check their accounts. The chain is currently advertising a free welcome treat with a $5 minimum purchase, with eligible choices including a Cinnamon Apple Pie, small drink or regular side.
SONIC: Half-Price Drinks and Slushes in the App
One of the simplest recurring drink deals continues at SONIC Drive-In.
Customers ordering through the SONIC app can get drinks and Slushes for half price any time, making the promotion especially useful for an afternoon drink run without having to wait for a traditional happy hour.
Availability and exclusions can vary, so customers should confirm pricing after selecting their location in the app.
Domino’s: $6.99 Mix & Match
For pizza night, Domino’s continues to offer its Mix & Match deal.
Customers who choose two or more qualifying items can get them for $6.99 each. Participating choices include medium pizzas and a selection of sides and desserts.
Some premium items and crusts cost extra, and pricing can be higher at certain stores.
Domino’s also has a $7.99 carryout offer on qualifying one-topping pizzas or eight-piece wings at participating locations.
For families ordering several items, the Mix & Match promotion may provide the better overall value.
Pizza Hut: $7 Deal Lover’s Menu
Pizza Hut’s Deal Lover’s Menu remains another option for feeding more than one person without paying full menu price.
Customers who purchase at least two qualifying items can get selections starting at $7 each.
Depending on the restaurant, the lineup can include medium one-topping pizzas, Melts, boneless wings, pasta, breadsticks, desserts and drinks.
Participation and prices vary by location, and some pizza, pasta and wing selections may cost more than the advertised starting price.
Applebee’s: All You Can Eat for $15.99
Those wanting a sit-down meal instead of fast food can find one of the more substantial current deals at Applebee’s.
The restaurant has brought back its All You Can Eat promotion for $15.99 at participating locations.
Customers can choose from boneless wings, Signature Riblets and Double Crunch Shrimp, along with endless fries. The promotion is dine-in only, and price and participation can vary.
For someone arriving hungry, it is one of the weekend’s better quantity-for-price restaurant promotions.
Plan Ahead: Chipotle BOGO Sunday
Friday bargain hunters may also want to make plans for Sunday.
Chipotle is running a series of back-to-school Sunday promotions, with the next offer scheduled for August 23.
After 3 p.m., customers ordering at least two entrées through the Chipotle app or website can use the promo code SUNDAYS to receive a free entrée with the purchase of another qualifying entrée at participating restaurants.
Additional Chipotle Sundays are scheduled for August 30 and September 6.
Best Deals at a Glance
For the smallest out-of-pocket cost today, McDonald’s free medium fries with a $1 purchase and Wendy’s $1 Frosty stand out.
Those needing an actual meal can look toward KFC’s $5 Taste of KFC offer, Domino’s $6.99 Mix & Match selections or Pizza Hut’s Deal Lover’s Menu.
And for diners with a much bigger appetite, Applebee’s $15.99 All You Can Eat promotion may deliver the most food for the money.
The key with almost every national restaurant promotion is checking the app first. Franchise participation, prices and offer availability can vary, and digital deals sometimes disappear after they are redeemed or after a restaurant changes its local promotions.
