National Hamburger Day Deals 2026: Freebies & Burger Specials on May 28

The Best National Hamburger Day Deals in One Place

We verified deals using reputable sources; always confirm in your local app. • National Hamburger Day is May 28, 2026.

It’s almost time to celebrate! We rounded up the best National Hamburger Day deals 2026 — including confirmed restaurant specials, app-only freebies, and one-day-only offers you can grab on May 28. May also happens to be National Burger Month, so many chains are running deals all month long — but May 28 is when the biggest offers drop. Check your local restaurants, too, as many add last-minute specials the day of. Prefer to DIY? Don’t miss our favorite homemade burger recipes below!

And if you love a good cheeseburger specifically, don’t miss our National Cheeseburger Day Deals post — that one lands every September 18.

Restaurant Burger Freebies & Specials (Confirmed for 2026)

• Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar — BD’s All-American Burger with a classic side for $10. Valid May 28 only at participating locations.
• Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay — Signature Crunchburger (4 oz or 6 oz) for $5.28 on May 28 at participating locations.
• Buffalo Wild Wings — 50% off any burger (All-American Cheeseburger, Triple Bacon Cheeseburger, and more) when you order online for takeout or delivery with a promo code on May 28. Check the app for your code.
• Dairy Queen — DQ Rewards members get $1 off any Signature Stackburger all week long, May 25–31. Options include FlameThrower, Bacon Cheese Deluxe, Backyard Bacon Ranch, Cheese Deluxe, and Original Cheeseburger. Redeem in the DQ Mobile App or online at participating DQ Grill & Chill locations.
• Eddie Merlot’s — Eddie’s Prime Cheeseburger with housemade potato chips for $15 when you order online. Dine-in guests can grab this during Happy Hour (4–6:30 p.m. local time) on May 28.
• Farmer Boys — Very Important Farmer (VIF) Rewards members get a $3.99 Big Cheese Cheeseburger when ordering in-app. Offer valid May 28 only at participating locations.
• Krystal — Club Krystal members get $0.50 Krystals as an in-app exclusive on May 28. Sign up free in the app if you haven’t yet.
• Shake Shack — Score a FREE ShackBurger with any $10 purchase all month long using code FREEBURGER in the Shack App, online, or at a kiosk in-Shack. Valid through May 31 at participating U.S. locations (excludes airports, stadiums, and drive-thru).
• Sullivan’s Steakhouse — Signature Angus Burger and fries for $15 when you order online on May 28. Dine-in guests can get this same deal during Happy Hour (3–6 p.m. local time).
• The Greene Turtle — BOGO classic burgers on May 28 at participating locations.
• Wayback Burgers — Rewards members get a $5 Classic Burger on May 28. Limit two per order/rewards account. Available in restaurant and all ordering channels (excludes third-party delivery).

Note: Offers may vary by location and time; most require a free rewards account and/or ordering in the app. Always check the app or local store page for your market before heading out.

Watchlist / Expected (Verify in App on May 28)

These brands frequently participate with one-day deals for National Hamburger Day. Open each app on May 28 to confirm the 2026 promos and any promo codes needed:

• Arby’s — Expected to offer a Better Than Burger BOGO Free sandwich deal. Watch for app confirmation day-of.
• Bar Louie — Rewards members (free to join) may get a FREE burger on their next visit plus discounted burgers through the rest of the year via a Burger Pass offer. Check the app.
• Burger King — Royal Perks members historically get a FREE hamburger with any $1+ purchase in-app on National Hamburger Day. Watch for the banner to go live on May 28.
• Buffalo’s Cafe — Expected deal on Canyon Burgers and Tumbleweed Potato Chips on May 28. Verify in the app or on their site.
• Epic Burger — Typically runs a burger special on May 28. Check their app for your market.
• Friendly’s — New Fan Club Rewards members who download the app may get a FREE Founder’s Burger. Verify terms day-of.
• Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard — Look for a deal on the Big Daddy Bacon Cheeseburger on May 28 at participating locations.
• Hurricane Grill & Wings — Anticipated steak burger and fries deal. Verify in-store or online day-of.
• McDonald’s — No specific May 28 offer confirmed yet, but the McDonald’s app often drops surprise one-day offers for food holidays. Enable notifications and check the Deals tab on May 28.
• MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes — BOGO burgers widely predicted for May 28. Verify in the app or on their site.
• Native Grill & Wings — Expected discount on My Native Burgers on May 28. Check app for your location.
• Perkins American Food Co. — Potential burger, fries, and pie combo deal on May 28. Watch for official announcement.
• Smashburger — Expected deal on any single burger (including the Jalapeño BBQ Bacon Stack Smash) in-store or online with a promo code. Check app for your code on May 28.
• Wendy’s — Historically runs a deeply discounted or penny Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger with any purchase via the app. Watch for the offer banner to go live on May 28.

We list Watchlist items only when multiple reputable sources have mentioned them; still, treat all of these as “possible” until the brand’s app shows a live banner.

Our Favorite Burger Recipes to Make at Home

Rather stay in and fire up the grill (or air fryer)? These tried-and-true recipes from Fabulessly Frugal are perfect for celebrating National Hamburger Day at home — and most of them are on the table in 30 minutes or less.

• The Best Juicy Burger Recipe Ever (Grill or Air Fryer) — The secret ingredient is mayonnaise! So much better than frozen patties.
• Effortless Air Fryer Hamburgers in Minutes — Juicy, family-friendly burgers in under 20 minutes, no grill required.
• Easy Air Fryer Cheeseburger Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls — Mini burgers that are instantly more fun, and perfect for a crowd.
• Air Fryer Cheeseburger Crunch Wrap — Fast, crispy, and seriously fun.
• Air Fryer Cheeseburger Egg Rolls (Cheesecake Factory Copycat) — Party-perfect in under 30 minutes.
• Cheeseburger Stuffed Shells — A freezer-friendly comfort meal the whole family will love.
• Simple Cheeseburger Quesadillas — All your favorite burger fixings inside a crispy quesadilla. Great for kids!
• Easy Cheeseburger Soup — Cozy, customizable, and budget-friendly.
• Cooking Impossible Burgers in an Air Fryer — A plant-based win with great texture.
• Cooking Beyond Meat Burgers in an Air Fryer — Meatless, quick, and surprisingly tasty.

Tips to Save Even More on National Hamburger Day

1. Download the apps before May 28 — Most deals are app-exclusive and require a free rewards account. Don’t wait until the day of to set these up or you may miss the window. Hit McDonald’s, Burger King, Shake Shack, Wayback, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Dairy Queen first.
2. Enable push notifications — Many brands drop surprise promo codes or activate deal tiles the morning of May 28. Turning on notifications means you’ll catch these before they sell out or expire.
3. Check participation before you go — Most offers are valid at participating locations only, and some are regional. Always check the app or your specific location’s page before making the trip.
4. Stack smart when you can — Some loyalty programs let you combine a one-day deal with your regular rewards points (when the offer terms allow it). It’s worth checking before you check out.

Final Thoughts

We’ll keep eyes on official brand pages and apps as May 28 gets closer. Deals tend to go live early in the morning on the day of, so open your apps first — most of the best National Hamburger Day deals 2026 are digital-only and move fast. If you score a great deal (or make one of those recipes at home), we’d love to hear about it in the comments!

Looking for more ways to save on dining out all year long? Don’t miss our National Cheeseburger Day Deals post (September 18) — because really, can you ever have too many burger holidays?

National Hamburger Day Deals 2026: FAQ

When is National Hamburger Day 2026?

National Hamburger Day 2026 falls on Thursday, May 28, 2026. It’s a fixed-date observance held every year on May 28, and it falls right at the end of National Burger Month — making it the biggest single day of the year for burger deals.

Is National Hamburger Day the same as National Cheeseburger Day?

Nope — these are two separate food holidays! National Hamburger Day is May 28, and National Cheeseburger Day is September 18. Both are great excuses to score restaurant deals or fire up the grill at home.

Do I need an app to get these National Hamburger Day offers?

For most deals, yes — the majority of restaurant specials are now app-exclusive and may also require a free rewards account, a minimum purchase, or a promo code entered at checkout. Download the apps early and enable notifications so you don’t miss a thing.

Which restaurants usually have the best National Hamburger Day deals?

Historically strong options include Wayback Burgers ($5 Classic Burger), Dairy Queen ($1 off Signature Stackburgers), Shake Shack (free burger with $10 purchase), Buffalo Wild Wings (50% off burgers), and Burger King (free hamburger with $1 app purchase). Always check your local app on May 28 to confirm availability in your area.

Final Thoughts

We hope you score an amazing deal — or make one of these recipes at home and skip the line entirely! Either way, May 28 is a great day to be a burger lover. 🍔

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