Hamburgers were already on the menu for many of us over this Memorial Day weekend.
The spring holiday typically marks the arrival of summer cookouts and family gatherings. If you’re going to be cooking burgers yourself, make sure to practice food safety.
Even if you’re not grilling burgers or going to a gathering where burgers will be on the grill, you can join in a burger blowout. That’s because Sunday, May 28, is National Hamburger Day – and, apparently International Hamburger Day, too – and many fast-food chains and restaurants have deals to entice burger lovers.
If you’re not cooking out – or cooking at all – Taco Bell has some new dishes on the menu as an alternative.
Before the U.S. was the home of the hamburger – it was introduced at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair – the concept of hamburgers may have crossed the Atlantic Ocean with German immigrants to the U.S. in the mid-1800s as they were familiar with the “Hamburg-style” chopped steak, according to History.com.
Since then, restaurants and hamburger chains such as White Castle, founded in 1921, McDonald’s and In-N-Out Burger (both founded in 1948), Burger King (1954) and Wendy’s (1969) have helped make burgers ubiquitous.
Looking for a local burger? Yelp has created its own Top 100 Burger Spots in the U.S. list.
But if you’re looking for bargains, here’s the burger deals available for National Hamburger Day.
Arby’s steakhouse burger deals
Ahead of National Hamburger Day, Arby’s has brought back for a limited time its Wagyu Deluxe Steakhouse Burger, first made available in May 2022. Made with 51% American Wagyu and 49% ground beef, the deluxe burger comes with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, and burger sauce; also available is the Bacon Ranch Wagyu Steakhouse Burger, which adds bacon and parmesan peppercorn ranch dressing.
From May 28-June 11, when customers buy a burger online or through the app, they will receive a free sandwich or burger on their next visit (one burger per customer; 14-day redemption period.)
Bad Daddy’s create your own burger contest
There’s no immediate gratification, but you could earn long-term burger satisfaction at Bad Daddy’s, which is inviting burgermeisters to create their own burger and post it on Instagram. If the restaurant chain’s culinary team chooses your burger, you could win free Bad Daddy’s for a year – and possibly get your creation on the fall menu. Don’t be afraid to be adventurous ‒ the current menu has the Jammin’ With You Burger with jalapeño cream cheese, jalapeño bacon, and tequila macerated strawberry jam & arugula.
Buffalo Wild Wings boneless wings for $1 with burger
Though not specifically tied to National Hamburger Day, Buffalo Wild Wings has a deal available for a limited time earning you six boneless wings for $1 when you buy any of its double-stacked burgers including the Smoked Brisket Burger and Bacon Smashed Hatch Chile Burger.
Burger 21 burger discount
On Sunday, get one of its 101 Burgers for just $3 at participating Burger 21 locations.
Burger King free National Hamburger Day deal
Through Sunday, Burger King is offering all Royal Perks members a free hamburger with any $1 purchase in the Burger King app and through bk.com.
You can also get a free “Spider-Verse” Whopper when you make a $20 purchase on Sundays on the BK App or bk.com, for delivery or pickup. Check online for more daily Spider-Verse deals.
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s International Hamburger Day deal
At participating Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, My Rewards members will get a mystery Famous Star deals when they order any burger, a la carte or as part of a combo. Among the deals: BOGO Famous Star burger with purchase – or one week, one month or one year of free Famous Star burgers with purchase.
Duffy’s Sports Grill burger deal
On Sunday, get Original Duffy’s Cheeseburgers for $7.99; for dine-in orders only; cannot be combined with MVP Rewards, coupons or any other discount.
Farmer Boys National Burger Day deal
The California restaurant chain is offering its Big Cheese burger for $3 after 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 28. Need a second sandwich? The ¼-pound and ½-pound Parmesan-Crusted Sourdough Cheeseburgers remain available until June 6.
McDonald’s has daily deals
The home of the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder don’t have any official National Burger Day deals, but you can get a free large order of fries with a purchase by downloading the app and joining the rewards program. And you can still get cups of Big Mac sauce (49 cents each) to use as you will.
Metro Diner
Metro Diner has already begun the celebration as part of National Hamburger Month by offering three special burgers ($13.99 each): the BBQ Bacon Burger, the Black & Bleu Burger and Pimento Cheeseburger (each available until July 4).
Next Level Burger BOGO classic burger deal
Plant-based burger joint Next Level Burger is offering BOGO single-patty Classic Burgers on Sunday.
Smashburger’s four burgers for $20 deal
Have some friends craving burgers but don’t want to fire up the grill? On Sunday, Smashburger has a deal for four Classic Smash Burgers for $20. SmashReward Members will also get $3, $5, or $8 off after their purchase (offer runs through end of May). You can join on Smashburger.com.
Sonic Drive-In’s Tuesday half-price cheeseburgers
Want to keep celebrating National Hamburger Day after the holiday weekend? Each Tuesday after 5 p.m., Sonic customers who order online or in the Sonic app get ½ price Sonic cheeseburgers.
Wayback Burgers BOGO burger deal
Download the Wayback app and get buy-one-get-one-free Classic Burgers on Sunday.
Wendy’s one-cent cheeseburger
Get a Junior Bacon Cheeseburger for one cent with any purchase in the Wendy’s app, Friday through June 1 (one-time use per customer). And … there’s more: Order any premium hamburger and get a second one for $1 in the Wendy’s app through May 31.
In addition to burgers, get $2 off any premium combo – such as the Ghost Pepper Chicken Ranch Sandwich Combo – when you order in the app.
Also, get $2 off a breakfast combo – such as a Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit – in the app. And you can get a free soft drink with any in-app purchase Monday, May 29 to Sunday, June 4 (one-time use). Want to order delivery? Through Wednesday buy-one-get-one-free Breakfast Croissant Sandwiches when you order through Uber Eats.
White Castle discounted mobile deal
Members of the restaurant chain’s Craver Nation loyalty program get 20% off mobile orders in May. Get a free Original Slider Combo Meal when you join.
Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @mikesnider.
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