National Hamburger Day 2024: Free food at Burger King, deals at Wendy's, Arby's and more

The hamburger is already perhaps the most celebrated main dish in the United States. But even with all the love, the burger still deserves its own day.

This year, National Hamburger Day falls on Tuesday, May 28. So get ready to chomp down.

The hamburger and its close sibling, the cheeseburger, are America's favorite entrées, according to YouGov's regularly updated list of The Most Popular American Dishes. Only mashed potatoes and French fries rank slightly higher (86% popularity for each of those side dishes). The hamburger earned 85%, the cheeseburger 83%.

An estimated 50 billion burgers are eaten in the U.S. each year.

Some folks likely grilled burgers for themselves, family and friends over the Memorial Day weekend. But if you prefer to have them prepared for you, USA TODAY tracked down some of the nation's best deals for National Hamburger Day. (Don't forget to check local restaurants' social media accounts for additional deals.)

National Hamburger Day:15 tools for making them at home

Burger King: National Hamburger Day kicks off week of deals

National Hamburger Day coincides with the week of Burger King's 70th birthday. Members of Burger King's Royal Perks loyalty program get deals all week long:

• Tuesday, May 28: Get a free hamburger on Tuesday with a purchase of 70 cents or more.
• Wednesday, May 29: Spend 70 cents or more and get a free Croissan’wich.
• Thursday, May 30: Get a free medium soft drink when you spend 70 cents or more.
• Friday, May 31: You can get a free cheeseburger with a purchase of at least 70 cents.
• Saturday, June 1: Get a free Birthday Pie Slice when you spend 70 cents or more.
• Sunday, June 2: Spend 70 cents or more and get a free Original Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
• Monday, June 3: Get a free Whopper Jr. when you spend at least 70 cents.

Burger King:Chain accelerates release of $5 value meal to outdo upcoming McDonald's deal

Wendy's 1-cent burger deal

Timed to National Hamburger Day, Wendy’s has a special promotion starting Tuesday and running through to Sunday, June 2. Customers can get a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger for 1 cent with any purchase.

To get the deal, order in the Wendy’s app or at wendys.com.

More National Hamburger Day deals

• Arby's: Starting Memorial Day and through June 2, Arby's Rewards Members get 50% off any burger when they order online or in the app.
• Bad Daddy’s: Order one of the restaurant's limited-time Birria Burgers and get a Modelo pint for just $3. (Offer not valid in North Carolina)
• Bar Louie: Bar Louie Rewards members get triple points Tuesday on craft burgers. New users must register by 7 p.m. to May 28 to get the deal. Also, every burger you buy in May earns you an entry to win free burgers for a year. 

• BurgerFi: Buy a Coca-Cola Freestyle Beverage and get a BurgerFi Burger for $3. Offer available for dine-in; mention the offer at the register, at participating locations.  
• Buffalo’s Cafe: Get a Canyon Burger for $11.99 (regularly $14.99), at participating locations.
• Buffalo Wild Wings: New and current members of the chain's Blazin’ Rewards loyalty program can buy one burger and get another free on Tuesday. Offer is good for dine-in, takeout and delivery.
• Dave and Buster's: New and existing loyalty members get 50% when they order a burger on Tuesday. Also get $2 beers Sunday and 50% off food on Memorial Day.
• Dog Haus: Members of the Haus Rewards loyalty program can use the app or order online to get two Haus Burgers for the price of one on Tuesday.
• Farm Burger: For National Hamburger Day, the southeast U.S. chain has a $5 "build your own" burger deal.
• Farmer Boys: You can get a Big Cheese Burger for $4 after 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

• General Admission: Buy one double-double Smashburger at the Las Vegas sports lounge-restaurant on Tuesday and get one free.
• Grubhub: Spend $25 or more on an order from Wendy's and get a free Baconator. If someone in your party prefers a non-burger entrée: get 20% off a Panera Bread order of $25 or more; get 50% off a Jersey Mike's Original Italian Sandwich with an order of $25 or more; or get $5 off Papa Johns orders of $25 or more.

• Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream: Happy Joe’s has two limited-time hamburger-themed pizzas (available until May 30): the SuperMax Pizza with beef, onions, tomato and lettuce on top of American cheese and pickles, and the Big Maxx Pizza, which switches it up with a Thousand Island base, and Thousand Island drizzle on top. 
• Hopdoddy Burger Bar: Celebrate National Burger Day with the limited edition Hoppy Meal ($15), which includes a signature Royale with Cheese Burger, fries, an adult beverage such as frozen margarita in a sippy pouch, and a collector toy bottle opener – all for $15. (A Coke or Mini Shake can substitute for the alcoholic beverage.)

• Hurricane Grill & Wings: Get a Steak Burger and fries for $9.99 (regularly $13.99).
• Jack in the Box: New and current members of the Jack Pack Rewards Program on Tuesday can get a free Jumbo Jack with $1 minimum purchase. You can sign up on the website or in the Jack app.
• Johnny Rockets: Enter for a chance to win Johnny Rockets' burger-and-Pepsi-themed pool float and you'll also get a reward: $5 off a secret menu item, a Pepsi float, with any burger purchase.
• Krystal: Get the Krystal Burger Meal Deal for $4.99 on Tuesday. Get more deals by texting GIMME to 94258 and joining Club Krystal!
• Native Grill & Wings: You can get a MyNative Burger for $8 (regularly about $11) and make it a double for just $2.50 more.
• Next Level Burger: The plant-based burger joint chain has a buy one, get one deal on any burger on the menu Tuesday.
• Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe: The chain's new $10 menu includes the Double Stack Burger. Just ask for the special $10 menu.
• Rock & Brews: The restaurant chain, co-founded by Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss, has its Cheeseburger Rolls available on Tuesday for $5.28 (normally priced at $14.99).
• Smashburger: You can get $5 Classic Single Smashburgers all day Tuesday at participating locations nationwide. Get the deal in stores, or via Smashburger’s website or app with the code CLASSIC24.
• Smokey Bones: Buy a $2.99 soft drink or alcoholic beverage and get a cheeseburger with a regular side of your choice for $6.49. You can add a premium topping such as bacon, roasted Portobello mushrooms, pulled pork, or a fried egg for $2.99. (Offer good for dine-in-only, while supplies last.)

• The Greene Turtle: Get half off all burgers on Tuesday. Offer valid for dine-in only and cannot be combined with other discounts. 
• Wahlburgers: The burger chain, founded by Donnie Wahlberg, Mark Wahlberg and Executive Chef Paul Wahlberg, has 50% off any Brothers’ Choice Burgers – The Impossible Burger (Mark's Choice), The BBQ Bacon Burger (Donnie's Choice) and The Our Burger( Paul's Choice) – on Tuesday. The trio recently made their first national commercials for the chain.

• Wayback Burgers: Buy one Classic Burger, get one free on Tuesday when you use the Wayback Rewards program. And if you visit the restaurant three times during May, you will earn 120 Wayback Rewards points and get a free Double Bacon Burger or Cheeeesy Burger. (Minimum purchase of $10 required on visits.)

Contributing: Saleen Martin.Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.

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