ULPT What is your favorite free food restaurant hack?
Posted by simikoi@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 64 comments
What is your favorite hack to get free food from restaurants? I know there were tricks to using the McDonald's app to get free stuff but I think they fixed those. Any others?
DTIndy@reddit
Not a restaurant but I used to take my bucket of popcorn from the theater home and bring it back next time to get free refill of popcorn.
AdventureThink@reddit
We used to hand it off to a friend coming to see the next movie. Get your refill and hand off.
Renway_NCC-74656@reddit
This person popcorns.
doitlikeDosa@reddit
Not ULPT but chick fill a has a survey on almost all bills and when you fill that, you get a free sandwich coupon almost instantly. So you buy fries, fill the survey and get a free sandwich. Rinse and repeat
Willthethrill997@reddit
Same with Culver’s for ice cream
Cat_the_Great@reddit
Just write a random # on the coupon
Itsafulltimebusiness@reddit
Only works in Ohio, and not sure if it still operates this way, but every other month I used to go to Northstar cafe and ask for an application, I’d fill it out there and hand it right in. They (used to) have a policy that the manager would have to give you a quick interview if you handed it to them so the sit down with me, ask what hours I’m available, I’d tell them I basically have horrible availability, and they’d thank me for my time. A week later I’d get a letter in the mail saying they couldn’t hire me BUT they’d include a free meal voucher. I did this multiple times over the span of a few years
Old-Fox-3027@reddit
The Dominos near me didn’t mind if you went in and asked if there were any pizzas they were getting rid of. They would usually have something they made wrong or no one came to pick up.
TheeSecondGoat@reddit
The free gift cards with purchase
TheeSecondGoat@reddit
Multiple accounts to take advantage of the now $7 dodgers win plate at Panda Express
TheeSecondGoat@reddit
The McDonald’s Monopoly deals. I had 4 accounts going. I probably had $400 worth of McD. That felt like I was committing robbery
TheeSecondGoat@reddit
Chili’s free chips and salsa with $5 purchase. Get the chicken alfredo kids meal for 6.99. It comes with a drink and side. That is enough food for me as an adult male.
animousie@reddit
High end bars, like sky bars in expensive restaurants, will sometimes serve free appetizers if you buy drinks including soda.
So not free, but definitely deals to be had out there if you know where to find them.
Haven’t been in years but one example of this is the restaurant at the top of the juke box marriot in San Francisco.
pnw_sunny@reddit
what fast food joints offer free stuff for your birthday?
my only lame tip is to save your costco cup and re-use.
khizoa@reddit
Lot of places offer free food on your birthday
Puceeffoc@reddit
If you don't have your ID on you, you can normally show your social media page to confirm it's your birthday...
Man I miss the days of unlimited birthday changes on facebook. I had a lot of birthdays in a year.
The_Troyminator@reddit
I’ve never had to prove it.
aconfusednoob@reddit
Denny's definitely asks for ID
emmiepsykc@reddit
I've always had to "prove" it, but it's always by joining the restaurant's loyalty program, where you can enter any birthday you want. I've never just like, walked into a place, gone "hey it's my birthday" and gotten something for free.
The_Troyminator@reddit
That’s different than having to show your ID to prove it’s your birthday.
I use a different birthday everywhere. That way, I don’t have to decide which free rewards I want to use before they expire.
Deadman1966@reddit
It wasn't for free food but Taco Bell had a stamp card for free t shirts and hats. We made a bell punch and got 4 free shirts.
Puceeffoc@reddit
I bought a Sonic cup 3 years ago. I go there everyday and fill it up with Pepsi. I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for Andrew the future owner of Sonic.
metalflygon08@reddit
Your Sonic carried Pepsi?
Puceeffoc@reddit
Mr Pib.
8888eightyeight@reddit
that's the equal to Dr. Pepper
Puceeffoc@reddit
He never got his degree... (-Mitch Hedberg)
snakepliskinLA@reddit
My son’s friends all do this. They call them “freefills”.
Ok-Cardiologist4844@reddit
I do this at mc Donald’s with my own cup. Most of the time no one’s at the counter because everyone orders using the kiosk.
It’s also easier if you go near lunch and dinner time since they’re busier and not watching or don’t care.
JupiterSkyFalls@reddit
How has it lasted 3 years?!?
ButWhy1987@reddit
Yeah fuck you Andrew!
DubbelDragon@reddit
When I had like 20 bucks for the month I would occasionally wander through a busy pizzeria like I was meeting someone. There’s usually a table with an abandoned slice or two left on the tray. Snatch it while walking by and go straight to the bathroom to hormph it down. Don’t get caught, as I’ve seen people get kicked out and banned.
abridged_4@reddit
Sign up for every food place with a different bday so you get free food all year not just the one day as it is challenging go run around accepting all the freebies on one day.
mandi723@reddit
12 email addresses. Sign up for each with a different month. No you get coupons for all your fav restaurants each month.
FalseDrive@reddit
most restaurants make you put in a phone number too, and won’t let you put in Google Voice numbers 😔
dale3h@reddit
Pro-tips on this:
Keep the day the same, and only change the month. Exceptions: when your birthday falls on a day that not all months have, choose the last day of the chosen month for that account.
Keep a log of every birthday for every account. Storing in your password manager as an extra field is an easy way to do this.
TomatilloAccurate475@reddit
That's exactly what I do. Make sure there's a different free birthday meal every month
abridged_4@reddit
It’s a long game when you first sign up but then they start rolling in.
reijasunshine@reddit
You can scan McAllister's receipts into their app and earn free food. There's usually some left on tables.
UntitledDuckGame@reddit
I think the homelessprotips is a different subreddit
UnethicalLifeProTips-ModTeam@reddit
Your comment was removed for violating rule 14: No reason to be a dick. Seriously, get therapy or fuck off.
raideo@reddit
Why would I scan for table scraps
reijasunshine@reddit
What? No. Abandoned receipts that may not have been scanned in. Don't eat table scraps.
yoyotube@reddit
You can't tell me what to do
CoderJoe1@reddit
Die before paying the bill.
TomatilloAccurate475@reddit
Always order in the APP for fast food and some chain restaurants. Your always either earning or redeeming free food. They want you to do this to help keep labor costs down so they reward you accordingly.
Side note my top free food spots currently: Arby's they just throw you app exclusive deals and free shit all the time, Taco Bell same here with App exclusive deals and earning free food. McD's has earning points toward free shit. Panda Express app keeps you earning free appetizers and upgrade but I feel like the rate of earning is a little slower. And when it's time for something different get the Outback Steakhouse App and dine in and always login on the tabletop Ziosk with your phone number. You'll get a free bloomin onion just for joining and start earning unlimited $5 off promos just for spending. If you're dining out alone You'll average $5 off every other visit or dining with a companion You'll definitely be getting $5 off every visit
metalflygon08@reddit
I loathe McD because you can't use a Deal and a Reward in the same purchase.
Wendy's, KFC, Arby's, Taco Bell, Hardees, and Burger King all let me!
metalflygon08@reddit
Get a card that you know won't work.
Go to a drive thru.
Hand them the bad card.
While it reads there's a good chance they'll hand your drink or food out to you (to help speed the line along).
When they hand your card back, act bummed out and pull away before they can remember to ask for the food back.
codacoda74@reddit
not necessarily ULPT as much as practical, but sign up #4 IDs to door dash/grub hub/ uber eats/et all and fill your cart with your fave take outs. leave em there for a week, and rotate from ID to ID: they will almost always give you promo % off if the cart is left unchecked out after a week.
Ok-Past-6283@reddit
Ein Freund hat mir mal erzählt dass er im Restaurant an einem Tisch etwas weiter entfernten von der Theke…sich gebückt ) hat…ein Portmonee (sein eigenes) in der Hand hatte und die Leute am Tisch gefragt ob es denen gehört! Dann zur Theke gesagt der Tisch dahinten bezahlt die Rechnung und hält das Portmonee in die Höhe und der Mann am hinteren Tisch winkte zustimmend ;)
Toastwaver@reddit
Seabass said that?
Jesus_peed_n_my_butt@reddit
So a spin on the dumb and dumber skit?
Moistcowparts69@reddit
r/foundsatan
Additional_Dish_6058@reddit
I once went to a restaurant with 2 friends. Right before the check was delivered to the table, they each yanked out a hair and threw it on their plates. Waitress came by, they complained, free food.
Waitess then turns to me and snidely asks, "Anything wrong with your plate?" I was so embarrassed and humiliated to be with those 2 in that situation, I just tucked my head down, cheeks burning, and meekly shook my head no. So, so unethical!
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
Are talking about food, or "product"?
simikoi@reddit (OP)
Whatever
Puceeffoc@reddit
Well, I believe you missed the joke.
traffke@reddit
Redditors: don't assume someone is part of an inside joke
Challenge level: impossible
Puceeffoc@reddit
Wild that someone making a post about fast food wouldn't have seen the CEO of McDonald's fake eating a burger while calling the burger a "product" but yeah you're right I shouldn't have made that assumption.
ButWhy1987@reddit
.... I heard about it but didn't see it and didn't get the reference either.
Puceeffoc@reddit
https://youtu.be/bicO12LsTbk
Apprehensive_Hat8986@reddit
The answer to that is to provide links that invite readers to become inside to the joke. Nobody has to follow them of course. Such is the nature of free will.
But what started as an attempt to share laughs is being used to foster negativity, so I wish to remind all
"You deserve to be loved, and to feel loved, just for being you." --Mr Rogers mashup with my meditation teacher
That does NOT mean anyone is obliged to endanger themselves or otherwise subject themselves to less than equitable treatment in order to give love to or receive love from others.
Puceeffoc@reddit
A&W has their A&W mug club promotions. They send out promos often that give you free stuff sometimes. You can sign up whenever you want all you need is a cell phone... Or a google voice number. I've gotten a lot of free ice creams and buy 1 get 1 free deals.
Also I'm a Veteran and really wanted to take advantage of getting free meals using different google voice numbers but I just couldn't bring myself to doing that. I got my one free meal and didn't even cash in on getting multiple free meals. Although it was so tempting because they ran a Veterans day promotion for like 10 days. So I was thinking "Man I don't need to pay for lunch for a third of the month." I started plotting which A&Ws I'd hit and on what days/shifts. Then I decided "nah this is like some stolen valor level scheme." So I got my one free meal and day-dreamed about continuing to make new mug club accounts with Google voice.
TL; DR: A&W isn't with the times you can use your real phone number and a google voice number to get twice as many perks when they send promos out. Then if you like a particular promo you can keep signing up for the mug club with new google voice numbers until the promo is done...
zzx101@reddit
I love A&W and would totally take advantage but the nearest one is well over an hour away.
MormonAssaultVehicle@reddit