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Any day is a good day for a hamburger, but on Thursday, May 28, which is National Hamburger Day, you can get a deal on one.
Hamburgers are among Americans’ favorite foods and often come paired with another favorite, French fries. Fries have the top spot in YouGov’s The Most Popular American Dishes poll. Hamburgers come in fourth, behind Grilled Cheese and Cheeseburger.
Consumers spent $115 billion dollars at U.S. burger chains in 2025, according to Kevin Schimpf, senior director of industry research for Technomic. Burger chains account for 20% of all consumer spending at chain restaurants annually, he said.
You can, of course, fry or grill your own burgers at home. But many like to get them at the drive-thru or in a restaurant. Here’s some spots with deals.
Burger King’s National Hamburger Day deal
To celebrate National Hamburger Day on Thursday, May 28, members of Burger King’s Royal Perks loyalty program can get a free hamburger with any purchase of $3 or more at participating Burger King restaurants nationwide, when they use the BK app or bk.com.Royal Perks members can also get four months of Spotify Premium for free with a $10 purchase. The offer is good for Royal Perks members who have opted in to get emails and are new Spotify Premium users (good for Spotify individual plan only; offer ends June 13).
Past Spotify Premium users whose access ended more than 30 days ago and have not redeemed a Spotify welcome back offer in the last 24 months can get two months free. (Spotify monthly cost is $12.99 after the trial period.)
More National Hamburger Day deals
- Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: The restaurant chain’s special burger for the month of May (it’s also National Hamburger Month) is the Smashadilla Burger, made with quesadilla buns, double-stacked taco-seasoned smash patties, Monterey Jack, pico de gallo, chipotle ranch dressing, crushed avocado, and served with red salsa.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Newcomers who sign up for the Buffalo Wild Wings Rewards program, you get a free burger with a purchase of $15 or more.
- Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s: My Rewards members can unlock an offer in the Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. app on May 28 to buy one, Famous Star, get one for one cent, at participating restaurants. New members who join on May 28 will automatically get the deal.
- Checkers & Rally’s: When you buy one Classic Burger on May 27 and May 28, you get one free.
- Del Taco: For National Hamburger Day, get one Double Del Cheeseburger free when you buy another (offer good May 28-30).
- Dairy Queen: Members of the DQ Rewards loyalty program get $1 off any Signature Stackburger all week (May 25-31).
- Duffy’s Sports Grill: On Thursday, May 28, get a ½-pound Certified Angus Beef Original Cheeseburger with fries for $7.99, with the purchase of any beverage.
- Farmer Boys: The fast-casual chain has a deal for a $3.99 Big Cheese Cheeseburger on Thursday, May 28, but you must be a member of its VIF (Very Important Farmer) loyalty program. Get the deal in the Farmer Boys app.
- Firebirds Wood Fired Grill: Celebrate National Hamburger Day with the $14.95 Perfect Pair Menu, which includes a Smashburger along with your choice of another dish (choices include a Caesar Salad, Mixed Greens Salad, BLT Salad, Mac & Cheese, and Cup of Chicken Tortilla Soup or Chef’s Daily Soup) The deal is also available for weekday lunches. Good Times: For National Burger Day, the chain will offer a $2.99 Deluxe Cheeseburger (normally $6.79). Offer good for dine-in only.
- Hard Rock Cafe: On National Hamburger Day, you can buy one, get one Classic Smashed Burger free from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. local time. Members of the Unity by Hard Rock global loyalty program get a free Classic Smashed Burger.
- Hat Creek Burger Company: Just in time for National Burger Day and National Burger Month, the Texas-based burger chain teamed with Terry Black’s Barbecue on a limited-time menu collaboration that includes the Pitmaster Stack, a Hat Creek burger layered with chopped brisket, BBQ sauce, melted cheddar, pickles and crispy onion rings.
- Irv’s Burgers: The first 50 customers at each location get a free Roadside Single. The offer is available in-store only; one per person. Just say the secret code: “Just for me.”
- Jack in the Box: You can get a free Jr. Jumbo Jack with any purchase of $1 or more on May 28. There’s also a limited-time Smashed Jack Sliders Munchie Meal (price varies by location), which includes two sliders, two tacos, curly fries and a drink in a limited Surprise Cup, which includes an entry for a chance to win a $75,000 grand prize and has an exclusive digital offer you can find in the Jack app.
- Metro Diner: The restaurant chain has a $12.49 Classic Burger on its limited-time Summer Favorites menu, which coincides with National Hamburger Day.
- Red Robin: On Thursday, May 28, the burger chain has a Big YUMMM deal with a Red’s Double Burger, bottomless side and bottomless beverage for $9.99. Also during May, Red Robin Royalty members earn double points when they make two or more purchases for dine-in or to-go.
- Ruby Tuesday: For National Hamburger Day, you can get a Single Patty American Smashed Burger with fries or tots, plus the Endless Garden Bar for $8.99.
- Shake Shack: Now through Sunday, May 31, guests can get a free ShackBurger with any order of $10 or more using the code FREEBURGER on the Shack App, online or in stores. Through May 31, you can also enter a contest to win free burgers for a year.
- Smashburger: You can get any single-patty Smash Burger for $5.28 at participating locations nationwide. Just mention the offer at checkout if in store, or enter the promo code 528SINGLE when ordering online or in the Smashburger app. (Offer does not apply to any items on the Smashburger $4.99 All-The-Time Menu.)
- Sonic: Through May 31, members of the Sonic Rewards loyalty program can get a free Sonic Smasher or All-American Smasher with a $3 purchase, or a free medium drink including new Refreshers, with a $3 purchase.
- Wayback Burgers: You can get a Classic Burger for $5 on May 28 at participating locations nationwide. The fast-casual chain recently launched its summer menu, which includes a Red, White & Blue Shake
- Whataburger: On Thursday, May 28, members of the Whataburger Rewards rewards program can get a free Whataburger when they order medium fries and medium drink (to get the deal just order online or scan the app in-store). Every qualifying order also unlocks a chance to be one of 50 lucky winners of free Whataburger deals for a year. (Details here.)
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected].
