Best September food deals: Your guide to the month’s freebies and bargains

Mark your calendars and set reminders: September will be a busy month on the made-up food holiday and deal front.

Besides Labor Day, September brings National Guacamole Day, National Cheeseburger Day and one of the most popular days of the year, National Coffee Day.

September also is Better Breakfast Month, National Honey Month, National Rice Month and National Potato Month.

Hungry yet?

September also brings the official start of fall on the 22nd and more pumpkin spice, a continuation of the early seasonal change that began in late August.

Bookmark this page because it’ll be updated frequently with new deals.

The deals

Here are the best deals, big days and ongoing specials, available at participating locations. To be on the safe side, check with your closest location before heading out.

Sept. 1: International Bacon Day, Gyro Day

This crispy made-up holiday is celebrated each year on the Saturday before Labor Day. This bacon day shouldn’t be confused with National Bacon Day held Dec. 30, which is expected to have more deals.

Some businesses have special bacon products in honor of the day. For instance, in Menifee, California, the Mason Jar Brewing Company, is releasing a bacon maple porter called “Spank Yer Hog.”

National Gyro Day also is Saturday, Sept. 1. Here are deals for both occassions:

SnoozeCalling itself an “A.M. Eatery and the leader in all day breakfast,” Snooze will donate 10 percent of its proceeds to food banks and nonprofits. It will also have three custom creations including a bacon cocktail, bacon Benedict and bacon pancake.

Taziki’s Mediterranean CaféOrder a gyro through the Taziki’s mobile app for a chance to win free gyros for a year. Only one will win and the winner will be announced Monday, Sept. 3.

The Halal GuysFor National Gyro Day, rewards members get double bonus points on any gyro order at participating locations.

White CastleThis deal is for Kevin Bacon, his relatives and anyone else whose name includes bacon, or has bacon in their address or anywhere on their ID. Those who meet this criteria are entitled to a free $3 Bacon Threesome with their ID and a coupon.

More: Bacon tea? Bacon cotton candy? 20 bacon-flavored foods the world doesn’t need

More: Can bacon make everything on Chipotle’s menu better? We may soon find out

Sept. 1-3:  Labor Day weekend

Baskin-Robbins: Get a sample of its Pumpkin Cheesecake Cappuccino Blast at participating locations nationwide from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2. Plus, small Cappuccino Blasts are $2.99 in September and October.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse: On Labor Day, get half off any large deep dish or tavern-cut pizza as part of the chain’s brewhouse special.

Boston Market: On Labor Day, the chain has a $29.99 deal that includes a whole rotisserie chicken, half rack of ribs, four sides and four pieces of cornbread. No coupon necessary.

Burger KingWith a $15 minimum purchase, get free delivery through Monday, Sept. 3 through DoorDash from participating Burger King locations. Place orders with the DoorDash app or website.

Dickey’s Barbecue PitThrough Sunday, Sept. 2, get $3 Pulled Pork Classic Sandwiches and $6 Westerners with a coupon posted at www.dickeys.com.

Firehouse Subs: Saturday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 3, get a free medium sub with a coupon and purchase of a medium or large sub, chips and drink.

Fogo de ChãoThrough Monday, Sept. 3, kids 12 and under eat free with purchase of a full-priced meal.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse + Wine Bar: For the long weekend, the restaurant has a three-course Celebration menu starting at $39.

Hooters: Get free fried pickles with a beverage purchase for dine-in orders Monday, Sept. 3.

Macaroni Grill: On Monday, Sept. 3, buy a Chicken or Eggplant Parmesan and get one free with this coupon, which you can print or show on your phone. Dine-in only at participating locations.

LongHorn SteakhouseIf you decide to light up the grill, LongHorn has a free grilling advice hotline for Labor Day. Talk to certified Grill Masters from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday, Sept. 3 by calling 1-855-LH-GRILL.

Long John Silver’sThrough Monday, Sept. 3, buy one any variety platter, get one free with this coupon posted on the chain’s Facebook page.

Outback SteakhouseGet a free Bloomin’ Onion with any dine-in purchase Monday, Sept. 3 when you say “Bloomin Monday” to your server.

Papa John’sThrough Monday, Sept. 3, buy any pizza at regular menu price online and get one of equal or lesser value free with promo code LABORDAY.

Pei WeiOn Labor Day, get two regular rice bowls for $10 with promo code 2FOR10. Offer is good for online orders and dining in with code.

Potbelly Sandwich ShopThrough Sunday, Sept. 2, buy one Wreck sandwich, get another Wreck free.

Rock Bottom Restaurant and BreweriesThrough Monday, Sept. 3, get two-for-$20 growlers.

Wendy’sIn select markets, orders $10 or more can be delivered for free through DoorDash on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 25.

Sept. 5: National Cheese Pizza Day

This day comes after many other pizza days this year, including National Pizza Day in February and Pi Day on March 14. The next pizza day is Sept. 20 for National Pepperoni Pizza Day.

Check out the deals and ways to save everyday in the National Cheese Pizza Day roundup.

Sept. 6-9: Free shake deal at Potbelly

Potbelly Sandwich ShopFree Shake Friday is a three-day event at Potbelly. With an entrée purchase at participating locations, get a free shake when you say #FreeShakeFriday. Perk members also will have the perk in their accounts.

Sept. 7: National Beer Lover’s Day

There are quite a few made-up holidays celebrating beer including National Beer Dayin April to International Beer Day in August.

Some bars and restaurants will mark National Beer Lover’s Day with specials, but at others it’s just another reason to hoist a pint.

Here are a few smartphone apps that offer cash back on beer purchases year-round:

IbottaThe cashback app offers savings on alcohol including beer at grocery and liquor stores and at restaurants and bars in most states. Ibotta’s help page notes 10 states are excluded from beer rebates including Hawaii, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. Ibotta also has cashback offers on groceries, household items, online shopping and more. Once you earn $20 in cashback through the app, you can transfer money to a PayPal or Venmo account or choose a gift card.

Checkout 51New weekly deals begin every Thursday. Star items you may buy, snap a photo of your receipt showing you bought the item, then select items on your receipt and click on “claim it” to receive credit for offers. Once your account balance reaches $20, you can request the company mail you a check.

Fetch RewardsBuy certain bands and specific products, take photos of your receipts to earn points that can be cashed in for select gift cards.

Secret Hopper: Not a cashback app, but mystery shopping meets craft breweries with Secret Hopper, which describes itself on its website as a “mystery shopping service for craft breweries.” Hoppers need to apply to be independent contractors and will be contacted when positions open up. The website also notes “Secret Hopper is not a way to make money, but a fun way to fund your craft beer hobby and help the industry we all love.”

Sept. 9: Grandparents Day

White Castle: Take $3 off any Castle pack with a coupon posted at www.whitecastle.com/summer-savings.

Sept. 10-16: Hungry Howie’s 45 cents deal

Hungry Howie’sTo celebrate the pizza chain’s 45th anniversary, get a large one-topping pizza for 45 cents with the purchase of a regular-price large pizza and promo code 45YEARS at participating locations. Not valid in Florida.

Sept. 15: National Double Cheeseburger Day

It’s National Double Cheeseburger Day and National Cheese Toast Day (see below for National Cheeseburger Day on Sept. 18).

SizzlerThe fast-casual chain is celebrating National Cheese Toast Day by giving away free samples of its signature Cheese Toast from noon to 2 p.m. No purchase required. The chain also is hosting a #CheeseToastSelfie social media photo contest through Sept. 30. Learn more at www.sizzlercheesetoast.com.

Sept. 16: National Guacamole Day

The deals are forthcoming but did you know that Qdoba Mexican Grill has free guac everyday? The fast-casual chain started giving away free guacamole with orders of burritos, tacos and quesadillas in 2014. Queso is another freebie.

Sept. 18:National Cheeseburger Day

If National Cheeseburger Day is anything like National Burger Day, which was held in May, we can expect a long list of specials.

Here are a few early announcements to whet your appetite:

BurgerFiLocations nationwide will be offering $1 cheeseburgers with the purchase of a cheeseburger Sept. 18.

Culver’sAlthough there’s not a nationwide promotion, individual locations may offer specials. One way to check is by calling your closest location and some may post specials on the location’s details page at www.culvers.com.

Farmer BoysGet $1 Big Cheese cheeseburgers at participating locations Sept. 18.

Holiday InnAt all 28 Burger Theory restaurants located in Holiday Inn properties, get a free burger Sept. 18 while supplies last. The Burger Theory locations are giving away 10,000 classic cheeseburgers and no additional purchase is required. Starting on National Cheeseburger Day and through Nov. 11, Burger Theory will have a limited-time three cheese loaded burger, The Cheese Louise.

Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes & FriesShow you have downloaded the My Hwy 55 appand get half-off all burger combos from 5 p.m. to close Sept. 18. The chain considers itself the official restaurant of the made-up holiday.

PT’s TavernsGet a single cheeseburger for $4, a double cheeseburger for $6, a triple cheeseburger for $8 and a quadruple cheeseburger for $10 Sept. 18.

Tony Roma’sMembers of the chain’s email club will get a coupon for $2 off any burger Sept. 18. Sign up at www.tonyromas.com.

Wayback BurgersDownload the chain’s new Wayback App by Sept. 17 for a National Cheeseburger Day buy-one-get-one free deal Sept. 18. Also earn a free classic burger after making your first in-app purchase and earn other freebies.

White Castle: The fast-food chain known for its sliders calls Sept. 18 Cheese Slider Day and it’s giving away a free cheese slider with any purchase and a coupon at www.whitecastle.com/summer-savings.

Sept. 20:Free Queso Day at Moe’s

Sept. 20 also is National Pepperoni Cheese Pizza Day and deals are expected.

Moe’s Southwest Grill: The fast-casual chain is hosting Free Queso Day Sept. 20 along with a contest for a chance to win free queso for life. Enter Sept. 1-16 by checking in with the Moe’s app or by visiting Moe’s Facebook page where you can enter your email address on a pinned post. The winner will be announced on the big day.

Sept. 22: First day of fall and Museum Day

The day marking the change of seasons is typically a one for deals. Spring brought us cool freebies and the first day of summer had an assortment of treats. Sept. 22 also Museum Day.

Bruegger’s Bagels: The chain starts its National Coffee Day deal on the first day of fall. Members of Bruegger’s Inner Circle rewards program can get a free coffee. Sign up at www.brueggers.com.

Museum Day: Sign up for a Museum Day ticket for free entry to participating museums and cultural institutions across the country. Smithsonian hosts the annual event and a Museum Day ticket provides free admission for two people on Sept. 22. Learn more and register at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday

Sept. 29: National Coffee Day

These caffeinated deals are percolating and many more are expected.

AmoraThe coffee subscription service will give free two bags with every National Coffee Day purchase. One of the free bags will be Amora’s new Pumpkin Spice coffee.

Barnes & NobleAll Barnes & Noble Cafes will offer a free cup of tall hot or iced coffee all day Sept. 29.

Bruegger’s BagelsThis National Coffee Day special starts on the first day of fall, Sept. 22, and runs through Sept. 29. Members of Bruegger’s Inner Circle rewards program can get a free coffee. Sign up at www.brueggers.com.

The Coffee Bean & Tea LeafAt participating locations, get a free regular coffee with the purchase of a food or bakery item Sept. 29.

Corner Bakery CaféIt’s a two-day deal at the fast-casual chain. All locations will offer a free any size hand-roasted coffee or cold brew (where available) with any purchase on Sept. 28 and Sept. 29.

Peet’s CoffeeThe chain will have an in-store and online offer. Get 25 percent off on one pound of beans and a free drip coffee or tea at participating Peet’s coffeebars. For online purchases at www.peets.com, get 25 percent off all regular, non-subscription, one pound bean purchases with promo code COFFEEDAY18.

White Castle: Get a free small coffee with any purchase and a coupon at www.whitecastle.com/summer-savings.

Ongoing specials

Applebee’s: The September Neighborhood Drink of the Month is the $2 Samuel Adams OctoberFest.

Baskin-Robbins: Small Cappuccino Blasts are $2.99 in September and October.

Carvel: Through Oct. 31, save $2 off a 48-ounce or larger cake or $3 off any sheet cake with a printable coupon.

Chili’s: The chain’s $5 margarita special for September is the Crown Apple Crisp, which is made with Jose Cuervo tequila, Crown Royal Regal Apple Whiskey, Cranberry Juice and Fresh Sour. The drink is available through Sept. 30.

CreamistryFrom noon to 5 p.m. weekdays through Sept. 14, students and educators with a valid school ID get 20 percent off a single item purchase.

Dairy Queen: For a limited time, download the Dairy Queen app and register for an account and get a free small Blizzard treat at participating locations. Limit one offer per person per visit. Not valid in Texas. There also are weekly exclusives through the app.

Jimboy’s Tacos: Through Sept. 30, first responders get a free Original Ground Beef Taco or Bean Taco when they present their employee ID at participating California and Nevada locations for the chain’s new Taco for a Hero campaign. The offer is for firefighters, police, EMTs and active military personnel.

Olive GardenThrough Sept. 23, order select entrees when dining in and take a second home for free for Olive Garden’s popular “Buy One, Take One” promotion. On Sept. 24, the eight-week long Never Ending Pasta Bowl promotion begins

On The Border: Through Oct. 1, get chicken tinga and seasoned ground beef tacos are $2 and brisket and southwest chicken tacos are $4 at participating locations.

Panda Express: Through Oct. 31, get $3 off any online order $5 or more with the code “HONEYISBACK.”

Red Lobster: The Endless Shrimp promotion is back for a limited time.

Wendy’s: For a limited time, get a small Frosty for 50 cents. Learn more here.

White CastleThrough Oct. 31, the Columbus-based fast-food chain has $3 Bacon Threesomes, which include three options of bacon-loaded sliders.