Today is Veterans Day, and all over Southern California, local spots are saying thank you the best way they know how. With food.
We pulled together more than 100 places offering something free or discounted today. It covers LA County, Orange County, the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley. We started with the big chains, then dug through Instagram for the neighborhood spots, the ones you only hear about when a friend sends you the post.
Start Your Day Right
Breakfast is covered. Denny's has a free Grand Slam until noon, IHOP is serving red, white and blueberry pancakes, and Hof's Hut in Long Beach, Seal Beach and Torrance has a free Hofburger or pancake combo. Need coffee? Starbucks, Krispy Kreme, Circle K and The Coffee Bean are all pouring free cups.
The Local Favorites
These are the ones that make this list feel like home. Porto's is handing out a free box of pastries, Polly's Pies has a free slice in Montebello, Cerritos and Long Beach, and King Taco has offered a free combination burrito. In the Inland Empire, My NY Pizza in Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana and Ontario is serving a free 14-inch slice of cheese pizza, and So-Cal Tamal has a free carne asada Hot Cheeto burrito.
Make a Day of It
It doesn't have to end at lunch. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is free for veterans with a reservation, Six Flags Magic Mountain is giving veterans a free day ticket, and California State Parks are free at 145 locations. Head to Pasadena City Hall at 10 a.m. for the ceremony, free hot dogs and a flyover around 11:11.
The Full List
Every listing has the deal, the fine print and a link to the business. Search by name or city, or filter by breakfast, meals, treats or family fun. Most offers ask for proof of service, so bring your military ID, VA card, DD-214 or a driver's license with the veteran designation. And call ahead, since a lot of chains say "participating locations."
Open the Veterans Day 2026 Freebies List
To every veteran and service member reading this, thank you. Enjoy your day.
About Team Sanchez
I'm Elizabeth Sanchez, a broker associate with Compass and team lead of Team Sanchez, serving Los Angeles and Orange County. Helping families find a home is my job. Helping them find the free pancakes, the pie and the parade that make a neighborhood feel like home is the fun part. Follow along on Instagram @teamsanchez_re for more local finds.
