April Fools’ Day steals: The best free food and drink deals you can’t miss

April Fools’ Day is usually all about jokes and pranks, but this year it is also bringing some genuinely tasty food deals across the country. From free coffee and discounted burgers to special doughnuts and wing offers, several major restaurant chains are marking April Fools’ Day with promotions that are very real.

For anyone looking to grab a snack without paying full price, these limited-time offers are worth checking out before the day ends. Whether it is coffee, pizza, burgers, wings, or doughnuts, several brands are giving customers a reason to celebrate the day with something delicious, as per a report by USA Today.

Which restaurant chains have the best one-day meal deals?

Several restaurants are offering food specials that are only available for a short window.


BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse is serving its Sweet Heat Pepperoni Pizookie for $4.01 on April 1 for dine-in guests. The dessert combines a Chocolate Chunk Pizookie base with vanilla bean ice cream, pepperoni, and a drizzle of hot honey.

Checkers & Rally's is offering the Big Buford burger for $3 from April 1 to April 2.

Hooters is celebrating both April Fools’ Day and its anniversary with 10 wings for $4, available for dine-in customers only, as per a report by USA Today.

Shipley Do-Nuts is also joining in with a free four-pack of kolaches for loyalty members.

What is Dunkin’ offering on April Fools’ Day?

One of the biggest promotions comes from Dunkin', which is giving away 1,000,001 free coffees on April 1. Rewards members can unlock the deal by entering the code StillNotAJoke in the app.

The offer applies to hot or iced coffee in small, medium, or large sizes, with one free drink per customer. Once activated, the reward remains valid for seven days, although cold brew and extra-large hot coffee are excluded.

This continues a similar tradition from last year, when the chain also gave away one million coffees, as per a report by USA Today.

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What special treats are available from Krispy Kreme and Qdoba?

Krispy Kreme is featuring its limited-edition Artemis II Doughnut, inspired by NASA’s upcoming mission launch.

The doughnut starts with the classic Original Glazed base and is topped with blue vanilla icing, Oreo crunch, white sprinkles, a cookies-and-cream buttercream dollop, and a red chevron inspired by the NASA logo. It is available through April 2, as per a report by USA Today.

Qdoba is offering free Signature 3-Cheese Queso or Queso Diablo Chips with the purchase of an entrée for rewards members ordering online or through the app.

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Which other chains are offering April 1 discounts?

A number of additional brands are also taking part in the April Fools’ Day savings.

Marco's Pizza: Pepperoni Magnifico Pizza for $12.99 with code GOTCHA
The Cheesecake Factory: free slice of cheesecake through the rewards app
Taco John's: $1 crispy tacos, limited to three per order
Denny's: free delivery from April 1 to April 2 with minimum purchase
Bad Daddy's Burger Bar: discounted drinks during happy hour

Overall, this year’s April Fools’ Day proves that not every surprise is a prank. For food lovers, the day is packed with genuine deals that make grabbing a meal or treat a little more fun.

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FAQs

Which deal is completely free?
Dunkin’ is offering free coffee, while Shipley Do-Nuts and Cheesecake Factory also have free item promotions with membership requirements.

Are these offers available all week?
Most deals are limited to April 1, though some, like Checkers and Krispy Kreme, continue into April 2.