Friday is National Cheeseburger Day, and several restaurant chains are offering free or discounted burgers.
Some of the best-known deals are available at McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Five Guys and other chains with locations across New York. Many require a loyalty account, app order or minimum purchase.
Here's where New Yorkers can find National Cheeseburger Day deals on Friday, Sept. 18.
Burger King's National Cheeseburger Day deal
Burger King is offering Royal Perks members a free bacon cheeseburger Friday with a minimum $3 purchase through the chain's app or website.
The offer is part of Burger King's National Cheeseburger Day Perks Week. Members can also get free four-piece nuggets Saturday with a $3 purchase and a free Original Chicken Sandwich Sunday with a $3 purchase.
How to get a free double cheeseburger at McDonald's
Members of
the MyMcDonald's Rewards loyalty program can get a free Double Cheeseburger Friday with a minimum $1 purchase through the McDonald's app at participating locations.
McDonald's is also offering its new SpongeBob x One Piece Happy Meal, which includes toys featuring "SpongeBob SquarePants" characters dressed as "One Piece" characters.
Wendy's National Cheeseburger Day deal
Wendy's Rewards members can add a Dave's Single Cheeseburger for $1.99 with any purchase Friday.
The offer is available through the Wendy's app or website at participating U.S. locations.
Five Guys National Cheeseburger Day deal
Five Guys is offering a buy-one, get-one-free burger deal through Friday.
Customers who order through the Five Guys app or website can buy one burger and get another of equal or lesser value free by using the code BOGOBURGER at checkout. The offer is available for pickup or first-party delivery and is not valid for in-store purchases.
More Cheeseburger Day deals
- Applebee's: Get a Classic Burger or Classic Cheeseburger with fries for $8.99 on Friday for dine-in or to-go orders. During September, Applebee's is also offering its O-M-Cheese Burger and O-M-Cheese-adilla Burger on its 2 for $25 menu for dine-in customers.
- Bill Gray's: Cheeseburgers are $5 on Friday, Sept. 18.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: Buy one regular-priced cheeseburger and get another of equal or lesser value free Friday at participating locations. The offer is limited to one and does not apply to lunch combos or kids' menu burgers.
- Dairy Queen: Rewards members can get a free single Original Cheeseburger Stackburger with any app or online order of $1 or more Friday.
- Dollar General: Get 20% off select restaurant gift cards Friday, including gift cards for McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Sonic, Whataburger and Applebee's.
- Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers: Get 50% off any Freddy's Triple Steakburger, excluding the Prime, from Friday through Sunday through the Freddy's Rewards app.
- Red Robin: Enter for a chance to win free burgers Friday through Red Robin's Instagram, Facebook page or online entry form.
- Ruby Tuesday: Get select burgers and sandwiches with fries or tots for $6.99 Friday. Options include Ruby's Cheeseburger and an Impossible Burger.
- Shake Shack: Get a $5 single ShackBurger or single Cheeseburger with any purchase using the code BURGERDAY in the Shack app, on the website or at in-store kiosks.
- Smashburger: SmashRewards members can get any single Smash for $1 Friday at participating locations nationwide. The offer excludes the Smoked Brisket Bacon Smash.
- Sonic: Get a Jr. Double Cheeseburger for $1.99 when ordering in a restaurant or through the Sonic app Friday.
- Tom Wahl's: Get two cheeseburgers for $10 Friday when using the chain's coupon.
- Wahlburgers: The chain offered 50% off its signature Our Burger Thursday, Sept. 17, one day before National Cheeseburger Day.
National Cheeseburger Day history
Cheeseburgers are among the most popular American dishes, according to YouGov, with 84% of those surveyed expressing a positive opinion of the food. Cheeseburgers tied hamburgers in YouGov's rankings, behind grilled cheese sandwiches and French fries at 85%.
The hamburger rose to prominence at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, according to History.com.
The origins of the cheeseburger are disputed. Pasadena, California, stakes a claim to the invention in 1924, while a Louisville, Kentucky, restaurant has credited its owner with inventing the cheeseburger in 1934.
Regardless of its origins, National Cheeseburger Day falls each year on Sept. 18. In 2026, the holiday lands on a Friday.
Contributing: USA Today Network
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: National Cheeseburger Day deals: Free and cheap burgers in New York
