eating out

20 Fast Food Apps That Help You Score Free Food

Ashley Eneriz — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 08:00:07 +0000

Fast food apps are increasing in popularity. Not only can they save you time, and help you avoid the hungry crowd with mobile ordering, but they can also save you money. Sure, fast food is known for being affordable, but fast food apps can actually help you score free food. And who doesn't love free food?

Of course, the best way to save money on fast food is to avoid it altogether and cook all your meals at home, but we live in the real world of unexpected traffic and busy schedules, and sometimes you need to grab something quickly. All of these apps allow you to order ahead of time to skip the line when you pick up your food and offer rewards for discounts and freebies. Bonus!

Here are our favorite 20 fast food apps and the delicious perks that come with them.

1. BJ's Brewhouse

My local BJ's always has a wait of about 30-40 minutes on weekend nights. Luckily, with the app you can put your name on the waitlist before heading to the restaurant and cut down on wait times. The app also rewards members with a free mini pizookie (a pie and cookie hybrid, usually served with ice cream) when they sign up, and orders earn members one point for every dollar spent. Once you have earned 100 points, you will receive a $10 off coupon good for 90 days.

2. Burger King

The Burger King app promises $30 worth of food coupons once you sign up, but in reality, it's BOGO free coupons and other discounted meals. You can also connect your PayPal account to the app for faster payment.

3. Café Rio

The Café Rio app rewards users $10 credit for every 100 points they earn. Usually, you will earn one point for every dollar spent, but many times the app will also reward double points. And your rewards don't expire.

4. Chick-fil-A

I love the Chick-fil-A One app because it's always rewarding me with a free food item. Sometimes it's an ice cream cone, other times it's a salad. The app will also give you rewards for using the app to pay for food directly.

And if you haven't used the cow calendar yet, you are missing out. Each year in November, Chick-fil-A restaurants sell $8 calendars that come with cards that have a free food item each month. This card connects to your app, making it simple to redeem your free food item of the month. Didn't grab a calendar in time? Check out eBay. (See also: 6 Ways to Score Free Food at Chick-fil-A)

5. Chronic Taco

Chronic Taco adds 50 points to your account right when you sign up. You will also earn one point for every dollar spent at the restaurant. Just 25 points can be redeemed for an order of churro bites, 50 points for a taco, or 100 points for any menu item.

6. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf app offers a free coffee or tea at sign-up. The app also gives app users a free birthday treat and reward points for every purchase you make (a point for every dollar spent). Redeem points toward free drinks and food items. You'll even unlock certain freebie levels (Purple, Platinum, and VIP) with regular use.

7. El Pollo Loco

Earn $10 of free food through the LOCO Rewards every time you earn 100 points by scanning the app, either at the drive-thru window or ordering through the app. You also score a free entree worth up to $7 at sign-up. Each dollar you spend at El Pollo Loco is worth one point, and soon, you will be able to load gift cards straight to the app.

8. Firehouse Subs

As soon as you sign up for the Firehouse Subs app and reward program, you will earn a free large drink, and then a free sub on your birthday. You will also earn one point for every $0.01 you spend, which can be redeemed for free subs and salads.

9. Jack in the Box

The Jack in the Box app offers special in-app offers like two free tacos with any purchase or 10 percent off your order. You can also save your favorite order for quick and easy one-tap ordering.

10. Jamba Juice

Jamba Juice gives new users $3 off your order once you activate your account. You'll also earn a free treat for your birthday, and a $3 reward for every 35 points you earn.

11. Krispy Kreme

Did someone say free doughnuts? Sign up for the Krispy Kreme app to receive a free Original Glazed doughnut upon registration and on your birthday. You can also earn free boxes of doughnuts and beverages after so many purchases, which is a nice bonus if you're in charge of snacks for your office or child's school.

12. McDonald's

Compared to other fast food chains, McDonald's offers coupons and rewards on their app that are quite decent for lovers of fast food or those who find themselves in a dinnertime pinch. The app gives you instant access to food coupons, like $2 off a Signature Crafted sandwich through mobile order and pay, or free fries with any purchase on Fridays.

Additionally, McDonald's also offers McCafe rewards, which allows you to earn a free McCafe drink after purchasing five — no size limits.

13. Panera Bread

MyPanera Rewards gives members rewards for three things: for their birthdays, for spending, and just because. There have been months when the app rewarded me a free coffee or a free bagel for every day of the month — no additional purchase necessary. I also like that the app rewards a free food reward after so many visits, not based on how much money I spent.

14. Pick Up Stix

Every dollar you spend at Pick Up Stix will earn you one "Fortune." After you earn 100 Fortunes, you can redeem them for a free entree. Sign up for the app through Facebook to receive free Fortunes.

15. PizzaRev

PizzaRev fans can earn one point for every dollar spent through the app. Once you earn 100 points, you can redeem them for a free pizza or entree salad. Rev Rewards members also receive free treats on their birthday.

16. Starbucks

With the Starbucks app, you earn two stars for every $1 spent, and a free drink or food item for your birthday. You also get a free drink or food item for every 125 stars you earn. They will often offer reward promotions for buying certain beverages, as well. (See also: 7 Starbucks Savings Hacks That Actually Work)

17. Sonic

With the Sonic app, you instantly get a free slush reward at sign-up. And new offers are applied to your Sonic app account each month. Also, every month features a deal for a $1.99 Wacky Pack, which is a Sonic's kid's meal. Other deals are usually for half-off blasts, shakes, or floats. (See also: Best Kids Eat Free Restaurants)

18. Subway

Eat fresh and earn tokens for every purchase you make at Subway. Earn 100 tokens, and you will be rewarded with a $2 off coupon. You will also earn bonus surprises, such as a free cookie on your birthday. This app also has surprise deals that can be redeemed through your phone.

19. Whataburger

The Whataburger app rewards you based off visits rather than the amount of money you spend. If you use the app on five separate visits, you will have your choice of a free honey butter chicken biscuit, medium French fry, taquito, cinnamon roll, or a small shake on your next visit.

20. Yogurtland

Sign up for Yogurtland’s Real Rewards program to earn an initial free three-ounces for registering and another free three-ounces on your birthday. You earn a point for every ounce purchased. Yogurtland’s reward program is tiered (Green, Raspberry, and Platinum), so once you earn 60 points, you can move from Green to Raspberry and earn three-ounces free for every 36 points earned.

How to save even more with fast food apps

Obviously these apps were created to get you to spend money on fast food in order to score free food, but here are three ways you can spend less and still get rewards.

Buy discounted gift cards

Look for discounted gift cards on eBay and other reputable gift card sites to save a small percentage on your fast food budget. Load that card to your account and earn points through the app. Warehouse clubs, like Costco, also offer discounted cards to Jamba Juice regularly.

Take advantage of gift card promos

Sometimes these restaurants will offer a deal like, "Buy $X worth of gift cards get a meal or drink for free." You can buy the gift cards to get the free item in one transaction and then load the gift cards on the app in order to keep earning rewards without spending more money to do so.

Do separate transactions to use more coupons

You usually can't combine coupons in a single transaction, but luckily, several fast food places are fine with you having separate transactions in order to take advantage of more than one coupon.

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This article is from Ashley Eneriz of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Countries Where You Don't Have to Tip at Restaurants

Nick Wharton — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 08:31:10 +0000

Maybe you hate tipping and want to plan your vacations around countries where it's an unheard of concept. Or perhaps you're interested in how other cultures handle tipping and if the service is affected by the custom. Whatever your motivations, it's good to be aware of the places where it's unexpected to tip, those where it's uncommon but appreciated, and the ones where it's considered an outright insult. (See also: This Is How Much to Tip in the U.S.)

1. Japan

Japan is a country built on traditions that stretch back centuries and which can still be seen clearly in everyday life. Respect, courtesy, and politeness are basic principles in society, and good service comes as standard without the expectation of extra compensation.

Japan quite simply doesn't have a tipping culture, so trying to leave a gratuity could result in a fair amount of confusion. That confusion will inevitably lead to attempts to give you back your change, and could even open up the potential for causing offense. Avoid an awkward situation with a heartfelt thank you instead.

2. China

China is such a vast country with such a diverse history that many aspects of life differ drastically from region-to-region. The food, the landscapes, and even the language vary depending on where you are. But one thing that remains largely the same is that tipping is unexpected and unnecessary.

Similar to Japan, China has no tipping culture traditionally, though in some of the big, international destinations it is becoming more common, largely thanks to overseas visitors. In Hong Kong and Macau, restaurants will often include a 10 percent service charge. If you feel you got exceptional service you may want to leave a little something extra.

I lived in a relatively unknown city called Yangzhou for one year, and when I first arrived, my North American habits meant that I was frequently leaving tips without really noticing. I soon realized that this was not a custom in Yangzhou, and often the waitstaff would chase me down the street to return my change to me!

3. French Polynesia

This collection of magical tropical islands in the South Pacific Ocean might be an overseas collectivity of France, but the tipping rules are slightly different from the country that oversees it. Tipping traditions here stem from Tahitian traditions rather than the French customs.

In France, a service charge is included in the price of meals, and is required by law to be passed on to the staff. Additional tipping is not an obligation, but is accepted as a gesture for good service. In French Polynesia, no tip is required ordinarily, though if one is expected it will usually be clearly indicated with a note on the receipt to say that it would be appreciated.

4. Switzerland

Switzerland is a country whose identity is heavily influenced by the countries surrounding it, with French, German, Italian, and Romansch all considered official languages. Its tipping customs are unique to Switzerland, though, as there is no expectation to leave a gratuity for any services received.

Unlike in many countries where tipping is ingrained in the culture, staff in the service industry in Switzerland are generally paid a decent basic salary. This means they aren't reliant on tips to bolster their wages. Any service charge must be clearly stated on your bill by law, and any tips here tend to be confined to the change left over from payment. (See also: How to Get Cash While Traveling Abroad)

5. Brazil

Tipping in Brazil is not common practice, partly because culturally it's not been done, but also because a 10 percent service charge is usually automatically added to your bill.

Having said that, tips here are genuinely appreciated, even if they're not relied upon. Many customers tend to round up to the nearest real rather than waiting for small change, and don't be surprised if service staff do this as well when giving you your change back. Use your discretion as to when to give a tip, but remember that waiting service is a well regarded profession here and anything you do leave will be well received.

6. South Korea

South Korea is a country that manages to seamlessly merge age-old tradition with cutting edge modernity. Its vibrant capital Seoul is a mammoth metropolis with a thriving food scene, futuristic architecture, and streets full of trendy fashionistas. Outside of Seoul there's an abundance of stunning natural landscapes that will take your breath away.

Regardless of where you are in South Korea, tipping is generally not expected, though it may still be appreciated in certain settings such as more westernized restaurants. In some instances it can even be considered as an act of pity rather than generosity, and may be refused. The easiest option is to simply not tip.

7. Denmark

This stunning Scandinavian country, like many others in this region, is well renowned for its egalitarian social policies. Its relatively high minimum wage means that service staff are well compensated for their work. Add to this the fact that a service charge of 10 percent is more often than not included in your final bill and it goes some way in explaining why tipping is so uncommon here.

Don't feel obliged to leave a tip, but if you do receive great service, a tip is taken as a token of your appreciation. It's also more common to tip in higher end establishments than it is in cafes or bars, but still not considered a requirement. Five to 10 percent is sufficient if you do decide that you want to leave something.

In the U.S., tipping is such an ingrained part of the culture that it can feel strange not leaving a gratuity, particularly when you've received great service. But whether you feel comfortable resisting leaving a tip or not, it's important to follow the customs and traditions of the places that you visit.

What you consider a harmless and even generous act could be seen as completely the opposite and cause offense to the intended recipient. Be respectful, and if in doubt, feel free to discreetly ask what the expectation is.

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This article is from Nick Wharton of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

9 Ways Restaurant Menus Are Designed to Make You Spend More

Kyle James — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 10:30:37 +0000

There is no arguing the fact that dining out on a regular basis can bust any budget. But if you understand restaurant menus, and how they're designed to trick you into opening your wallets wide, you can dine wisely and save money. Here are nine sneaky restaurant menu tactics along with some smart ways to fight back. (See also: 13 Overpriced Restaurant Items That Waste Your Money)

1. First Item on Menu Trick

Typically the first item in each meal category is the restaurant's "anchor item," which is where they make their biggest profit. This could be pasta, seafood, salad, or more a generic category like "Entrees" or "Appetizers." Because the first item listed typically gets ordered more often than any other item in the category, it's going to usually be one of these anchor items. Buyer beware. Make sure to look through the entire list before you decide on what to order.

2. Menu "Boxes" Everywhere

Restaurants like to put meal categories in fancy boxes in different spots on their menus. It could be their steak dishes or maybe seafood dishes, but the one thing they have in common is they grab your attention and tend to make you more price insensitive. They want these boxes to grab your attention because typically their profit margin on these meals is the highest. To fight back, you'll want to ignore the boxes, avoid temptation, and stick to the meals in your budget.

3. Pricing Ending with .99 or .95

This is the old retail trick of having the price end just below a round number. Our eyes and brain are trained to read from left to right so the first number in the price is what we use to determine the overall value. A burrito selling for $7.95 just looks cheaper than one selling for $8.00. To fight back, just round the number up in your head, then decide if the price is reasonable.

4. Fancy Words

Restaurant menus are riddled with fancy words like "juicy," "creamy," "deep smoky flavor," and the like. They are designed and put on the menu for only one reason: to create hunger in the person ordering. It's like Pavlov's dogs, you hear the word juicy or tender and you start salivating immediately. By being aware of what restaurants are trying to do, you can gloss over the fancy words designed to create hunger pangs and order the meal you originally intended.

5. "Chef Specials"

"Chef Specials" are typically anything but. Instead, they're often meals that make the restaurant the most money or include ingredients the restaurant is trying to get rid of. The meal descriptions are usually full of fancy words designed to make you order them without much thought. They typically have their own special section on the menu with special fonts and graphics designed to catch your attention. The next time you see "Chef Specials" when dining out, don't fall for the trap. Instead, only order them if you were planning on it when you walked in the door.

6. No Dollar Signs

According to a Cornell study, diners tend to spend more at restaurants that don't use dollar signs on their menus. Because of this, high-end restaurants will often leave the dollar sign off the menu completely. Their thought process is that diners will be less likely to think about their own financial situation if the menu doesn't have dollar signs plastered all over it.

Also, expensive restaurants will only use whole numbers for prices. For example, it could be a 29 or it could be a 14, in either case they want to remove the idea of real money from the situation. Thus you won't see any decimals, cents, or dollar signs on the menu. Be sure to consider what your meal total will be in "real" dollars before you place an order.

7. Associate a Meal With a Brand

Whether it's the Jack Daniel's BBQ sauce at TGIF's, or Doritos taco shells at Taco Bell, tying a brand-name to a meal (referred to as "co-branding") often gives restaurants the green light to charge you more. Don't fall for the mind game and instead look for cheaper alternatives on the menu that are almost identical.

8. Top Right Menu Trick

According to William Poundstone, author of Priceless: The Myth of Fair Value (and How to Take Advantage of It), diners tend to look at the top right corner of the menu first. This might seem a bit counterintuitive as we read from left to right, but Poundstone says this is where you'll most often find the restaurant's most profitable items. Thus, many restaurants will make this menu real estate stand out by using larger font, eye-catching boxes, and clever wording.

9. Vague Sizing

Many restaurants offer a half sandwich, or a half salad. Have you ever wondered just how big a "half" order is and which one you should order? Most restaurants price their full salad or sandwich so it appears to be a better deal. But the truth of the matter is most half salads and sandwiches are way over half as big as a "full" and are often the better value as you'll probably have no waste. Be sure to ask how big a half order is before ordering as it'll often be the way to go unless you're really hungry and can finish the larger "full" portion. (See also: 12 Ways Restaurants Trick You Into Spending More)

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This article is from Kyle James of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How to Stop the Takeout Meal Cycle and Save

Ashley Marcin — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 11:00:11 +0000

Whether you're trying to lean your budget or your waistline this year, eating too many meals out is a common offender. In fact, CNN recently reported that the average dinner at a non-chain restaurant comes in at a staggering 1,200 calories. While prices can range wildly depending on the eatery, the solution for better physical and financial health may be as simple as cooking more meals at home.

My family decided to embark on a challenge and stop dining out last month. We survived and have a stack of cash to show for it. Yes! We estimate we saved around $75 (conservatively) each week by skipping takeout and getting better with our meal planning. About $50 of this money, probably more, came from shunning restaurants and $25 is what we shaved off each week's grocery bill, all while making enough food for hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners — seven days each week.

Your results with this type of challenge will vary depending on how much you eat out, the cost of living in your area, and your creativity with using leftovers. Regardless, here are some tips that can help anyone to stop the takeout cycle today and save big. (See also: Try These 6 Money-Saving Challenges Now)

Examine Your Habits

Get honest with yourself about your eating and restaurant habits. When we wrote it out, we realized we were grabbing takeout pizza on Friday night, scouting out brunch or lunch on Saturday or Sunday, and sneaking in at least another meal out every week. I say we were spending $50, but I'm sure the amount was closer to $75 at the rate we were going.

Beyond that, we had a huge problem with food waste. I found myself tossing rotten fruits and veggies before our weekly grocery trip. We had expired cartons of yogurt nearly full and long-forgotten bags of whatever else going stale. The weirdest part? Our grocery bill was higher than ever. In better days, we tried to stick to around $80 to $100 for a family of three, but we were climbing at least $25 higher than that amount, all while feeling like we never had ideas for dinner. (See also: 10 Fruits and Veggies That Stay Fresh a Month or Longer)

After facing the hard truth, it became crystal clear that we needed to put more effort into planning and preparing our meals to save money and create less waste.

Embrace the Plan

Meal planning has been the key to our success, and it hasn't taken much effort. Every week before shopping, I take stock of what we have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. It sounds like a big job, but it probably takes five or 10 minutes. I figure out what meals we can make with those items first. Some of the ideas come from memory. Other times, I use sites like Supercook to help with my creativity.

Feeling intimidated? It helps to stick to basic breakfasts (oatmeal, fruit, yogurt, cereal, etc.), easy lunches (sandwiches, salads, and other things that can be made in bulk), and use tools like a slow cooker to make simmering satisfying dinners a breeze. We even do some bulk cooking to help when we're in a pinch. Example: I made a huge batch of freezer veggie burgers that we can grab on busy nights.

Shop Smart

After I account for all the leftover foods, I look up recipes or write down old favorites for the other nights in the week. What results is an awesomely organized grocery list. At the store, we only buy what we need, nothing additional. That's how food waste is made! And I'll tell you what, there's nothing more satisfying than ending the week with a near-empty fridge.

We also found when we changed what day of the week we shop, we felt less compelled to grab takeout. For us, this meant heading to the store on Friday nights so our cabinets were packed with lots of exciting foods for the weekend. We had been shopping on Mondays, and with little in our reserves — that's when we'd venture out to takeout town. Now, making our meals and enjoying food together has even become one of our favorite sources of frugal entertainment.

Start Small

Does cooking absolutely everything at home sound too overwhelming? I admit, I have a high tolerance for being in the kitchen. If you don't — start small. You can get great results by replacing just one of your meals out each week. Maybe you can start by packing a lunch instead of buying out. Replacing your morning coffee and muffin habit with a homemade variety. Look for any and all opportunities and add on from there.

If I had to choose just one, I would have started with our pizza takeout night. Making pizza at home doesn't take much skill. A plain pie at the place down the street costs around $14. To make dough ($1 for flour, yeast, and water) and top with sauce ($0.99 a jar) and cheese ($2.99 for a two-cup bag)? Well, that's more like $5 if you stick to the basics. (See also: This Is How You Make Restaurant-Quality Pizza at Home)

Resist Temptation

There were some tricky moments we encountered along the way. For example, our friends came down to visit and asked us if we wanted to buzz out to get some dinner with them randomly one afternoon. I felt paralyzed and slightly embarrassed, but I told them the truth: We'd love to get together, I shared, but we have some big budget goals this year, and eating out doesn't fit into the puzzle right now. Plus, we had already started cooking dinner.

Guess what? It was no biggie. They came over to our place, we hung out for several hours, and they even told us our Crock-Pot dinner smelled amazing. For us, temptation usually comes when we're lazy about planning or when we get social pressure. We know this now. Your own triggers might be different. Be aware of them. Be honest about your goals. And get cooking.

Did you break your takeout cyclc? What worked for you?

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This article is from Ashley Marcin of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

7 Foods That Are Actually Better Buys at a Restaurant

Christa Avampato — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 13:00:10 +0000

Going out to eat is a large expense for many people, especially city dwellers. But sometimes, dining out is justifiable — and in some cases, it's even a better value than eating at home. Here are seven foods that you're actually better off having in a restaurant.

1. Fish

I recently stopped by the fish counter at my local supermarket. I was knocked out by the price of fish, particularly the wild variety which is healthier and tastier. When I went out to eat that night, I found that buying that same fish and then cooking it (including condiments, sides, and other ingredients) at home would have been more expensive than ordering it in the restaurant. Plus, I didn't need to worry about getting that fishy smell out of my kitchen.

2. Ethnic Foods

I'm a huge fan of authentic ethnic food. It's one of my favorite parts of living in a big city. Indian, Thai, and Ethiopian cuisines are three of my go-to choices when I dine out. The dishes I like best are complex with many layers of flavors and ingredients. If I were to make these dishes at home, I would need to invest in spices and ingredients that I would use only sparingly — and very occasionally. In this case, it's more cost effective for me to go to a restaurant that specializes in these cuisines, rather than paying a lot of money for a stock of ingredients I would barely use.

3. Expensive Cuts of Meat

I only eat red meat once or twice a month, and when I do, I want it to be the best of the best: sustainably and responsibly raised, flavorful, and cooked just right. These cuts of meat are expensive (as they should be, given how much it takes to raise them!) and the chances of me ruining them in my home kitchen by overcooking or using the wrong technique are high. In this case, I much prefer to leave the grilling to the experts in a restaurant.

4. Breakfast Specials

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. When I'm in the mood for a decadent breakfast complete with pancakes, waffles, omelettes, and/or bagels and lox, I head to any one of a number of local breakfast places and diners. They have great prices, fast service, and all of the right kitchen equipment to create the perfect breakfast for me.

5. Complicated Dishes

I love French food, but it would take me a long time (and an expensive grocery bill!) to learn to make it myself at home. And even then, the technique of a trained French chef is always going to be better than what I can do myself. I leave complex cuisines to the experts and gladly pay them for their expertise. It's money well-spent.

6. Shellfish

Cooking shellfish requires special skill to ensure it both tastes good and is safe to eat. It's also one of the most expensive items in the grocery store. When I'm in the mood for foods such a mussels or clams, or dishes like paella, I head to one of my neighborhood restaurants that serve up this delicious food in style. It's a better use of my time and money, saves me from making a huge mess in my kitchen, and tastes so much better than I could do on my own.

7. Desserts

I have a huge sweet tooth, and sometimes I get a serious hankering for a slice of chocolate cake or a rich pastry like baklava. These dishes are time consuming and as a household of one, it's often not worth it for me to incur the expense to make a whole cake or a whole batch of pastry. (My waistline and wallet would both suffer!) I'm much better off spending a fraction of that money (and zero time) by ordering a dessert like this in a restaurant. It's fresh and cooked by an expert pastry chef, something I certainly am not!

I have some hard and fast rules about things I never order in a restaurant because they aren't a good value. Simple pasta dishes, salads, easy veggie-based dishes, sandwiches, and beverages are generally things that are overpriced and easy to make at home. When I go out, I treat myself to the complicated dishes I can't make at home for less than what a restaurant charges. Bon appetit!

What are your favorite "only in a restaurant" dishes? Please share in comments!

This article is from Christa Avampato of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

8 Terrible Restaurant Values You Should Avoid

Mikey Rox — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 15:00:09 +0000

If you're like millions of Americans, you probably dine out at least once a week. For many, it's a favorite pastime — a time to relax with friends or family and experiment with different cuisines. So, it probably comes as no surprise that restaurant meals can cost significantly more than preparing meals at home (there's no shortage of articles underscoring this on Wise Bread).

But if you're trying to save money when eating out, there are a few restaurant items you should consider skipping. These items feature unnecessarily high mark-ups that make them a poor choice for folks on a budget. Here's a breakdown of some of these worst restaurant values. (See also: Are You Eating the 10 Most Over-Priced Menu Items?)

1. Salads

Whether you're trying to eat clean or simply reduce your calorie intake, you might choose a salad over a less-healthy menu item. This may be good for your physical health, but usually not your financial health. I've very stupidly paid up to $22 for a nothing-special salad, and according to Restaurant.com, it only costs a restaurant an average of $1.60 to make one. You're better off going to the grocery store and buying your own lettuce and vegetables.

"Salads can be prepared with minimal time at home and with ease," says Natasha M. Campbell, founder and CEO of Lifestyle Success Unlimited. "Take the time to prep the night before and pay yourself for your time and effort versus the restaurant."

2. Tea, Soda, and Alcohol

Many patrons prefer flavored drinks, such as alcohol, soda, or tea over a glass of free, filtered tap water. The cost of beverages might seem like a small price to pay, especially since you can order soda or tea for under $3 and receive free refills. But when you take into account that restaurants only pay about $0.35 per teabag and how fountain drinks are mostly tap water, chances are you're not getting your money's worth. Alcoholic beverages aren't any better.

"Bottles of wine are usually marked up 100%, and a glass of wine can be as much as five times over what the restaurant paid," says Kate Krader, restaurant editor at Food & Wine magazine. Ouch.

3. Appetizers

Appetizers are one of the biggest mind tricks in the restaurant game. These items are purposely priced slightly cheaper than entrees to make it look like you're getting a bargain. But if you examine appetizers and entrees with similar ingredients and compare prices for each, you might find that appetizers — although a smaller portion — are the victim of price inflation.

According to Jody Pennette, the founder of CB5 Restaurant Group, "Restaurants have been raising the prices of appetizers disproportionately to the increase in food costs over the past 15 years."

4. Kid's Meals

Even though many restaurants have a kid's menu, children can be picky eaters. If you go to a restaurant and order two or three kid's meals, you could end up spending money on food your kid doesn't finish. The portions are smaller and the prices cheaper, so you assume you're getting a deal, even if your kid doesn't clean their plate. But why waste money if you don't have to? There are plenty of restaurants that offer a free kid's meal for each paying adult — and that's where you should be eating.

5. Desserts

Many people can't wait to finish off their meal with a decadent dessert (myself included), but it'll cost you — and I'm talking more than calories. Restaurant desserts are notoriously overpriced. On average, we might pay $6 or $7 for a single slice of cake or pie, yet we can buy a whole cake at a grocery store or bakery for about the same price. Or, we can prepare the dessert ourselves for much less at home. A good trick to avoid this trap is to put a piece of candy or two in your pocket or purse before dinner. A couple Hershey's kisses at the end of the meal will quell those chocolate cravings and save you some dough.

6. Restaurant Specials

Don't fall for the daily or nightly specials. It may sound like a mouth-watering treat, but it can also be the chef's way of getting rid of leftovers in the kitchen, and charging customers a premium for no reason.

"Specials are just an expensive way for the chef to clean out his or her kitchen of leftovers," says Sarah Zorn, editorial director of the blog Restaurant Girl.

7. Pasta

A box of dried pasta at the grocery store costs pennies per serving, and tomato and other pasta sauces are also cheap to prepare. On average, it doesn't take too much time or a lot of ingredients for a restaurant to prepare a basic pasta dish, yet many dishes have a markup between six and 10 times the cost. It's easier for us to justify higher pricing for dishes that take longer to prepare, but if you can whip up a simple pasta dish in your kitchen in no time and at a seriously low cost, it's financially beneficial to prepare it yourself.

8. Breakfast and Brunch

A fancy brunch or breakfast outside the house can get the morning off to an enjoyable start. But since breakfast food is incredibly inexpensive and quick to prepare, you're probably getting duped financially. A restaurant can purchase eggs, bacon, potatoes, pancakes, milk, and other breakfast items in bulk for cheap. Eggs retail for about $0.10 each, and it costs a restaurant practically nothing to prepare pancakes, hash browns, and toast. However, I've seen restaurants charge as much as $10 or $12 for a simple breakfast plate with these items. Don't get me wrong — I worship at the cathedral of brunch — but I participate much more sparingly than I used to.

What dishes do you avoid because of the cost when dining out?

This article is from Mikey Rox of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

13 Overpriced Restaurant Items That Waste Your Money

Tim Lemke — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:24:20 +0000

My family does a pretty decent job of saving money, but we have one big weakness: dining out. We like to visit restaurants and leave the cooking and dishes to someone else. Of course, we know that we could save money by eating at home, so we follow certain rules to make sure we're getting the best value from our restaurant visit. (See also: Best Credit Cards for Dining Out)

The key is to know what's worth ordering and what's worth avoiding due to a high markup. Here are 13 items we try to avoid when we eat out.

1. Alcoholic Drinks

Unlike other drinks, you'll rarely get unlimited free refills of beer or wine. Alcoholic beverages have a big markup in part due to taxes, but also because the restaurants make them a high-margin item. If you feel the need to splurge on wine, get it by the bottle instead of the glass. It's also easy these days to use your smartphone at the restaurant to check a price of a bottle of wine to see if you'd be overpaying. (See also: Tasty Wines to Get You Through Tax Season)

2. Appetizers

It's tempting to order an app or two right when you arrive, especially if you're really hungry. But take a look at the appetizer menu. Nachos? Fried mozzarella sticks? Onion rings? These are usually things that are inexpensive for a restaurant to make, and you may even be able to make reasonable facsimiles at home. (See also: Restaurant Dishes You Can Make at Home)

3. Dessert

They are usually overpriced, you're probably already full, and you really shouldn't be eating that stuff anyway.

4. Anything With Eggplant

I recently discovered the joys of eggplant at home. A single eggplant is inexpensive, is versatile, and can last a few meals. No need to shell out $10 or more for a dish. Want to make a good eggplant parm? Slice an eggplant, coat the slices in bread crumbs, and sear each side. Put them in a pan and coat with mozzarella and parmesan cheese and tomato sauce, then cook for about 30 minutes. Another idea: chop up some eggplant and put the chunks in a crock pot with cherry tomatoes and some garlic and other seasonings. An awesome, hearty vegetable dish. (See also: Tasty and Frugal Eggplant Dishes)

5. Basic Pasta Dishes

Fettuccini alfredo? Spaghetti with meatballs? These are some of the simplest dishes around, and you're rarely going to be blown away by what restaurants serve.

6. Meatloaf

C'mon… you can make a good meatloaf at home. Just take some ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, diced tomatoes, and an egg, and throw it in a bowl. Mold it, cook it at 375 degrees for an hour, and enjoy. Restaurants will try to tempt you by calling it "homemade," but you know better.

7. Out-of-Season (and Out-of-Market) Seafood

If you do some homework, you should be able to learn what seafood is fresh and local. I'm a Marylander, so I know not to eat blue crab until it's at least May, and I'm not ordering it during a trip to Des Moines. (See also: Affordable, Sustainable Seafood)

8. Potatoes

OK, they are often just a side dish and not the main course. But if you're ordering a meal because you think you'll be blown away by the spuds, think again. A big bag of Russet potatoes is $4 at the store. So why spend $8 for a single baked potato at a restaurant?

9. Soup (Unless It's in Place of a Bigger Meal)

When I was in elementary school, the school lunch ladies always served vegetable soup, and we all knew it was made from the leftovers from the day before. It's not hard or expensive to throw some ingredients in with some broth. You'll rarely get max value when you order a bowl of soup, no matter what Seinfeld says.

10. Salad

There are some salads that could be worth the extra money if they are filled with hearty and unique ingredients. But just keep in mind how much you typically pay for lettuce at the grocery store. (It's probably a buck a head.) Stay away from the "wedge" salad, which is basically just a chunk of iceberg lettuce with some dressing on it.

11. Roasted Chicken

Roasting a whole chicken at home is super easy. Coat it in butter; pour some olive oil on it; and sprinkle on kosher salt, rosemary, thyme, and any other herbs you like. Cook for an hour at 400 degrees. I also like to put some corn in the roasting pan and it comes out delicious.

A whole chicken can serve an entire family, and you may even have leftovers. It's rare that a restaurant that can do anything transformative to a chicken. You'll save money by roasting at home. (See also: Get a Week of Dinners From One Chicken)

12. Steak

It's pure agony for me to say this, because I love a good filet. But the bottom line is that beef is overpriced and often unsatisfactory at many restaurants. You should be able to grill yourself an awesome steak at home as long as you have a good cut of meat, like a tenderloin. Sprinkle some kosher salt and olive oil on your filet. Get your grill super-hot (500 degrees is good), shut the lid, and let the grill do its work. The best part about cooking steak at home is that you don't have to worry about whether the restaurant understands the difference between medium and well-done.

13. Kids' Meals

I've lost count of the number of times we've ordered macaroni and cheese off the children's menu for my sons, only to find that it's simply Kraft out of the box. (About $1.25 at most grocery stores.) The good news is that many restaurants will let kids eat free on certain nights of the week. And if you want to get good value from a child's meal, look for restaurants that offer basic dishes that come with a good selection of healthy sides. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has a list of restaurants that offer healthier meals that may make them a better overall value.

What do you skip at the restaurant? Let us know in comments!

This article is from Tim Lemke of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Best Money Tips: Enjoy Eating Out Without Spending a Lot on Food

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 09:48:42 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some fantastic articles on eating out without spending a lot on food, using new disposable income, and choosing a major.

Best Money Tips: Ways to Save on Eating Out

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:00:08 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on ways to save on eating out, how not to be average, and the Obamacare ruling.

Best Money Tips: Save on Eating Out

Ashley Jacobs — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:14 +0000

Welcome to Wise Bread's Best Money Tips Roundup! Today we found some awesome articles on saving on eating out, smart couponing strategies, and secrets to making this year the best year ever.

Ask the Readers: How Often Do You Eat Out?

Ashley Jacobs — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:36:15 +0000

Editor's Note: Congratulations to Angie W, Hollie, and Lezlee for winning this week's contest!

There's no way around it, everyone has to eat. If you are frugal, chances are you opt to make your own food as opposed to eating out. But every once in awhile, be it for social or convenience reasons, a dining experience at a local restaurant tends to be the norm for most people.

How often do you eat out? Once a week? Every other week? Only on special occasions? When you eat out, do you do anything to save money?

Tell us how often you eat out and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Win 1 of 3 $20 Amazon Gift Cards

We're doing three giveaways — one for random comments, one for random Facebook "Likes", and another one for random tweets.

Mandatory Entry:

Post your answer in the comments below

For extra entries (1 per action):

Go to our Facebook page, "Like" us, and leave a comment telling us you did, or
Tweet your answer. You have to be a follower of our @wisebread account. Include both "@wisebread" and "#WBAsk" in your tweet so we'll see it and count it. Leave a link to your tweet (click the timestamp for the individual URL) in a separate comment.

If you're inspired to write a whole blog post OR you have a photo on flickr to share, please link to it in the comments or tweet it.

Giveaway Rules:

Contest ends Monday, October 3rd at 11:59 pm Pacific. Winners will be announced after October 3rd on the original post. Winners will also be contacted via email.
You can enter all three drawings — once by leaving a comment, once by liking our Facebook update, and once by tweeting.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered, or associated with Facebook.
You must be 18 and US resident to enter. Void where prohibited.

Note: Due to recent changes in Facebook's promotions guidelines, we have restructured the entry format of our giveaways.

Good Luck!

Tell us how often you eat out and we'll enter you in a drawing to win a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

This article is from Ashley Jacobs of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

How Water Can Save You $977 a Year

Paul Michael — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:00:06 +0000

Most of us eat out at least once a week. In fact, renowned culinary experts Zagat recently announced that although we are dining out less as a nation (due to the poor economy) we are still eating out an average of 3.1 times per week. That's the average of course, some of us are eating out daily. (See also: A Cheapskate's Guide to Eating Out)

And when we eat out, be it at a fast food restaurant or something more refined, we drink soda. Oh, how we drink soda. As a nation, we can't get enough of it. According to Dr. Oz:

53 million Americans drink at least one soda a day, and we spent $70 billion last year on soda.

That got me thinking. How much would we save, on average, if we substituted tap water (not bottled, please) for soda every time we ate out. Every restaurant, fast food or otherwise, has given me free water with my meal when I ask for it. And remember, I'm not talking about substituting every single soda we drink — just the ones that accompany the meals we eat away from home.

First, let's review the numbers we're dealing with.

We already know that we eat out 3.1 times per week. Now take the average family size, which according to 2009 US Census data is 3.19 people. And, as we're playing with averages, what's the median cost of a soda?

Well, the cost of soda is obviously going to change depending on where you live and where you eat. A glass of soda at a high end restaurant in New York is not going to be the meager $1 McDonald's charges (although that's still a huge mark-up). I've paid almost $5 for a glass of Coke in a trendy gastro-pub. But I did some digging and found out that there is generally a recommended price for a 20oz soda with free refills. That price is $1.75 plus tax. So, let's round that up to $1.90.

Here's the math:

We eat out 3.1 times per week.
3.19 people make up the average family.
With 52 weeks in a year, that makes roughly 514 glasses of soda every year for an average family.
514 x $1.90 = $977!

What could you do with an extra $977 a year?

Right now, you could buy a really nice laptop, a whole new wardrobe, or it could go towards a vacation for your family. And all for substituting water for soda only when you eat out. It's not like you're giving it up entirely. Think it over.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Secrets Restaurants Don't Want You to Know

David Ning — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:01:12 +0000

Americans love eating out, and they do it often too. It's not unheard of for someone to eat out more than 10 times every week. Yet this is one area where practice doesn't always make perfect. Below are six secrets that even the typical "eat-out junkie" probably doesn't know. (See also: Restaurant Recipes at Home-Cooked Prices)

Specials are what we want you to order.

It's well known that whatever is on the "recommended" list boosts popularity by another 30%. If the waiters/waitresses push for them, the number goes even higher. Sometimes we want you to order them because that's the tastiest dish, so you will leave a bigger tip. Other times, we push certain dishes because the ingredients are about to expire or the profit margins are the highest. We might try different combinations to up-sell you more food so you will end up paying more, too.

We prepare your food ahead of time.

We want you to come in and get out so the next customer can sit down. In order to do that, we have to prepare as much as possible in advance. Sometimes it includes preparing salads and putting everything in the fridge. Other times it means cooking your food for half the time in the morning so we can finish the rest when you order it at night. If you can't tell, we won't tell.

Some days are just better than others.

Not many fishermen would go out on Sundays, so forget fresh seafood on Mondays. Then there's the head chef, dictating everything around the kitchen...until he's off one day, of course. Eat at the restaurant on that particular day of the week, and you have the best chance of trying out how great our microwave is.

We could be serving a special if you order steak medium well or well done.

A secret to getting rid of steak gone bad is to serve it to customers who order their meat fully cooked. Since the flavor is just about all gone by the time the steak is well done, no one will know the steak was bad in the first place.

You must be nuts to eat those free nuts.

We offer free refills on these, and when you leave, we just fill the bowl up and serve it to the next customer without washing the bowl. Since we can't control who washes their hands after a bathroom visit, you are on your own if you love the free food we give you.

Different customers will pay different prices.

You know that guy over there? He paid less than half you did because he used a Restaurant.com coupon. You will never know, though, and we'll be happy to charge you full price every time you come in, even if you are one of our loyal customers.

If you read all of the above and still become a regular at our restaurant, I know you probably have no other choice but to come, in which case I will probably raise the prices on the menu, too.

This article is from David Ning of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

A Cheapskate’s Guide to Eating Out

Paul Michael — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:00:01 +0000

When I was a young lad, eating out was something of a luxury for my family. Most of our meals, at least 95%, were prepared and eaten at home. This was the model for most people my age or older. But these days, society has migrated to eating out of the home way more often. The result is that we’re spending a lot more on food than we used to. So, are there ways to chop the bill and eat out for less? You bet.

1. Share your soft drink

Most of the time, my wife and I find that one drink is adequate for both of us. But in this day and age of countless free refills, we will never run short of our soft drink anyway. It’s not much, but a couple of bucks saved every time you order a drink at a restaurant or fast food place really adds up. And that goes for the kids’ drinks, too. My kids are quite happy to share a juice box or fountain drink. Oh, and before anyone cries for the poor fast food joints or restaurant chains, it’s worth noting that the average fountain drink costs the restaurant around 20 cents and they charge you around 10 times that for the beverage. So, I’m not losing any sleep over it; they’re still making an insane profit from any drinks we order.

2. Don’t be shy — use coupons

I see people hand over coupons at the grocery store all the time, but in fast food places it happens less; and in restaurants, it’s even more rare. There seems to be a taboo about coupons in restaurants, maybe because people feel like they’re picking the pockets of the waiter who is looking them right in the face. As several commenters have pointed out, your waiter will gladly accept coupons as long as you remember to tip the waiter based on the price of the bill BEFORE the coupon was deducted. That way, you get the saving, the waiter gets the same tips, and only the restaurant chain itself is out of pocket. But as the coupon enticed you in, the loss of revenue is worth it for the extra custom. Therefore, bring on the coupons, hand them over proudly and enjoy your free grub.

3. Be wary of the advice from your waiter

When we go into a restaurant we’re unfamiliar with, we will often ask our waiter “so what do you like?” or “what do you recommend?” Unsurprisingly, our helpful waiter usually picks from the more expensive end of the menu. Rarely do we hear “go for the burger” if there’s a filet mignon for four times the price. The more expensive items mean a larger bill, which equates to a larger tip. It may well be a great meal, but it may also stretch your budget; so, load the question with something more useful, like “what do you recommend in the $8-$10 range?”

4. Order apps as main courses

Appetizers are supposed to whet your appetite for the main meal. Have you seen appetizers these day though? They’re just as big as the main meal! I ordered potato skins a few months ago and could hardly finish half of my main course. So, although they’re cheaper and labeled as appetizers, there’s no reason not to order them as a main course.

5. Split a meal

Many restaurants these days go way overboard on portions. A restaurant I go to occasionally called Claim Jumper serves half and full portions. They recommend the half portions unless you’re insanely hungry. So, as the full portion is only a few bucks more, it’s well worth asking for that and an extra plate. You can also split the rest of the food, including salads and dessert, and will no doubt be surprised at how satisfied you are with the amount of food you got to eat. Half portions these days are like whole portions from the fifties.

6. Take advantage of your birthday

Hey, it only comes around once a year (unless you’re the Queen of England) so make full use of the special offers handed out by restaurants and fast food joints. A few near me give you a free entrée on your birthday. Others do a BOGO, and some offer free drinks or desserts. And remember, that infamous fake birthday song that most places sing to the guest of honor, well, that comes with a free cake or free ice-cream. Sure, you have to endure 30 seconds of embarrassment, but for free dessert? Go for it.

7. Get the salad bar three-course meal

These days, salad bars are becoming the norm in many restaurants. They’re easy to stock, they’re self-serve and most people don’t take full advantage of them. But you really can just order the salad bar and do very well for yourself. Start with salad and bread, move on to the pasta dishes and finish with fruit, cheeses, pudding or anything else that’s on offer. At about $8-$9, it’s not a lot to pay for a healthy three-course meal.

8. And then there’s the buffet…

Whether you love Indian food, Mexican, Chinese or traditional meat ‘n’ potatoes grub, buffets are a great way to feed your whole family for around $20-$30. Now, buffets get a lot of criticism because the food is not always the best quality and the atmosphere is hardly conducive to a wonderful evening out. But this is budget dining, and if you choose good foods (vegetables, fresh fruit, salads, pastas, the grill and so on) you can have a great meal for peanuts. Usually, kids get in for free or a few bucks per head. Our local Country Buffet has been packed out every time we visited recently. In tough times, the buffets get the customers.

9. Doggie bags rule

If you’re not into the idea of splitting a meal with someone else (or you’re eating alone) then split the meal with yourself. As I’ve mentioned earlier, portion sizes are huge these days, so eat half of your meal and ask for a box for the rest. This splits the cost of your meal in two, and dinner has already been made for you for the following day.

10. Look for half-off gift certificates

My favorite site by far for this is halfoffdeals.com. You can buy gift certificates to over 41,000 restaurants for around 50% of their face value. You can search by zip code or city, and there’s even an email alert system to tell you when new deals go live. Most certificates do come with restrictions, which is why you get such a great deal. A common one is that you don’t get any cash back from your certificate, if there’s any left. But if you pay $15 for a $25, do you care about the extra $5 anyway? And remember, you can always order something to take home.

This article is from Paul Michael of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

Bridging The Gap From Dining Out To Eating In

Julie Rains — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 15:59:04 +0000

Reading Anthony’s post about frugal roadblocks (Budget Busters) reminded me of my cooking/dining struggles when I was first starting out. Though I never had any problem skimping on housing and transportation, my line was drawn on nourishment. Reading his post made me realize that there is a huge leap from eating out many meals as a busy professional to cooking nearly every meal in an established household.

Here are my strategies for bridging that gap:

Eat lunch out with these caveats: get a vegetable plate or something reasonably healthful (entrée with 2 veggies); don’t get something that you can fix easily at home such as pizza or spaghetti.

Have a light dinner (salad, soup, and/or sandwich) on the days you eat your lunches out. Those are inexpensive to prepare at home and very easy to make. You’ll save on your energy bill by cooking and washing dishes less.

Eat at home even if you don’t cook at home. You’ll develop the habit of taking the time to sit down sometime before 8 p.m. (hopefully) to enjoy a meal. And it’s easier to split a large restaurant meal or Chinese take-out at home.

Snack before dinner – the snack won’t ruin your dinner and it will help you have the energy to cook.

Buy high quality prepared foods from retail caterers; you’ll get a home-cooked meal at less than restaurant prices and reinforce the fun of eating at home.

Take a cooking class. I took classes at my community college and learned how to wash spinach and cook a roast. My instructor was the expert who could diagnose reasons for cooking failures and offer reasonably priced substitutions for unusual, budget-busting ingredients.

Try new recipes on the weekends or days you get home early. If a recipe takes a while (the prep time in cookbooks underestimate active time by at least 50%), then you won’t be starved come dinnertime; start around 4 p.m. and you should be fine. At some point, you’ll learn that spaghetti with meat sauce and a roast (buy an eye-of-round roast, put it in the crock pot with cream of mushroom soup and/or dried onion soup mix, cook on low for 4-6 hours) takes far less than time than stuffed mushrooms.

Rename your creations: at my house, a burned entree might become blackened chicken.

It seems that Anthony has made major progress in his quest to reduce food costs but if you are looking for ideas to bridge the chasm from restaurant meals to daily home-cooking, I hope these tips help.

This article is from Julie Rains of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: