11 Restaurant Chains With the Best Lunch Deals
Whether you're rushing before work or simply not in the mood for the food in your fridge, making lunch at home isn't always the most realistic (or appealing) option. That's when the "treat yourself" mentality comes in.
While there's nothing wrong with splurging on a meal, there are plenty of places where you can score your favorite bites without putting a strain on your wallet. You just have to know where to look.
From casual sandwich spots to sit-down Italian chains, there are all kinds of eateries that offer various specials during lunch hours. Here are 11 restaurant chains serving up some enticing lunch deals right now. As with any restaurant chain, pricing and menu item availability can vary by location.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
Best known for its craft beer and signature Pizookie dessert, BJ's offers a selection of $13 lunch specials from Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Customers can choose from comfort food favorites like the Classic Cheeseburger or Southern Fried Chicken or opt for something lighter like the Strawberry Fields Chicken Salad or Enlightened Mediterranean Chicken Bowl.
Outback Steakhouse
At this Australian-themed steakhouse chain, you can score lunch portions of popular menu items, including Grilled Chicken on the Barbie, Bloomin' Fried Chicken, and Coconut Shrimp. Each entrée comes with a choice of Aussie Fries or fresh mixed veggies, though you can also upgrade to a premium soup or side salad for an additional charge. Prices range from about $10.99 to $12.99, though this can vary by location.
Ruby Tuesday
This casual restaurant chain promotes daily specials, offering lunch deals on Wednesday and Saturday until 4 p.m. On "Hump Day," you can opt for the Endless Garden Bar—also known as the salad bar—for just $7.99. Add a loaded baked potato, soup of the day, or broccoli and cheddar soup for an additional $2. Then, on Saturday, choose the Endless Garden Bar Entrée for $8.99 or enjoy the salad bar with any entrée for an extra $3.99.
Carrabba's Italian Grill
If you're in the mood for Italian food, Carrabba's could have just what you need to get your fix. The Italian-American restaurant chain has several lunch specials starting at $11.99, though prices can vary. A few combo-style meals include the Meatballs & Ricotta, Mozzarella Marinara, Fettuccini Alfredo, and Shrimp Scampi, all of which include a cup of soup and side salad.
Olive Garden
Olive Garden is best known for its homestyle pasta dishes and other Italian-inspired picks, but the restaurant chain also serves some noteworthy lunch specials. For starters, you can get all the classics—soup, salad, and unlimited breadsticks—for $8.99 when you dine in. Plus, you can score lunch-sized portions of fan-favorite pasta dishes, such as Fettuccine Alfredo or Lasagna Classico, for $9.99 and $10.99, respectively. These lunch deals are available Monday through Friday until 3 p.m.
Cracker Barrel
For an array of midday lunch deals, head over to Cracker Barrel. Not only does the restaurant chain have specials that run every weekday, but there are also a few extra offers you can find on Fridays and weekends.
From Monday through Friday starting at 11 a.m., you can choose two lunch favorites for $8.79. Options include the House Salad, Loaded Baked Potato, Loaded Sweet Potato, and Vegetable Soup. You can also order signature items like meatloaf, Chicken N' Dumplings, and Broccoli Cheddar Chicken for $9.49. On Fridays, Cracker Barrel dishes out seafood favorites like the Country Coastal Sample and Fish Fry, which are both around $15.
Panera Bread
While Panera Bread offers its famous "You Pick Two" meal deal all day every day, there's another choice some might say is perfect for a light midday bite: Value Duets. Available for $7.99, these meal combinations feature a half-sandwich or salad and a cup of Panera's famous soup.
TGI Fridays
As part of TGI Fridays' "10 for $10" Value Menu, the restaurant chain offers a choice of of 10 different entrées. However, there are technically 12 options on the menu, but TGI Friday's classifies its traditional and boneless wing combos, as well as its broccoli cheddar soup combos, as one entrée category each. A few choices include the cheeseburger, Buffalo Chicken Slammers Combo, and the Caesar, House, or Cobb Salad with Chicken.
Chili's
Craving Tex-Mex for lunch? Chili's has lunch specials starting at $10, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at participating locations. Start with a fresh soup or salad. Then choose from a range of fan-favorite entrées like the Boneless Buffalo Wings, Bacon Ranch Chicken Quesadillas, or Chipotle Chicken Fresh Mex Bowl.
Longhorn Steakhouse
"Lunch like a legend" is how Longhorn Steakhouse advertises its money-saving afternoon menu deals. Order "Steakhouse Lunch Plates" like the Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich for $8.99 or opt for a full-sized lunch plate like the Parmesan-Crusted Steak for $14.99. Both meal sizes come with a choice of a side and vary in price. These lunch deals are available from Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m
P.F. Chang's
When you sit down for lunch at P.F. Chang's, you can expect to see the chain's signature dishes in smaller portions at a fraction of the usual cost. Choose from 16 options, such as Sesame Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Crispy Honey Shrimp, which range in price from about $13.50 to $15. All of these entrées are served over steamed white or brown rice, or you can upgrade to lo mein or fried rice for $2.
An earlier version of this article was published in February 2023. It has been updated to include additional entries and new information.
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