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Best Fast Food Deals & Discounts

This is the NYCOTC round-up of meal deals available at fast food and fast casual chain restaurants throughout New York City and the Tri-State area.

Deals include new menu items, early dining specials, and discounts and freebies available only to loyalty club members.

Prices and participation can vary, and the deal may not be available at your nearest location.

Let us know if you find a deal is no longer offered, or if you loved a particular restaurant deal and want to share that with the NYCOTC audience.

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Be sure to check our Food & Beverage page for more dining deals.

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SEE ALSO NYCOTC local restaurant round-ups

Menu Items Available Only for a Limited Time

KFC is now serving its new Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles, available for a limited time only.

The menu item perfectly pairs the southern favorite, Extra Crispy™ fried chicken, with scrumptiously thick, Belgian Liege-style waffles. The waffle recipe was developed specifically to pair perfectly with KFC’s Extra Crispy fried chicken and is made with a yeast-raised dough instead of a batter. The waffles include pearl sugar imported from Belgium that creates a delectable sweet and crunchy outer texture.

Now through December 31, Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles is available at KFC’s nearly 4,200 restaurants spread across every state in the U.S., so almost everyone can experience the popular dish for a limited time only. 

The meal options top delectable waffles with KFC’s famous Extra Crispy fried chicken or Extra Crispy tenders with a side of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup (starting at $5.49). It’s also available as a sandwich featuring KFC’s recently-introduced sweet-heat Hot Honey fried chicken as a breast fillet in between two waffles, creating a decadent sandwich for $5.99.

Wendy’s adds a S’Awesome new addition to its hamburger lineup. Introducing the S’Awesome Bacon Classic, a smoky, tangy twist on the favorite Wendy’s bacon cheeseburger.

The S’Awesome Bacon Classic is loaded with fresh, never frozen beef, three strips of Applewood smoked bacon, melty American cheese, crinkle cut pickles, sweet onion, and crisp lettuce, all between two warm, toasted buns and slathered with Wendy’s savory Side of S’Awesome™ sauce, this cheeseburger packs smoky, tangy flavor in every juicy, mouthwatering bite.

Wendy’s unique sauce blends the creaminess of ranch dressing and the smoky components of barbeque, plus a lick of hot sauce, a hint of honey mustard and a dash of Worcestershire–creating a deliciously different sauce found only at Wendy’s.The S’Awesome Bacon Classic is competitively priced at $4.99 and available for a limited time at participating Wendy’s locations.

New Menu Introductions

Subway restaurants are taking its fan-favorite steak sandwich to new levels with the introduction of the new Chipotle Cheesesteak. Crafted on the new Sunflower Crunch bread, the  sandwich delivers combined flavors of spicy and smoky, with jalapeños and Chipotle Southwest sauce topped on fresh veggies and freshly baked bread with a Sunflower Crunch topping—available nationwide as part of the Subway Steak Collection.

The Subway Steak Collection features three steak and cheese sandwiches and wrap:

  • The new Chipotle Cheesesteak made with steak, shredded Monterey cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, green peppers, red onion and jalapeños and dressed with a smoky Chipotle Southwest sauce all on top of freshly baked Sunflower Crunch bread, which is available for a limited time only.
  • Signature Steak & Cheese sub, with steak and shredded Monterey cheddar, and your choice of veggies piled high on freshly baked bread.
  • Chipotle Southwest Steak & Cheese Signature Wrap features savory steak, shredded Monterey cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, green peppers, and onions, topped with jalapeños, guacamole, and a spicy Chipotle Southwest sauce—all wrapped in a tasty Tomato Basil Wrap.

Chipotle Mexican Grill  is reintroducing chorizo as a menu item in stores nationwide, for a limited time, while supplies last. The grilled spicy chicken and pork sausage does not contain any artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. Chipotle’s chorizo is seasoned with paprika, toasted cumin and chipotle peppers, then seared on a hot grill to give it a perfect char. The Responsibly Raised™ pork and chicken used to make Chipotle’s chorizo is from animals that are raised in more humane ways, just like Chipotle’s other meats.  Chorizo is available in burritos, tacos, burrito bowls and salads and can be combined with other signature ingredients for a limited time.

Chain Restaurant Deals New Dinner Deals

Red Lobster just introduced early dining specials — perfect for those who prefer their savings (and seafood) during the day. Even better, the offers are a permanent fixture on its menu, not for-a-limited-time. The daily deals are only valid Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m , so plan accordingly. (The only exception is the Tuesday deal, which is available all day.) Red Lobster is often the restaurant destination for special occasions, including birthdays, anniversaries and graduations.

  • Endless Shrimp Monday — Mix-and-match Shrimp Scampi, Fried Shrimp and Grilled Shrimp Skewer endlessly for just $15.
  • To Go Tuesday — Enjoy your seafood favorites from the comfort of your home or office with 15% off online to-go orders – all day long. Place your order at RedLobsterToGo.com using promo code TUESDAY.
  • Four-Course Wednesday — Get Red Lobster’s famous 4-Course Feast, with soup, salad, entrée and dessert for only $15.
  • Petite Ultimate Feast Thursday – Smaller portions, but just as “ultimate.” Dive into a petite Maine lobster tail, wild-caught snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi and Walt’s Favorite Shrimp for just $20.
  • Fish Fry Friday – Celebrate the start of the weekend with Fish Fry Friday for $10.

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar now offers a new three-course meal starting at $11.99, for an appetizer, side salad and entrée. Plus, you can add a Drink of the Month for just $2.  These are the choices for the three-course meal deal:

  • Course 1 (Side Salad): House or Caesar,
  • Course 2 (Appetizer):  Boneless Wings, cheesy Mozzarella Sticks, creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip, or Crunchy Onion Rings.
  • Course 3 (Entrée): Chhose from Three-Cheese Chicken Penne with a Breadstick, Classic Cheeseburger with Fries or Shrimp Wonton Stir-Fry. Additional six choices vary by location and price.

Chain Restaurant Deals With No Deadline

Dairy Queen continues its popular lunchtime meal deal with the $5 Buck Lunch with a sundae all day. For those who like their lunch with a sweet treat. The DQ $5 Buck Lunch is now available all day at participating locations. Get two crispy chicken wraps, three chicken strips or cheeseburger, as well as fries, a beverage and small sundae, for just $5. For a buck more, upgrade the sundae to a small Blizzard.

Del Taco has not just one, but two Taco Nights every week: On Tuesdays, you can get three regular tacos for $1.29. On Thursdays, you can get three chicken soft tacos for $2.29. The deals are good only from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. With so many tacos, it’s like having your own little fiesta every week. If you join the Raving Fan eClub, Del Taco will send you a coupon for two FREE grilled chicken tacos with more insider-only treats and savings to follow.

Denny’s knows how popular pancakes are with kids and adults alike. The diner continues to offer all-you-can-eat pancakes, as part of its Value Menu. For just $4, get your fill of the fluffy goodness. If you want any extras like bacon, sausage, eggs or hash browns, it will cost you a bit more. However, you could just indulge on pancakes and satisfy your hunger “on the cheap.” The pancake promo is available at participating locations — for a limited time. Copyright Living on the Cheap. This information is via sister site Living On The Cheap.

KFC has a $5 Fill-Ups menu that includes five tasty meals for $5 each. Deals include: 1) 3-piece tenders with mashed potatoes & gravy, biscuit, medium drink and chocolate chip cookie; 2) bowl with medium drink and chocolate chip cookie; 3) breast piece with mashed potatoes & gravy, biscuit, medium drink and chocolate chip cookie; 4) pot pie with medium drink and chocolate chip cookie; or 5) 2-piece drumstick & thigh with mashed potatoes & gravy, biscuit, medium drink and chocolate chip cookie.

McDonald’s New $1, $2 & $3 Dollar Menus. For just a few bucks, customize your own meal deal at McDonald’s — thanks to its new $1, $2 and $3 Dollar Menus. Pick and choose your favorites for your perfect meal or snack and wash it all down with a $1 any size soft drink. Families will appreciate the new lower price on Happy Meals. The discount menu is available for a limited time at participating locations.

Join the Club and Get Rewards

Domino’s ‘Piece of the Pie’ Rewards program. Membership is FREE and enables you to earn free pizza. Here’s how it works: An online order ($10 minimum) equals 10 points. (Note: Only one order per day can earn points.) Once you earn 60 points, you can enjoy a FREE medium two-topping pizza. If you want a pizza party, save up your points — as you can redeem up to 5 FREE pizzas per day. To join, click here.

GODIVA Chocolate Rewards Club members enjoy sweet offers. Members receive a FREE piece of chocolate every month at one of its boutiques, FREE standard shipping for one online order, a special birthday offer and exclusive offers every month. Plus, when you spend $20, you’ll get a FREE gift the following month. Membership is FREE. You can sign up online or at a Godiva Boutique.

Some of these deals are via NYC on the Cheap sister site Living on the Cheap