AARP Restaurants Discounts: Full List & Savings Guide
Dining out is one of life’s simple pleasures, but frequent meals at casual and sit-down spots can add up quickly. Fortunately, carrying an AARP card provides access to consistent culinary savings across the United States. Taking advantage of aarp restaurants discounts allows members to trim 10% to 15% off their checks at popular national brands, easily offsetting the annual cost of membership after just a few outings.
While many diners assume you have to be retired to reap these rewards, AARP is open to anyone age 18 and older. Whether you are grabbing a quick breakfast, treating family to a weekend steak dinner, or stopping for an afternoon snack, here is your comprehensive guide to where you can save, how the perks work, and how to maximize every dollar spent.
Official National Chains Offering AARP Discounts
AARP partners directly with several major restaurant groups. Unlike generic senior discounts, which vary wildly by franchise location, these official partnerships are standardized across corporate and participating franchised locations nationwide.
1. Denny’s
Denny’s provides one of the most generous offers available to members. Show your membership card to receive 15% off your entire guest check. This discount applies to food and non-alcoholic beverages for both dine-in and select carryout orders placed by phone. It is valid all day, every day, making it an easy favorite for breakfast lovers.
2. Bloomin’ Brands (Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s, Bonefish Grill)
Bloomin’ Brands operates some of America’s most popular casual dining concepts, and all three primary chains offer a standardized 10% discount on food and non-alcoholic beverages:
- Outback Steakhouse: Save 10% on signature steaks, Bloomin’ Onions, and seafood dishes for lunch or dinner.
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill: Enjoy 10% off pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and classic Italian entrées.
- Bonefish Grill: Take 10% off fresh seafood, including their popular Bang Bang Shrimp and seasonal fish specialties.
Note that this discount applies exclusively to food and soft drinks; alcohol, tax, and gratuity are excluded by law and policy.
3. Focus Brands (Corner Bakery, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s, Schlotzsky’s)
If you prefer fast-casual dining for a lunch break or quick dinner, Focus Brands offers consistent savings across several regional and national favorites:
- Corner Bakery Cafe: 10% off in-restaurant and phone orders on sandwiches, scrambles, and artisan pastries.
- McAlister’s Deli: 10% off in-restaurant orders for hand-crafted sandwiches, giant spuds, and famous sweet tea.
- Moe’s Southwest Grill: 10% off your order of burritos, bowls, and quesadillas.
- Schlotzsky’s: 10% off oven-baked sandwiches, artisan pizzas, and flatbreads.
4. The Habit Burger Grill
Known for charburgers grilled over open flame, The Habit Burger Grill gives AARP members 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages. This offer is valid at participating locations for dine-in and takeout orders placed at the register.
5. Sweet Treats: Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon
When you want a snack while shopping or traveling, look for mall and travel plaza staples:
- Cinnabon: 10% off baked treats and beverage orders at participating retail bakeries.
- Auntie Anne’s: 10% off fresh, hand-rolled soft pretzels and pretzel bites.
How to Maximize AARP Restaurants Discounts
Getting your discount is straightforward, but keeping a few best practices in mind ensures you never miss an opportunity to save.
- Download the AARP Now App: Physical cards are easy to leave at home in a drawer. The official smartphone app provides a digital membership card with a scannable barcode that any server or cashier can process instantly.
- Mention the Discount Early: Inform your server that you have an AARP membership when asking for the bill, or mention it at the counter before you insert your payment card. Backing out transactions to apply a retroactive coupon can be tedious for staff once a card has been run.
- Understand the Exclusions: Virtually all restaurant discounts exclude alcoholic beverages, local and state sales tax, delivery fees, and gratuity. Additionally, AARP discounts typically cannot be combined with limited-time promotional pricing, "two-for-one" meal specials, or early-bird menus.
- Tip on the Pre-Discount Amount: It is standard etiquette to calculate your server’s tip based on the total check amount before your 10% or 15% discount is applied.
AARP Discounts vs. General Senior Discounts
A common point of confusion is the difference between an official AARP partnership and a restaurant’s standalone "senior discount." Many popular chains do not partner with AARP, but they do provide independent perks to older customers:
- McDonald’s: While not an AARP partner, most independently owned McDonald’s locations offer discounted senior coffee and soft drinks to patrons aged 55 and older.
- IHOP: IHOP does not offer an AARP-specific discount, but they feature an official "55+ Menu" that offers smaller, value-priced portions throughout the day.
- Wendy’s: Many franchises offer a free small drink or a 10% discount for customers aged 55+, though participation varies by owner.
- Applebee’s: Select franchise locations offer a Golden Apple discount (usually 10% to 15%) for seniors age 60+, but this is managed locally rather than nationally through AARP.
If a restaurant is not on the official AARP roster, it never hurts to ask the cashier: "Do you offer any discounts for seniors or AARP members?" Many independent diners and regional chains honor the card as proof of eligibility even without a formal corporate agreement.
Smart Dining Strategies to Stack Your Savings
To take your savings further, you can pair your membership perks with other savvy dining techniques:
Combine with Dining Rewards Programs
In most instances, showing an AARP card at chains like Outback or Carrabba’s does not prevent you from earning points in their customer loyalty ecosystem (such as Dine Rewards). You can earn progress toward complimentary entrées while still enjoying an immediate 10% price break.
Use a Dining Cash-Back Credit Card
Pay your remaining bill with a credit card that rewards restaurant spending. Cards offering 3% to 5% cash back on dining allow you to double-dip on your savings. When paired with Denny's 15% reduction, you are effectively cutting your total food expense by nearly 20%.
Purchase Discounted Gift Cards
Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s Club routinely sell multi-packs of restaurant gift cards at a discount (for instance, four $25 gift cards for $75 to $80). At most participating locations, paying with a store gift card is treated the same as cash, allowing you to use your AARP card to reduce the check total and then cover the balance with a discounted gift card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my AARP discount on third-party delivery apps?
No. Orders placed through third-party platforms such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Grubhub are ineligible for AARP discounts. To claim your savings, you must dine in person, order at the counter, or order carryout directly through the restaurant, depending on the brand's policy.
Does my spouse need their own membership card?
A secondary household member on your AARP account receives their own membership card. However, for a single check, only one card is required to apply the discount to the entire party (subject to standard party size limits, typically up to four to six guests).
Do AARP discounts expire?
Corporate partnerships are renewed periodically, and while cornerstone partners like Bloomin' Brands and Denny’s have maintained their programs for years, restaurant rosters can change over time. Checking the AARP website or mobile app before visiting will confirm whether an establishment's discount is active.
