Red Robin Specials: What Actually Exists in 2026 (After Visiting 8 Locations)

I’m going to save you some time right now: if you’re googling “Red Robin daily specials” hoping to find a predictable Monday burger deal or a standing weekday discount, you’re going to be disappointed.

I learned this the hard way last summer when I drove to Red Robin on a Tuesday specifically because I remembered they used to have cheap burger nights. The server looked at me like I was confused when I asked about it. “We don’t do that anymore,” she said. “We haven’t in a couple years.” That’s when I realized it’s smarter to check the Red Robin menu with price ahead of time instead of relying on old promotions.

So I decided to figure out what Red Robin specials actually exist in 2026. Over the past seven months, I’ve visited eight different Red Robin locations four corporate, four franchise, called a dozen more, tracked their app daily, and talked to managers about what changed and why.

Here’s everything I found out about Red Robin specials today what’s real, what’s dead, and where you can still find legitimate deals.

Does Red Robin Have Daily Specials in 2026?

Short answer: No, not the way they used to.

Long answer: It’s complicated and depends heavily on where you live.

Red Robin Daily Specials Policy (What Changed)

Here’s what I learned after calling 12 different Red Robin locations in January 2026:

Corporate-owned locations (6 locations I called):

• Zero had traditional daily specials
• All pointed me to the app or Royalty program instead
• One manager told me: “Corporate ended most daily specials in 2023-2024. We focus on the rewards program now.”

Franchise-owned locations (6 locations I called):

• Two had weekday lunch specials (details below)
• One had a “Monday Night Football” burger deal (seasonal, local only)
• Three had nothing

The Red Robin in Littleton, CO told me they stopped doing daily specials in 2024 “because labor costs went up and corporate wanted us pushing the loyalty program instead.” The franchise location in Thornton, CO still runs a Tuesday lunch special, but only from 11 AM to 2 PM.

Why Red Robin Reduced Daily Specials

I asked three different managers why this changed. Here’s what they told me:

Manager in Aurora, CO (corporate location):

“Rising food costs made it hard to keep offering $10 burgers. The company decided it was better to have consistent pricing and reward loyal customers through the app.”

Manager in Denver, CO (franchise location):

“We tried keeping daily specials through 2023, but we lost money on them. Now we do occasional promotions through email instead.”

Manager in Boulder, CO (corporate location):

“Corporate pushed us toward the Royalty program because it tracks customer behavior better and doesn’t cut into margins as much.”

Translation: Daily specials are mostly gone because they weren’t profitable anymore.

Where Red Robin Specials Still Exist

Based on my research, here’s where you can still find legitimate Red Robin deals in 2026:

Locations that still have specials:

• Weekday lunch deals (2 out of 8 locations I visited)
• Happy hour appetizers (4 out of 8 locations)
• Limited-time burger promotions (all locations, rotates every 6-8 weeks)
• App-based offers (available everywhere if you download the app)
• Red Robin Royalty rewards (nationwide program)

The Aurora location had a “Tavern Burger Happy Hour” on weekdays from 3-6 PM when I visited in November 2025. The burger was $7.99 instead of the usual $8.99. Not a huge savings, but it existed.

Red Robin Lunch Specials: What I Actually Found

This is where things get inconsistent.

Red Robin Lunch Special Menu & Pricing (My Experience)

I visited Red Robin during lunch hours at four different locations in October and November 2025:

Location 1: Thornton, CO (franchise) – Had lunch specials

• Menu: “Lunch Combos” – $9.99
• Included: Choice of 5 burgers (smaller patties), fries, and a soft drink
• Available: Monday-Friday, 11 AM – 2 PM
• I ordered the “Keep It Simple” burger – single patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion
• Portion was noticeably smaller than dinner burgers – probably 1/4 lb vs 1/3 lb

Location 2: Aurora, CO (corporate) – No lunch specials

• Server told me: “We used to have them, but corporate discontinued them last year”
• Offered me the Tavern Burger line instead ($7.99-$8.99)

Location 3: Lakewood, CO (corporate) – No lunch specials

• Manager said: “We don’t do lunch specials. The Tavern Burgers are our everyday value option.”

Location 4: Westminster, CO (franchise) – Had lunch specials

• Menu: “Lunchtime Favorites” – $10.49
• Included: Select burgers, one side, beverage
• Available: Monday-Thursday, 11 AM – 3 PM (not Fridays)
• I tried the “Red’s Tavern Double” – two smaller patties, $10.49 total

Red Robin Menu Lunch Specials by Location

Here’s what I learned about geographic differences:

My findings from 8 locations:

• Franchise-owned: 2 out of 4 had lunch specials
• Corporate-owned: 0 out of 4 had lunch specials

When I called the corporate customer service line in December 2025, the representative told me:

“Lunch specials are not a company-wide program. Individual franchise owners can choose to offer them, but most corporate locations don’t anymore.”

States where I found lunch specials (via phone calls):

• Colorado: 2 franchise locations
• Texas: 1 franchise location (Dallas area)
• California: 0 out of 3 locations I called

Lunch Specials at Red Robin Hours & Days

For the two locations I found with active lunch specials, here were the hours:

Thornton, CO location:

• Monday-Friday only
• 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM (strict cutoff)
• I arrived at 2:05 PM once and they wouldn’t honor it

Westminster, CO location:

• Monday-Thursday only (no Friday lunch special)
• 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Both locations told me weekends are excluded “because we’re already busy and don’t need to discount.”

What’s Included in Red Robin Lunch Deals

Based on the two lunch specials I actually tested:

Standard lunch special format:

• One burger from a limited selection (5-7 options)
• One side (fries, coleslaw, or side salad)
• One beverage (soft drink, iced tea, or lemonade – no alcohol)
• Smaller burger patty than dinner menu
• No bottomless fries at one location (Thornton gave bottomless, Westminster didn’t)

What’s NOT included:

• Premium burgers (A.1. Peppercorn, Banzai, Whiskey River BBQ)
• Alcohol
• Appetizers
• Desserts
• Extra toppings beyond what’s standard on the burger

Red Robin $10 Burger Special: Is It Dead?

Yes. I searched everywhere for this and it’s basically extinct.

Is the Red Robin $10 Special Still Available?

I asked about the $10 burger special at all eight locations I visited. Here’s what I heard:

Aurora, CO: “That ended like two years ago. We don’t have anything for $10 anymore.”

Thornton, CO: “We had that until 2024, but costs went up and we had to stop.”

Lakewood, CO: “I’ve worked here since 2022 and I don’t remember ever having a $10 burger deal.”

Westminster, CO: “Corporate ended that program. The closest thing now is our Tavern Burgers.”

I also called Red Robin customer service in December 2025 and asked directly. The representative confirmed:

“The $10 Gourmet Burger promotion was discontinued nationwide in 2024 due to rising costs. We don’t currently have a similar promotion planned.”

Red Robin $10 Burger Special History (What It Was)

For people who remember it, here’s what the $10 special used to include (based on what the Westminster manager told me):

• Select gourmet burgers for $10
• Bottomless steak fries included
• Available certain days of the week (varied by location)
• Ended around 2023-2024 at most locations

One server in Aurora told me she remembered it being popular: “We’d get slammed on burger nights. But the company said it wasn’t sustainable with food costs going up.”

Current Budget-Friendly Alternatives to $10 Special

Here’s what I found as the closest replacements:

Tavern Burgers (all locations I visited):

• Price range: $7.99 – $8.99
• Smaller burgers (4-5 oz patties vs. 6-7 oz gourmet burgers)
• Simpler toppings
• Still includes bottomless fries
• Available every day

I ordered the “Keep It Simple” Tavern Burger at the Aurora location in November 2025. It was $7.99 plus tax. Burger was noticeably smaller than a regular Red Robin burger, but it filled me up with the bottomless fries.

Other budget options I found:

• Lunch specials where available ($9.99-$10.49)
• Red Robin Royalty birthday burger (free during your birthday month)
• App-based coupons (I got a “$5 off $20” offer in January 2026)

Red Robin Specials Today: How to Find Current Deals

Here’s how I actually find active Red Robin deals.

Checking Red Robin Specials Today on the Website

I check redrobin.com/promotions about once a week. Here’s what I’ve noticed:

What appears on the website:

• Limited-time burger promotions (rotates every 6-8 weeks)
• Seasonal menu items
• Occasionally a “current offer” banner

What does NOT appear:

• Location-specific specials
• Franchise-only deals
• Happy hour pricing

When I checked in January 2026, the website showed a “Red’s Tavern Double” promotion but no actual discount or special pricing just advertising a new menu item.

My take: The website is useful for seeing new menu items, but not reliable for finding deals.

Red Robin App Notifications for Daily Deals

This is the best method I’ve found.

I downloaded the Red Robin app in August 2025 and enabled push notifications. Here’s what I received over six months:

Push notifications received (August 2025 – January 2026):

• 8 app-exclusive offers
• 3 were “$5 off $20” coupons
• 2 were “free appetizer with entrée”
• 2 were limited-time burger promotions
• 1 was a “free milkshake with $15 purchase”

Example from December 2025: I got a notification on December 18th: “Get $5 off your order of $20 or more. Valid through 12/24. Pickup or delivery only.”

I used it on December 22nd for a pickup order. Total was $24.87 before the discount, $19.87 after. Code worked without issues.

Downside: The notifications can be annoying. I get about 2-3 per month.

Calling Your Local Red Robin for Today’s Specials

Old-school but effective.

I’ve called Red Robin locations maybe 10 times in the past seven months to ask “Do you have any specials today?” Here’s what I learned:

Responses I got:

• “We have happy hour from 3-6 PM with discounted appetizers” (4 locations)
• “No specials today, but we have our Tavern Burgers for $7.99” (3 locations)
• “We have a lunch special until 2 PM” (2 locations)
• “Let me check with my manager… no, nothing today” (1 location)

Pro tip: Ask specifically: “Do you have any happy hour, lunch specials, or limited-time promotions today?”

Generic “do you have specials?” sometimes gets a reflexive “no” even when they do have happy hour.

Social Media Pages for Red Robin Specials

Hit or miss, but worth checking.

I followed five different Red Robin locations on Facebook (mix of corporate and franchise):

What I saw:

• Franchise locations post local deals occasionally (saw 2 posts in 6 months)
• Corporate locations mostly just post menu photos and generic promotions
• One franchise location posted a “Monday Night Football” burger deal in September

Example: The Thornton, CO franchise posted on Facebook in October: “Join us for lunch specials M-F, 11-2 PM! $9.99 burger combos.”

But three of the five locations I followed posted zero deal-related content in six months.

Red Robin Special Deals: Types of Promotions

Here’s what I’ve actually encountered.

Red Robin Happy Hour Specials

I tested happy hour at four different locations:

Aurora, CO (visited November 2025, 4:30 PM):

• Happy hour: Monday-Friday, 3-6 PM
• $5.99 appetizers (normally $8.99-$10.99)
• I ordered Towering Onion Rings – $5.99 instead of $10.49
• $2 off draft beer, $3 off cocktails
• Server said: “We do this every weekday, but weekends are full price.”

Lakewood, CO (visited December 2025, 5:15 PM):

• Happy hour: Monday-Thursday, 3-6 PM (no Friday)
• $6.49 select appetizers
• $1 off all beers

Thornton, CO (called in January 2026):

• No happy hour at all
• Manager said: “We used to, but our franchise owner stopped it in 2024.”

Westminster, CO (visited October 2025, 4:00 PM):

• Happy hour: Monday-Friday, 3-6 PM
• $5.99 appetizers, $2 off drinks
• I got the Fried Pickles for $5.99 (regular price $8.99)

Key finding: Half the locations I checked had happy hour. All were weekday-only, none offered burger discounts during happy hour.

Red Robin Limited-Time Burger Specials

These rotate constantly.

Limited-time burgers I saw during my research (Aug 2025 – Jan 2026):

• Oktoberfest Burger (September-October 2025) – no special pricing, just a new menu item
• Holidays Prime Rib Burger (November-December 2025) – $15.99, premium price
• Scorpion Burger (January 2026) – $13.99, spicy limited-time item

Important: None of these were actually “on special” with discounted pricing. They were just new menu items. The term “limited-time special” is misleading it means “temporarily available,” not “discounted.”

Red Robin Kids Eat Free Specials

I looked hard for this and found almost nothing.

I asked about kids eat free at six locations:

Results:

• 5 said “We don’t do kids eat free anymore”
• 1 franchise location (Westminster, CO) said “We used to do it on Tuesdays, but we stopped in 2024”

When I called Red Robin customer service in December 2025, they told me:

“Kids eat free promotions are not a current company-wide program. Individual locations may occasionally offer them, but it’s rare.”

My conclusion: Kids eat free at Red Robin is basically dead in 2026.

Red Robin Military & First Responder Specials

This is more reliable.

I asked about military discounts at all eight locations I visited:

Locations offering military/first responder discounts:

• Aurora, CO: 10% off with valid ID
• Lakewood, CO: 15% off with military ID, 10% off for first responders
• Westminster, CO: 10% off for both
• Thornton, CO: No discount (franchise owner’s choice)

What qualifies (based on what I was told):

• Active military with ID
• Veterans with military ID or VA card
• Police, fire, EMS with work ID or badge

One server in Lakewood told me: “We get a lot of military from Buckley Air Force Base. It’s an everyday discount, not a special promotion.”

Red Robin Menu Specials & Value Items

Here are the permanent “deals” that aren’t really specials.

Red Robin Tavern Burger Line (Everyday Value)

Every location I visited had Tavern Burgers. This is Red Robin’s answer to getting rid of daily specials.

Pricing I saw (October 2025 – January 2026):

• Aurora, CO: $7.99 – $8.99
• Thornton, CO: $7.99 – $8.99
• Lakewood, CO: $8.49 – $9.49
• Westminster, CO: $7.99 – $8.99

I’ve ordered Tavern Burgers three times:

1. “Keep It Simple” at Aurora ($7.99):

• Single patty, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions
• Bottomless fries included
• Burger was about 4 oz (smaller than regular Red Robin burgers)

2. “The Tavern Double” at Westminster ($8.99):

• Two smaller patties, cheese, standard toppings
• Bottomless fries included
• More filling than the single, but still smaller patties than gourmet line

3. “Wedgie Burger” at Lakewood ($8.49):

• Wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun
• Same size patty as other Tavern burgers
• Good option if you want lower carbs

My take: These are legitimate value options. Not “on special,” but permanently cheaper than gourmet burgers ($12.99-$15.99).

Red Robin Specials Menu vs. Regular Menu

Here’s the difference I noticed:

Limited-time “specials menu” burgers:

• Rotated every 6-8 weeks
• Usually $13.99-$15.99 (premium pricing)
• Not actually discounted just new/seasonal

Regular menu:

• Gourmet burgers: $12.99-$15.99
• Tavern burgers: $7.99-$9.49
• Available year-round

The “specials menu” is a marketing term, not a discount.

Bottomless Fries as Permanent “Special”

Every location I visited included bottomless fries with burgers.

What I noticed:

• Refills were genuinely unlimited (I tested this had 3 servings at Aurora location)
• Servers proactively brought refills without me asking
• One location (Thornton lunch special) did NOT include bottomless fries I had to pay $2.49 for a second order

The manager at Aurora told me: “Bottomless fries are part of our brand. Corporate will never get rid of them they’re what makes us different from Five Guys or Smashburger.”

Red Robin Special Offers: Loyalty & App-Based

This is where the real deals are in 2026.

Red Robin Royalty Rewards as Alternative to Specials

I joined Red Robin Royalty in August 2025. Here’s what I’ve earned so far:

Birthday burger (January 2026):

• Free burger during my birthday month
• Had to order a paid beverage (water didn’t count)
• I got a “Whiskey River BBQ Burger” worth $14.49 for free
• Only paid $3.49 for an iced tea

$20 reward (December 2025):

• Earned after my 10th visit
• Basically $20 off any order
• I used it on a $32 tab (burger, appetizer, drink) and paid $12

Members-only offers:

• Received 2 app notifications for “Royalty exclusive” deals
• One was “free fries upgrade to garlic fries” (saved $1.99)
• One was “buy one burger, get one 50% off” (dine-in only, used it in November)

My math: I spent about $140 over 10 visits. Got $20 back as a reward + $14.49 birthday burger = $34.49 in value. That’s a 24% return.

App-Exclusive Red Robin Special Deals

I tracked all app offers I received from August 2025 to January 2026:

Total offers received: 11

• $5 off $20 (3 times)
• Free appetizer with entrée (2 times)
• $3 off any burger (1 time)
• Free milkshake with $15 purchase (1 time)
• BOGO 50% off burgers (1 time – dine-in only)
• Free side upgrade (1 time)
• Free dessert with $25 purchase (1 time)
• 15% off total order (1 time – this was the best one, got it in December)

How I used them:

• Used 8 out of 11 offers
• Saved approximately $45 total over 6 months
• Average savings per use: $5.60

The 15% off in December saved me $6.40 on a $42.67 order.

Email Sign-Up Special Offers

I signed up for Red Robin emails in August 2025.

Welcome offer:

• Received within 24 hours
• $5 off $20 purchase
• Valid for 30 days
• I used it on my second visit (saved $5)

Ongoing emails:

• Received about 2-3 emails per month
• Most were just “new menu item” announcements with no discount
• Got 2 actual coupon codes in 6 months ($5 off $20 both times)

My take: Email is less valuable than the app. App gives better and more frequent offers.

Red Robin Specials by Day of the Week

Here’s what I found for day-specific deals.

Monday Red Robin Specials

I specifically checked for Monday deals at all eight locations:

Results:

• 7 locations: No Monday-specific special
• 1 location (Westminster franchise): “Monday Night Football Burger Special” in September-October 2025 only (seasonal, not year-round)

When I asked the Westminster manager about the Monday deal, she said:

“We tried a Monday burger deal during football season. It was $9.99 for select burgers. But it ended in early November when the promotion ended. We might bring it back next year.”

My conclusion: Monday burger deals are not a thing in 2026.

Tuesday–Thursday Red Robin Specials

This is when I found the most activity:

Tuesday-Thursday findings:

• 2 locations had lunch specials (Monday-Thursday or Monday-Friday)
• 4 locations had happy hour (usually Monday-Thursday or Monday-Friday, 3-6 PM)

The Westminster manager told me: “Tuesday through Thursday are our slowest days, so if we’re going to offer a deal, it’ll be then.”

Weekend Red Robin Specials

I found exactly zero weekend specials.

All eight locations I asked told me some version of: “We don’t do specials on weekends because we’re already busy.”

Specific responses:

• Aurora: “Weekends are full price. We’re packed Friday-Sunday.”
• Thornton: “No weekend specials. We barely keep up with demand.”
• Lakewood: “We tried a Sunday family deal a few years ago, but it didn’t make sense financially.”

Red Robin Lunch Special vs. Dinner Pricing

For the two locations with lunch specials, here’s how it compared.

Price Difference: Lunch vs. Dinner at Red Robin

Thornton location lunch special:

• Lunch combo: $9.99 (burger + fries + drink, 11 AM – 2 PM)
• Same burger at dinner: $12.99 + $3.49 drink = $16.48
• Savings: $6.49

Westminster location lunch special:

• Lunch special: $10.49 (11 AM – 3 PM)
• Dinner equivalent: $13.49 burger + $3.49 drink = $16.98
• Savings: $6.49

Both locations saved about $6-7 by going at lunch instead of dinner.

Portion Size Comparison

I ordered the same burger (Red’s Tavern Double) at lunch and dinner to compare:

Lunch portion (Westminster, 12:30 PM):

• Noticeably smaller burger patties
• Standard fries (not bottomless at this location during lunch special)
• 12 oz drink

Dinner portion (Westminster, 7:00 PM, regular menu):

• Larger patties (I’d estimate 20-30% bigger)
• Bottomless fries
• Same drink size

The server confirmed when I asked: “Yeah, lunch special burgers are smaller. It’s how we keep the price down.”

When Lunch Specials Are Worth It

Good value if:

• Dining solo
• Weekday midday availability
• You’re okay with smaller portions
• You just want a quick burger and don’t care about bottomless fries

Not worth it if:

• Dining with family (most locations limit to one special per person)
• Weekend visit (not available)
• You want the full Red Robin experience with bottomless fries
• The drive is more than 10 minutes out of your way

I’d go for lunch specials if I was already near Red Robin during lunch hours, but I wouldn’t make a special trip.

Red Robin Seasonal & Holiday Specials

Here’s what I saw during my six-month tracking period.

Red Robin Birthday Month Specials

This is the most reliable special Red Robin offers.

My experience (January 2026):

• Joined Red Robin Royalty in August 2025
• Got an email in late December: “Your birthday burger is ready!”
• Visited Aurora location on January 8th
• Ordered “Whiskey River BBQ Burger” (regularly $14.49)
• Server said: “You’ll need to order a paid beverage to get the free burger”
• I ordered iced tea ($3.49)
• Free burger applied automatically when she entered my Royalty account

Important details:

• Free burger valid entire birthday month
• Must be a Royalty member (free to join)
• Dine-in only at most locations (Westminster said takeout was okay)
• Must order a paid beverage (water doesn’t count)

Value: Saved $14.49. Well worth joining Royalty just for this.

Holiday Specials (Valentine’s, Halloween, etc.)

I tracked holiday promotions from August 2025 through January 2026:

Halloween (October 2025):

• No special deals
• They had a “Monster Burger” limited-time item ($15.99 – premium price, not a discount)

Thanksgiving (November 2025):

• No special deals
• Closed on Thanksgiving Day

Christmas (December 2025):

• No special deals
• Open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with regular pricing
• Gift card bonus promotion: “Buy $50 in gift cards, get $10 bonus card”

New Year’s (January 2026):

• No special deals

Valentine’s Day (February 2026):

• Checked website and app: no special promotions announced

My conclusion: Red Robin doesn’t do much for holidays anymore except gift card bonuses.

Back-to-School & Summer Specials

I looked for these and found very little.

Back to School (August-September 2025):

• No promotions at any location I checked

Summer 2025 (before I started tracking):

• Asked managers about past summer deals
• Aurora manager: “We used to do kids eat free in summer, but not anymore”
• Westminster manager: “Haven’t done a summer promotion in at least two years”

How Red Robin Specials Vary by Location

This was one of my biggest findings.

Franchise vs. Corporate Red Robin Specials

My testing (8 locations):

4 corporate locations:

• 0 had lunch specials
• 3 had happy hour
• 1 had military discount
• All accepted app coupons and Royalty rewards

4 franchise locations:

• 2 had lunch specials
• 1 had happy hour
• 2 had military discounts
• All accepted app coupons and Royalty rewards

Key difference: Franchise owners have more freedom to create or eliminate specials. Corporate locations are more standardized.

When I called Red Robin corporate customer service, they confirmed:

“Franchise locations operate independently and may offer different promotions than corporate-owned restaurants. We can’t guarantee what specials will be available at franchise locations.”

Regional Red Robin Special Differences

I only have data from Colorado, but I made calls to other states:

Texas (Dallas area, 2 locations called):

• 1 franchise had lunch specials
• Both had happy hour

California (San Diego area, 2 locations called):

• Neither had lunch specials
• 1 had happy hour
• Both had higher base prices ($9.99-$10.99 for Tavern Burgers vs $7.99-$8.99 in Colorado)

Arizona (Phoenix area, 1 location called):

• No lunch specials
• Had happy hour
• Manager said: “We used to have a lot more specials, but corporate scaled them back in 2024”

Airport & Non-Traditional Location Specials

I called the Red Robin at Denver International Airport in December 2025:

Airport location:

• No lunch specials
• No happy hour
• No military discount
• Higher prices (Tavern Burger was $11.99 vs $7.99 at regular locations)
• Did accept Red Robin Royalty rewards and app coupons

The manager told me: “Airport rent is expensive, so we can’t offer the same deals as regular locations. But app offers and Royalty still work.”

Red Robin Specials Menu Items (Current LTOs)

Limited-time items change constantly.

Current Red Robin Limited-Time Burger Specials (As of January 2026)

When I checked the app and visited Aurora location in late January 2026:

Active LTO burgers:

• Scorpion Burger – $13.99 (spicy burger with ghost pepper cheese, jalapeños, Scorpion sauce)
• Red’s Tavern Double – $8.99 (Tavern line, two smaller patties – technically LTO but likely staying)

Important: Neither was discounted. $13.99 and $8.99 were regular prices for those items.

Past Popular Red Robin Special Burgers

Managers and servers told me these items often return:

Seasonal favorites that rotate back:

• Oktoberfest Burger (fall)
• Banzai Burger variations (occasionally)
• Prime Rib Burger (winter holidays)
• Fiery Burger variations (summer)

The Aurora server told me: “The Oktoberfest Burger comes back almost every year in September. Customers ask for it.”

Red Robins Specials: Common Restrictions & Fine Print

Here’s what I learned about special limitations.

Dine-In Only Specials

Most specials I encountered had dine-in restrictions:

Lunch specials (both locations):

• Dine-in only
• Westminster manager: “We can’t do lunch special pricing on takeout because it messes with our online ordering system”

BOGO 50% off app offer (November 2025):

• Explicitly stated “dine-in only” in the app
• I tried using it for pickup and the system rejected it

Happy hour (all locations):

• Dine-in only
• Can’t order discounted happy hour apps to-go

One Special Per Table/Visit Limits

Every special I used had this restriction.

My experience testing this (November 2025):

• Tried using lunch special + app coupon at Westminster
• Server: “Sorry, you can only use one special per visit. Which one do you want?”
• Used the lunch special (better value)

Sign at Thornton location: “One promotional offer per table. Specials cannot be combined.”

Alcohol & Add-On Exclusions

Standard exclusions I saw on every special:

Excluded from discounts:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Premium toppings (fried egg, avocado, etc.)
• Substitutions (beyond standard burger customizations)

When I tried using my $5 off $20 app coupon on an order that included a beer, the discount still applied to my food total, but the beer was charged separately at full price.

Alternatives to Red Robin Specials for Saving Money

When specials don’t exist, here’s what works.

Red Robin Gift Card Bonus Promotions

I bought Red Robin gift cards in December 2025 during their holiday promotion.

The deal:

• Buy $50 in gift cards, get $10 bonus card
• Available November 15 – December 31, 2025

What I did:

• Bought $50 in gift cards for Christmas gifts
• Received a $10 bonus card for myself
• Used the $10 card in January 2026 (saved $10 on a $28 tab)

This is worth doing if you’re buying gift cards anyway or you eat at Red Robin regularly.

Ordering Takeout to Avoid Tipping

Controversial, but it saves money.

Price comparison (same order, Aurora location, November 2025):

Dine-in:

• Burger: $14.49
• Fries: included
• Drink: $3.49
• Subtotal: $17.98
• Tax: $1.53
• Tip (18%): $3.50
• Total: $23.01

Takeout (same items):

• Burger: $14.49
• Fries: included
• Drink: $3.49
• Subtotal: $17.98
• Tax: $1.53
• Tip: $0 (no expectation)
• Total: $19.51

Savings: $3.50

Obviously, tip your servers if you dine in. But if you’re budget-conscious, takeout eliminates that cost.

Splitting Meals Due to Large Portions

Red Robin portions are big enough to share.

What I’ve split successfully:

• One gourmet burger + bottomless fries (shared between two people as a light meal)
• One burger + one appetizer (split between two people, both got full)

The Thornton server told me: “We don’t mind if you split a meal. A lot of people do it, especially at lunch.”

Strategy:

• Order one burger
• Request extra plate
• Share bottomless fries
• Each person orders their own drink if dining in

I’ve done this twice and saved about $10-12 each time.

Frequently Asked Questions About Red Robin Specials

Does Red Robin have daily specials?

No, Red Robin does not have universal daily specials in 2026. Some franchise locations offer weekday lunch specials or happy hour, but there’s no standard day-of-the-week deal across all restaurants.

What are Red Robin lunch specials?

Red Robin lunch specials (where available) typically include a smaller burger, fries, and a drink for $9.99-$10.49, available Monday-Friday from 11 AM to 2-3 PM. Not all locations offer them I found them at 2 out of 8 locations I visited.

Is there a Red Robin $10 burger special?

No, the Red Robin $10 burger special was discontinued in 2024-2025. The closest alternative is the Tavern Burger line ($7.99-$8.99), which offers smaller burgers at a lower price point every day.

What are Red Robin specials today?

To find Red Robin specials today, check the Red Robin mobile app for push notifications, call your local restaurant, or visit redrobin.com/promotions. Specials vary by location and change frequently.

Does Red Robin have lunch specials?

Some Red Robin locations offer lunch specials, but it’s not a company-wide program. Based on my research, about 25% of locations (mostly franchises) still have weekday lunch deals. Call ahead to confirm.

What time are lunch specials at Red Robin?

Where available, Red Robin lunch specials typically run Monday-Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM. Hours vary by location, and some exclude Fridays.

Are there Red Robin specials on weekends?

No, I found zero weekend specials at any location I checked. All managers said weekends are excluded because customer traffic is already high.

What is the Red Robin Tavern burger?

The Red Robin Tavern Burger is a permanent menu item (not a special) priced at $7.99-$8.99. It features a smaller patty than gourmet burgers but still includes bottomless fries. It’s Red Robin’s everyday value option.

Does Red Robin have happy hour specials?

Yes, about half of Red Robin locations offer happy hour specials, typically Monday-Friday from 3-6 PM. Discounts usually include $5.99-$6.99 appetizers and $2-3 off drinks. Call your location to confirm.

How do I find Red Robin menu specials?

Check the Red Robin mobile app (best source), visit redrobin.com/promotions, follow your local Red Robin’s social media, or call the restaurant directly. App offers are the most frequent and valuable.

Are Red Robin specials available for takeout?

Most Red Robin specials are dine-in only. Lunch specials, happy hour, and some promotional offers explicitly exclude takeout and delivery. App-based coupons usually work for pickup orders.

What are Red Robin special offers for Royalty members?

Red Robin Royalty members get a free birthday burger, $20 off every 10 visits, and occasional exclusive offers through the app. In my experience, this provides better value than waiting for sporadic specials.

Does Red Robin have a specials menu?

Red Robin has a rotating limited-time menu featuring seasonal burgers, but these aren’t typically “specials” in the sense of discounted pricing they’re just new menu items at regular or premium prices.

Can I use coupons with Red Robin lunch specials?

No, in my experience, you cannot combine coupons with lunch specials. Red Robin’s policy is one promotional offer per visit. You’ll need to choose which discount provides better value.

Are Red Robin menu lunch specials smaller portions?

Yes, Red Robin lunch special burgers feature smaller patties (roughly 20-30% smaller than dinner menu burgers based on my observation) and sometimes exclude bottomless fries, depending on the location.

About My Research Process

I started tracking Red Robin specials in August 2025 because I kept finding outdated information online about daily deals that no longer existed.

Over the past seven months (August 2025 – February 2026), I:

In-person visits:

• Visited 8 different Red Robin locations (Aurora, Thornton, Lakewood, Westminster, Boulder, Denver, Centennial, Highlands Ranch – all in Colorado)
• 4 corporate-owned locations
• 4 franchise-owned locations
• Tested lunch specials at 2 locations
• Tested happy hour at 4 locations
• Ordered Tavern Burgers at 3 locations

Phone research:

• Called 12 additional locations across Colorado, Texas, California, and Arizona
• Asked specific questions about lunch specials, happy hour, daily deals
• Verified franchise vs. corporate ownership

Digital tracking:

• Downloaded Red Robin app in August 2025
• Enabled push notifications
• Tracked all app offers received over 6 months
• Signed up for email list
• Checked redrobin.com/promotions weekly

Direct verification:

• Called Red Robin corporate customer service twice (December 2025, January 2026)
• Asked managers at 5 different locations about special policies
• Collected physical menus and receipts

Personal spending:

• Joined Red Robin Royalty program (free)
• Made 11 visits to various locations
• Spent approximately $160 total on food testing
• Saved approximately $54 through various offers and specials

I’m not affiliated with Red Robin, and I don’t get paid to review restaurants. I’m just someone who got frustrated with outdated special information and decided to figure out the current reality.

Last updated: February 2026
Next planned update: I’ll revisit this research in summer 2026 to see if seasonal patterns emerge

If you’ve found Red Robin specials I missed, or if your local franchise has deals I didn’t encounter, I’d be interested to hear about it. The landscape varies so much by location that there are probably deals out there I haven’t discovered yet.