It's not just any Taco Tuesday: Here's where to get free food, deals on National Taco Day

Saleen Martin, USA TODAY
·7 min read

It's that time of year again, when taco restaurants nationwide show love to the warm, meaty, stuffed tortillas.

This year, foodies can celebrate both Taco Tuesday and National Taco Day on the same day, Oct. 4, with deals ranging from free tacos to 10 mini tacos for $10.

Chains like Taco Bell, Del Taco, El Pollo Loco and Moe’s Southwest Grill are offering deals to commemorate the occasion. Some of the promotions might require you downloading the restaurant's app.

You might have to get creative to cash in on some of the deals, too. Chuy's and Tijuana Flats are offering free food to customers who dress up like – you guessed it – a taco.

Check out this year's specials below.

National Coffee Day 2022: 20 businesses offering free coffee and other daily deals

Must love cats: This International Cat Day, these world record breaking pets are the real celebrities

Taco Bell: Pay $10 and get a taco a day all month long

In honor of National Taco Day 2022, Taco Bell is offering its Taco Lover’s Pass exclusively on the Taco Bell app. The pass will be available for purchase for only one day. With the pass, rewards members can pay $10 and get one taco a day all month long.

Choices include Taco Bell's Crunchy Taco, Crunchy Taco Supreme, Soft Taco, Soft Taco Supreme, Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Doritos Locos Taco, and the Doritos Locos Taco Supreme.

Taco John's: Free beef tacos and Taco Tuesday deals

Bigger Bolder Rewards members can get a free beef Taco Bravo with any purchase, or cash in on the restaurant's regular Taco Tuesday Crispy Beef Taco deal. Taco John's has locations in several states in the Midwest.

Grubhub offers delivery deals

Grubhub is offering deals for Taco Bell and On the Border, including a free taco from Taco Bell on orders of $15 or more on National Taco Day.

On the Border customers can get a buy one, get one free taco (crispy or soft) on orders of at least $15. Grubhub+ members will also get free queso on orders of $20 or more. The deals will run every Tuesday in October.

Chronic Taco: $1 off, plus a chance to win free tacos for a year

With locations in Alabama, Arizona, and California, Chronic Taco is knocking $1 off tacos all day.

Also notable?

Any customer who signs up and verifies their account in the Chronic Tacos App before Oct. 4 will be automatically entered to win free tacos for a year.

A fish taco plate at Rubio's Coastal Grill.
A fish taco plate at Rubio's Coastal Grill.

Rubio's Coastal Grill: Free tacos with any purchase

Rubio's Coastal Grill is having a two-day celebration starting Oct. 3 for National Taco Day that includes a free à la carte taco with any purchase. Customers can choose from any taco, the restaurant said.

The company has locations in California, Arizona and Nevada.

All-day Taco Tuesday specials also include chicken tacos for $1.99 and steak tacos for $2.29, the company said.

A smiling 7-Eleven customer holds mini tacos.
A smiling 7-Eleven customer holds mini tacos.

7-Eleven: 10 mini tacos for $2

Rewards customers stopping at participating 7-Eleven, Speedway, and Stripes stores can grab 10 mini tacos for $2, the company said in a news release.

Del Taco: Taco Nights, double rewards, and deals all month long

Del Taco's 2022 Tacoberfest calendar.
Del Taco's 2022 Tacoberfest calendar.

Del Taco, which has locations in 16 states such as Alabama, California, Ohio and South Carolina, is promoting its Taco Nights deals for the holiday.

From 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday or Thursday, customers can snag three snack tacos for $1.69 or three grilled chicken tacos for $2.69.

Every Tuesday this month, the restaurant will also offer double "Del Yeah!" rewards points all day in via the Del Taco app for registered customers.

Also notable? Del is launching Tacoberfest: 31 Days of Deals in October.

Starting Oct. 1, rewards app members will have access to special offers all month long, including their buy one, get one free deal, $2 off six grilled chicken tacos every Saturday, and other deals.

Deals, prices, participation, and hours may vary.

Move over kids! Happy Meals for adults are heading to McDonald's, special toy included

In honor of National Taco Day 2022, Chuy's is offering $1 floaters, or an extra pour of tequila over a margarita (frozen or rocks).
In honor of National Taco Day 2022, Chuy's is offering $1 floaters, or an extra pour of tequila over a margarita (frozen or rocks).

Chuy's: Eat for free if you dress like a taco, extra tequila for $1

With locations in 17 states, Chuy's is offering all-day specials on tacos and tequila, including free food if customers dress like a taco and post a photo hashtagged #ChuysTacoDay.

The Tex-Mex restaurant also said customers can add a ground beef taco – crispy or soft – to any dine-in entrée purchase for an extra dollar.

And for those who want to hit the bar and save on margaritas, the restaurant is offering $1 floaters, or an extra pour of tequila over a margarita (frozen or rocks).

El Pollo Loco: Order something other than tacos and get 8 free

Noting that the company is continuing its Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, El Pollo Loco announced this year that it wants customers to try other Hispanic food besides tacos.

On National Taco Day, those who spend at least $10 on menu items other than tacos will get eight free tacos in their loyalty account. They can snag the tacos anytime between Oct. 5-31.

The restaurant will also offer free delivery all day on Oct. 4 for orders placed via the Loco Rewards app or at www.elpolloloco.com.

Baja Fresh: $5 off $20 or more

Baja Fresh, which has stores in Texas, Virginia, California, Georgia, and other states, is offering Club Baja Rewards loyalty members $5 off $20 or more.

To get the deal in-store, guests must provide the store with the phone number associated with their Club Baja Rewards account before checkout.

If guests are ordering online or on the app, they need to sign in first.

Taco Del Mar: Golden taco ticket, anyone?

Taco Del Mar, with many locations in Washington state, is offering a Golden Taco Ticket promotion starting Oct. 4. The tickets allow guests to get one free taco per day for 30 days with any purchase.

Participating restaurants will have 25 Golden Taco tickets for sale Oct. 4 and Oct. 9. Customers who buy one can snag any one of the company's four most popular options – the Rippin’ Fish taco, braised chicken, pulled pork carnitas, and seasoned ground beef tacos – per day with any purchase.

Golden Taco Tickets start around $12 in the U.S. and $15 in Canada.

Jack in the Box: Monster tacos resurrected

Jack in the Box, which has locations in 21 states around the U.S., is resurrecting its monster tacos starting on Oct. 4; customers can buy two of them for $3 until Oct. 31.

Tijuana Flats: Dress like a taco and get one free

At Tijuana Flats, customers who dress like tacos and spend at least $2 will get one free chicken, beef, or bean taco. The chain has locations in Florida, North Carolina, Indiana, Virginia and Illinois.

"Guests are encouraged to get creative with their taco attire," the company said in a news release. "Participate by wearing a taco costume, shirt, hat, etc."

The restaurant is also offering $4 margaritas and sangria.

A bacon, egg and cheese breakfast taco from Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.
A bacon, egg and cheese breakfast taco from Fuzzy’s Taco Shop.

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop: All day tacos for $1.50

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is offering $1.50 tacos all day, the restaurant said. Guests can choose between breakfast tacos and Baja tacos at one of the 100-plus locations across the country.

There's also an opportunity for 100 guests to get free tacos for a year. Each customer who places an order on National Taco Day via the Fuzzy’s Taco Shop app will automatically be entered into a drawing for the free tacos. Customers can also enter by scanning a receipt from National Taco Day into the app.

The restaurant will contact winners via email on Oct. 10.

Tacos at California Tortilla.
Tacos at California Tortilla.

California Tortilla: Coupon for a free taco with any purchase

All California Tortilla locations are offering coupons for a free taco with every purchase. The coupons are valid Oct. 5-11.

A meal kit at Moe's Southwest Grill.
A meal kit at Moe's Southwest Grill.

Moe’s Southwest Grill: $5 off meal kits

Moe’s is offering Moe Rewards members $5 off any meal kit on National Taco Day, including the iconic Taco Meal Kit with free chips and salsa.

Taco kits come with 12 soft flour tortillas, two proteins, lettuce, cheese, pico de gallo, beans, rice, sour cream, and a shareable bowl of Moe’s queso.

Members can also cash in ahead of time using the promo code TACODAY22 online.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National Taco Day 2022 free food, deals: Where to get discounts

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • Human rights groups condemn UK plan to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda after Parliament backs new law

    Britain’s plans to send some asylum-seekers to Rwanda were swiftly condemned by international humanitarian organizations after Parliament approved legislation allowing the deportation flights to begin later this year. Both the U.N. refugee agency and the Council of Europe on Tuesday called for the U.K. to rethink its plans because of concerns that the legislation undermines human rights protections and fears that it will damage international cooperation on tackling the global migrant crisis. “The new legislation marks a further step away from the U.K.’s long tradition of providing refuge to those in need, in breach of the Refugee Convention,” U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said in a statement.

  • Two in five consumers think aviation sector is ready for summer – poll

    There were chaotic scenes across many airports during parts of 2022 due to a failure to recruit and train enough staff.

  • Anne Hathaway is a 'guest' of fashion

    Anne Hathaway has insisted she is not a "fashion person" but views herself as a "guest" of the industry.

  • Madonna sued again over concert delays

    Months after facing a lawsuit over a delayed concert in New York City, the Queen of Pop has been sued again by Washington D.C. Concertgoers who have accused her of showing "total disrespect" for her fans. In the lawsuit filed in D.C. federal court on Friday, three fans accused Madonna of taking the stage two hours late for her show at the Capital One Arena on 18 December. The suit also named concert giant Live Nation as a defendant. According to Billboard the concertgoers´ lawyers wrote…

  • England is taking decisive steps to address smoking – but what about its drink problem?

    As alcohol-specific deaths in England continue to rise, evidence is clear that setting minimum unit pricing – or ‘MUP’ – for alcohol saves lives and reduces alcohol-related harm.

  • Biden sets new target to protect vast US water sources

    The Biden administration on Tuesday set a new goal to protect vast U.S. water sources, from rivers to wetlands, as part of a series of announcements marking Earth Week. The administration plans to announce a new goal of protecting, restoring and reconnecting 8 million acres (3.2 million hectares) of threatened wetlands and 100,000 miles (161,000 km) of rivers and streams, according to White House documents. The White House, which is hosting a water summit on Tuesday, also plans to pledge $1 billion to deliver clean water to households on Native American land.

  • Trending tickers: Tesla, ABF, Novartis, Taylor Wimpey, JD Sports

    The latest investor updates on stocks that are trending on Tuesday.

  • Victoria Derbyshire Tears Into Tory Priorities As Sunak Pulls Out All Stops For Rwanda Bill

    The PM is keen to get planes to Rwanda off the ground, but is yet to show the same enthusiasm to get alleged rape cases through the courts.

  • Paris museum takes NYC breakdance off the streets, and into the spotlight

    For the first time in Olympics history, breakdance – the hip-hop dance style that grew out of New York City in the 1970s – willl take centre stage at the Paris Olympic Games this summer. To mark the occasion, the Carnavalet Museum is hosting breakdance performances and workshops. The Carnavalet Museum is dedicated to the history of Paris, from prehistory to the present day. Located in the central Marais district, it is one of the most visited museums in the French capital."Breakdancing is comple

  • Gazprom subsidiary must stop Russian lawsuit against UniCredit, UK Supreme Court rules

    A subsidiary of Russian energy giant Gazprom was on Tuesday ordered by the UK's Supreme Court to stop suing Italian bank UniCredit in Russia over an aborted gas project. RusKhimAlyans has launched a flurry of lawsuits in the Russian courts after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and subsequent Western sanctions halted work on a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant at the Baltic port of Ust-Luga in 2022.

  • Channel horror: At least five migrants including a child die after panic on boat with 'more than 100 people'

    A four-year-old girl was said to be in a critical condition

  • Mauricio Pochettino names potential options to replace doubtful Chelsea penalty taker Cole Palmer

    Blues could be without leading goalscorer for trip to Arsenal

  • Child among at least five migrants dead in English Channel crossing attempt hours after Rwanda bill passed

    The French coastguard has confirmed that five people, including a child, have died attempting to cross the English Channel on Tuesday morning

  • When it comes to Trump Supreme Court bid for immunity, his test case is Richard Nixon

    The justices are likely to reject the claim of absolute immunity. But even if they do, Trump may already have won by delaying his election interference trial.

  • Telegram founder says China downloads have not fallen since Apple move

    Pavel Durov, billionaire founder and CEO of Telegram, said Apple's move last week to remove the chat app from its China app store had not caused any decrease in downloads from China and criticised Apple instead for its "walled garden" app policies. Durov published a post in his public channel on Telegram on Monday in which he confirmed that Apple removed multiple apps including Telegram from its App Store in China last week.

  • What’s on TV tonight: Glitter: the Popstar Paedophile, Changing Ends and more

    Glitter: the Popstar Paedophile ITV1, 9pm Unarguably, Erica Gornall’s documentary about Paul Gadd, who sold more than 20 million records as comical glam-rock figurehead Gary Glitter before being convicted of a string of child-sex offences decades later, makes for a skin crawling, distressing watch. Yet it is also an important one. The story of Gadd’s perversions, often hidden in plain sight by dint of his outrageous alter ego, is in one sense familiar. Compared to Jimmy Savile, however, whose de

  • Migrants die attempting Channel crossing just hours after Rwanda Bill passes

    Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the Rwanda plan will deter migrants from risking their lives in small boats.

  • Is AerCap Holdings N.V (AER) an Attractive Investment Opportunity?

    Cooper Investors, an investment management firm, released its “Cooper Investors Global Equities Fund” first quarter 2024 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund returned 7.4% in the first quarter, compared to a 9.4% return for the benchmark MSCI ACWI. The market rally, which started in late October 2023, has […]

  • Puzzle solutions for Tuesday, April 23, 2024

    Find answers to the latest online sudoku and crossword puzzles that were published in USA TODAY Network's local newspapers.

  • In Florida, Biden to blame Trump for abortion ban

    President Joe Biden visits Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday to tie opponent Donald Trump to new abortion restrictions, hoping to boost his own chances in a state that has drifted out of Democrats' reach in recent elections. Earlier this month, Florida's Supreme Court cleared the way for a six-week abortion ban starting May 1, a time-frame before many women realize they are pregnant. Biden's re-election campaign quickly declared battle, saying he would win the state in November because of the ban.