SALUTE THE TROOPS

19 San Antonio restaurants honor service members on Veterans Day 2024

Score a deal on Perry's Steakhouse & Grille pork chops on Veteran's Day.

Veterans Day is a significant holiday throughout the United States but has a particular resonance in San Antonio. After all, the area has one of the largest concentrations of military bases in the United States — enough to give it the nickname Military City.

Many of San Antonio's restaurants offer discounts for service members year-round, but even more will share their appreciation on November 11. Scroll down for the best deals delivered to veterans and active-duty military with valid IDs.

7 Brew Coffee: Enjoy 25% off any drink with a valid military or veteran ID.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse: All five area outposts of the fast-casual chain are throwing in a free Chocolate Chunk Pizookie with any dine-in purchase of $11.95 or more on November 11. Vets can also score a coupon for a free appetizer, valid for the rest of 2024.
Carrabba's Italian Grill: From October 8-10, The Italian favorite is touting a BOGO deal, offering service members a free take-home entrée of equal or lesser value when they order an entrée in-house. On the holiday, veterans can also order a complimentary appetizer or dessert.
Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen: Service members past or present can opt for a free appetizer or dessert.
Chili's: The newly popular fast-casual restaurant is offering a select menu of free meals for the military.
Dog Haus: Hot dog! All current and former military members can receive a free Haus Dog on November 11.
Firehouse Subs: All locations of the sandwich franchise will offer a free combo meal on Veterans Day with a medium sub, chips or a cookie, and a drink.
Fogo de Chão: The Brazilian steakhouse offers deals for enlistees and civilians on November 11. Veterans will enjoy half-off the Full Churrasco experience, while up to three guests can take advantage of a 10-percent discount.
Garcia Barbecue: The veteran-owned business is giving all veterans a choice of a pulled pork or sausage wrap taco with a soda on November 9-10. Offer is subject to availability.
Golden Corral: From 4 pm-close, the family chain will thank service members with a complimentary buffet and beverage.
Hard Rock Cafe: Bring the whole crew to this River Walk staple. Veterans and active-duty personnel can feast on a free Legendary Burger while friends and family enjoy a 15% military discount.
Kona Grill: Both locations of the upscale chain are thanking vets with 50 percent off food from November 8-11.
Logan's Roadhouse: The beefy chain honors veterans with free lunch between 11 am-3 pm, while raising funds for PTSD nonprofit K9s for Warriors.
Main Event: The bowling hub hopes to entertain vets with a free double cheeseburger, fries, and a 30-minute timecard.
MOD Pizza: The chain pizzeria sweetens Veterans Day with a free Mega Cookie when you purchase any MOD-sized pizza or salad. The offer is available for both military members and their spouses.
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille: The swanky steakhouse is giving out complimentary dinner-cut pork chops from 4 pm-close when a guest orders a full-price entrée. Those dining alone or with other veterans will receive the same dish for half off.
PJ's Coffee: The New Orleans coffeehouse chain will perk up vets with a free 12-ounce hot coffee or cold brew iced coffee.
Pluckers Wing Bar: Veterans can enjoy a free meal with entrée, a side, and a nonalcoholic beverage.
Whataburger: San Antonio's favorite fast food joint will offer a free 16-ounce hot or iced coffee all year starting November 11.

holidays veterans veterans day deals

Back to the Basics

Famous San Antonio chicken brand returns to original recipe from 1952

Church's Texas Chicken/Instagram

Church's Texas Chicken is bringing back its recipe — not that it's been gone very long.

A San Antonio staple that's become world famous is going back to its roots. Church's Texas Chicken is bringing back its original recipe, which was originally developed in 1952, with a few tweaks.

According to a news release, the "rejuvenated" recipe now includes richer spices. The chicken is marinated — to the bone, it assures — then hand-battered and breaded, resulting in a crispy texture. It also emphasizes that only one "batter" and one breader is needed, which it says makes for a more consistent product.

It's not clear exactly when the chain moved away from its original recipe, but it must have been fairly recent; it was still boasting that the recipe had never changed as late as 2018. In 2019, it underwent a rebrand that added "Texas" as a "middle name" to signify its origins.

Although Church's started in San Antonio — and it still has Texas right in the middle of its name — it's now headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. That's because the brand was purchased by a different chicken company that was already located there.

“This return is not only a return to our roots, but also a strategic move to drive our business forward," said CEO said Joe Guith. "We’re confident that our guests will enjoy our exceptional recipe and iconic flavor, fueling our growth and success.”

George W. Church was the originator of the recipe. The first restaurant was located across from The Alamo, but now there are more than 1,500 stores worldwide.

Church's Texas Chicken retro exterior What Church's used to look like.Photo courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken

Despite more than 70 years in business, Church's has kept its menu simple. Some chicken is served on the bone, and some as tenders; some goes on a sandwich, and that's about it for variations on the main offering. Sides switch things up a bit, but still stick to fries or Southern classics like mashed potato, mac and cheese, corn, and fried okra, among others.

This doesn't mean the chain hasn't innovated. In 2024 it was featured on a Hulu docuseries called Superhot: The Spicy World of Pepper People. Over two episodes, it put out a call for a proprietary pepper to claim for a new ridiculously hot sauce. That became the "signature" hot sauce made with red chili peppers, red bell peppers, habanero, and roasted garlic.

However, it sounds like nothing can beat the classics for a brand that's banking on nostalgia.

"We’re excited to bring back our OG recipe to satisfy our guests' cravings for even more flavor, ensuring every bite is infused with our blend of spices our guests love," said the brand's corporate head chef Kevin Houston. "We extend a warm welcome to those who haven’t visited our restaurants in a while to rediscover our legendary chicken.”

More information about Church's Texas Chicken is available at churchs.com.

fast food fried chicken