One of the best things in the world for a poor college student is free food. Everyone knows about the Starbucks app, but did you know there are tons of restaurants that offer lesser known customer rewards programs?
Spoon has your back with the best places to rack up the points. Get rewarded with incredible deals for eating at your favorite spots.
1. Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Cuisine: Soft pretzels with cold drinks and great dips
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: Get the Pretzel Perks card on their mobile app, which gives you a free pretzel for every 300 points earned. When you download the app, you also get rewarded with a free pretzel right away, and then you earn 10 points for ever dollar spent.
2. Black Angus Steakhouse
Photo by Daniel Schulema
Cuisine: Steak and seafood
Locations: Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, New Mexico and Washington
Rewards Program: Join the Prime Club and receive a free dessert upon registering and a free steak dinner on your one year anniversary of joining. Plus, don’t forget about the deals and coupons that are sent straight to your email.
3. Caribou Coffee
Photo by Asia Coladner
Cuisine: Coffee, tea, blended drinks and light bakery items
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: Use your mobile app or Caribou Perks card to earn a free medium drink. The more you use your card, the more rewards you will receive, including discounts and free coffee.
4) Cinnabon
Photo by Gaby Scelzo
Cuisine: A wide Variety of cinnamon buns, coffee drinks and milkshakes
Locations: Across the US and select locations internationally
Rewards Program: Join Club Cinnabon for an immediate free minibon cinnamon roll. The club also sends you coupons regularly and a free birthday treat.
5. Cold Stone Creamery
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Cuisine: Ice cream, frozen yogurt, ice cream cakes and shakes
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: Join the My Cold Stone Club to receive emails with great coupons. Plus, you’ll receive a free birthday treat.
6. Corner Bakery Cafe
Photo by Vedika Luthra
Cuisine: Salads, soups, hot and cold sandwiches, breakfast, chili, pasta and bakery treats
Locations: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Illinois, Rhode Island, Georgia, Maryland, Colorado and Utah
Rewards Program: Join the eCafe email list to automatically receive a free bakery treat. You will also get regular free treats and discounts sent to your inbox.
7. Cups Frozen Yogurt
Photo by David Whinery
Cuisine: Frozen yogurt
Locations: California, New York, New Jersey, Florida and Texas
Rewards Program: Sign up for their VIP club to get free rewards, plus a free fro-yo on your birthday.
8. David’s Tea
Photo by Liza Keller
Cuisine: Loose leaf tea and tea supplies
Locations: Across Canada, California, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Illinois and Connecticut
Rewards Program: Sign up for a Frequent Steeper Card to rack up points for free rewards. You can win free loose tea in addition to a free cup of tea for your birthday. Each dollar you spend equals one point, and once you hit 100 points, you can choose 2-oz. of any tea you want.
9. Fuddruckers
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Cuisine: Burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads and special exotic burgers made from buffalo, wild boar and elk
Locations: Across the US and select international locations
Rewards Program: Join the Fudds Club to receive special coupons and promotions, plus rewards for your birthday and anniversary of joining.
10. Godiva
Photo by Delissa Handoko
Cuisine: Gourmet chocolates
Locations: Across the US and select international locations
Rewards Program: Join the rewards club to get a free piece of chocolate every month, a free gift every time you spend $20, special offers and discounts. Plus, you get free shipping.
11. Jamba Juice
Photo by Bari Blanga
Cuisine: Blended fruit and vegetable smoothies, fresh juices and light snacks
Locations: Across the US and Canada
Rewards Program: Join the Jamba Insider Rewards program to receive $3 off your first purchase. You can earn points for each visit, and for every 35 points you get a $3 credit. Plus you get a free smoothie on your birthday.
12. Moe’s Southwest Grill
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Cuisine: Tex-Mex burritos, tacos, salads and bowls made to order, free chips and salsa with every entree
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: By signing up for the eWorld online, you get access to new menu items and regular discount deals. You also get a free cup of queso just for signing up. Plus, you score a free burrito on your birthday.
13. Native Foods Cafe
Photo by Maddy Shannon
Cuisine: Vegan comfort food (that even carnivores can enjoy)
Locations: California, Colorado, Oregon, Chicago and Washington D.C.
Rewards Program: Sign up for a rewards card and you’ll immediately receive a free drink. Once you register the card online, the rewards start pouring in. Scan your card at every visit to win more free treats, including a $10 credit during your birthday week.
14. Noodles and Company
Photo by Kirby Barth
Cuisine: Pasta dishes from a variety of cultures, salads, soups and sandwiches
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: Join their online club to receive Noodle Grams emails with coupons, as well as news about your nearest Noodles and Company location.
15. &Pizza
Photo courtesy of Spoon American University
Cuisine: Make your own gourmet pizza
Locations: Maryland, Washington D.C. and Virginia
Rewards Program: Join the rewards program to receive a $10 credit for every $100 spent. The more you spend, the more rewards you get, such as free birthday pizzas and free &Pizza gear.
16. Qdoba
Photo by Mia Oh
Cuisine: Tex-Mex style burritos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and salads
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: Join the Qdoba rewards program and get a free drink or chips and salsa with your first purchase. Scan your rewards card at every visit, and after 10 purchases you get your next burrito on the house. You can also receive free birthday treats and special offers.
17. Rita’s Italian Ice
Photo courtesy of floridafoodlover.com
Cuisine: Italian ice, custards, cream ice and milkshakes
Locations: Across the US
Rewards Program: Download the Rita’s rewards mobile app to track your purchases on a virtual punch card. For every seven ices purchased, you get the eighth one for free. You also get a special birthday treat and other great offers year round.
18. Salad Works
Photo courtesy of Spoon Northwestern
Cuisine: Create your own salads, sandwiches and soups
Locations: Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia
Rewards Program: Join the Fresh Fan Club and swipe your card with every purchase. Every menu item has a point value, and you can choose to pay for salads, cookies or soups with your earned points.
19. Sweetgreen
Photo courtesy of Spoon Northwestern
Cuisine: Gourmet salads and soups
Locations: New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Maryland, Virginia, Washington D.C. and Los Angeles
Rewards Program: The mobile app allows you to pay as you go, and once you spend $100, you receive a $10 credit and a boost to the next status level, which offers additional rewards. You also receive a free birthday salad. But who wants a salad on their birthday…?
20. The Counter
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
Cuisine: Create your own gourmet burgers with fries, boozy shakes, salads, sandwiches and desserts
Locations: California, Texas, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, Idaho and select international locations
Rewards Program: Sign up for the Culture Card to get a complimentary order of fries instantly. The card also gets you surprise rewards throughout the year, in addition to a birthday shake and dining credits based on their point system.
21. Whole Foods Market
Photo by Caroline Coccoli
Cuisine: Organic and local produce and food store with prepared food section depending on location
Locations: Across the US and select international locations
Rewards Program: Use the rewards application to rack up points for free rewards.