Valentine's Day 2022: Where To Get The Best Food Freebies And Deals

Whether you're single, you're in a brand-new relationship, or you've been with your love for many years, there are many ways to spend Valentine's Day — and plenty of deals to be had in the process.

Valentine's Day as the celebration of romance we know today began in Great Britain around the 17th century, according to the History Channel. It's now celebrated in the U.K. as well as in Canada, France, Australia, and of course, the United States. According to the National Retail Federation, although below pre-pandemic levels for Valentine's Day spending ($27.4 billion), Americans plan to spend more in 2022 than they did a year ago ($23.9 billion vs. $21.8 billion).

While candy, greeting cards, and flowers are where most people will allocate their Valentine's day spending dollars, 31% of those surveyed by NRF are planning a night out this year. If you are one of these people, you don't have to break the bank to dine out with your honey (or your besties, because, hey, we love our friends, too).

What's more romantic and appreciated than having your love bring you breakfast and coffee? On February 14, Einstein Bros. is offering an app deal for a "Sweetheart Special Brunch Box." It contains breakfast for two for less than $20 and includes a Bacon & Cheddar Egg Sandwich, a Farmhouse Sandwich, hash browns, chocolate chip coffee cake, and a blueberry muffin, per Chew Boom. The price varies by location, per QSR. And there's a bonus: If you pick up your Brunch Box in-person, versus having it delivered, you'll get a free coffee.

Krispy Kreme has rolled out four very sweet heart-shaped donuts for Valentine's day. The "Bee Mine" is filled with Krispy Kreme's Strawberries and Kreme filling. It's dipped in red icing with a pink drizzle and a charming fondant bee. The "Cookies to my Kreme" donut is filled with Cookies & Kreme filling, dipped in white icing, and finished with a chocolate drizzle and heart sprinkles. 

"My Batter Half" donuts with Krispy Kreme's Cake Batter filling, dipped in pink icing and finished with heart sprinkles. Finally, the "Beary Best" donut looks like a teddy bear and features chocolate icing and chocolate sprinkles. 

Customers who purchase a dozen donuts now through February 14 will also get a limited edition box featuring two pop-out Valentine cards to share. While two free Valentine cards aren't much of a freebie, the donuts are too cute not to put Krispy Kreme's Valentine's Day special on this list.

Jamba Rewards customers get $2 off when they order two of their favorite blended drinks, as well as juices, and bowls (per Common Grounds News). This offer is good on February 14.

If the object of your affection favors drinkable chocolate over candies, Auntie Anne's Chocolate Frost is a great way to surprise them. This "frozen hot chocolate" is a rich and indulgent treat for your Valentine, topped with whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. According to Common Grounds News, Pretzel Perks loyalty card members who purchase a Chocolate Frost will receive a free bonus Chocolate Frost on February 14. Order in-store or on the Auntie Anne's Pretzel Perks app.

For a sweet Valentine's evening, combine soft pajamas, fuzzy slippers, a bottle of wine, a favorite rom com, and a heart-shaped pizza from Pizza Hut, starting at $11.99, per House Beautiful. Fans can add an Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie or Triple Chocolate Brownie and get the bundle for $16.99. (Pizza toppings not included.) 

The special is on offer February 8 through February 14, via delivery, carryout, or contactless pick-up from your local Pizza Hut. Pro tip: ask Pizza Hut to spell out a special message (such as LUV YOU or MARRY ME) in toppings like black olives or pepperoni.

Like Pizza Hut, California Pizza Kitchen is offering its Valentine's Day tradition, the heart-shaped pizzas, along with the "Sweet Deal for Two" package. It features two prix fixe menu options at $40 and $50: an appetizer, two entrees (including their famous thin-crust pizzas), and a dessert. Fans who buy CPK's Sweet Deal package will also receive a bonus card to use on their next visit. The deal is available for dine-in or carry-out from February 9 through February 14.

If burgers don't immediately speak "romance" to you, White Castle's Valentine's Day "Love Cube" might just change your mind. This meal for two comes in a pink "castle" box and includes eight cheese sliders, a choice of two sharable sides, and two soft drinks. The Love Cube is available for $14.99 in most markets ($14.99 in Louisville and Nashville) while supplies last.

Per its website, casual steakhouse Logan's Roadhouse is offering Valentine's weekend dine-in specials from February 11 through 14. The offer includes a starter, main course with two sides, a choice of cocktails, beer, or wine, and a dessert. According to FSR, select locations will offer a 12-ounce prime rib dinner. For carryout customers, there is a to-go offer: $68.99 for including two 12-ounce Prime Rib Dinners with choice of chocolate cake or cheesecake.

Love is in the air at Applebee's, where you and your love (or your pals) can enjoy bargain cocktails this Valentine's Day. Applebee's restaurants are offering $5 "Smoocho Mucho Sips." Featuring premium spirits, these tipples include the "Tipsy Cupid," a strawberry lemonade mixed with Tito's Handmade vodka; and a "Date Night Daiquiri," swirl strawberry and mango flavors blended with Bacardi Superior rum. Available for dine-in or for carryout where permitted. The offer runs through February 21.

Do your Valentine's tastes run toward the spicy? Use a $25 Moe's gift card (through February 15) and receive $5 in Moe's Rewards. Just note that the offer is not valid for in-store gift card purchases, and the rewards must be redeemed by March 16.

Fans can also throw a Valentine's party with one of Moe's boxed meal kits. The taco kit, nacho kit, and fajita kit each serve four to six people.

If steak is your idea of a perfect Valentine's Day, you'll love this BOGO deal from McAlister's Deli. From February 12 through 14, between 5 and 8 pm only, fans can purchase one of the chain's new steak entrees and get a second for 50% off. McAlister's new line of steak offerings include Steak and White Cheddar Sandwich, Steak and Gorgonzola Salad, and a Loaded Steak Spud. Use the promo code STEAK22 when ordering on the McAlister's app, online, or in-store. (Third-party delivery excluded.)

If your idea of romance is sharing a Popeyes chicken sandwich with your sweetie, you're in luck. The fast-food chain is offering a buy one, get one deal on chicken sandwich combos online and through its app, per Chewboom. The deal will run from February 14 to 20.

Italian restaurant chain Carrabba's is offering a four-course dinner for two from February 10 through February 21 that starts at $60. Couples can share a starter and dessert, as well as their choice of soups and salads and entrees, including pasta, chicken, salmon, or steak. Carrabba's is also featuring cocktails and wines for the holiday, including a Strawberry Rose Margarita.

Bonefish Grill is offering a Valentine's Day Menu February 3 through 16. Start your date with a pomegranate martini or "Winter White Cosmo" and follow it with a filet mignon toped with scallops and shrimp. Other seasonal specials and cocktails include a Rockefeller "Butterfish," (a.k.a. black cod or Alaskan sablefish) topped with spinach and jumbo lump crab.

At Seasons 52, fans can celebrate with a $110 dinner for two special featuring filet mignon, salad, sides, a bottle of wine, and two "Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Mini Indulgences" for dessert. For those who want to eat at home with the whole family, this seasonally-inspired restaurant offers the Green Box, which feeds up to six people and comes with the tenderloin or a whole side of cedar plank roasted salmon, a salad, sides and six desserts (priced from $145).

In celebration of Valentine's Day, Pieology is offering a two-for-$4 deal on its David's Cookies offerings. That includes all flavors: red velvet, triple chocolate, and peanut butter.