Ah yes, the hamburger. A baked bun, beef patty, mustard, ketchup, onion, pickles, with optional cheese. So simple, and so delicious, that Americans can’t get enough. That’s why it’s fitting that in the month of May – the unofficial start of Summer and BBQ season – Hamburgers are celebrated by way of National Hamburger Month, National Hamburger Week (this week), and every year on May 28, National Hamburger Day celebrates America’s most iconic food. Americans eat over 50 billion burgers a year, so it’s only fitting we set aside a whole day for these special sandwiches.
The History of the Hamburger
Convenient, cheap, and delicious, the world-famous burger has a storied and uncertain history. According to National Today, no one is quite sure about the origins of the hamburger, other than that it is eponymously named for the town of Hamburg in Germany.
People have been eating cooked meat on bread for centuries, but the association with Hamburg seems to stem from a 1758 recipe for a dish called the “Hamburg Sausage.” Others think the name originates from a cruise company known as the Hamburg America Line, which served its passengers similar sandwiches in the Mid-1800s. To this day, there is little agreement over who actually created the iconic food.
Numerous deli and diner owners across the United States claim that their joint is responsible for inventing the burger. However, there seems to be some consensus amongst historians that the food as we know it today truly gained popularity at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, an event that also gave us the ice-cream cone. However it happened, the hamburger has grown to be one of the world’s most widely consumed food items, found on menus from Texas to Thailand. They can be had for a dollar apiece or made from gourmet ingredients that cost hundreds. However you decide to chow down, this day is for you. Fire up the grill, gather round your friends, and cook up some delicious burgers.
If you’d like to know where all the Hamburger Day deals and freebies are happening, The Krazy Coupon Lady has you covered:
National Hamburger Day Deals 2025
- Bar Louie: Rewards members (it’s free to join) can celebrate National Burger Day with a $25 Burger Pass at Bar Louie and enjoy a FREE burger on your next visit and $9.95 (reg. $14.95+) every visit after that through Dec. 31, 2025. You can purchase the pass through May 31.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: On National Hamburger Day (Wednesday, May 28), Buffalo Wild Wings is offering half off any burger (including the All-American Cheeseburger, Triple Bacon Cheeseburger and more) when you order online for takeout or delivery and use promo code GOBURGER at checkout.
- Buffalo’s Cafe: Buffalo’s Cafe is offering their Canyon Burgers and Tumbleweed Potato Chips for $11.99 on May 28, 2025. Offer valid on dine-in and online orders.
- Burger King: Burger King Royal Perks members can enjoy a FREE hamburger with an online or in-app purchase of $1 or more on National Hamburger Day.
- Dairy Queen: This year, Dairy Queen is offering rewards members a buy one Signature Stackburger (Backyard Bacon Ranch, Bacon Cheese Deluxe, FlameThrower, Cheese Deluxe, and Original Cheeseburger), get a second for $0.99 deal. Offer valid in-app and at participating DQ Grill & Chill locations from May 26 – June 1.
- Epic Burger: Grab a $5 burger at Epic Burger on National Hamburger Day. Limit one per person.
- Farmer Boys: Farmer Boys is celebrating National Hamburger Day (May 28) by offering Very Important Farmer (VIF) Rewards members a Big Cheese for $4 when you order in-app.
- Friendly’s: New Friendly’s Fan Club Rewards members can score a FREE Founder’s Burger when they download the Friendly’s app and join the Fan Club. Offer valid through May 31. You have 30 days (from signup) to redeem the free burger reward.
- Kroger: To celebrate National Hamburger Day, Krogeris offering a six-pack of Private Selection Beef Chuck Patties for $6.99 ($1.16 per burger) from May 28 – 31. Before buying them, you’ll need to grab the Burger Day coupon (only available May 27 – 28). You can use the coupon at Kroger stores, including Kroger, Ralph’s, Fred Meyer, and more. Offer valid online and in-app for pickup and in-store.
- Krystal: Krystal is offering a $1 Krystal when you use promo code KRYSTALDAY at checkout online or in-app on National Hamburger Day (May 28).
- Hurricane Grill & Wings: This year, celebrate National Hamburger Day with a steak burger and fries for $9.99 deal at Hurricane Grill & Wings. Offer valid for online and dine-in orders.
- Native Grill & Wings: Celebrate National Hamburger Day 2025, with $8 My Native Burgers at Native Grill & Wings. Offer valid on dine-in and online orders.
- Shake Shack: On National Hamburger Day (May 28), you can score a FREE ShackBurger at Shake Shack when you make a purchase of $10 or more and use promo code BURGERMONTH online or in-app.
- Smashburger: On Tuesday, May 28, you can grab any single burger (including their Jalapeno BBQ Bacon Stack Smash) for just $5.28 at Smashburger when you order in-store or online and in-app with promo code JUST528.
- Sonic: Celebrate National Hamburger Day a day early on Tuesday, May 27, with half-price Sonic cheeseburgers after 5 p.m. Offer valid for online or in-app orders only.
- TGI Fridays: Enjoy a Big Queso Energy Burger with seasoned fries for $10 (reg. $16.39) at TGI Fridays. Offer valid May 28, for dine-in only. Limit one per customer. Rewards members can save 30% off dine-in purchases May 27 – 28.
- The Greene Turtle: Celebrate National Hamburger Day (May 28) with BOGO burgers at The Greene Turtle.
- Wahlburgers: From May 27 – 29, Wahlburgers is offering 50% off Brothers’ Choice Burgers (the Our Burger, BBQ Bacon, and O.F.D.) when you use promo code hamburgerday at checkout online or in-app.
- Wayback Burger: Wayback Burger is offering $5 Classic Burgers on National Hamburger Day 2025.
- White Castle: All guests can grab six White Castle sliders for $4. The offer is available online, in-app, and in-store. There’s no limit to how many sliders you can purchase. However, you must buy them in bundles of six.
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