Burger King appears to be overshadowed by viral McDonald’s taste test
After McDonald’s CEO Christopher Kempczinski’s Big Arch taste test went viral, other fast food bosses decided to get in on the fun.
Any day is a great time to eat a burger, but on National Hamburger Day, Thursday, May 28th, you can get a great deal on burgers.
Hamburgers are one of America’s favorite foods and are often paired with another favorite, fries. French fries have taken the top spot in YouGov’s Most Popular American Food survey. Hamburgers rank fourth behind grilled cheese and cheeseburgers.
Consumers will spend $115 billion at U.S. burger chains in 2025, according to Kevin Shimp, senior director of industry research at Technomic. Burger chains account for 20% of all annual consumer spending at chain restaurants, he said.
Of course, you can also fry or grill burgers at home. However, many people prefer to purchase through a drive-thru or at a restaurant. We will introduce you to some great deals.
Burger King’s National Hamburger Day Sale
To celebrate National Hamburger Day on Thursday, May 28, Burger King Royal Parks Royal Parks members can earn a free burger with any purchase of $3 or more at participating Burger King restaurants nationwide using the BK app or bk.com. Royal Perks members get 4 months of Spotify Premium free with any $10 purchase. This offer is suitable if you are a Royal Park member who has opted in to receive emails and are a new user of Spotify Premium (only suitable for Spotify Personal plans; offer ends on June 13th).
Past Spotify Premium users whose access ended more than 30 days ago and who haven’t taken advantage of a Spotify Welcome Back offer in the past 24 months will get two months free. (Spotify costs $12.99 per month after the trial period.)
More National Hamburger Day deals
- Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar: The restaurant chain’s special burger for May (which is also National Hamburger Month) is the Smashadilla Burger. A quesadilla bun, stacked with two taco-seasoned smash patties, made with Monterey Jack, pico de gallo, chipotle ranch dressing, smashed avocado, and served with red salsa.
- Buffalo Wild Wings: If you’re new to the Buffalo Wild Wings Rewards program, get a free burger with any purchase of $15 or more.
- Carl’s Jr. and Hardy’s: My Rewards members will unlock the offer in the Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr. app on May 28th and get a buy one, get one Famous Star for 1 cent at participating restaurants. New members who join on May 28th will automatically receive the benefit.
- Checkers and Rally: Buy one classic burger, get one free on May 27th and May 28th.
- From Taco: For National Hamburger Day, get a buy one get one free Double Del Cheeseburger (great deals May 28-30).
- Dairy queen: Members of the DQ Rewards loyalty program will receive $1 off Signature Stackburgers all week long (May 25-31).
- Duffy’s Sports Grill: On Thursday, May 28, you can get a 1/2 pound Certified Angus Beef Original Cheeseburger with fries for $7.99 with the purchase of a beverage.
- Farmer Boys: The fast-casual chain has a deal on the Big Cheese Cheeseburger for $3.99 on Thursday, May 28, but you must be a member of its VIF (Very Minimum Farmer) loyalty program. Get deals on the Farmer Boys app.
- Firebird wood grill: Celebrate National Hamburger Day with the $14.95 Perfect Pair Menu. This menu includes a Smashburger and another dish of your choice (caesar salad, mixed green salad, BLT salad, mac & cheese, chicken tortilla soup or chef’s soup of the day), and this value is also available for weekday lunches. Fun times: In honor of National Burger Day, the chain is offering a $2.99 Deluxe Cheeseburger (regularly $6.79). Perfect for dine-in only.
- Hard Rock Cafe: On National Hamburger Day, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM local time, buy one Classic Smash Burger, get one free Classic Smash Burger. Members of the Unity by Hard Rock Global Loyalty Program get a free Classic Smash Burger.
- Hat Creek Burger Company: Just in time for National Burger Day and National Burger Month, the Texas-based burger chain has teamed up with Terry Black’s Barbecue for a limited-time menu collaboration. The menu includes the Hat Creek Burger, layered with Pitmaster Stack, chopped brisket, barbecue sauce, melted cheddar, pickles and crispy onion rings.
- Jack in the Box: On May 28th, get a free Junior Jumbo Jack with any purchase of $1 or more. There’s also a limited-time Smash Jack Slider Munchie Meal (prices vary by store), which includes two sliders, two tacos, curly fries, and a drink in a limited-edition surprise cup. It includes entry for a chance to win a $75,000 grand prize and comes with exclusive digital offers found on the Jack app.
- Metro Diner: The restaurant chain is offering the $12.49 Classic Burger as part of its Summer Favorites menu for a limited time in conjunction with National Hamburger Day.
- Red Robin: On Thursday, May 28, the burger chain signed a Big YUMMM deal offering Red’s Double Burger, Bottomless Sides and Bottomless Drinks for $9.99. Additionally, throughout the month of May, Red Robin Loyalty members will earn 2x points on two or more dine-in or take-out purchases.
- Ruby Tuesday: On National Hamburger Day, you can get a Single Patty American Smash Burger with fries or tots and an Endless Garden Bar for $8.99.
- Shake Shack: Through Sunday, May 31st, get a free ShackBurger on orders of $10 or more using the code FREEBURGER in the Shack app, online or in-store. Until May 31st, you can also enter a contest to win free burgers for a year.
- Smash burger: At participating locations nationwide, you can purchase a single patty Smash Burger for $5.28. Mention the offer at checkout if in-store or enter promo code 528SINGLE when ordering online or on the Smashburger app. (Offer does not apply to Smashburger $4.99 All-The-Time Menu items.)
- Sonic: Through May 31st, members of the Sonic Rewards loyalty program can get a free Sonic Smasher or All American Smasher with any $3 purchase or a free medium drink including the new Refresher with any $3 purchase.
- Wayback Burger: Get the Classic Burger for $5 at participating locations nationwide on May 28th. The fast-casual chain recently launched a summer menu that includes red, white and blue shakes.
- Whataburger: On Thursday, May 28, members of the Whataburger Rewards rewards program can get a free Whataburger when they order medium fries and a medium drink (to get the reward, just order online or scan the app in-store). Every qualifying order also gives you a chance to be one of 50 lucky winners of a year of free Whataburger sales. (Click here for details)
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
