17 Clever Ways To Save Money at Restaurants When Eating Out

Looking for ways to save money at restaurants?

Yeah, I’m with you. Eating out at restaurants can quickly become expensive, especially when you’re doing it on a frequent basis.

Not only do you have to pay for the food, but you also have to pay for the service and often tip your server as well. This can add up quickly, turning what was supposed to be a cheap meal into a budget-breaker. In addition, eating out can also become a bad habit, as it’s easy to fall into the trap of relying on restaurants rather than preparing meals at home.

 

How To Save Money at Restaurants When Planning To Eat Out

Luckily, there are many ways to save money at a restaurant when you plan to eat out with your friends and family.

You may think Rui and I eat out every day because of what you see and read on this blog, but that is far from the truth. We usually prepare and cook delicious healthy meals at home and treat ourselves to restaurants once to twice a week.

Don’t get me wrong. I love to try the best restaurants and experience different cuisines. But because our goal is to stay healthy and save money, we have formed these habits throughout our lives to keep our spending in check while still enjoying a good meal out.

Here’s how to save money at restaurants when you plan to eat out.

 

1. Look at your monthly budget

If you’re serious about finding ways to save money at restaurants, the first step is to look at your monthly budget. Determine how much money you can realistically afford to spend on meals out each month, and then stick to that number. This will help you keep track of your spending and make more informed decisions about where and when to eat out.

For example, if you have $200 to spend on restaurants each month, you’ll need to be strategic about when and where you eat in order to make the most of your budget. This may mean eating out less often, but it will also mean being more mindful of the choices you make when you do eat out.

 

2. Make a list of your favourite restaurants

Once you know how much you can afford to spend on restaurants each month, make a list of your favourite places to eat. This will help you narrow down your choices and make it easier to stick to your budget. If you’re not sure where to start, ask your friends and family for recommendations.

If you’re looking for some great restaurants in town, check out our post on the best places to eat in the city. You’ll find everything from cheap eats to fine dining, so you’re sure to land on something that fits your budget.

 

3. Choose restaurants with affordable menus

Once you’ve made a list of your favourite restaurants, take a look at their menus to see what’s affordable. If a restaurant doesn’t have an affordable option for every course, it may not be the best choice for your budget. That’s when you may want to start doing some more research.

 

4. Compare prices at similar restaurants

You may want to do some research upfront and compare prices at similar restaurants to see where you can save money. When you do this beforehand, you’ll know exactly what popular dishes to order and at what price when you arrive at the restaurant. Not only will you save money, but you’ll save time from randomly deciding on the spot.

One of my favorite cuisines is dim sum, and we all know how expensive this can add up, especially when you’re looking for higher quality. So, Rui and I would always compare restaurants to see which ones have the best price and value.

For example, we were repeated customers of Crown Prince for over 10 years because we can get a wide variety of high-quality dim sum items for a reasonable price with their morning special. However, since they don’t offer morning specials anymore, we go to other comparable places like Skyview Fusion with morning specials. These may change from time to time, so it’s important to double-check beforehand.

 

5. Use available coupons, rewards, and discounts

You can also save money at restaurants by using available coupons, rewards, and discounts. For example, many restaurants offer loyalty programs through their apps that give you points for every dollar you spend. This is especially true for popular franchise restaurants like McDonald’s, Starbucks, Tim Horton’s, and many Bubble Tea shops. Dine-in restaurants like Jack Astor’s and Red Lobster also offer these special rewards!

Some of these points can be redeemed for free or discounted meals, so it’s definitely worth signing up for these programs if you enjoy eating out.

 

6. Order today’s special

Many restaurants have daily specials that are cheaper than their regular menu items. These specials are usually posted on the restaurant’s website or social media. You can also walk into the restaurant and look at their menu to see what they offer on what day.

I’m a boba lover, and whenever I visit a bubble tea shop near me, I would check out their special drink of the day. Just like last time, I discovered by accident that Gong Cha offers their Orea Coffee Milk Tea at a discount on Mondays. I kept that in mind and actually went back on a Monday just to try it out!

So be sure to check before you make an order!

 

7. Share those big portion sizes

We all know that portion sizes are becoming bigger in North America, and sometimes it’s hard to finish a meal by yourself. Unless you’re really hungry, consider sharing an entree with someone else or taking half of it home for leftovers.

Whenever Rui and I order takeout from places that flood you with a lot of rice like Freshii and most Jerk Chicken restaurants, we would share the portion and add our own mixed greens and cherry tomatoes from Whole Foods or Costco to get our daily dose of fibre.

You can see what we wrote in our Allwyns Jerk Chicken Review here for some healthy and money-saving tips that we typically do with most of our dinner takeouts.

Not only will you save money, but you’ll also be eating a healthier portion size by reducing your carbs intake!

 

8. Order a vegetarian dish and skip the meat

Eating vegetarian is not only better for your health, but it may also be slightly cheaper! Meat is usually one of the most expensive items on the menu, so you’ll be saving some money by avoiding it.

I’m not a vegetarian myself, but I try to limit my meat intake for health reasons, and I do have many friends who are actual vegetarians. Whenever we go out to eat together, I would sometimes order the vegetarian option, which usually comes with beans, tofu, or eggs. This saves me a bit of money because I’m getting a healthier dish that comes with a protein source without having to eat meat. You’ll be surprised that vegetarian dishes can be just as delicious as meat!

If you’re not sure what to order, most restaurants now have a “Vegetarian” section on their menu. If not, you can always ask the waiter or waitress for some recommendations.

 

9. Skip the alcohol and drinks (unless you need it)

If you’re really trying to save money, then avoid ordering alcohol and sugary drinks as these can add up quickly. Instead, order water with lemon or tea which is usually free or very cheap.

This is one of the reasons why we don’t order wine when we eat out as it’s quite expensive, and we can get a whole bottle of wine for the same price at the LCBO.

In most of our food reviews, Rui and I usually avoid spending on drinks because alcohol, soda, and sugary fruit beverages are not healthy. We only like reserving them for special days. Plus, most restaurants unreasonably overchange for these generic drinks. It costs about $4 to $5 (before tax and tips) for a glass of Coke, so you can imagine how much more they’ll charge for alcohol!

However, it’s an exception when you’re out socializing – of course, go ahead and order the alcohol and drinks. Once in a while doesn’t hurt your spending when you’re with a larger group of friends or doing business with your partners.

 

Another tip: If you’re set on getting a drink, try to order during happy hour when drinks are discounted. Just remember to pace yourself so that you don’t end up spending too much!

 

10. Bring your own bottle

There are many restaurants that allow you to bring your own wine. You will have to pay a corkage fee, but it’s usually cheaper than ordering an overpriced bottle of wine from the menu.

We’ve done this a few times, and it works out great especially when we’re trying to pair our own wine with the food. But some restaurants waive the cork fee if you also purchase a bottle of their wine. Just do the math to see what makes more sense.

 

11. Drink more water and ask for lemon

If you’re not a big drinker, then water is always the best and cheapest option.

I always drink warm water throughout the day and I always bring my own Yeti bottle to keep myself hydrated, so it’s easy for me to say this.

But if you need to enhance the flavour, then ask the server to add fresh lemon slices or mint leaves to your water. It makes such a difference, and it’s much healthier than adding sugary syrups or artificial flavors.

Plus, it’s a free and healthy alternative, which could help you save money at the restaurant!

 

12. Skip appetizers and desserts

If you’re really trying to save money, then it’s best to skip the appetizers and desserts. These items can add up quickly, and you might end up full before your main course arrives.

Just the other day, Rui and I were at Jack Astor’s for a Saturday dinner to treat ourselves.

We ordered two mains – The Big Jack Burger with Sweet Potato Fries and a Thai Coconut Chicken Curry with Jasmine Rice – along with Chicken Nachos as an appetizer. To our surprise, our total bill for two people came up to over $100 after tax and tips and that was without any drinks! I asked for hot water, which was free.

• The Big Jack with Sweet Potato Fries – $21.97 (+2.97 for Sweet Potato Fries)
• Thai Coconut Chicken Curry Bowl – $22.97
• Roasted Chicken Nachos – $26.26 (+ $5.50 for Guac)
• Total – $106.23 (with tax and 18% gratuity included)

Crazy for two people, right? We regretted ordering the nachos because the portions were big and the chicken in the nachos was dry, so we definitely could have saved money ($42.34 to be exact) if we skipped the appetizers and guac.

 

Another tip: Sometimes we may even do the reverse. To save money dining out, we would cook a delicious meal at home and go for appetizers or desserts with our friends after dinner. When you order just appetizers or desserts to share with a group, the cost of your bill per person is much lower.

 

13. Do breakfast or lunch instead of dinner

In general, breakfast and lunch items are cheaper than dinner items. So if you’re trying to save money, consider having breakfast or lunch at the restaurant instead.

You can also take advantage of breakfast or lunch specials, which are often offered at a discounted price. When you take a look at their breakfast and lunch menus, their prices are 30% to 35% less compared to dinner portions.

 

14. Eat out during happy hours

Many restaurants offer happy hour specials, which tend to be discounted appetizers and drinks.

So if you’re trying to save money, consider going to the restaurant during their happy hour instead of during regular hours. They usually start anywhere between 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Just make sure to check their happy hour times so that you don’t miss out!

 

15. Go during the weekday like Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday

Restaurants tend to be less busy during the weekdays, so you might be able to get a table more easily.

Plus, some restaurants offer weekday specials like two-for-one deals or discounted entrees. So if you’re looking to save money, consider going to the restaurant during the week instead of on the weekends.

For instance, many popular Wings restaurants have a “Wings Tuesday” deal where you can get wings for half the price. And some restaurants offer “All You Can Eat” deals of the week.

Other restaurants like Boston Pizza offer Pasta Tuesdays where pasta dishes start at $9.99. You may even be aware that Wild Wing offers burgers for $12.50 with the purchase of any beverage on Wednesdays.

The point is, there are discounts to be had if you time your meals out during the week instead of on the weekends!

 

16. Save it for special occasions

If you’re really serious about saving money at restaurants, then you might want to only reserve it for special occasions like Birthdays, Graduations, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Baby showers, or Anniversaries. That special occasion could also be a day when you finally get a big promotion at work or land that new job!

Whenever Rui and I have something to celebrate, we’ll go all out and order a nice dinner at a more upscale restaurant. That way, we can enjoy a nice meal without feeling guilty or breaking the bank.

This way, you won’t be as tempted to go out to eat as often and you’ll appreciate the meals more when you do go out.

 

17. Take leftovers home

It’s a shame to let good food go to waste, so if you’re full but there’s still food on your plate, consider taking it home with you.

Many restaurants will give you a to-go box without even asking, but if not, don’t be afraid to ask for one.  To save money, you can always finish the meal later or have it for lunch the next day. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about – we’ve all done it before!

 

Here you have it, 16 tips to help you save money the next time you’re dining out. By following even just a few of these tips, you can easily cut down your restaurant bill by a significant amount. Do you have any other tips to add? Share them in the comments below!