Major U.S. Restaurants Launch Nationwide Deals on National Chicken Wing Day to Stimulate Post-Pandemic Foot Traffic and Sales

July 29, 2025, marks National Chicken Wing Day, a culinary holiday that has spurred a nationwide wave of promotions from major U.S. restaurants. The event, first celebrated in New York in 1977, has grown into a cultural touchstone, with Americans consuming over 1.2 billion servings of chicken wings in the past year, according to Circana CREST data. This year’s observance features a range of free and discounted deals designed to attract both casual diners and loyal customers. Chains such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Zaxby’s, Wingstop, and Popeyes are offering incentives including buy-one-get-one-free offers, free appetizers, and discounted bundles, while convenience stores like 7-Eleven have extended their wings promotions to loyalty program members. The deals span dine-in, takeout, and delivery options, though some offers are restricted to in-store purchases, emphasizing the role of foot traffic in post-pandemic recovery strategies.

Buffalo Wild Wings is providing six free wings with any $10 order, a promotion available via its app using the code FREEWINGS. Zaxby’s is tailoring its offerings to its rewards program members, including a buy-one-get-one-free deal on boneless wings and a half-off salad option. Wingstop’s campaign highlights flavor variety by allowing customers to claim five free wings in any flavor with a qualifying purchase. Popeyes is extending its offers through August 3, with a free six-piece bone-in order for online or in-store purchases and a buy-one-get-one-free deal for delivery orders via DoorDash or Uber Eats. Applebee’s and 7-Eleven are focusing on takeout, with Applebee’s offering a “buy one, get one free” deal on boneless or traditional wings and 7-Eleven providing a BOGO deal on eight-piece boneless wings for loyalty members. Hooters and Whataburger are emphasizing dine-in experiences, with Hooters giving 10 free wings for every 10 purchased and Whataburger offering a free nine-piece order of boneless wings with a nine-piece purchase.

The strategic diversity in these promotions reflects broader industry trends. Chains like The Greene Turtle and Dave & Buster’s are targeting groups and families with volume-based deals, while Wingstop’s focus on flavor variety caters to younger demographics. Hooters’ dine-in-only offers align with its brand identity centered on on-site dining, whereas Popeyes and Zaxby’s are leveraging digital platforms to expand reach. The exclusion of delivery for some promotions—such as Applebee’s and Hooters’ deals—signals a deliberate effort to drive in-store traffic, a metric critical for restaurants seeking to rebuild pre-pandemic sales.

The staggered rollout of advertisements, with many chains promoting their offers in late July, underscores the importance of sustained visibility during competitive summer months. Analysts note that themed holidays like National Chicken Wing Day provide a unique opportunity for differentiation in a saturated market, though the success of these campaigns hinges on execution, including marketing effectiveness and post-promotion customer retention. The widespread participation—from national chains to regional players—also highlights the event’s market credibility, suggesting that experiential marketing will remain a key strategy in the food service sector.

References:

[1] TODAY.com, [https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/national-chicken-wing-day-deals-2025-rcna216186](https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/national-chicken-wing-day-deals-2025-rcna216186)

[2] USA Today, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2025/07/28/national-chicken-wing-day-2025-deals-free/84444921007/](https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/food/2025/07/28/national-chicken-wing-day-2025-deals-free/84444921007/)

[3] Wingstop, [https://ir.wingstop.com/five-free-wings-in-any-flavor-wingstop-drops-deal-for-national-chicken-wing-day-teases-next-flavor/](https://ir.wingstop.com/five-free-wings-in-any-flavor-wingstop-drops-deal-for-national-chicken-wing-day-teases-next-flavor/)

[4] Austin Statesman, [https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/dining/2025/07/29/when-is-national-chicken-wing-day-2025-free-buffalo-wild-wings-texas-deals-freebies-tuesday/85420119007/](https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/dining/2025/07/29/when-is-national-chicken-wing-day-2025-free-buffalo-wild-wings-texas-deals-freebies-tuesday/85420119007/)

[5] NJ.com, [https://www.nj.com/food/2025/07/national-chicken-wing-day-2025-deals-at-buffalo-wild-wings-applebees-more.html](https://www.nj.com/food/2025/07/national-chicken-wing-day-2025-deals-at-buffalo-wild-wings-applebees-more.html)