Best restaurant gift card deals for the 2021 holidays

As is tradition, restaurant chains are offering bonuses for purchasing holiday gift cards, but whether you pass along the bonuses or keep them for yourself, well, that’s up to you. We won’t judge.

Before you plunk down your hard-earned dollars, read the fine print. Deals change and restrictions apply.

Here’s a sampling of what’s available this year:

Applebee’s: Through Jan. 2, 2022, purchase a $50 gift card, and receive a $10 bonus card valid through Feb. 28, 2022.

Auntie Anne’s: Through Dec. 31, receive $5 in Pretzel Perks valid through March 27, 2022, with a $25 gift card purchase.

Benihana: Through Dec. 31, receive a $10 bonus card with a $50 gift card purchase or a $60 bonus card with a $200 gift card purchase. Bonus cards are valid Jan. 2-March 31, 2022.

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: Through Jan. 1, 2022, purchase $50 in gift cards, and receive a $10 bonus card. With a $100 gift card purchase, get a $25 bonus card and a 20% off VIP card. Bonus cards are valid Jan. 1-Feb. 13, 2022.

Black Angus: Through Dec. 31, receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 2-Feb. 10, 2022, with a $50 gift card purchase.

Brio Italian Grille: Through Dec. 31, purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022.

Buca di Beppo: Through Dec. 31, purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card good Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022.

Buffalo Wild Wings: With a $30 gift card purchase through Dec. 31, receive a bonus worth $5, $10, $15, or $100 and valid Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022.

California Pizza Kitchen: Through Dec. 31, purchase a $100 gift card and receive a $20 bonus card.

The Cheesecake Factory: Through Dec. 24, receive a $15 bonus card valid Jan. 1-March 31, 2022, with every $50 in gift card purchases.

Chili’s: Through Dec. 31, receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 11, 2022, with every $50 gift card purchase.

Chuck E. Cheese: Through Dec. 25, receive a $10 bonus card valid Dec. 26, 2021-Feb. 28, 2022, with a $50-plus gift card purchase.

Claim Jumper: For a limited time, receive a $25 bonus card with a $100 gift card purchase.

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf: Through Jan. 4, 2022, with each $25 gift card purchase, receive a $5 bonus card valid through Feb. 6, 2022.

Del Taco: From Nov. 26-29, receive eight free small combo meals with a $100 online gift card purchase. Get two free small combo meals with a gift card purchase of $30-$99. Meal vouchers expire March 6, 2022

Denny’s: Through Dec. 25, receive a $5 bonus card valid Jan. 2-March 5, 2022, with a $25 gift card purchase.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Receive a $5 bonus card with each $25 gift card purchase.

Eureka!: Beginning Nov. 29, receive a $10 bonus card with a $50 gift card purchase, and $30 in bonus cards with a $100 gift card purchase. The chain is also donating 10% of sales to local charities on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Famous Dave’s: Receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 2-March 31, 2022, with the purchase of a $50 gift card.

Farmer Boys: Receive a $5 bonus card with a $25 gift card purchase, or a $25 bonus card with a $100 gift card purchase.

Firehouse Subs: Receive a code for a free medium sub with a gift card purchase of $25 or more. The code is valid through Jan. 26, 2022.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Through Dec. 31, purchase a $100 gift card and receive a $20 bonus card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 6, 2022.

Golden Corral: Through Dec. 31, receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 3-Feb. 10, 2022, with each $50 gift card purchase.

Hangar 24 Craft Brewing: Receive a $10 bonus card valid during January 2022 with every $50 in gift card purchases.

IHOP: Through Jan. 2, 2022, purchase at least $25 in gift cards, receive a $5 bonus card good through Feb. 27, 2022.

Islands: Through Dec. 31, receive a $5 bonus card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022, with each $25 gift card purchase.

Jamba Juice: Through Dec. 28, receive a $5 bonus card valid from Jan. 3-Feb. 14, 2022, with a $25 gift card purchase.

Juice It Up!: Through Dec. 31, purchase $25 in gift cards and receive a free small smoothie and a $5 bonus card valid Dec. 26, 2021-Feb. 28, 2022.

Logan’s Roadhouse: Through Dec. 31, purchase a $50 gift card and receive a $10 bonus card valid through Feb. 12, 2022.

Norms Restaurants: Receive a mystery bonus card worth $5, $10, or $20 with a $30 gift card purchase, or two mystery bonus cards worth a total of $10-$40 with a $50 gift card purchase through Dec. 31. Bonus cards are valid Jan. 1-Feb. 6, 2022.

Outback Steakhouse: Through Dec. 27, receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 6, 2022, with each $50 gift card purchase.

Panera Bread: Receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 1-31, 2022, with a $50 gift card purchase through Dec. 31.

Panda Express: Through Dec. 13, receive a free Panda Bowl with a $35 gift card purchase.

Pieology: Through Dec. 31, receive a $5 bonus card valid through Jan. 31, 2022 for every $25 in gift card purchases.

Rainforest Cafe: From Nov. 26-Dec. 3, receive two $10 bonus cards valid Jan. 1-May 31, 2022, with each $50 gift card purchase. From Dec. 4-31, receive one $10 bonus card valid Jan. 1-May 31, 2022, with each $50 gift card purchase.

Red Lobster: Through Dec. 31, with a $50 gift card purchase, receive a voucher for $10 off a $30 purchase valid Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022.

Red Robin: Through Dec. 31, receive a $5 bonus card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022, with each $25 gift card purchase.

Rubio’s Coastal Grill: Through Jan. 4, 2022, with every $25 gift card purchase, receive a $5 bonus card.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: For every $200 in gift card purchases through Dec. 31, receive a $40 bonus card valid Jan. 1-March 31, 2022.

Stonefire Grill: Through Dec. 17, receive a $10 bonus card valid Jan. 1-March 31, 2022, with every $50 gift card purchase.

Texas de Brazil: Through Dec. 31, receive a $25 bonus for a $100 gift card purchase or a $10 bonus for a $50 gift card purchase. Bonuses are valid Jan. 3-April 28, 2022.

Texas Roadhouse: Through Dec. 31, receive a $5 bonus card with each $30 in gift card purchases. Also, through Dec. 31, the chain is donating 10% of gift card purchases to Homes For Our Troops, a nationwide organization that builds and donates custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.

T.G.I. Fridays: Through Dec. 31, receive a $5 bonus e-card valid Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2022, with the purchase of a $50 e-card.