Early Dine: The Complete Guide
Early Dine is the most under-used part of the menu and the best-value decision available if your schedule is flexible. Eleven entrées at $11.99, each with two sides.
It also needs no code, no app and no sign-up, which makes it more reliable than any coupon.
The eleven entrées
6 oz. Sirloin Steak Dinner, Country Fried Sirloin Dinner, Grilled BBQ Chicken Dinner, Herb Crusted Chicken Dinner, Country Fried Chicken Dinner, Chicken Critters Dinner, Pulled Pork Dinner, Grilled Pork Chop (Single), Grilled Chicken Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad and Chicken Critter Salad.
Against standard pricing, the largest savings are on the Country Fried Sirloin and Herb Crusted Chicken at $2.50 each, and on the three salads at $1.50 each.
On the 6oz Sirloin it is $1.50 off — modest in absolute terms, but it makes a hand-cut steak with two sides available for under twelve dollars.
The restrictions
Availability varies by location — not every restaurant runs it. Dine-in only, so it does not apply to takeout, curbside or any delivery app. Not valid with other offers, so it cannot be stacked. Not available on holidays, which includes several of the days people are most likely to plan around it.
It is also distinct from happy hour, and the two are conflated constantly. Happy hour covers discounted drinks and a narrower set of appetisers; Early Dine covers full entrées with sides. A restaurant may run both, one or neither.
- $11.99 for 11 entrées, each with two sides
- Dine-in only, no stacking with other offers
- Not available on holidays
- Availability and hours set per restaurant
- Not the same thing as happy hour
Why the published times and prices disagree
Independent guides currently report Early Dine anywhere between $8.99 and $13.99, with start times between 3pm and 4pm and an end around 6pm, most commonly Monday to Thursday.
That is a 55% spread on price for the same promotion. It reflects genuine variation between restaurants plus different snapshot dates, rather than any one source being careless.
Which is why this page will not give you a single confident figure. The $11.99 quoted here is from the printed menu this site was built from. Yours may differ, and the only reliable way to know is to call.
Frequently asked
What time does Early Dine start?
Most commonly mid-afternoon, Monday to Thursday, ending around 6pm. Hours are set locally, so confirm with your restaurant.
Can I get Early Dine at the weekend?
Usually not — it is typically a weekday offer. This varies by location.
Can I use a coupon with Early Dine?
No. It is not valid with other offers.
Keep reading
Happy Hour vs Early Dine: They Are Not the Same
Two separate offers running in roughly the same window, and mixing them up is the most common planning mistake here.
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The Cheapest Ways to Eat Here
Six routes to a full meal under $13, and the cheapest adult plate is not on the page anyone looks at.
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Opening Hours: What to Expect
The pattern is consistent enough to plan around and local enough that you should still check.
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