clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
More Maps

Turn Up the Heat With These Hot and Spicy San Francisco Dishes

10 San Francisco Bars With More to Do Than Just Drink

Where to Nosh on Jewish Food in San Francisco and the East Bay

More in San Francisco See more maps
Farm Burger Marin/Facebook

Bay Area Deals for Federal Workers Affected by the Government Shutdown

Local restaurants are offering free burgers, tacos, and more

by Janelle Bitker Updated
View as Map
by Janelle Bitker Updated
Farm Burger Marin/Facebook

We’re officially in the midst of the longest government shutdown in United States history. Some Bay Area restaurateurs are hoping to provide a little relief to furloughed government workers, who haven’t seen a paycheck since the shutdown began last month. Read on for deals for federal workers affected by the shutdown, and let us know if you hear of more by email. (Note: Workers need to show proper federal government ID in order to snag these discounts.)

Read More
If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.

Farm Burger

Copy Link

Every Friday is now Furlough Friday at Farm Burger, which will give away a free chicken burger, fries, and an iced tea to any federal government employees. This deal is available all day in-store only, with one meal per guest each day.

882 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 785-4802
(415) 785-4802
Farm Burger Marin/Facebook

Also featured in:

Theresa & Johnny's Comfort Food

Copy Link

Flash your federal ID during the shutdown and this classic American breakfast spot will give you a free meal.

817 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 259-0182
(415) 259-0182
Theresa & Johnny’s Comfort Food/Facebook

Jules Thin Crust

Copy Link

Swing by Jules for a free slice of crispy, gluten-y or gluten-free pizza — the offer lasts through Wednesday, January 23, but check Instagram to see if the mini chain extends it as the shutdown continues.

5804 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 597-1859
(510) 597-1859
Drew. P/Yelp

Also featured in:

Lefty O'Doul's

Copy Link

Head over to Lefty’s for a free lunch or dinner at the Taste of SF Buffet with non-alcoholic beverages. The deal is available at lunch and dinner, and extends to furloughed employees and their families. It’s happening until the shutdown ends.

145 Jefferson Street Suite #400C, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 982-8900
(415) 982-8900
Lefty’s Ballpark Buffet & Cafe/Yelp

Causwells

Copy Link

The Americana Burger at Causwells comes with American cheese, classic fixings, and a side of crispy onions — and the restaurant is serving them at a 50 percent discount to affected workers.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 447-6081
(415) 447-6081

Also featured in:

PABU Izakaya

Copy Link

Drop into Pabu for a free pork belly donburi on Monday – Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 668-7228
(415) 668-7228
Pabu
Pabu
Pabu

Also featured in:

Trailblazer Tavern

Copy Link

Federal workers can enjoy a free spicy tuna bowl at Michael Mina’s new Hawaiian restaurant on Monday – Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

350 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 625-5445
(415) 625-5445
The bar at Trailblazer Tavern Patricia Chang

Also featured in:

International Smoke

Copy Link

Stop by the SoMa restaurant for a free half-rack of ribs with a side of barbecue sweet potato on Monday-Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with valid Federal identification.

 

301 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-7474
(415) 543-7474
Michael Mina/Facebook

Also featured in:

Sweetgreen

Copy Link

On Saturday, January 26 from 6 to 8 p.m., federal workers can head to any Sweetgreen location for a free bowl, like the “shroomami” (wild rice, portobellos, sesame tofu, lots of veggies, and miso-sesame-ginger dressing) or curry chickpea bowl (roasted chicken, chickpeas, veggies, quinoa, and curry-yogurt dressing).

171 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 855-7653
(415) 855-7653
Sweetgreen

Also featured in:

Museum of Ice Cream

Copy Link

Government employees affected by the shutdown can snag two free weekday tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream for a little light-hearted fun and some sweet treats. (Visit the website to book.)

1 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
(855) 258-0719
(855) 258-0719
Caleb Pershan

Al Pastor Papi

Copy Link

Mexico City-style taco stand Al Pastor Papi is giving away two tacos and one agua fresca to federal workers every day until the shutdown ends.

1379 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158
Tacos at Al Pastor Papi Patricia Chang

Alba Ray's

Copy Link

Head to New Orleans-style restaurant Alba Ray’s for jambalaya during the government shutdown — the dish is half off for federal workers.

2293 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 872-9409
(415) 872-9409
Patricia Chang

Laundré

Copy Link

Ok fine, this isn’t food... but people still need to do their laundry. Laundré, which also has a cafe and wifi to accompany its sleek washers and dryers, is offering free laundry for federal workers with a valid id.

2401 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 795-1367
(415) 795-1367

Also featured in:

San Francisco International Airport

Copy Link

Given so many federal employees work at SFO — air traffic controllers, TSA agents, customs officers, etc. — it makes sense for the airport to ask all of its restaurants and shops to give 50 percent off discounts to furloughed workers. According to SFO, about 90 percent of all restaurants and shops have done so.

San Francisco, CA 94128
(650) 821-8211
(650) 821-8211
SFO

Wonderful

Copy Link

Federal workers and their families will receive 50 percent off of their bills at Millbrae’s popular Hunanese restaurant — its location near San Francisco International Airport is prime for TSA agents, customs workers, and air traffic controllers.

270 Broadway, Millbrae, CA 94030
(650) 651-8888
(650) 651-8888

More in Maps

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

Copy Link

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company’s brewery also holds a full restaurant. When federal government workers show up during the shut down, they’ll receive a $25 gift card that can be redeemed immediately for food and non-alcoholic beverages. (Sorry — the brewery isn’t legally allowed to help you drink your sorrows away.)

390 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 728-2739
(650) 728-2739
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company/Facebook

More in Maps

© 2023 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
Link copied to the clipboard.

Farm Burger

882 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960

Every Friday is now Furlough Friday at Farm Burger, which will give away a free chicken burger, fries, and an iced tea to any federal government employees. This deal is available all day in-store only, with one meal per guest each day.

882 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, San Anselmo, CA 94960
(415) 785-4802
(415) 785-4802
Farm Burger Marin/Facebook

Theresa & Johnny's Comfort Food

817 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901

Flash your federal ID during the shutdown and this classic American breakfast spot will give you a free meal.

817 4th St, San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 259-0182
(415) 259-0182
Theresa & Johnny’s Comfort Food/Facebook

Jules Thin Crust

5804 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618

Swing by Jules for a free slice of crispy, gluten-y or gluten-free pizza — the offer lasts through Wednesday, January 23, but check Instagram to see if the mini chain extends it as the shutdown continues.

5804 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618
(510) 597-1859
(510) 597-1859
Drew. P/Yelp

Lefty O'Doul's

145 Jefferson Street Suite #400C, San Francisco, CA 94133

Head over to Lefty’s for a free lunch or dinner at the Taste of SF Buffet with non-alcoholic beverages. The deal is available at lunch and dinner, and extends to furloughed employees and their families. It’s happening until the shutdown ends.

145 Jefferson Street Suite #400C, San Francisco, CA 94133
(415) 982-8900
(415) 982-8900
Lefty’s Ballpark Buffet & Cafe/Yelp

Causwells

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123

The Americana Burger at Causwells comes with American cheese, classic fixings, and a side of crispy onions — and the restaurant is serving them at a 50 percent discount to affected workers.

2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 447-6081
(415) 447-6081

PABU Izakaya

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111

Drop into Pabu for a free pork belly donburi on Monday – Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

101 California St, San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 668-7228
(415) 668-7228
Pabu
Pabu
Pabu

Trailblazer Tavern

350 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Federal workers can enjoy a free spicy tuna bowl at Michael Mina’s new Hawaiian restaurant on Monday – Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

350 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 625-5445
(415) 625-5445
The bar at Trailblazer Tavern Patricia Chang

International Smoke

301 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105

Stop by the SoMa restaurant for a free half-rack of ribs with a side of barbecue sweet potato on Monday-Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with valid Federal identification.

 

301 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-7474
(415) 543-7474
Michael Mina/Facebook

Sweetgreen

171 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105

On Saturday, January 26 from 6 to 8 p.m., federal workers can head to any Sweetgreen location for a free bowl, like the “shroomami” (wild rice, portobellos, sesame tofu, lots of veggies, and miso-sesame-ginger dressing) or curry chickpea bowl (roasted chicken, chickpeas, veggies, quinoa, and curry-yogurt dressing).

171 2nd St, San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 855-7653
(415) 855-7653
Sweetgreen

Museum of Ice Cream

1 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

Government employees affected by the shutdown can snag two free weekday tickets to the Museum of Ice Cream for a little light-hearted fun and some sweet treats. (Visit the website to book.)

1 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108
(855) 258-0719
(855) 258-0719
Caleb Pershan

Al Pastor Papi

1379 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158

Mexico City-style taco stand Al Pastor Papi is giving away two tacos and one agua fresca to federal workers every day until the shutdown ends.

1379 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94158
Tacos at Al Pastor Papi Patricia Chang

Alba Ray's

2293 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Head to New Orleans-style restaurant Alba Ray’s for jambalaya during the government shutdown — the dish is half off for federal workers.

2293 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 872-9409
(415) 872-9409
Patricia Chang

Laundré

2401 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Ok fine, this isn’t food... but people still need to do their laundry. Laundré, which also has a cafe and wifi to accompany its sleek washers and dryers, is offering free laundry for federal workers with a valid id.

2401 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 795-1367
(415) 795-1367

San Francisco International Airport

San Francisco, CA 94128

Given so many federal employees work at SFO — air traffic controllers, TSA agents, customs officers, etc. — it makes sense for the airport to ask all of its restaurants and shops to give 50 percent off discounts to furloughed workers. According to SFO, about 90 percent of all restaurants and shops have done so.

San Francisco, CA 94128
(650) 821-8211
(650) 821-8211
SFO

Wonderful

270 Broadway, Millbrae, CA 94030

Federal workers and their families will receive 50 percent off of their bills at Millbrae’s popular Hunanese restaurant — its location near San Francisco International Airport is prime for TSA agents, customs workers, and air traffic controllers.

270 Broadway, Millbrae, CA 94030
(650) 651-8888
(650) 651-8888

Related Maps

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company

390 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019

Half Moon Bay Brewing Company’s brewery also holds a full restaurant. When federal government workers show up during the shut down, they’ll receive a $25 gift card that can be redeemed immediately for food and non-alcoholic beverages. (Sorry — the brewery isn’t legally allowed to help you drink your sorrows away.)

390 Capistrano Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 728-2739
(650) 728-2739
Half Moon Bay Brewing Company/Facebook

Related Maps