There is no single nationwide number to quote here, and any page that gives you one is guessing. Sonny's BBQ runs roughly 100 restaurants across the South-East, most of them franchised, and discounts for military, veterans and first responders are set at the restaurant level rather than by the Maitland, Florida head office.
Sonny's BBQ prices at a glance
The prices referenced on this page, collected up front. They vary by location and change without notice.
| Order | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pick 4 Combo | $19.99 | Four meats for $5.00 over a single plate |
| Family Feast | $65.99 | Feeds five to six, so the percentage lands on a big number |
| Pork Sandwich Big Deal | $13.29 | Cheapest complete meal — sandwich, two sides, drink |
What the policy actually is
The honest answer: ask, and carry ID. Many Sonny's locations offer a percentage off for active military, veterans and first responders on presentation of valid identification. Some do not advertise it on the board or the menu at all and will apply it when asked. A minority do not run one. Because the chain grew as a franchise system out of Gainesville from 1968 onward, individual operators have latitude here that a corporate counter chain would not give them.
Two practical consequences. First, do not assume the restaurant you visited in Florida sets the same terms as the one in Georgia. Second, ask before the check is printed — most point-of-sale systems make a discount far easier to apply up front than to reverse afterward.
What ID to bring
- Military ID card — active, reserve or National Guard
- Veteran ID card or VA card
- DD-214
- Veteran designation printed on a driver's license
- Police, fire or EMS department credentials
- Uniform, which most locations accept on its own
Veterans Day and appreciation days
Sonny's has a long history of marking Veterans Day and similar dates with offers for service members, but the terms are announced each year and participation is by location. Treat last year's rules as a hint, not a promise, and call your restaurant in the first week of November rather than turning up on the 11th and hoping. Expect dine-in requirements and expect queues.
Making the discount go further
A percentage discount is worth more on a larger check, so what you order matters as much as whether you get it. The three orders where a discount does the most work:
The Big Deal upgrade is not a discount, it is a menu price, so nothing stops it applying alongside a military discount — you are not stacking two promotions. Whether a percentage discount stacks with an actual promotional offer, a coupon or a loyalty reward is genuinely down to the location and the register, and staff will tell you if you ask.
Where the real value sits regardless
It is worth saying plainly that Sonny's baseline pricing already beats what a discount gets you at most competitors. St. Louis Ribs at $17.99 is the cheapest full rib order of any major chain — City BBQ charges $27.59 and Famous Dave's $36.69 for the same cut. A ten percent military discount at Famous Dave's still leaves you paying twice what Sonny's asks. Kids' meals are $5.99, or $6.99 for Kid's Ribs, against $7.19 at City BBQ.
If you are feeding a group rather than yourself, the per-person catering rates — $14.49 for one meat, $16.49 for two, $18.49 for three — are covered in full in the Sonny's catering guide, and unit-level events sometimes get quoted separately from the published sheet.
Before you go
- Call the specific restaurant and ask what they offer today.
- Bring ID even if you were not asked for it last time.
- Ask before ordering, not at the check.
- Check the standing value orders on the Sonny's specials page — several beat a discount outright.