Susan Tompor / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Buffalo Wild Wings is home to perhaps the best promotion going in fast casual dining these days, but fans are wondering how the restaurant chain is managing not to go broke in the process.
What was once one of the fastest-growing chains in the country has fallen on hard times in recent years, closing more restaurants than it opened in 2023, 2024, and 2025. But now it’s trying to work its way back up via a seemingly infeasible promotion.
In early January, the company introduced a limited-time “Bottomless Apps” promotion for $9.99. The promotion itself isn’t all that uncommon, as chains such as Applebee’s and TGI Friday’s have run similar deals.
However, Buffalo Wild Wings‘ promotion comes with a unique twist: The $9.99 bottomless apps deal applies to an entire party, not just one person.
Bottomless Apps are $9.99 for your group, not per person
— Buffalo Wild Wings (@BWWings) May 6, 2026
So, how in the world is Buffalo Wild Wings not losing insane amounts of money on the deal? That’s the question that everyone on social media seems to be asking.
Buffalo Wild Wings ‘Bottomless Apps’ Promo Comes With Multiple Catches
For starters, no pun intended, apps are not only typically cheap to both procure and produce, but they’re often used as a loss-leader.
By getting diners in the door, the restaurant can then convince them to buy more expensive items such as entrees, drinks, and dessert.
But Buffalo Wild Wings’ promotion takes things a step further.
At the $9.99 price point, the only appetizers included in the promotion are mozzarella sticks, fried pickles, hatch queso, chips and salsa, and onion rings. For an extra For an extra $3, diners can add cheese curds or chips and guac to the mix. But that still excludes a number of items on the full list of appetizers.
Additionally, appetizers can only be ordered two at a time, so unless you plan on waiting for a while, you’re going to have to order more food.
On top of that caveat, the promotion is also limited to parties of four. So if you have more than four people and hope to share appetizers, you’ll have to double up on the order.
In the end, the promotion could still be a good deal for diners if you go with a group of four and plan on ordering a number of the basic apps. But it’s not exactly all that it appears.
Remember, kids, always read the fine print.