Reference: 2013 Holiday Gift Card Bonuses

It's the holiday shopping season and that means gift cards for the hard to please or just as an obligatory gift for that co-worker you don't know very well (or at all really).

Brand Eating's annual Holiday Gift Card Bonuses Reference Guide is a running list of bonuses that some of the biggest restaurant chains are offering as an incentive to buy their gift cards for a loved one (or sorta loved one) this holiday season.

Please note that some of the bonus cards are more like bonus coupons and not gift cards and therefore have no cash value and an expiration date. You should check with the respective restaurants for details if you have any questions. I've listed the expiration dates where I could find them.

Some of these are online-only, some are in-store only, and some are both. The company websites I checked weren't always clear but I'll make a note of it where I can.

Applebee's - Get a "$10 Digital Bonus Card" when you buy $50 in Digital Gift Cards.

Buca di Beppo - Get a "$15 Reward Card" with every $50 Gift Card purchase (reward card valid 1/1/14 - 2/28/14).

Benihana - Get a "$10 Benihana Promotional Card" when you buy $50 in Benihana Gift Cards (promotional card valid 1/02/14 - 3/31/14). Offer ends December 31, 2013.

BJ's Brewhouse - *in restaurant only* Get a free BJ's limited edition pilsner glass with $50 in gift card purchases (get four glasses with $100 in gift card purchases).

Bravo! Cucino Italiana - Get a "$20 bonus offer" with every $100 Bravo! Gift Card purchase ("bonus offer" valid 1/1/14 - 3/17/14). Offer ends December 31, 2013.

Buffalo Wild Wings - Get a "Blazin' Bonus" with a random value from $5 to $100 with $25 in gift card purchases. Offer ends December 31, 2013.

California Pizza Kitchen - Get a $20 promotional card when you buy $100 or more in California Pizza Kitchen gift cards. Promotional cards are redeemable beginning January 14, 2014.

"Registered members of California Pizza Kitchen’s Pizza Dough™ loyalty program will also receive $5 in holiday Pizza Dough Rewards for every $100 in gift card purchases and be entered for the chance to win a grand prize five day/four night trip to Hawaii. The grand prize winner will be selected on January 13, 2014."

Caribou Coffee - Get a $5 eGift Card as a bonus when you buy $25 or more in eGift Cards.. Offer ends December 31, 2013 or while supplies last.

Carl's Jr. / Hardee's - Get a coupon for a free Original Six Dollar Thickburger (coupon expires 3/1/14) when you buy a gift card of $20 or more online or at participating locations. Offer ends December 31, 2013 or while supplies last.

The Cheesecake Factory - Get a free slice of cheesecake (redeemable 1/1/14 - 3/30/14) with every $25 gift card purchased online or in restaurants.

Chili's - Get a $10 Holiday Buck eCard when you buy $50 in gift cards (Holiday Buck eCard valid 1/1/14 - 2/10/14). Offer ends December 31, 2013.

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf - Get a Tea or Coffee with any $25 gift card purchase or reload.

Dairy Queen - *In-store only* Get a free small (12 oz) fruit smoothie when you buy a $15 gift card at participating locations. Offer ends December 31, 2013.

Del Taco - Get a coupon for Free Combo Meal (expires 2/28/14) when you buy $25 in gift cards (five coupons with $100 in gift card purchases).

Denny's - Get $5 Denny's Card when you buy $25 in gift cards.

Einstein Bros (and Noah's Bagels) - "For every $25 gift card purchased through Tuesday, December 31, guests will receive a $5 bonus card, valid from January 1, 2014 through February 28, 2014." In-store only I think.

Famous Dave's - Get $5 Reward Card for every $25 in plastic gift cards purchased. Offer ends January 1, 2014.

Fleming's - Get a $20 Holiday Bonus with every $100 in gift card purchases through December 31, 2014.

IHOP - *in-store only* Get a $5 bonus card when you buy a $25 gift card.

Jamba Juice - "From Nov. 12, 2013 to Jan. 2, 2014, customers who purchase $25.00 or more in Jamba gift cards will be rewarded with a gift as well: a free small size smoothie of their choice." Looks like in-store only.

Jason's Deli - Get a $5 Gift Card when you buy $50 in gift cards online (also available at participating Jason's Deli locations). Offer ends December 31, 2013.

Krispy Kreme - Get 6 Holiday Tags "redeemable for free doughnuts and coffee" when you buy a dozen donuts at participating Krispy Kreme locations while supplies last.

Lawry's - Get a $25 Bonus Gift Card with every $125 in gift cards purchased. Offer ends December 31, 2013.

Macaroni Grill - Get a $5 Grazie Gift with every $25 gift card purchased through December 31, 2013 while supplies last. Grazie Gifts redeemable 1/1/14 - 2/12/14.

Morton's - Get a $20 Morton's Reward Card when you buy a $100 Morton's Gift Card. Rewards Card redeemable 1/2/14 - 2/12/14. Offer ends December 24, 2013.

Outback Steakhouse - "Anyone who purchases $100 worth of gift cards this holiday season at any Outback Steakhouse location or online will receive a free $20 bonus card.*"

Panera Bread - *Online only* Get a $10 eGift Card when you buy $100 in Gift Cards or eGift Cards. Offer ends December 31, 2013.

Papa John's - Get a Papa Rewards code for free Large One-Topping Pizza for every $25 in gift cards purchased. Papa Rewards code expires 1/31/2014. Offer ends December 31, 2013.

PF Chang's - Get a $20 Bonus Card when you buy $100 in gift cards. Bonus Cards valid 1/1/14 - 1/13/14.

Red Lobster - Get a $5 off coupon for every $25 online gift card purchase.

Red Robin - Get a $5 Bonus Buck Reward when you buy a $25 gift card or get 20% discount on all gift card orders totaling over $250.

Rubio's - Get a $5 bonus coupon when you order $50 or more in gift cards online.

Ruby Tuesday - Get a $5 Bonus Coupon when you buy $25 in gift cards or get a $15 Bonus Coupon when you buy $50 in gift cards. Bonus Coupon redeemable 1/2/14 - 2/28/14. Offer ends December 31, 2013.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse - Get a 10% Bonus Card when you buy $250 or more in gift cards online (in-restaurant offers may vary). Bonus card redeemable 1/1/14 - 3/31/14.

Smashburger - Get $5 Smash Cash for every $25 gift card purchased through December 31, 2013. Smash Cash valid 1/1/14 - 1/31/14.

Soup Plantation / Sweet Tomatoes - *In-store only* Get a free meal pass with every in-store gift card purchase.

Taco Bell - *In-store only* Get 2 DLTs and a Large drink with any $20 gift card purchase at participating locations.

TGIFriday's - Get $5 in Bonus Bites with every $25 you spend on gift cards at participating locations and online.

Tony Roma's - Get $15 in Roma Bucks with every $50 gift card purchase. Roma Bucks redeemable 1/2/14 - 3/25/14 at participating locations.

Wahoo's Fish Tacos - Get $10 Wahoo gift certificates when you buy $25 in gift cards.

White Castle - $5 Promo Card when you buy $25 in gift card at any participating White Castle restaurant or online. Promo card is redeemable 1/1/14 - 2/28/14.