Best Restaurants Open on Christmas Day

Most restaurants close on Christmas Day. The ones that stay open fall into two groups: national chains that run their regular service through the holiday (Waffle House never closes, most Denny’s and IHOP keep their 24/7 schedule), and city-specific spots, often Jewish delis, Chinese restaurants, hotel dining rooms, and a handful of independents that have built a Christmas Day tradition over decades. This guide covers both. The chain section names the national brands you can count on across most US cities, with honest notes on which chains run every store and which ones leave the call to individual franchises. The by-city section links to verified guides for NYC, Chicago, LA, and Houston with specific picks for each. Christmas Eve has its own dynamics: prix-fixe menus, early closes, packed reservations, covered in a dedicated section below. When everything local is closed, the chains have you covered. When you want a meal that feels like Christmas dinner, the city guides are where to look.

At-a-glance: chains open on Christmas Day

Chain Christmas Eve hours Christmas Day status Where What to order
Waffle House Regular 24/7 Open 24/7, every location 1,900+ stores, South and Midwest Hash browns, pecan waffle
Denny’s Most 24/7 Most locations open all day 1,500+ nationwide Grand Slam, holiday turkey dinner
IHOP Most 24/7 Most locations open 1,750+ US Pancakes, turkey-stuffing pancakes
Applebee’s Closes early (typically 6pm) About 90% open, regional hours 1,500+ US Sirloin, riblets, holiday turkey
McDonald’s Regular hours About half open, drive-thru focus 13,000+ US McChicken, fries
Burger King Regular hours Many open, varies by franchise 7,000+ US Whopper, Impossible Whopper
Wendy’s Regular hours Most open, reduced hours 6,000+ US Baconator, Frosty
Starbucks Reduced hours Many open with reduced hours 15,000+ US Holiday lattes, breakfast sandwiches
Dunkin’ Regular hours Many locations open 9,000+ US Coffee, breakfast sandwiches
Domino’s Regular delivery Most open for delivery 6,700+ US Pizza, wings
Cracker Barrel Closed Christmas Eve dinner Open Christmas Day, sit-down service 660+ US Christmas Family Meal
Red Lobster Closed early Most open Christmas Day 500+ US Cheddar Bay biscuits, shrimp

National chains open all day on Christmas

These chains run regular service on December 25 at every location, every year. If you need a meal at any hour and you don’t want to gamble on a closed door, these are the ones.

Waffle House

1,900+ locations across the South and Midwest, all running 24/7/365 since 1955. The company motto is “Always Open, Always”, which they mean literally. Waffle House is so reliably open that FEMA tracks how badly a disaster has hit a region by how many Waffle Houses have closed (the “Waffle House Index” is a real thing). On Christmas Day the menu runs as usual: hash browns smothered and covered, a pecan waffle if you want the holiday version, the bottomless coffee that keeps the dining room going at every hour. Cash works, card works. No Waffle House in NYC, Chicago, or LA, so plan accordingly if you’re holiday-traveling through those cities.

Denny’s

1,500+ locations, most running 24/7 on Christmas Day. The Grand Slam (two eggs, two pancakes, two bacon, two sausage) is the heritage order. The holiday turkey dinner shows up at most locations from late November through New Year’s with all the trimmings: turkey, mashed, stuffing, cranberry, dinner roll for $14-18 depending on the market. Denny’s closed 150 stores in 2024 and the picture got messier since, so confirm your specific local on dennys.com before driving over. The early-bird Grand Slam pricing (typically 5-9am) still holds on Christmas Day in most markets.

IHOP

1,750+ locations across the US, with most city-center stores running 24/7 on Christmas Day. The seasonal holiday menu features a turkey-stuffing pancake (turkey patty, stuffing pancakes, cranberry compote) that runs December through early January. Standard pancake menu works year-round, the savory crepes are underrated, and the all-day breakfast format makes IHOP one of the rare places where you can get an actual sit-down meal at 3pm on Christmas without a reservation. Suburban locations sometimes cut hours; check ihop.com for the specific store.

Chains with many locations open (verify your local)

Most major fast-food chains keep many locations open on Christmas Day, but per-store variability is real. The brand says “open”; your specific franchise might be closed because the owner made a different call. Check the store locator before driving over.

McDonald’s

The corporate guidance is that franchisees decide individually whether to open on December 25. About half of US McDonald’s locations open with reduced hours, most often drive-thru only, often closing earlier than weekdays. Big-city locations (NYC, Chicago, downtown LA) lean open; suburban and small-town franchises lean closed. McChicken, fries, and a shake combo runs at any open location; the late-night menu typically doesn’t run on Christmas itself.

Burger King

Similar pattern to McDonald’s, franchise-by-franchise decision. Most urban locations open with reduced hours, often 10am to 6pm. The Whopper menu runs normal pricing; Impossible Whopper available if you want a meatless option for any guests with dietary restrictions. Drive-thru is the safer bet over dining room since some open franchises only run the window on Christmas.

Wendy’s

Most Wendy’s locations open Christmas Day with reduced hours. The Baconator menu runs as usual, the chicken nuggets pack works for cheap, the Frosty if you want a dessert option. Wendy’s tends to close earlier than McDonald’s on Christmas, typically 6 to 8pm rather than late night.

Applebee’s

About 90% of US Applebee’s locations open on Christmas Day with regional hours, typically 11am to 9pm. The 2-for-$25 menu runs as usual; the holiday menu adds a turkey dinner option (turkey, mashed, gravy, dressing) for $15-18 at most franchises. This is one of the rare casual sit-down chains where you can walk in for Christmas dinner without a reservation in most markets.

Domino’s

Most Domino’s locations open Christmas Day for delivery; sit-down and pickup hours often reduced. The pizza menu runs as usual; the carryout deals work normally. Good backup if you’re hosting and the turkey didn’t survive the oven, the delivery driver shows up while you eat damage control.

Starbucks

About 5,000 of Starbucks’ 15,000+ US locations open on Christmas Day with reduced hours, typically 7am to 2pm. Airport, hospital, and 24-hour highway locations stay open longer. The holiday menu (peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte, eggnog latte) runs through Christmas Day at every open store.

Dunkin’

Many Dunkin’ locations open Christmas Day; franchise-by-franchise decision. Hours typically reduced to 5am to 1pm or so. The coffee menu runs normally; the holiday flavors (peppermint mocha, gingerbread latte) hold through the day. Drive-thru runs longer than the dining room at most locations.

Cracker Barrel

660+ locations across the US, almost all open Christmas Day for sit-down dining. The Christmas Family Meal (turkey, ham, mashed, dressing, cranberry, sides) runs as a sit-down or carry-out option. This is the rare sit-down chain that markets Christmas dinner specifically, so reservations or call-aheads matter at most locations from noon onward.

Red Lobster

Most Red Lobsters open Christmas Day with reduced hours, typically 11am to 9pm. The Cheddar Bay biscuits run normally. Surf-and-turf, shrimp scampi, and the holiday lobster bisque are the high-rotation orders. Red Lobster cut locations in 2024 after restructuring, so confirm yours is still operating before driving over.

Chains closed on Christmas Day

Knowing what’s closed matters as much as knowing what’s open. The chains below shut every US location on December 25, no exceptions. If you were counting on any of these for a holiday meal, switch plans now.

  • Chick-fil-A. Closed every Sunday and on Christmas Day, even drive-thrus. This is policy, not a per-franchise decision. Chick-fil-A is open on Christmas Eve with reduced hours, typically closing by 4pm.
  • Chipotle. All US locations closed Christmas Day. Open Christmas Eve with regular hours through 8pm at most stores.
  • Taco Bell. All US locations closed on Christmas Day. Most open Christmas Eve with regular hours, some closing by 10pm.
  • In-N-Out. Closed Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and Easter; three days a year the chain shuts. Open Christmas Eve with regular hours.
  • Culver’s. Closed Christmas Day. Open Christmas Eve with regular hours through 9pm.
  • Jersey Mike’s. Closed Christmas Day. Open Christmas Eve with reduced hours.
  • Raising Cane’s. Closed Christmas Day. Open Christmas Eve with regular hours.
  • Olive Garden. Closed Christmas Day and Thanksgiving. Open Christmas Eve with regular hours through 9pm.
  • Texas Roadhouse. Closed Christmas Day. Open Christmas Eve through 9pm at most locations.
  • Outback Steakhouse. Closed Christmas Day at almost every US location.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings. Almost all locations closed Christmas Day, despite running late-night every other day of the year.
  • Chili’s. Closed Christmas Day at most US locations.
  • Ruth’s Chris Steak House. Closed Christmas Day. Christmas Eve dinner with regular hours.

Christmas Eve dining

Christmas Eve in 2026 falls on Thursday, December 24. The dining pattern is different from Christmas Day. Most restaurants stay open but close earlier than usual, often by 6 to 9pm rather than running late-night. The chains that close December 25 still operate Christmas Eve at reduced hours. Reservation pressure on Christmas Eve at sit-down restaurants is actually heavier than Christmas Day itself because more places are open and more families dine out the night before.

A few patterns to know:

  • Prix-fixe holiday menus. Higher-end restaurants in major cities run multi-night prix-fixe Christmas menus spanning December 23 through 26, with bookings opening 4 to 6 weeks ahead. By mid-December the popular ones are full. Last-minute walk-ins almost never work at sit-down spots on Christmas Eve evening.
  • Smoked fish and pastrami trays. Christmas Eve is the peak takeout day for Jewish delis nationwide. Russ & Daughters, Katz’s, Manny’s, and Eli’s all run pre-order systems for smoked fish boards, full pastramis, and brisket trays. The orders cap out 5 to 7 days before Christmas Eve at the busiest locations. Call ahead.
  • Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Italian-American families and many Italian restaurants observe the seven-fishes tradition on Christmas Eve. Italian sit-down spots in NYC, Chicago, and other cities with Italian-American communities run special seven-fishes prix-fixe menus on December 24, usually with seatings at 5pm and 8pm. Reservations need to be in by early December.
  • Asian and Indian restaurants. Most stay open Christmas Eve with regular hours and run their full menu. Chinatown restaurants in major cities run normal late-night service on December 24. Indian restaurants in any major city are typically open and uncrowded.
  • Hotel dining rooms. Most hotel restaurants in big cities open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The bar runs later than the dining room. For travelers, hotel restaurants are the most reliable Christmas Eve sit-down option.

Christmas dining by city

For city-specific verified picks, see the dedicated guides below. Each city hub covers Christmas Day chains, Christmas Eve dining, and links to deep cuisine guides for that city.

Atlanta

Atlanta on December 25 leans on Buckhead steakhouses, the Buford Highway Chinese halls, and Midtown hotel restaurants. Indian options on Spring Street stay open Christmas Day, and the Sandy Springs delis take Christmas Eve pre-orders for trays. The Atlanta Christmas Day dining guide covers Buckhead, Buford Highway, and the Sandy Springs corridors with verified hours.

Boston

Boston Christmas Day is North End Italian, Chinatown, and the Brookline-Brighton Jewish delis. The North End runs Feast of the Seven Fishes prix-fixe menus on December 24, several Chinatown spots run normal December 25 hours, and Michael’s and Zaftigs handle the Christmas Eve takeout rush in Brookline. Christmas Day restaurants in Boston covers all 8 cuisines.

Chicago

Chicago’s Christmas Day is anchored by the River North steakhouse cluster (Bavette’s, Mastro’s, Joe’s), the Chinatown halls on Wentworth, and the Devon Avenue Indian strip in West Rogers Park. Manny’s Cafeteria on Roosevelt takes Christmas Eve pastrami pre-orders, and the Schaumburg and Naperville Cracker Barrels run Christmas dinner. The Chicago Christmas Day guide covers all 8 categories.

Houston

Houston runs hard on December 25 at the Galleria steakhouses, the Bellaire Boulevard Chinatown dim sum halls, and the Montrose-anchored Katz’s Deli. Brennan’s of Houston runs a Christmas Day brunch with reservations 3 to 4 weeks ahead. The energy and medical sectors keep hospitality busy on the holiday. Where to eat on Christmas Day in Houston covers Bellaire Chinatown, Montrose, and the Galleria corridor.

Las Vegas

Vegas barely notices the holiday. The Strip casinos run normal Christmas Day service across hotel restaurants, buffets, and 24-hour cafes. Off-Strip, Spring Mountain Road Chinatown stays open December 25, and the Lotus of Siam tier of Thai and Vietnamese spots run their full menus. The Vegas Christmas Day dining guide covers Strip hotel dining, off-Strip Chinatown, and the Vegas Jewish deli scene.

Los Angeles

LA is among the strongest Christmas Day cities in the country. Canter’s Deli on Fairfax runs 24/7 including December 25, the San Gabriel Valley Chinese dim sum corridor is at full capacity, and Philippe the Original Chinatown is open for French dip. The Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel takes Christmas reservations weeks ahead, and Genghis Cohen has a cult-followed Christmas Day list. See the LA Christmas Day dining guide for all 8 cuisines.

Miami

Miami Christmas runs on Cuban-American tradition. Nochebuena is the December 24 anchor across Calle Ocho and the Hialeah corridor, with lechon asado, yuca, and arroz blanco the default home and restaurant menu. Versailles takes Nochebuena reservations months ahead. The Miami Christmas Day guide covers Calle Ocho, South Beach hotel restaurants, and the Aventura deli scene.

New York City

NYC is the canonical Chinese-restaurant-on-Christmas-Day tradition city. Wo Hop in Chinatown (basement since 1939), Joe’s Shanghai, and Hop Kee all run December 25 service. Russ & Daughters Cafe does Christmas Day sit-down brunch, Katz’s runs limited hours plus pre-order pastrami trays, and the Mott Street through East Houston corridor is the densest concentration in the city. The NYC Christmas Day dining guide covers all 8 cuisines.

Philadelphia

Philly Christmas Day is Italian Christmas Eve plus Chinatown plus the Northeast Philly Jewish deli tradition. South Philly runs Feast of the Seven Fishes prix-fixe menus on December 24 (DiBruno Bros and Termini Brothers take pre-orders), and the Chinatown corridor near Reading Terminal stays open December 25. Christmas dining in Philadelphia covers the South Philly Italian and Chinatown corridors.

Phoenix

Phoenix Christmas Day is resort dining and Scottsdale Jewish delis. The Phoenician, the Royal Palms, and the Arizona Biltmore all run holiday menus. Goldman’s Deli in Scottsdale takes Christmas Eve pre-orders, and the central Phoenix Indian and Chinese spots on McDowell stay open December 25. Resort dining drives the day. Where to eat on Christmas Day in Phoenix covers resort dining, Scottsdale, and central Phoenix.

Washington DC

DC Christmas Day runs at the high-end Penn Quarter steakhouses (Fiola, Rasika, the Inn at Little Washington for the day trip), the Adams Morgan late-night spots that stay open December 25, and the embassy-row hotel restaurants. Bethesda’s Indian and Jewish deli scene handles Christmas Eve takeout. The DC Christmas Day dining guide covers Penn Quarter, Adams Morgan, and Bethesda.

Chinese restaurants on Christmas Day

The Chinese-restaurant Christmas Day tradition started in early 20th-century New York, when Jewish-American families found Chinese restaurants to be the rare option open December 25, and a coincidentally good fit since Chinese cooking doesn’t mix dairy with meat. The pattern spread nationally.

In every major American city, Chinatown is the densest concentration of December 25-open dining: NYC’s Mott Street corridor, the San Gabriel Valley dim sum row outside LA, Bellaire Boulevard in Houston, Wentworth in Chicago, Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas, the corridor near Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, Buford Highway in Atlanta. Most run regular hours, often busier than a normal Wednesday. The takeout phone lines back up and the dining rooms fill. Wo Hop’s 1939-founded Chinatown basement in NYC, Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago, Sea Harbour Seafood in the San Gabriel Valley, and Sinh Sinh on Bellaire in Houston are the heritage spots.

City-by-city Chinese-Day picks: NYC Chinatown, San Gabriel Valley and LA Chinatown, Chicago Wentworth, and Houston Bellaire corridor. Each city Christmas guide linked above also covers its Chinese cuisine page for the other seven cities.

How to find restaurants open on Christmas Day near you

  • Call the specific location, not the chain hotline. Chain corporate lines give national guidance; your specific franchise may or may not be open. Calling the store directly between December 20 and 23 catches them while they’re still planning Christmas Day staffing.
  • Check Google Maps live status on the morning of. The “open now” indicator in Google Maps is more accurate than the static hours listed on chain corporate sites, especially for franchised brands where the per-store decision varies.
  • For sit-down meals, book before December 20. Reservations at sit-down restaurants on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day often fill 2 to 4 weeks ahead. By December 23 the popular spots in any major city are full.
  • Hotel restaurants are the most reliable Christmas Day sit-down. Even if you’re not staying at the hotel, the dining room takes outside reservations in most major cities. Hotel restaurants almost always open Christmas Day because their guests need to eat.
  • For travelers, check airport and highway-stop hours separately. Airport and 24-hour interstate locations stay open Christmas Day at most chains even when the in-town ones close. If you’re driving, plan around interstate exits.

Frequently asked questions

What chain restaurants are open on Christmas Day?

The most reliable nationwide chains open on Christmas Day are Waffle House (every location, 24/7), most Denny’s, most IHOP, Cracker Barrel for sit-down dining, and Applebee’s for casual dining. About half of McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s locations open with reduced hours; the per-store decision varies by franchise. Domino’s and Starbucks have many locations open. For verified by-city picks see the city guides above.

Is Waffle House really open on Christmas Day?

Yes, every Waffle House location is open 24/7 on Christmas Day. The company has run every store every day since opening in 1955, including all major holidays. The corporate motto is “Always Open, Always” and they mean it. The menu runs as usual. No special holiday hours, no seasonal closures, no exceptions.

Are McDonald’s drive-thrus open on Christmas Day?

About half of US McDonald’s locations open on Christmas Day, with most of those running drive-thru only with reduced hours. The decision is per-franchise, not corporate. Urban locations lean open; suburban ones lean closed. Always confirm your specific local by calling the store or checking Google Maps live status on the day.

Why do Chinese restaurants stay open on Christmas Day?

The tradition goes back to early 20th-century New York, when Jewish-American families adopted Chinese restaurants as a Christmas Day option because they were among the few places open on December 25 and the food was non-pork-based (Chinese cooking uses no dairy with meat, an unintentional fit with Jewish dietary observance). The pattern spread nationally and became cultural. Most Chinese restaurants in any major US city open Christmas Day with regular hours, often their busiest day of the year.

What’s the difference between Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining?

Christmas Eve (December 24) keeps most restaurants open with reduced hours, typically closing earlier than usual. Sit-down restaurants run prix-fixe holiday menus, reservations book heavily 2 to 4 weeks ahead, and Jewish delis run their busiest takeout day of the year. Christmas Day (December 25) keeps far fewer restaurants open. Chain coverage is the main option, plus city-specific independents like Chinese restaurants, hotel restaurants, and 24-hour diners. Walk-in odds are actually better Christmas Day than Christmas Eve for sit-down spots in most cities.

What’s open on Christmas Day if I want a real sit-down meal?

Cracker Barrel runs Christmas dinner with sides at almost every location. Applebee’s stays open at most franchises. Hotel restaurants in major cities almost always open. Denny’s keeps most locations 24/7. For something less chain-driven, the city guides above link to Christmas-Day-open sit-down restaurants in NYC, Chicago, LA, and Houston, all verified within the last 30 days.

What if everything near me is closed on Christmas Day?

Three options. First, drive to the nearest Waffle House (always open, every store, every year). Second, order delivery from Domino’s; most locations run Christmas Day. Third, look for a hotel restaurant in the nearest mid-size city; the bar dining usually has walk-in seating even when the dining room is reserved. If you’re in a small town with none of those, call your nearest gas station; the convenience store with prepared hot food may be the only open option.

Where do I find verified Christmas Day hours for my city?

For NYC, Chicago, LA, and Houston, use the city guides linked above. Each has verified hours and what-to-order picks across 8 cuisines, refreshed within the last 30 days. For other cities, call the specific location the morning of December 25 since national chain hotlines often give outdated guidance. The chain’s store-locator page is generally a better source than the chain’s general holiday page.

All Christmas Day guides

Last updated: May 2026