By: Shannon Dwyer, Writer at The Real Deal blog
If your Christmas plans didn’t go as planned, you’ll want this list of restaurants open on Christmas Day 2021.
Looking to pick up last-minute gifts on Christmas Eve or Day? Check out this complete list of store hours to help plan your shopping voyage!
Here Are the Restaurants Open on Christmas
Abuelo’s Mexican Restaurant is ready for winter and added a few limited-time-only items to its menu, lasting now until Jan. 31, 2022! Plus, through Dec. 31, they are giving guests a $10 VIP pass for every $50 in gift cards purchased at Abuelo’s, which will be redeemable from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2022.
This neighborhood bar and grill will be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year. It’s a good idea to call ahead for your local restaurant’s hours.
Benihana is open for both lunch and dinner on Christmas Day, and they encourage you to book via Opentable. Get your teppanyaki fix in and celebrate the holidays Benihana Christmas style!
They are offering gift card deals, too! You can get a $10 promotional card with a purchase of $50 in gift card and get $50 in promotional cards when you purchase $200 in gift cards. These offers are valid until Dec. 31, and you can use the cards from Jan. 2 to March 31, 2022.
On Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, open locations will serve special holiday meals for dine in and to-go, including a three-course meals with choice of entrée, cup of soup or dinner salad, cornbread muffin and a slice of pumpkin pie, or the Little Less & Cub-sized entrees with smaller portions.
Additionally, family meals with roasted turkey, holiday ham and whole pumpkin pie will also be offered to enjoy wherever your holiday takes you. Check your local diner’s hours.
Plus, when you purchase their red velvet cake, chocolate peppermint cheesecake or candy cane chocolate cream pie, Black Bear Diner will donate $1 to Make-A-Wish!
Holidays are Boston Market’s speciality, and this year, they’re making it even easier for you to get a great meal. While you can dine at select participating locations, Boston Market also has heat-and-serve meals pickups and meal deliveries available. Choose from their massive à la carte menu, or opt for your choice of prime rib, turkey or ham, and sides. You can pickup your pre-made dinner between Dec. 17 and Jan. 1. Plus, if you place your order early enough, they’ll even deliver to your house; just make sure to place your order by Dec. 19.
They’re open for all your pasta needs on Christmas Day starting at 11 a.m. this year. Plus, purchase a $50 gift card by Dec. 31 to get a $10 reward!
If you’re craving wings this holiday, you’re in luck! Some locations will have reduced holiday hours, so be sure to check with your local restaurant so you don’t miss out.
All Chart House locations are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but check with your local location for specifics. If you don’t want to dine in, they also have Christmas prime rib family packs available to go, but you must preorder. Plus, if you purchase $100 in gift cards before Dec. 31, you’ll receive a $20 reward card to use in the new year.
Celebrate Christmas with Cracker Barrel’s heat-and-serve meals. You can order online and pick up a day or two before Christmas Day. Note: Cracker Barrel closes at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and you can enjoy their heat-and-serve holiday meals on Christmas Day; just preorder and pick it up on Dec. 24. Holiday meals come complete with ham, delicious sides and your choice of pie. Yummy!
Head to Del Frisco’s Grille for a Christmas Day feast with special menu featuring Christmas favorites. If you want to host at home, you can preorder their prime rib family meal pack, which serves 10-12 people. You can also order à la carte sides and desserts. Learn more about making reservations, and preorder by Dec. 24.
Del Taco will be open for all of your taco needs on Christmas Day, but be sure to check the hours at your local restaurant.
Want breakfast for Christmas dinner this year? Denny’s is open 24/7 on both Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. Choose between “Denny’s on Demand,” a holiday to-go meal or dine-in options. You can expect holiday menu items like turkey and dressing and pies. Also, grab a $5 bonus gift card when you purchase a $25 gift card at participating locations.
If you’re craving pizza this holiday, no shade! The popular pizzeria will be open and ready for pickup or delivery, proving there’s never a bad time for pizza. Plus, we’re all about those Home Alone cheese pizza vibes!
No matter if you like your coffee hot or cold, you can pick it up at your local store on Dec. 24 and 25. Hours may vary, so check with your local spot. Plus, they have a delightful holiday menu with signature drinks!
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
Celebrate the season at Fleming’s Steakhouse! Eat, drink and be merry with four courses and four Duckhorn wine pairings. As your main course, enjoy our filet mignon with your choice of shrimp scampi or lobster tail, starting at $105. Fleming’s is closed on Christmas Day but open on Christmas Eve at 4 p.m. local time — though curbside pickup is available starting at 11 p.m. Be sure to call ahead and make a reservation or order online.
The popular Brazilian restaurant is offering may holiday offers this year. Get their Founders Trilogy Wine Box ($89), which is available for purchase in-restaurant or to-go where available through the holiday season, which includes three bottles of South American red wine created in honor of Fogo’s founders (Eulila, Jorjão and O’Leão) and a dining card with $25 off two full churrascos.
Fogo also has a special holiday gift card promotion available through Jan. 2. Receive holiday bonus cards for gift card purchases: get $25 for every $125 gift card purchased, $75 for every $100 gift card and $100 for every $400 gift card. Bonus cards are valid for redemption between Jan. 3 and March 27, 2022.
This buffet-style family restaurant will keep their special holiday hours — Monday to Saturday after 4 p.m. and Sundays after 11 a.m. — where you can get all the “fixin’s” for a holiday feast. This includes your choice of holiday glazed ham or whole roasted turkey with mashed potatoes and gravy, a choice of homestyle sides, their famous yeast rolls and a whole pie.
Amp up your Christmas Day with some rock and roll! Most will be open until 9 p.m. on Dec. 25, but check your local Hard Rock Cafe to make sure.
Head over to this chain on Christmas to enjoy comfort foods like macaroni and cheese, baked chicken and mashed potatoes. Hours vary by location.
Huddle House will be open this Christmas, so you can indulge in all of your breakfast faves.
Let pancakes, bacon and drip coffee give you the energy to get through the day! IHOP restaurants are open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. But hours may vary by restaurant location, so check with your local store first. They’re offering a special holiday menu which features festive treats!
This restaurant will be open on Christmas Eve and Day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at all locations nationwide. In honor of the Christmas holiday, Kona Grill will be offering its full menu as well as serving up a surf & turf special for $41, filet with lobster cream for $40, honey glazed ham for $34, macadamia nut turkey for $34 and a prime rib dinner for two for $72. A kid’s meal featuring 4 ounces of turkey, cream gravy, mac & cheese, and green beans is also available for $16. Additionally, Kona Grill will be offering a special macadamia nut pie for $15.
Kona Grill’s Christmas specials are available for takeout or delivery from Dec. 24 to 26. Simply preorder and schedule for pickup during one of nine convenient time slots on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Legal Sea Foods will have adjusted hours, but most locations are open on Christmas this year. Even better, receive a $40 bonus card for every $200 in gift card purchases and a portion of proceeds will be donated to support the search for cures at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Macaroni Grill locations will be open nationwide on Christmas Eve from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Of course, guests looking to celebrate from the comfort of their own home can order Macaroni Grill’s delicious menu for takeout or delivery. If you’re dining in, we suggest you make reservations.
If you want seafood or surf and turf this year, McCormick & Schmick’s is the place to go! Make sure to get a reservation. Along with their regular dinner menu, the restaurant is serving an exclusive three-course prix-fixe all day Dec. 24 and 25. If you order by Dec. 20, you can also get a holiday prime rib feast (serves four) to-go for $155.
McDonald’s will be open on Christmas for your side-of-fries needs or full-meal munchies, but give them a call first to make sure you know the hours at your local store.
Metro Diner is open and serving heat-and-serve holiday feasts to-go, featuring fresh baked ham or roasted turkey paired with traditional sides to enjoy around your table, along with limited time seasonal specials available in the diner, for to-go and delivery. Preorders are from Dec. 7 to 23, and pickup times are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 23, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Plus, if you purchase a $50 in Metro Diner gift card now through Dec. 31, you’ll receive a $10 bonus card.
Savor the holidays at Morton’s The Steakhouse! They are open and serving up delicious food this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Make sure you make a reservation to feast on their three-course Christmas dinner, which features a winter salad, chateaubriand (a cut of tenderloin) and a chocolate cake for dessert. You can also order to-go for a wonderful meal at home!
This popular chain is offering some fun specials for Christmas! Customers can order “breadsticks for Santa” on OliveGarden.com — simply choose from freshly baked breadsticks or ready-to-bake breadsticks by the dozen or half-dozen so they’re fresh for Santa. They suggest you also order the homemade dipping sauce appetizer and get your choice of sauce — marinara, Alfredo or five cheese marinara — with breadsticks starting at $3.99. You can also download a personalized special note to send to Santa, and order classic Italian dishes like their family-style lasagna bundle or the family-size Pans.
Chinese food on Christmas = yass! Most Panda Express locations are open on Dec. 25, but not all, so you should check with your closest location.
All Perkins locations are open on Christmas Eve and, most will be open on Christmas Day varying by location, so call ahead to your local restaurant. Perkins offers a special Christmas menu with a delicious turkey dinner deal that’s sure to delight!
They will be holding their annual Christmas dinner, featuring a three course meals for only $25. Reservations are suggested.
Celebrate with a steak dinner! Restaurant hours vary by location, but most Ruth’s Chris Steak Houses will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They are also available for hosting your next party or event! Celebrating at home? Make your dinner preparation easy and elegant with full meals to-go and Ruth’s Sides To Go menu.
Ruth’s Chris also has a special holiday gift card promotion available through Dec. 21. Customers will receive a $40 bonus with every purchase of a $200 Ruth’s Chris gift card. The offer is available for both e-card and physical card purchases, and gift cards are valid for redemption between Jan. 1 and March 31, 2022.
This popular chain will be open for Christmas and participating locations will be offering a seasonal menu, featuring steak and shrimp combos.
Smith & Wollensky promises to “make your holiday memorable” with their signature winter menu, which features hearty seasonal flavors such as prime dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood and exceptional bar fare. But don’t miss out on their special “Holiday Wine by the Glass” list of wines that are usually only available by the bottle. Cheers to that! Reserve a table now.
Get those slushes, tater tots and Chili Cheese Coney hot dogs! Most Sonic locations are open for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, but be sure to check prior to pulling up.
Stay caffeinated on Christmas Day with a latte or Americano from your favorite coffee chain: Starbucks! The popular restaurant will be open all day long (check with your local shop to ensure). To make it even better, if you’re near one of the locations offering the wine-enhanced Starbucks Evening menu, you can cheers to the holiday!
From Dec. 24 to Dec. 26, STK Steakhouse will serve up two special plated meals: a roasted prime rib with confit fingerling potatoes, green beans, port wine shallows and black truffle madeira sauce for $75 and a roasted free Range turkey entrée featuring shallot and thyme confit turkey thighs, cornbread & sage stuffing, green beans, maple sweet potato, mashed potatoes, old school gravy, and cranberry orange chutney for $59+.
Guests looking to celebrate the holiday from the comfort of home can enjoy special to-go versions of these festive offerings perfect for two. Simply preorder and schedule for pickup during one of their nine time slots from Christmas Eve through Dec. 26.
This American steakhouse brand will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to serve up its full menu of fresh seafood, mouthwatering appetizers, decadent entrees and hand-cut steaks. In addition, guests looking to celebrate from the comfort of home can order carry out by calling their local restaurant or by visiting the Sullivan’s website. Note that hours may vary by location.
Get the party “plattered” with their to-go menu, get festive with their special cocktails and enjoy a special gift card offer. You will receive a free $10 gift card when you purchase a $50 gift card!
Not surprising from a restaurant that’s known for never closing, Waffle House will continue to be open 24/7 on Christmas Day. So stop by anytime you like for your breakfast-food fix. Don’t forget to pour on lots of syrup!
Do DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and Seamless Deliver on Christmas?
If you’re planing to order in on Christmas Eve or Day, it can be convenient to utilize a food delivery service. Some of the most popular ones who likely work with many restaurants in your area are DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and Seamless, and you can order on Christmas for delivery or pickup depending on if the eatery is open. Many are, but be sure to check in the app earlier in the day so you’re in the know before dinnertime. As always, when ordering delivery, be sure to tip your driver!
Restaurants Closed On Christmas 2021
Here are some of the nationwide restaurants that will not be open on Christmas Day.
- Bartaco (but with every $50 gift card purchased until Dec. 31, you’ll receive a $10 bonus certificate that’s valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022.)
- Bonefish Grill (but you can buy $50 in restaurant gift cards by Dec. 27 to receive a $10 bonus card)
- Carrabba’s Italian Grill
- Chili’s
- Cracker Barrel
- Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
- Legal Seafood
- Old Country Buffet
- Outback Steakhouse
- Pieology Pizzeria
- Pizza Hut
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Wendy’s
