**These 25+ Restaurants Will Be Open on Christmas Day 2022
Eat, drink, and be merry at these restaurants that may be open on Christmas Day!
While many families look forward to enjoying a big, homemade dinner on Christmas Day, that’s not the case for everyone – especially the person doing all the cooking!
If you’d like to celebrate Christmas by taking a day off from the kitchen, there’s a good chance you’ll have several other options available to you. Historically, many restaurants are open on Christmas Day, and this practice will continue in 2022.
You may remember a time when virtually everything was closed on Christmas, but these days you can almost always find somewhere to eat on December 25th. Even if you’re planning to prepare a Christmas feast at home, you may want to keep this list handy, just in case.
If Christmas movies have taught us anything, it’s that holiday dinners can be fraught with peril. The Grinch might stop by and empty your fridge, Cousin Eddie’s wife may burn the turkey, or the Bumpus hounds could run through your kitchen at any moment and steal Christmas dinner right off the table. You never know! 😉
Whether you’re looking for a place to go for a nice sit-down meal or you’re just hoping to grab a cup of coffee on your way to Grandma’s house, here are the restaurants that are expected to be open on Christmas in 2022.
Keep in mind that you may want to call ahead to the location nearest you, as hours may vary across some chains.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar will be open on Christmas.
Most Applebee’s restaurants are open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Contact your local restaurant for their hours and participation.
Benihana will serve up freshly grilled food from the hibachi on Christmas.
If you want to enjoy something other than traditional turkey or ham on Christmas, Benihana is open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for sushi and freshly grilled hibachi meals.
Ben’s Kosher Deli is open for dine-in and catering on Christmas.
Ben’s Kosher Deli maintains regular hours over Christmas and throughout the holidays, and they will also cater any holiday gathering in your home.
Select Boston Market locations will be serving up Christmas dinner.
On Christmas Day, select Boston Market locations will be open and serving traditional holiday meals. They also have Heat & Serve meals, hot sides, and whole pies for both pick-up and delivery.
Chart House will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Chart House will offer holiday meals on Christmas, or you can also pick up one of the restaurant’s hot and ready-to-serve Christmas To Go family packs instead.
Del Frisco’s Steakhouse will be open, too.
Del Frisco’s will have a special Christmas dinner menu available for dine-in on December 24th and 25th. Their regular dinner menu will be available, too!
Denny’s is open every day of the year, including Christmas.
Once upon a time, COVID forced some Denny’s locations to cut back on their normal 24-hour-a-day operating hours. Now, they’re back to their regular hours of operation, which include both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in 2022.
You can wine, dine, and shine at Del Frisco’s this Christmas.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse will be open on Christmas with its usual menu of steak, lobster, prime rib, and more. The restaurant will also be serving up a special prime rib holiday dinner on December 24th and 25. Book your reservation online now!
Many Dunkin’ locations will be open on Christmas Day.
Select Dunkin’ locations were open for business on Christmas in 2021, and we expect that practice to continue this year. Since Dunkin’ store hours do vary by location, you should contact your local Dunkin’ to verify their Christmas hours or check the Dunkin’ Mobile App before visiting on Christmas Day.
Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse will be open on Christmas, too.
All Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse locations in the US will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a special holiday menu. Online reservations are available for these dates now!
Select Golden Corral Restaurants will be open on Christmas Day.
While holiday hours do vary from one location to the next, some Golden Corral Restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Head on over here and enter your Zip Code to find the location nearest you.
Check with your local IHOP for their Christmas hours.
IHOP will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, although hours will vary by location.
Kona Grill is taking reservations for Christmas 2022.
In the past, Kona Grill has been open on Christmas Day, and they’re currently booking reservations for Christmas 2022. Check their online reservation system for available times at participating locations.
Most Legal Sea Foods are expected to be open on Christmas Day.
Last year, most Legal Sea Foods locations were open on Christmas Day, but each location set its own hours. This year, we’re expecting more of the same, so check in with your favorite location before making plans for a seafood Christmas dinner!
Some Marie Callender’s will offer dine-in and carry-out options on Christmas.
Select Marie Callender’s restaurants will be open on Christmas Day, but some will be offering take-out options only. Contact your local restaurant for their holiday hours, special menu offerings, and to find out whether their dining room will be open on Christmas.
Many McDonald’s restaurants will be open on Christmas Day.
If you have a picky eater who’s not a fan of fussy Christmas dinners, you can often swing through the McDonald’s drive-thru for a Happy Meal on the way home from grandma’s house.
Not all McDonald’s restaurants were open on Christmas 2021, though so be sure to check with your local franchise before heading out this year.
McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood & Steaks will be serving a special Christmas dinner.
In addition to its regular menu, McCormick & Schmicks will offer a special Holiday Prix-Fixe menu on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day, too. This page shows the special menu and a link to book a reservation online.
Morton’s The Steakhouse will be open for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining.
This year, Morton’s is hosting a special 3-course Chateaubriand Holiday Dinner, which you can order in-restaurant, take to go, or have delivered. Take a look at the menu for this special dining event!
Some Panda Express locations may be open on Christmas.
Some Panda Express locations were open on Christmas Day 2021, but this is a decision made locally by each restaurant. If you’re craving Chinese food on Christmas, be sure to call ahead to see if your local Panda Express will be open!
Perkins serves three meals a day on Christmas.
Not only is Perkins normally open on December 25, but they also offered a special menu in 2021 that included a turkey dinner with pie and the option for seconds. They often close early on Christmas Eve, so be sure to call ahead for your location’s holiday hours.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill will be open for lunch and dinner on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill will be open again this year on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The restaurant will be serving its full menu for dine-in, pick-up, or delivery!
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse will be open for dine-in and takeout on Christmas Day.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse locations are taking reservations for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. The restaurant is also offering seasonal takeout options for online ordering and pickup.
Shoney’s will serve up a Christmas Day feast on December 25.
Shoney’s will open on Christmas beginning at 11 AM, so you can enjoy all your holiday favorites from the restaurant’s All You Care to Eat Freshly Prepared Food Bar. Shoney’s Christmas Dinner is available for Dine-In or To-Go.
Many Sizzler locations are open on Christmas.
Select Sizzer locations are open on Christmas Day, and some will offer online ordering and curbside pickup, too! Check out the list of participating restaurants.
Some Sonic Drive-Ins may be open on Christmas Day.
Most Sonic locations are owned by independent franchisees, and some do remain open on Christmas. Be sure to contact your local Sonic before heading out to the Drive-In on Christmas Day!
Some Starbucks locations were open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Select Starbucks locations will be open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, although hours do vary by location and may be reduced at some cafés. Contact your local café before heading out for that Peppermint Mocha!
Many Village Inn locations will operate on Christmas will modified hours.
Most Village Inn locations will be open for your Christmas Day celebration, but many will be operating under reduced hours. Be sure to call your favorite location before heading out on Christmas!
Waffle House is always open!
Waffle House is open 24/7, and Christmas Day is no exception. Where else would Santa go to satisfy his late-night waffle cravings?!
Keep the kids busy over break with a fun Christmas activity!
This makes me so sad since one of my young adult children works at one of the above establishments – being able to go out for a meal on Christmas Day may be a perk to some people but to those family members and friends who don’t get to spend time with their loved ones because they have to go to work on a traditional holiday, it’s not so wonderful.
Sorry to hear that Brandae!!! Hoping you will still be able to get together and celebrate with loved ones another time.💕
I understand your sadness as I’ve been through that part of life. However, consider the joy your loved one is bringing to those who have no family to be with on that special day. Children do not always live as long as their parents. Others move away for job opportunities and aren’t able to get “home” for the Holidays. As you age, you have less energy to “entertain” and less people in your life to entertain. Finding a nice place to have a nice meal and be among others For an hour or to is what your child gives to many, and that’s a really big goft.
I am one of those people who has no family and spends every Holiday alone. But I do know how to cook and I think its very unfair to their employees that they are stuck working. Shame on half these places that are opened. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the employees who are there to serve.
I agree. My youngest is a manager at a movie theater and they are open on the holidays. Why is any non-essential business open on holidays? I’m a nurse so I know that I’ll have to work holidays on occasion.
Well our world is a large place full of many cultures. Many people do not celebrate Christmas so establishments are open for them.
Since my dad was a police officer when I was growing up, I was used to not celebrating anything the day of. (This went for all holidays, birthdays, & not having him there for most school plays, sports games, etc.) It was nice to be able to work holidays in my teens and 20s making tips and time and half (most times I could make more on Christmas than I could in a couple weeks). Celebrating on a different day doesn’t make it any less special
Thanks for taking a moment to share about your personal experience, and for your dad’s service in his line of work. ❤️
Then work somewhere else. They knew when they were hired that Christmas was most likely mandatory as well as weekends and other holidays
We do not celebrate Christmas, or any other religious holiday, so thus is nice for us. (sometimes others forget not everyone believes like they do).
Thank you, yes!!!! I don’t celebrate most major US holidays and when I worked retail I happily worked those days too.
I appreciate that you are willing to work in the place of others that find it important to celebrate the holiday.
We all have different perspectives as they say.
As for me, working on a holiday means time and a half pay for me! I’m not complaining!
Most people who work on holidays like the extra pay. My family doesn’t do thanks giving or Christmas dinners. My dad usually picks a buffet so everyone can get what they want, and no dishes.
The dialogue around these posts is always the same. For the people in the back, NOT EVERYONE CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS. Your Christian normativity is showing.
It is so weird you feel the need to comment on this. Literally no one said everyone celebrates Christmas, but since it is coming up, and the majority does celebrate Christmas, these posts are super helpful to the majority. There are several thing I don’t celebrate, or even like, but I never feel the need to comment on them.
Hate to bust your bubble but the “majority” do not celebrate Christmas…just the very Loud.
I have been in the restaurant industry all my life. Working holidays comes with it and fortunately most places I have worked were closed on Christmas day. Not all employers pay extra but if you go to a full service restaurant on a holiday at least tip the server-not a lot of people do and that’s basically their hourly wage
Everyone celebrates in their own way. There is no right or wrong way, My Dad worked in hotels my whole life. They are 24/7, holidays and weekends are the same as any other day. At the time except for first responders, hospital workers and a few others, no one worked holidays. We accepted it. We do not celebrate Christmas and Easter, so my Dad always volunteered to work so others could be with their families, at no extra pay. I did the same thing when I worked retail. To observe our holidays we had to use vacation days or sick days.
I worked the hotel gig for 15 years and gladly took the extra pay and worked Christmas and any other holiday. I always requested Christmas Eve off because that’s when we had family together. As far as Labor Day and Memorial Day I would much rather be working than among the crowds at the lake or mall sales. I’ll go Tuesday when everyone else is at work 🙂
Now that I’m older and my parents deceased and no children of my own and single holidays mean absolutely nothing anymore.
I take that back, Christmas means I get to buy myself some great stuff for even greater prices thanks to HIP2SAVE!!
To those who celebrate this joyous day, Merry CHRISTmas!! To those who don’t, have a wonderful day!! Love to all. ❤️
I agree Michelle, thank you & may you & EVERYONE here enjoy whatever makes your heart and soul sing & may the New Year bring us ALL health, happiness & for a worldwide sense of community & acceptance!
I believe it is Merry Christmas. (I saw what you did there.)
Wishing EVERYONE good health and happiness!
I am thankful that there are places open today so my son, who is stranded in the blizzard aftermath (in Erie,PA – was on the way to Buffalo), has a few places he & girlfriend can go today.
As a first responder family, we have always sought out our own special ways to celebrate the season. I tell my (now young adult) boys – life is what you make it – so make it good with good memories.
Merry Christmas!