Home › Restaurants Open on Holidays: A Holiday-by-Holiday Guide
Restaurants Open on Holidays: A Holiday-by-Holiday Guide
Most restaurants open on holidays like Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day, but Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are a different story: many independents and several big chains close, so diners, some national chains and Chinese restaurants become your main options. The quickest way to find restaurants open on holidays near you is to check a map listing for confirmed holiday hours and then call the location.
This guide walks through every major US holiday from late 2026 through 2027, which kinds of restaurants usually open on each one, and how to avoid showing up to a dark dining room.
Quick calendar of US holidays 2026-2027
Dates for federal holidays come from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. We have added the non-federal days that matter most for dining out, such as Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, Valentine's Day, Easter and Mother's Day.
| Holiday | Date | What to expect from restaurants |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 26, 2026 | Many closed; diners, some chains and steakhouses open |
| Christmas Eve | Thu, Dec 24, 2026 | Most open, many close early |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25, 2026 | Fewest restaurants open all year |
| New Year's Eve | Thu, Dec 31, 2026 | Open and busy; reservations fill up |
| New Year's Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | Many open, often with later starts |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | Business as usual for nearly all |
| Valentine's Day | Sun, Feb 14, 2027 | Open, crowded, special menus |
| Presidents' Day | Mon, Feb 15, 2027 | Business as usual |
| Easter Sunday | Sun, Mar 28, 2027 | Brunch spots busy; some independents closed |
| Mother's Day | Sun, May 9, 2027 | One of the busiest brunch days of the year |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 | Mostly open, holiday-weekend crowds |
| Juneteenth (observed) | Fri, Jun 18, 2027 | Mostly open |
| Independence Day | Sun, Jul 4, 2027 (observed Mon, Jul 5) | Mostly open; some close early for fireworks |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 6, 2027 | Mostly open |
| Thanksgiving | Thu, Nov 25, 2027 | Same pattern as 2026 |
Two quick notes on reading this table. First, when a holiday is "observed" on a different day, that mostly affects banks and government offices; restaurants care about the actual calendar day. Second, a holiday that lands on a Sunday hits chains with Sunday closures twice, since they would be closed anyway.
For the three toughest days, we have separate, detailed guides: what's open on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dining, and New Year's Day restaurants.
Chains that usually stay open
A handful of national brands show up again and again in news coverage of holiday openings. The table below summarizes what recent reporting said about the 2025 season. Treat it as a pattern, not a promise: hours vary, and franchise owners often make their own call. Call your local restaurant to confirm.
| Chain | Thanksgiving 2025 | Christmas Day 2025 | New Year's Day 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waffle House | Open at most locations | Open | Open |
| Denny's | Open (not all 24 hours) | Open at select locations | Open |
| IHOP | Open, hours vary | Open at select locations | Open |
| Golden Corral | Participating locations | Select locations | Open |
| Cracker Barrel | Open, plus to-go meals | Reported closed | Open |
| McDonald's | Usually open, varies | Some locations | Open |
| Starbucks | Select stores | Many open, limited hours | Open |
| Dunkin' | Most locations | Many open, limited hours | Open |
| Applebee's | Not listed | Select locations | Open |
| Chick-fil-A | Closed | Closed | Open |
Sources: Thanksgiving column from 6abc's 2025 roundup; Christmas column from Axios and a PureWow roundup; New Year's column from WSB-TV. Chick-fil-A's closures on Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day are long-standing company policy.
Why two locations of the same chain can differ
Most big restaurant brands are a mix of company-owned and franchised locations. A national announcement that a chain "will be open" usually means corporate stores plan to open and franchisees are encouraged to, but each owner still weighs staffing, expected traffic and local customs. That is why a McDonald's on a highway exit may run normal hours on Christmas while one in a quiet suburb closes for the day.
Location type matters as well. Restaurants inside malls follow the mall's hours, and many malls close on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Airport, hospital and travel-plaza locations tend to stay open because their customers do not get the day off. Downtown locations that depend on office workers may close even on minor holidays.
Types of places that open when others close
Beyond the big chains, these categories are worth searching on any holiday:
- Diners and breakfast chains. Breakfast-focused restaurants are among the most consistent holiday openers.
- Chinese restaurants. Many family-run Chinese restaurants stay open on Christmas and Thanksgiving.
- Hotel restaurants. They serve guests every day of the year, and many accept outside diners.
- Steakhouses and upscale chains. Several run special holiday menus, usually by reservation.
- Travel plazas and airport food courts. Built for people on the move, they rarely close entirely.
- Round-the-clock places. Our guide to 24-hour restaurants explains which types run overnight and which only claim to.
Open in Google Maps: “restaurants open today”
Holidays when most restaurants close
Only two days of the year bring widespread closures:
- Christmas Day. The single hardest day to find a meal out. Many independent restaurants close, and plenty of chains either close or open only some locations.
- Thanksgiving Day. Lots of restaurants give staff the day off. The ones that open often switch to a set holiday menu and book up early.
Partial closures are common on a few more days:
- Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve: open but often closing early, except for places running special dinners.
- Easter Sunday: some independents close; brunch restaurants usually open.
- July 4th evening: some places close early so staff can watch fireworks.
On the other federal holidays, such as MLK Day, Presidents' Day, Veterans Day and Columbus Day, almost every restaurant follows its normal schedule. The main exception is lunch spots in business districts, which sometimes close when nearby offices do.
How to confirm holiday hours
Map apps show whatever hours a business has entered. Google gives owners a way to post special hours for holidays, but not every restaurant uses it, so a listing can show normal hours on a day the doors are locked.
Use this five-step check:
- Search your map app for the restaurant or for "restaurants open today."
- Look for a holiday hours note. A line confirming hours for the holiday means the owner updated the listing recently.
- Check the chain's own app or location page. Big brands often post holiday schedules there first.
- Call the specific location. Ask whether they are open, what time the kitchen closes, and whether the full menu is available.
- Pick a backup. On holidays, have a second choice ready a few minutes away.
Open in Google Maps: “restaurants open on holiday near me”
If you are browsing on a normal day and just want to know what is open this minute, our restaurants near me now page has one-tap map searches by food type and time of day.
Takeout and pre-order options
If you would rather eat at home without cooking, holiday takeout can be easier than a reservation:
- Pre-ordered holiday meals. Several sit-down chains sell complete holiday dinners for pickup; 6abc noted that Cracker Barrel offered takeaway dinners for Thanksgiving 2025. These usually need to be ordered days ahead.
- Grocery store prepared meals. Many supermarkets sell cooked turkey, ham and sides; order early in the week.
- Pizza and delivery. Pizza chains are often open on New Year's Day and some locations open on Christmas, but delivery times can be long.
- Catering trays. Chick-fil-A, for example, closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas but lets customers pick up catering before the holiday at some locations.
Takeout timing tips
| Order type | When to order | When to pick up |
|---|---|---|
| Full holiday dinner | Several days to two weeks before | Day before or morning of |
| Catering trays | A few days before | Day before the holiday |
| Same-day takeout | Morning of the holiday | Early afternoon, before lines build |
| Delivery apps | As early as possible | Expect delays at peak dinner time |
Delivery drivers are scarcer on big holidays, so order early and keep your expectations flexible.
Questions to ask before you pre-order
- Is the meal served hot, or does it need reheating, and how long does that take?
- How many people does it really feed, and are sides and dessert included?
- What is the pickup window, and what happens if you are late?
- Can you change or cancel the order, and until when?
- Are there allergy or substitution options?
Getting clear answers up front prevents the two classic holiday takeout problems: a meal that needs three hours in the oven, and a pickup line that stretches out the door.
Quick summary
- Most restaurants stay open on summer federal holidays; Thanksgiving and Christmas Day bring the most closures.
- Waffle House, Denny's, IHOP and many coffee shops were among the most widely reported holiday openers in 2025, at participating locations.
- Chick-fil-A closes on Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
- Always confirm with the specific location, since franchise hours vary and listings are not always updated.
- Pre-order holiday meals early if you want takeout instead of a reservation.
Frequently asked questions
What restaurants are open on most holidays?
Waffle House, Denny's and IHOP are the chains most often reported open on major holidays, along with many Starbucks and Dunkin' locations and some McDonald's. Hours vary because many locations are franchises. Local diners, Chinese restaurants and hotel restaurants also tend to open. Always confirm with the specific location before you go.
Which holiday has the fewest restaurants open?
Christmas Day is usually the hardest day of the year to find a restaurant, followed closely by Thanksgiving. Many independent restaurants and several big chains close completely, and fast-food franchises decide location by location. Diners, Chinese restaurants, hotel restaurants and some steakhouses are the most common exceptions.
Are restaurants open on Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day?
Yes, most restaurants stay open on these summer federal holidays, and many treat them like a busy weekend day. Some independent restaurants close or shorten hours so staff can take the day off, and places in office districts may close because their weekday lunch crowd is gone. Check the listing before heading out.
Do restaurants charge more on holidays?
Many restaurants serve a special holiday menu or a fixed-price dinner on Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and New Year's Eve, which often costs more than ordering from the regular menu. Fast-food and diner prices usually stay the same. Ask whether the regular menu is available when you book.
Is Chick-fil-A open on holidays?
Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed every Sunday and also close on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. On other holidays, such as New Year's Day, Memorial Day or July 4th, locations are generally open, though individual restaurants can adjust hours. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, they stay closed.
Information can change. Always confirm hours and details directly with the business.
Sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays
- 6abc (ABC): Restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day 2025
- Axios: What restaurants are open Christmas Day 2025
- WSB-TV (Cox Media Group): New Year's Day 2026, which restaurants are open
- PureWow via AOL: 41 Restaurants Open on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve in 2025
- Wikipedia: Chick-fil-A
- Google Business Profile Help: How to set special hours