What Restaurants Are Open on Christmas Day 2025?

Steakhouses and upscale dining

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris is open on Christmas Day and remains one of the safest picks for a romantic dinner. The lighting stays low, the service is unhurried, and the classic steakhouse setting fits the night without trying too hard.

• Cuisine: Steakhouse, American
• Price range: $$$$
• Christmas menu: Available

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Fleming’s has opened on Christmas Day in past years and is often the go-to for holiday date nights. The atmosphere feels warm and celebratory, with a wide selection of wines and a pace that encourages lingering.

• Cuisine: Steakhouse, American
• Price range: $$$$
• Christmas menu: Available

Del Frisco’s Grille

Del Frisco’s Grille is open on Christmas Day and works well if you want something romantic without feeling formal. It balances polished dining with a relaxed energy that suits couples.

• Cuisine: American grill
• Price range: $$$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão turns Christmas dinner into a full table experience. Meat comes around continuously, people settle in, and the meal feels designed for families and groups who want to eat together without worrying about timing or orders.

• Cuisine: Brazilian steakhouse
• Price range: $$$$
• Christmas menu: Available

Italian Restaurants

Maggiano’s Little Italy

Maggiano’s Little Italy stays open on Christmas Day in many locations and offers a more polished Italian dinner than most casual chains. The dining rooms are calm and dinner-focused, which makes it a better fit for date nights or smaller, adult gatherings than big family crowds. Tables tend to fill up, so reservations are required.

• Price range: $$–$$$
• Christmas menu: Available

Buca di Beppo

If you’re dining with a group on Christmas Day, Buca di Beppo is open, built around large, shareable Italian dishes.

• Price range: $$–$$$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Casual Dining and Family Restaurants

Waffle House

If you need a place that is open on Christmas Day no matter what, Waffle House delivers, serving breakfast plates, hash browns, waffles, and comfort food all day.
Cuisine: Breakfast, comfort food

• Price range: $
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Applebee’s

Christmas Day hours have varied by location, but Applebee’s has stayed open in past years, making it a dependable option for burgers, riblets, wings, and casual sit-down meals.

• Cuisine: American, bar food
• Price range: $$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

TGI Fridays

In previous holiday seasons, TGI Fridays has welcomed guests on Christmas Day, offering a familiar lineup of burgers, ribs, potato skins, and cocktails in a relaxed bar-and-grill setting.

• Cuisine: American, bar food
• Price range: $$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Sizzler

Some Sizzler locations have opened on Christmas Day in the past, appealing to diners looking for a low-key steakhouse meal with salad bar options.

• Cuisine: Steakhouse
• Price range: $$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Sports Bars and Grill Restaurants

Buffalo Wild Wings

If you want a sports bar atmosphere on Christmas Day, Buffalo Wild Wings is open, with wings, burgers, and wall-to-wall TVs showing NFL matchups.

• Cuisine: Wings, American
• Price range: $$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Yard House

Yard House has operated on Christmas Day before, especially in busier markets, giving diners access to its broad beer list and American-style menu when many places are closed.

Cuisine: American, pub food
Price range: $$–$$$
Christmas menu: Unavailable

Asian and Asian-Inspired Restaurants

Benihana

If you want Christmas dinner to feel like an event, Benihana is open, with hibachi meals cooked right at the table.

• Cuisine: Japanese, hibachi
• Price range: $$–$$$
• Christmas menu: Available

P.F. Chang’s

P.F. Chang’s has been open on Christmas Day in previous years and remains a solid sit-down option for the holiday. The dining rooms are modern and comfortable, the menu is familiar without feeling basic, and the pace works well for a full dinner without the formality of a steakhouse.

• Cuisine: Asian-inspired
• Price range: $$–$$$Christmas menu: Unavailable

Pei Wei

Pei Wei has opened on Christmas Day in previous years and appeals to people who want a straightforward meal without the weight of a long, formal dinner. Orders come out efficiently, portions are predictable, and the focus stays on familiar Asian-inspired plates rather than ceremony. 

• Cuisine: Asian-inspired
• Price range: $$
• Christmas menu: Unavailable

Restaurants Closed on Christmas Day

These well-known chains have confirmed they will not operate on Christmas Day.

• Cracker Barrel
• Olive Garden
• Chili’s Grill & Bar

What to Know Before You Go

• Christmas Day hours are set by each location
• Early closures are common
• Reservations fill quickly for sit-down dining

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