Restaurants are open on Christmas, from New York City to Portland, serving classic holiday fare

If someone wants to skip the culinary chores of cooking Christmas dinner this year, there are plenty of options to eat out and enjoy a delicious holiday meal instead.

Many restaurants are open and serving special holiday menus, whether you’re traveling for Christmas or want to celebrate the holiday with an easy, chef-prepared meal.

While a number of national chain restaurants are open, be sure to check out local restaurants in your area for special prix fixe menus and look for other independent eateries serving up delicious Christmas dinners.

Tips for finding a great last minute Christmas dinner reservation

While Christmas seating may seem difficult to come by, use platforms like OpenTable to secure a reservation for your party. Plus, this could be the perfect last-minute opportunity to snag a coveted spot at one of the many OpenTable Icons, which features award-winning chefs and other highly acclaimed dining experiences in a range of popular food cities from New York and New Orleans to San Diego presents, Portland and more.

OpenTable CEO Debby Soo told “GMA” that “flexibility is key” for last-minute holiday bookings. “Consider dining during off-peak hours or booking a ticketed dining experience,” she suggested. “If your top spot is already booked, try your luck with OpenTable’s Notify Me feature, which will put you on a waitlist. You can even set up alerts for multiple restaurants – at different times – to increase the chances of converting into a reservation.”

You can also call a local restaurant directly to secure a last-minute spot.

For specific restaurants offering a feast in your city, check out detailed guides from restaurant review sites like The Infatuation, which highlight options by neighborhood and show full menu previews.

In Los Angeles, for example, experts point to a Christmas brunch on Orla Beach for $95 per person, including photo ops with Santa, or a prix-fixe dinner down the street at Terraza at Hotel Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica for $125 This includes dry-aged kanpachi crudo, grilled shrimp and roasted scallops.

Whether you’re looking to change your plans at the last minute or outsource the moving feast, check out the full list of restaurants open on Christmas below.

The restaurants are open at Christmas

Coffee chains

Starbucks: Need a cup of coffee or a large box of coffee to go before the holiday festivities begin? Starbucks is scheduled to be open on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but check the app to see your area and what hours may have changed.

Dunkin’: The coffee and donut chain’s hours vary by location, but hours are regular hours.

Chain restaurants

Applebee’s; Hours of operation may be shortened at some locations
IHOP
Fogo de Chao
Red lobster
Waffle House

At Christmas, restaurants with special menus are open in major cities

New York City

In the city that never sleeps, there is no shortage of delicious dining options this Christmas. From the Michelin-starred gourmet dining at Restaurant Yuu, which offers special seasonal tasting menus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day featuring Wagyu fillet and caviar, to Danny Meyer’s famous Gramercy Tavern for authentic American cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, to other cozy winter haunts like Baar Baar Modern and classic Indian cuisine from chef Sujan Sarkar or Marcus Samuelsson’s Harlem institution Red Rooster with a special family-style Christmas dinner Southern dishes for $75 per person.

Chicago

Many restaurants celebrate Christmas Eve with their take on the legendary Italian culinary tradition, the Feast of the Seven Fishes, including Gioia Chicago, Osteria Via Stato and Heritage Restaurant & caviar bar.

And on Christmas Day, don’t miss options like the all-day Japanese restaurant Miru at the St. Regis Chicago Hotel, which celebrates Christmas inspired by the popularity of Kentucky Fried Chicken at Christmas in Japan. The $95 fried chicken brunch buffet is available from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is served regularly throughout the day. Or make a reservation at MingHin Cuisine, a restaurant open 365 days a year that serves Chicagoans an authentic Chinese dim sum experience. Reservations are still possible.

Portland

Gracie’s, tucked away in the Hotel Deluxe, offers a large buffet on Christmas Day for $90 per person, or head to Mayrose at Duniway for a three-course prix-fixe Christmas menu for $70 with yuzu scallop agnolotti braised short ribs and smoked meat duck breast.

Seattle

Celebrity restaurateur Ethan Stowell serves up a Christmas feast at Goldfinch Tavern with almond-crusted Marcona beef tenderloin and a traditional Bûche de Noël for dessert, or enjoy a classic Beef Wellington and espresso crème brûlée at Réveillon at Red Cow.

Both flagship restaurants at Fairmont Olympic – Shuckers and Seneca – offer a timeless holiday prix fixe menu with entrees such as citrus-brined turkey, prime rib and eggnog crème brûlée for dessert. Christmas dinner at Il Bistro, the Tuscan-inspired restaurant celebrating its 50th anniversary in January, is open from 5 p.m. until the last row of seats at 10 p.m., serving a special three-course meal for $89. Dollar.