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Christmas 2025 restaurants: See what's open and closed
See which chains are open or closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025, with hours for Applebee's, Chick-fil-A, McDonald's and more.
Published December 23, 2025 at 11:00am by Alexis Simmerman
Holiday decorations are seen outside a restaurant on the Upper West Side on Dec. 11, 2020 in New York City.
Noam Galai/Getty Images
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
If you prefer not to cook over the holidays, you add a restaurant dinner to your celebration plans instead. But before you make the drive, it’s important to ensure your eatery of choice is open. Many chains will be closed on Christmas Day, but more will operate at reduced hours on Christmas Eve.
Here’s a quick rundown of which major restaurant chains will remain open for Christmas Eve (Wednesday) and Christmas Day (Thursday).
Is Christmas Eve a federal holiday in 2025?
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to designate Christmas Eve (Dec. 25) and Dec. 26 as federal holidays. Many federal employees will now get three consecutive days off for Christmas this week. However, the order only applies to 2025 and doesn’t permanently alter the federal holiday calendar.
Despite being a federal holiday this year, most major restaurant chains will remain open at reduced or normal hours.
Which restaurants are open on Christmas Eve?
- Applebee’s*
- Buffalo Wild Wings**
- Burger King**
- Chick-fil-A**
- Chili’s — with reduced hours
- Chipotle*
- Cracker Barrel — closes at 2 p.m.
- Denny’s**
- Golden Corral (most locations open early and close early)
- IHOP**
- Krispy Kreme**
- McDonald’s**
- Outback Steakhouse*
- Red Lobster**
- Taco Bell**
- Waffle House
- Wendy’s**
- Whataburger*
*some locations are only open at reduced hours
**hours vary by location
Which restaurants are closed on Christmas Day?
- Chick-fil-A
- Chili’s
- Chipotle
- Cracker Barrel
- Outback Steakhouse
- Taco Bell
- Texas Roadhouse
Which restaurants are open on Christmas Day?
- Applebee’s**
- Buffalo Wild Wings*
- Denny’s**
- IHOP**
- Krispy Kreme**
- McDonald’s**
- Red Lobster**
- Waffle House
- Wendy’s**
- Whataburger (most stores open, some with reduced staffing)
*some locations are only open at reduced hours
**hours vary by location
The following chains are operated independently, and some may be closed while others remain open at reduced or normal hours:
- Burger King
- Golden Corral
- Dunkin’
- Starbucks
- Subway
Austin restaurants with 2025 Christmas, holiday specials
Several eateries around the Texas capital are not only open for Christmas — they’re offering holiday specials to help Austinites celebrate.
- Acre 41
- Austin Rôtisserie
- Bakery Lorraine
- Corinne
- Corner
- Gati
- L’Oca d’Oro
- Lick Honest Ice Creams
- Roaring Fork
- Rockman Coffee and Bakeshop
- Siti
- Skipjack Oyster
- Summer on Music Lane
- The Terrace Bar & Grill