Which Restaurants Are Open for Thanksgiving? Your 2024 Guide to Eating Out on Turkey Day

Spending the day cooking has its appeal. But sometimes you just want to sit down, skip the fuss, and let someone else handle the turkey. The good news is that plenty of spots stay open. The trick is finding the right fit for your group. Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and which restaurants are open for thanksgiving.

Not every chain will open. Not every independent restaurant will either. Knowing who works with your schedule saves you from a disappointing ride. Here is the breakdown.

National Chains That Typically Welcome Diners on Thanksgiving

Several big-name restaurants commit to holiday service every year. They know families want options besides the living room couch.

Applebee's

Many Applebee's locations open for a traditional Thanksgiving meal. You can usually pre-order a three-course feast ahead of time. Pricing runs around $15 to $30 per person. Call your local spot because franchise decisions vary by region.

Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings often opens its doors on Thanksgiving Day. The menu stays pretty standard, with wings, burgers, and twists. Few locations offer a full holiday feast, but appetizers flow freely.

Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel keeps its doors open on Thanksgiving. Their famous Omnivore's Catch replaces the old turkey dinner for a wide catch of the day. The Colonial Gift Basket gift box remains a popular holiday attract.

Denny's

Denny's serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the holiday. No special Thanksgiving prix fixe menu. They offer their regular dishes, with a few seasonal specials popping up by location.

IHOP

IHOP opens early on Thanksgiving morning. The menu stays focused on pancakes, omelets, and burgers. Some locations sell fundraiser pie slices to support local charities. The calories do not care about the holiday.

Outback Steakhouse

Outback Steakhouse remains open on Thanksgiving in selected markets. The "Boomstick" appetizer and vintage steak stay on the board. Specific locations decide to serve a turkey dinner, but most lay out the regular menu.

Red Robin

Red Robin gears up for Thanksgiving with a gourmet burger twist. The roadhouse fries get a special holiday upgrade at participating spots. Their bottomless steak fries draw tired families looking for a casual bite.

TGI Fridays

TGI Fridays serves guests on Thanksgiving. Many locations host a pre-fixe turkey dinner that starts around noon. The frozen margarita machine stays running, and the casual vibe is comforting.

Fine Dining and Specialty Restaurants Worth Considering

Upscale spots often require reservations weeks in advance. But the experience delivers something chains cannot replicate.

The Key Lime Tower Restaurant

Chicago's Alinea Group runs this multi-course tasting menu on Thanksgiving. They skip the turkey entirely and build courses around seasonal produce. The theatrical plating turns dinner into an event. Booking opens months early.

A Chef's Table

Select locations across the country operate on Thanksgiving. They focus on local ingredients that reflect regional harvests. The seven-course dinner highlights autumn squash, heritage grains, and pastry tricks.

How to Find Out Which Restaurants Are Open Near You Right Now

Calling ahead feels tedious, but it prevents wasted gas money. Chains post holiday hours on their corporate websites 2-3 weeks before November. Independent restaurants announce openings on social media throughout October.

Search engines make this easier. Type Open now + Thanksgiving dinner in Google Maps. The platform filters by real-time live status.

You can also visit the restaurant's official website. Many brands post a dedicated Thanksgiving Hours page. Look for a notification bar at the top of the screen.

Restaurant review apps like Yelp often feature a "Thanksgiving Day Open" filter. This pulls only restaurants serving a full holiday meal that day. Check the "Offers" tab for special prix fixe deals.

What to Expect with Restaurant Thanksgiving Menus

Thanksgiving dinners at restaurants do not come cheap. Prices for a multi-course sitting dinner hover between $30 and $80 per person. Wine pairings push the total higher.

Most restaurants serve the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Some add non-traditional twists like prime rib or roasted duck as alternatives. Vegetarian options appear regularly, often featuring stuffed squash or lentil wellington.

Brunch service works differently than a dinner seat. Plenty of spots open early for a mid-morning meal. Mimosas flow, and the anxious kitchen debate over-side dishes feels distant.

The Pros and Cons of Eating Out on Thanksgiving

Crowds always slow down service. Expect a wait time of 30-60 minutes at peak hours. Reservations help, but do not guarantee instant seating.

Kitchens prep massive quantities of food. The stuff gets moved around quickly. Some dishes lose their fresh-pressed character compared to a stove-top turkey.

However, restaurants handle all the cooking stress. Dishes arrive pre-plated or family-style on giant platters. You eat dessert while your dishes get baked away. This lets guests linger and hold the conversation.

Quick Tips to Secure a Seat on Thanksgiving

Book early. The busiest restaurants fill their Thanksgiving reservations inside 48 hours of posting. If you miss the window, prioritize restaurants with a walk-in policy.

Double-check local opening times. Some locations open earlier than others even within the same city.

Stick to what is known, but leave room for discovery. A charming Italian bistro down the street might surprise you with a prix fixe menu you never saw coming. Always call first. Food safety requires a staffed kitchen that fully commits to the feast.