30+ Restaurants That Will Be Open on Thanksgiving This Year, Just in Case
More than 30 major restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day this year, including Boston Market, McDonald’s, and IHOP.
Other favorites, like Taco Bell and Chipotle, will remain closed on the holiday.
Be prepared to call ahead this Thanksgiving, as restaurants’ open locations may vary.
Traditionally, Thanksgiving is all about gathering with family and friends over a home-cooked meal—but on the off chance things go awry, why not have a back-up plan? If you undercook the turkey, burn the side dishes, or leave out a crucial ingredient altogether (by accident, of course!) it’s always a good idea to have something on the back burner.
It’s not that we’re anti-Thanksgiving dinner, of course, but if you find yourself in a bind, it’s best to know which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving Day in your area. Even if something goes wrong, there’s no reason to skip dinner entirely, after all.
Over 30 restaurants will welcome diners on Turkey Day this year. No matter if you’re celebrating with family, throwing a Friendsgiving get-together, or going it alone, you’ll be able to fill up your plate. (Many grocery stores will be open, too!) That’s something to be grateful for.
However, as the Delta variant spreads, Thanksgiving 2021 will be the second one impacted by the pandemic. Depending on your location, certain restaurants may be operating at reduced capacity for indoor dining, while others might be open for takeout only, much like last year; make sure you’re aware of local regulations (and restaurant policies) before planning to dine in with a large group. Plus, keep in mind that in certain areas, including New York City and San Francisco, you must show proof of vaccination before being served indoors.
Although this list only focuses on national fast food and casual chains, there are likely plenty of local restaurants open near you, too. We recommend calling ahead or checking on social media to see if they’ll be open!
Which restaurants are open on Thanksgiving?
If you’re craving a PSL to go with your pumpkin pie or you’re simply not feeling the holiday’s traditional fare, there are plenty of chains that have committed to staying open through a second pandemic-era Thanksgiving. Others haven’t made announcements quite yet, but have historically operated on Turkey Day. Here are the restaurants that should be open:
Applebee’s: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Bob Evans: All locations open.
Boston Market: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Buca di Beppo: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Buffalo Wild Wings: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Burger King: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Cracker Barrel: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Dairy Queen: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Denny’s: All locations open.
Del Taco: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Domino’s: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Dunkin’: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Einstein Bros. Bagels: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Golden Corral: All locations open.
Hooters: Some locations open. Call for hours.
IHOP: All locations open. Call for hours.
Jack in the Box: Most locations open. Call for hours.
McDonald’s: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Metro Diner: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Panda Express: Some locations open. Call for hours.
Peet’s Coffee: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Perkins: All locations open. Call for hours.
Popeyes: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Ruby Tuesday: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Sizzler: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Smokey Bones: All locations open. Call for hours.
Sonic: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Starbucks: Select locations open. Call or check online for hours.
Steak ‘n Shake: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Subway: Select locations open. Call for hours.
TGI Friday’s: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Tony Roma’s: Most locations open. Call for hours.
Uno Pizzeria & Grill: Select locations open. Call for hours.
Waffle House: All locations open.
Wendy’s: Most locations open. Call for hours.
White Castle: All locations open.
Which restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving?
If you’re craving any of the following restaurants on Thanksgiving, it’s best to wait until Black Friday, since they usually close during the holiday to let their employees celebrate at home:
Arby’s
Carrabba’s Italian Grill
Cava
The Cheesecake Factory
Chick-fil-A
Chipotle
Five Guys
In-N-Out Burger
KFC
Krispy Kreme
Little Caesars
Olive Garden
Outback Steakhouse
Pizza Hut
Red Lobster
Sweetgreen
Taco Bell
Texas Roadhouse
However you decide to spend the holiday, be sure plan ahead as best you can—it’ll be your best bet for finding the food that fits your ideal holiday dinner.
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