Christmas Dinners To-Go 2020: Restaurant Specials: San Diego Co.

Susan C. Schena
·10 min read

SAN DIEGO COUNTY — For those keen on keeping the holidays kitchen-hassle-free, San Diego-area State restaurants abound with takeout offers for Christmas and New Year's Eve dinner celebrations.

And for the restaurant industry — battered this year with COVID-19 restrictions and shutdowns — ordering at-home holiday feasts also boosts business for those struggling eateries.

We've selected some standout offers throughout the region — from traditional to the more exotic — to fit all tastes and budgets. Peruse the list to see what appeals near you.

And wishing all our readers Happy Holidays and a very Happy New Year, from Patch!

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BLACK ANGUS STEAKHOUSE: The chain is featuring a "Holiday Family Meal" ($99 for four people) with prime rib, horseradish, au jus, mashed potatoes or rice pilaf, broccoli, eight chocolate chip cookies and molasses bread. This to-go special is available starting Christmas Eve, Dec. 24 through Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve. Individual menu options also available. Orders can be placed herefor take-away or curbside pickup. Click here to find a Black Angus location near you.

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BOSTON MARKET: Holiday Heat & Serve meals are on the menu for a hassle-free celebration. Chilled meals feature entrees, appetizers, sides and pies to feed four to 12 and start at $10 per person. Options include: rotisserie prime rib; spiral–sliced ham; whole roasted turkey; or a combination of turkey breast & honey-glazed ham. A la carte entrees, sides and whole pies can be pre-ordered for pick-up through Jan. 1 (excluding Christmas Day). Details here. There are 24 Boston Markets throughout California.

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BUCA DI BEPPO: A four-course, "Holiday Cake Boss" package can be ordered featuring salad, pasta, an entree and for dessert — a six-inch holiday cake from The Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro & Carlo’s Bakery. While supplies last. Info here. All California locations here.

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CAFE GRATITUDE: Keep it festive with such specials as plant-based, flavor-filled pies and sides as Cranberry Roasted Butternut Squash & Garnet Yams ($30), Maple Miso Brussels Sprouts ($35), Persimmon & Pomegranate Salad ($35), or Executive Chef Dreux Ellis' gluten-free Maple Pecan Spice Cake, Tuscan Apple Cake and Mocha Cheesecake. Also on the takeout menu: DIY Holiday Cookie Kits, plant-based and gluten-free, free of artificial colorings and shortening, with red frosting colored with beet juice, and green frosting made with matcha powder. Place orders online or in-store by Dec. 20 for pick-up Dec. 23 by 9 p.m. at Café Gratitudes in San Diego, Los Angeles, Newport Beach and Venice.

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CARDELLINO: Trust Restaurant Group’s Chef Brad Wise is serving up a Prime Rib Dinner to-go this Christmas Eve. Available for pick-up at Cardellino in Mission Hills, each dinner includes a 12-ounce slice of prime rib, mixed greens salad, truffled mashed potatoes, green beans, horseradish cream and jus. Sweet add-ons include Pastry Chef Jeremy Harville’s homemade Apple Crisp (feeds two) and Mr. Trustee ice cream. Raise a toast with one of TRG’s holiday cocktails to-go or a bottle of wine. Dinner is $45 per person. Dessert and beverages are available for an additional cost. Place orders by Dec. 21 for pick up Dec. 24 at Cardellino, 4033 Goldfinch St. in San Diego. Preorders can be placed here.

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CHEVYS FRESH MEX: "Holiday Feast To-Go" options include a 10-person, $160 selection or an individual, three-course meal for $26. Orders required with 24-hour notice for pick-up through Dec. 25. The 10-person selection includes: chicken flautas; a dozen tamales; fajita bar with fixings; salad; enchiladas; guacamole, chips & salsa; and a whole pecan pie. The individual meal offers salad, ham or tri-tip entree with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, apple-jalapeno stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet corn tamalito and cinnamon crisp cheesecake. Details here. Find locales in California.

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DEL TACO: The chain is celebrating “Happy Tamaledays” with a new slate of seasoned, shredded pork tamales and a Tamale Fiesta Pack with 12 tamales for the whole family, Salsa Casera and utensils. Location finder here.

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EDDIE V'S: Order from the takeout Holiday Menu, featuring four courses with shrimp-cocktail, starter, salad, dessert and entree choice of tenderloin or sea bass, plus sides. Find restaurants here (San Diego, Palm Desert, Newport Beach and La Jolla) and call soon if you wish to order.

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EL POLLO LOCO: For the holidays, El Pollo Loco is bringing back three classic favorites: Tamale Bowls; Chicken Pozole Verde; and Mexican Hot Chocolate. Also on the holiday menu: 10- and 14-piece family dinners. Locations here for El Pollo Locos.

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EL TORITO: Pick up a "Holiday Feast To-Go," for up to 10 people or an individual, three-course meal, through Friday, Dec. 25 with 24-hour notice. The 10-person feast offers: Chile Colorado or carnitas; one dozen tamales; taco bar with fixings; enchiladas; Mexican Caesar salad; and whole pecan pie. Individual meal offers: Mexican Caesar; ham or tri tip; mashed potatoes; green bean casserole; apple-jalapeno stuffing; gravy, cranberry sauce; sweet corn cake and cinnamon crisp cheesecake. Find California locations here.

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FARMER BOYS: Farmer Boys is serving its seasonal, fan-favorite Boston Clam Chowder and Scratch-Made Chili. Made with potatoes and sea clams, the chowder is simmered in broth and seasoned with herbs and spices, while the chili is made with 100% pure beef, a proprietary blend of spices and topped with cheddar cheese and onion. The duo is available at all locations for a limited time. Location finder here.

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FOGO DE CHAO: New to-go packages on the holiday menu serve up to six people and start at $130. This limited-time, takeout deal includes a choice of roasted turkey, lamb steak, picanha and more – plus Brazilian takes on such classic holiday sides as sweet potato casserole, Brazilian Sausage & Apple Dressing, sautéed asparagus, cranberry relish and Candy Cane Fudge Brownies for dessert. Pre-ordering and 24-hour advance notice is required. For Christmas Eve pick-up or delivery, order by Tuesday, Dec. 22. For Christmas Day, order by Wed., Dec. 23. Delivery where available. See website here. Locations in San Jose, San Francisco, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, San Diego and Irvine.

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FRESH BROTHERS: A new, holiday special running through the end of 2020 is a Lasagna Family Meal, which serves six to eight for $39 and includes a tray of lasagna, 12 Fresh Knots and a Caesar or fresh salad. Also new to the menu is a Wings Bundle, ($49.99) with three new sauces – Nashville Hot, Mango Habanero and Korean BBQ, plus 50 baked wings. Fresh Brothers locales are throughout Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, Orange County and San Diego.

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GELSON'S: The Southern California markets are offering holiday dinner options, plant-based or traditional, for groups as large as 12 or small as two. Choices included roasted turkey, prime rib and brisket, plus plant-based hazelnut cranberry roasts. Featured sides: mashed potatoes; cornbread stuffing; green bean casserole; and butter-flake dinner rolls. Deli & catering, as well as fresh meat and seafood, can be added. All Christmas orders must be placed by Dec. 23. For a list of complete meal and a la carte selections and to place pre-orders, go here. Find your nearest Gelson's here.

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IHOP: The Holiday Family Feast, a four-serving, pancake-party kit with Sweet Milk Mousse, OREO® Cookie Pieces, glazed strawberries and festive sprinkles, comes with with eight buttermilk pancakes, hash browns, scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage, is available for delivery, curbside pick-up and pick-up inside for $27.99. Details here. Location finder here.

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JIMMY JOHN'S: Patrons can enjoy $5 off any order of $20 or more, using promo code “5OFF20” through Dec. 20 before placing an order online or via Jimmy John’s App for curbside pickup or contactless delivery. See California locales here.

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MARIE CALLENDER'S: Select from six, take-home feasts with options for ham, turkey, prime rib or a combo. Dinners include trimmings and such sides as mashed potatoes, creamed corn, salad, cornbread and pie. See info here. Find your nearest Marie Callender's here.

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MR. TRUSTEE: Trust Restaurant Group’s Mr. Trustee in San Diego is crafting festive beverages for the whole family – with an option to add “holiday spirit” for those 21 and up. Hot holiday drinks are available from Mr. Trustee’s pick up window in Mission Hills and include: Apple Cider with an apple slice, cinnamon stick and orange. Make it boozy with Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye, +$6; Candy Cane Hot Chocolate with a candy cane and peppermint Chantilly. With Baileys, +$6; and Marshmallow Hot Chocolate with marshmallow whip and graham cracker cookie. With Maker’s Mark, +$6. The beverages are available to-go Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mr. Trustee is at 4033 Goldfinch St., San Diego.

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MORTONS'S THE STEAKHOUSE: A three-course, prix-fixe "Chateaubriand Menu" can be ordered for Christmas Eve and Day for pick-up. $75 per person with a two-person minimum. See details here. Find locations here.

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PATXI'S PIZZA: On New Year's Eve throughout California, Patxi’s Pizza is offering 20% off all takeout orders and any 14-inch, thin-crust specialty pizza for $20. Both offers will be available Dec. 31 only and can be redeemed in-person or via phone, app or online with code BYE2020, and no minimum purchase is required. Follow this link for details. Patxi’s Pizza shops are located here.

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PIEOLOGY PIZZERIA: Celebrate the season with daily specials using Pie Life Rewards App. Running through Christmas Eve, Pieology offers: Dec. 20: crust upgrade; Dec. 21: A surprise & delight; Dec. 22: $2 off custom pizza; Dec. 23: $5 off $25 purchase; Dec. 24: BOGO. Customers who order ahead for pick-up get 10% off when using promo code “10OFF” at checkout. Also guests who purchase $25 in gift cards by Dec. 31 receive free Pizza Bonus Card to use through Jan. 31. Find California shops here.

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PIZZA HUT: Pizza Hut is delivering the Triple Treat Box for the holidays, with three courses in one festively wrapped box. Each Triple Treat Box features a three-in-one meal, with two medium one-topping pizzas, five breadsticks and 10 Cinnabon® Mini Rolls. The meal is for a limited time at traditional Pizza Hut locations nationwide, starting at $20.99. Find your nearest Pizza Hut here.

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RED LOBSTER: Party platters galore are on the menu for to-go or delivery and sure to appeal to seafood lovers. Don't miss this year's Limited-Edition Cheddar Bay Biscuit Holiday Gift Boxes. Or select the “Give a Gift, Get a Gift” holiday gift-card promo through December with every $50 spent on Red Lobster gift cards purchased in-restaurant or online, including two bonus coupons to be used in January and February. Details here.

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RUBIO'S COASTAL GRILL: The long-time holiday tradition, Langostino Lobster, is back on Rubio’s menus through Jan. 5. Drizzled in warm, garlic-herb butter, Langostino Lobster this year is featured in the new Puerto Nuevo Burrito, the Langostino Lobster Bowl and a new Puerto Nuevo two-taco plate that includes a Langostino Lobster Taco and Original Fish Taco®. Rubio's locations here.

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RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE: "Chef's favorite" prix-fixe meals feature a starter, entrée & a personal side and can be ordered for pick-up or delivery. Options include a "Celebration Surf & Turf," with two lobster tails and choice of filet. See promo details here. Locations here.

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If you know of other standout, restaurant holidays specials, share with Patch readers in the comments sections.

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FOR REGION-SPECIFIC GUIDES:

This article originally appeared on the San Diego Patch