33 Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving to Save You from Cooking

Hosting your family for Thanksgiving can be fun, but it can also be insanely stressful. If you’re done with cooking and want to leave the meal prep to someone else, dining out is a great alternative to preparing a feast at home.

Not sure where to take your crew for a tasty holiday meal? We’ve rounded up a list of restaurants that are open on Thanksgiving. Many of them even have special holiday menus!

(And if you’d rather something even more casual, check out our list of fast-food spots open on Thanksgiving for a drive-thru dinner.)

Applebee’s

On Thanksgiving, select Applebee’s restaurants nationwide will be open. Customers are encouraged to check ahead to confirm hours for their local restaurant.

Bahama Breeze

Bahama Breeze restaurants will be open between noon and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Bar Louie

Bar Louie restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving with happy hour specials (3 — 6 p.m.), including signature martinis and a house cocktail for $8, as well as bar-bite specials between $8—10.

Bonanza and Ponderosa Steakhouses

Bonanza and Ponderosa Steakhouses will be open on the holiday. The buffet will include traditional Thanksgiving delicacies and other items, including roasted turkey, baked ham, fried chicken, meatloaf, butterfly shrimp, baked mac and cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls and dessert.

Brio Italian Grille

Brio Italian Grille will be open on Thanksgiving between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. for dine-in and will feature a holiday menu with white turkey meat and sides. The chain’s typical Italian specialties will also be available.

Bravo! Italian Kitchen

Bravo! Italian Kitchen will be open on Thanksgiving between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. for dine-in and will feature a three-course holiday menu with white meat turkey and sides in addition to the restaurant’s typical Italian specialties.

Chevys Fresh Mex

Chevys Fresh Mex is offering a three-course meal on the holiday at participating locations for $35 for adults and $12 for kids. The meal comes with a mixed greens salad, roasted turkey with mole sauce, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet corn tamalito, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie.

Cracker Barrel

Cracker Barrel will be open typical hours on the holiday and will feature a special Thanksgiving menu featuring a Thanksgiving Turkey N’ Dressing Meal (turkey with gravy, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole with pecans, green beans, dinner rolls and pumpkin pie).

Del Frisco’s

To celebrate Thanksgiving, Del Frisco’s will have a special holiday menu featuring a 38-ounce bone-in New York king cut, sweet potato casserole, and a marshmallow pecan crumble.

Denny’s

Many Denny’s restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving. Customers should check the company’s website to check on local hours.

Eddie Merlot’s

On Thanksgiving, Eddie Merlot’s will have a roasted turkey dinner ($49 per person) featuring roasted turkey, sage stuffing, brown gravy and cranberry relish. Customers have a choice of several side dishes, a starter and dessert. Additionally, the restaurant also has a holiday menu for kids ($24).

Eddie V’s

Eddie V’s restaurants will be open between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

El Pollo Loco

On Thanksgiving, 75 El Pollo Loco locations will be open. Customers can check the company’s website to see if their local restaurant will be open.

El Torito

Participating El Torito locations will offer an all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet featuring a turkey and ham carving station, apple-jalapeño stuffing, chipotle-honey sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, taco station, Mexican favorites, soups and salads, dessert bar, unlimited Champagne and more.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will be serving a three-course holiday menu (starting at $65 per person) on Thanksgiving.

The meal features herb-roasted turkey, filet mignon or prime bone-in rib-eye followed by a starter, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans with apricots and onions, cinnamon orange cranberry sauce and dessert. Customers can also order from the full dinner menu and a childrens three-course menu ($31).

Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão restaurants will be open between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Golden Corral

Golden Corral restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Extended hours will be available in select markets. The chain will feature holiday specials like a whole-roasted turkey, bone-in pork roast and holiday glazed ham.

Happy Joe’s

Happy Joe’s restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving with hours varying by location.

Hard Rock Cafe 

Hard Rock Cafe will be open for customers who don’t feel like cooking on Thanksgiving. The restaurant will serve the regular menu and a special holiday menu featuring turkey breast, roasted veggies, stuffing, sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce and gravy and a pumpkin pie.

IHOP

IHOP restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving. Customers should verify their local hours ahead of time as hours vary.

Kona Grill

All Kona Grill locations will be open between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. For guests who are feeling traditional, the restaurant is offering macadamia nut crusted turkey breast with miso mashed potatoes, green beans, shoyu cream sauce, and ginger-yuzu infused cranberry sauce for $38 per person. A traditional roasted turkey meal with sides is also available for $35 per person.

Macaroni Grill

Macaroni Grill restaurants will be serving a three-course roasted turkey dinner on Nov. 28 for $34 per person. The regular menu will also be available. To check your local restaurant’s hours, call ahead or visit the company’s website.

Maggiano’s 

Maggiano’s will have a three-course meal available on Thanksgiving with prices starting at $46.99 for adults and $17.99 for kids. Customers get two entrée selections, pasta, sides and desserts. Hours vary by location.

McCormick & Schmick’s

McCormick & Schmick’s will offer its typical dinner menu and a Thanksgiving turkey dinner on the holiday.

The special meal will come with a starter (butternut squash bisque or walnut mixed greens salad), sliced roasted turkey, cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce and seasonal vegetables. The meal costs $39 for adults and $15 for children.

Perry’s Steakhouse

On Thanksgiving, Perry’s Steakhouse is running a special $49 menu that comes with customers’ choice of a starter, smoked turkey breast with gravy, mashed potatoes, green bean almondine, cranberry relish, bread and more.

Additionally, the restaurant’s new Caramelized Prime Rib Dinner and its full dinner menu will also be available.

Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday restaurants will open for business at 11 a.m. local time on the holiday.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Ruth’s Chris Steak House restaurants are open for business between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Seasons 52

Season 52 restaurants will be open between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on the holiday.

Sizzler

On Thanksgiving, participating Sizzler locations will be operating during regular hours and will serve a holiday meal featuring oven-roasted turkey breast, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, green beans with almonds, stuffing, cranberry sauce, cheese toast and pumpkin pie. The meal starts at $18.99 and varies by location.

Smokey Bones

Smokey Bones restaurants are scheduled to be open between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving and will serve smoked turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy green beans, cornbread, dessert and more.

STK Steakhouse

Between Nov. 28 and Dec. 1, STK Steakhouse will offer a roasted free-range turkey meal with sides and trimmings for $64 per adult and $29 per child (12 and under). The restaurant’s nationwide locations will be open on Thanksgiving between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Sullivan’s Steakhouse

Sullivan’s Steakhouse has a roasted turkey Thanksgiving menu available on the holiday. The special costs $51 per person and includes roasted turkey, sweet onion apple sausage stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, a starter, two sides and a dessert. The restaurant also has a kid’s menu for $25 and the typical dinner menu will also be available.

The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille will open its restaurants between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. on Thanksgiving.

Waffle House

Waffle House restaurants are open all day every day, including Thanksgiving.