25+ Food Places Open On Thanksgiving 2025: Your Ultimate Guide To Dine-In, Takeout, And Last-Minute Groceries

Planning your Thanksgiving feast for 2025 just got a whole lot easier. This year, Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday, November 27, 2025, and while many businesses close their doors, a surprising number of restaurants, grocery stores, and fast-casual dining spots remain open to serve those who prefer to skip the cooking, need a last-minute ingredient, or are traveling. From traditional turkey dinners to international cuisine and quick-service options, this guide is your essential, up-to-date resource for finding a great meal on the holiday.

Whether you’re looking for a formal sit-down meal with family, a convenient heat-and-serve feast to enjoy at home, or just a place to grab a coffee and a quick bite, we’ve gathered the most current information on the food places open this Thanksgiving. Always remember to call ahead to your local branch, as hours and menu availability can vary significantly by location.

The Ultimate List of Major Restaurant Chains Open for Thanksgiving Dinner 2025

For many families, dining out on Thanksgiving Day has become a cherished tradition, eliminating the stress of cooking and cleanup. These major restaurant chains are widely expected to be open on November 27, 2025, offering special holiday menus or their full regular menu. Reservations are highly recommended for any sit-down service.

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• Cracker Barrel: A long-standing holiday favorite, Cracker Barrel will be open for dine-in service, offering their famous "Thanksgiving Plate" featuring turkey, dressing, gravy, and all the fixings. They also provide popular "Heat n' Serve Meals" for those dining at home.
• Bob Evans: Expect a special "Thanksgiving Platter" for dine-in guests, which includes slow-roasted turkey, dressing, and a slice of pie. They also offer a comprehensive "Holiday Hot Family Meal" for takeout.
• Denny's: As a 24/7 diner, Denny's is a reliable option and will be open all day. They often feature a seasonal holiday menu alongside their full regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings.
• IHOP (International House of Pancakes): Similar to Denny's, most IHOP locations will be open, serving their full menu of pancakes, omelets, and other comfort food favorites throughout Thanksgiving Day.
• Golden Corral: Known for its extensive buffet, Golden Corral typically offers a special Thanksgiving Day buffet that includes turkey, ham, and a wide variety of holiday sides. Takeout options, serving six to eight diners, are also usually available.
• The Capital Grille: For a more upscale dining experience, The Capital Grille is often open, serving a special, sophisticated three-course Thanksgiving menu. Reservations are almost always required well in advance.
• Maggiano's Little Italy: Maggiano's will be open, featuring a special three-course Thanksgiving menu that blends traditional holiday dishes with their signature Italian-American classics. Note that locations may close early, typically around 8 p.m. local time.
• Perry's Steakhouse & Grille: This upscale chain is expected to offer a special Thanksgiving Day, dine-in menu, often priced per person, from late morning into the evening.

Convenient Takeout and Pre-Order Thanksgiving Feasts

If you want a home-cooked feel without the hassle, ordering a fully prepared meal to-go is the perfect solution. Many restaurants and specialty food stores offer complete Thanksgiving catering packages that only require heating.

Top Thanksgiving Takeout Options for 2025

• Boston Market: They are a go-to for holiday takeout, offering a variety of hot, ready-to-serve options, including full buffets and individually plated meals. This is ideal for those who decide last-minute.
• Buca di Beppo: This Italian-American restaurant often offers family-style Thanksgiving meals for both dine-in and catering/takeout, featuring classics like sliced turkey and Italian sides.
• Romano's Macaroni Grill: Known for its family-style Italian food, Macaroni Grill is another chain that typically remains open and offers holiday meals to-go.
• Chompie's Restaurant: This local favorite often opens on Thanksgiving, serving fresh-from-scratch turkey and fixings, but usually closes early, around 4 PM.
• Local Restaurants and Cafes: Keep an eye on regional spots like Lockspot Cafe or Michael's On East, which often host special Thanksgiving dinners with pre-order takeout options and limited menus.

Fast Food and Quick-Service Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day

For travelers, those working the holiday, or anyone who just needs a quick bite, many fast-food and quick-service chains keep their doors open. While most operate with reduced hours, they are a reliable source for a non-traditional holiday meal.

Fast-Casual and Quick-Service Entities

It's important to note that most fast-food chains operate on a franchise model, meaning the decision to open or close is often made by the individual owner. However, these chains traditionally have a high percentage of open locations on Thanksgiving:

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• McDonald's: Many locations, especially those near highways or in city centers, will be open, though hours will be reduced.
• Starbucks: A great option for coffee and a light breakfast, many Starbucks locations will be open for a limited time in the morning.
• Wendy's: A significant number of Wendy's locations are expected to be open for those craving a burger or fries.
• Popeyes: If you're looking for an alternative to turkey, many Popeyes locations will be open for their famous fried chicken.
• Waffle House: The Waffle House is famous for almost never closing. You can count on them for a pecan waffle or a full breakfast at nearly any hour.
• Arby's: A good number of Arby's restaurants will be open, offering a quick and easy meal option.
• Buffalo Wild Wings: Some locations may open in the late afternoon or evening to cater to those looking to watch football games.

Always check the specific location's hours using their app or calling ahead to confirm they are serving on November 27, 2025.

Grocery Stores Open for Last-Minute Thanksgiving Shopping 2025

The biggest panic on Thanksgiving morning is realizing you forgot the cranberry sauce or need one more stick of butter. Fortunately, several major grocery chains will be open for last-minute shopping, though typically with significantly shortened hours.

Grocery Stores with Limited Thanksgiving Hours

Most grocery stores that open on Thanksgiving Day will close early, often in the mid-afternoon. Plan to complete your essential shopping before noon to be safe.

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• Kroger (and Family Stores): Stores in the Kroger family are expected to be open for limited hours but will close early. Hours can vary significantly by location.
• Albertsons: Most Albertsons locations are expected to be open, often from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but checking your specific store's hours is crucial.
• Food Lion: Many Food Lion stores will be open, with some locations closing as early as 3 p.m.
• ACME Markets & Giant Food: These regional chains are also commonly open with reduced holiday hours for last-minute needs.
• Central Market: Certain regional gourmet markets like Central Market are expected to be open, often from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For prepared holiday meals, stores like Whole Foods Market and Big Y also offer pre-ordered, fully cooked Thanksgiving dinners and catering options for pickup, which can be a lifesaver.

Essential Tips for Dining Out or Ordering Takeout on Thanksgiving 2025

Successfully navigating dining out or ordering a holiday meal requires a little preparation. High demand and limited staffing mean you need to plan ahead to avoid disappointment on November 27th.

Reservations, Ordering, and Timing

1. Make Reservations Immediately: For any sit-down restaurant like Maggiano's, The Capital Grille, or even Cracker Barrel, securing a reservation is non-negotiable. Prime dining times (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) book up weeks in advance.

2. Confirm Takeout Deadlines: Prepared meals from entities like Bob Evans’ Farmhouse Feast, Cracker Barrel’s Heat n' Serve, or Whole Foods catering often have strict pre-order deadlines, sometimes as early as November 25th, 2025. Missing this window means you cannot get the meal.

3. Verify Hours of Operation: Do not rely on standard operating hours. Almost every restaurant and grocery store open on Thanksgiving will close earlier than usual. Call your local branch directly to confirm their hours for November 27, 2025.

4. Expect a Limited Menu: Many fine-dining and family restaurants will only offer a special, fixed Thanksgiving menu, rather than their full a la carte selection. This streamlined process helps their kitchen handle the holiday rush.

5. Be Patient and Tip Well: The staff working on Thanksgiving Day are sacrificing their holiday to serve you. Expect longer wait times for both dine-in and pickup orders, and show your appreciation with a generous tip.