Restaurants open on Thanksgiving and Christmas in North Carolina (2026)

Holiday hours in North Carolina change every year, so the useful skill is knowing how holiday dining works, which kinds of places usually open and how to book. Here is how Thanksgiving and Christmas Day work in Charlotte, Raleigh, the Triangle, Asheville and the coast. Call ahead before you rely on any place.

Which kinds of places are usually open on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

Hotel restaurants are the most reliable, because their guests need meals. Many serve a Thanksgiving buffet or a set menu and take reservations weeks ahead. Some independent restaurants open for a set-menu dinner on Thanksgiving, often at a fixed price per person, and some close for the day to give staff time off. Chinese restaurants, Indian restaurants and other kitchens that do not mark the holiday often open on Christmas Day. Diners, 24-hour chains and some convenience stores stay open, though hours may be shortened. Supermarkets usually close on Christmas Day and have shortened hours at Thanksgiving.

Cities with large hotel districts, such as Charlotte and Raleigh, offer more choice than small towns. In a small town, one or two places may be open, and they will fill early. Casinos and resort lodges in the western mountains also run holiday meals, and visitors staying in cabins often rely on them. If you plan to cook in a rental, buy groceries a few days ahead, because supermarkets can close early on Christmas Eve and are shut on Christmas Day.

How do you find a restaurant that is open?

Start in early November for Thanksgiving and early December for Christmas. Look at local newspaper lists, which usually appear a week or two before the holiday, and at the restaurants' own pages, which post holiday hours and set menus. Then phone, because online listings may be wrong. Ask three questions: are you open, what is on the menu, and what is the price and deposit policy for my party size. Take note of the cancellation deadline.

What are the typical holiday formats?

A buffet lets guests serve themselves and suits a large group, and it usually includes turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pies. A set menu offers a fixed number of courses at a fixed price. A takeout dinner lets you pick up a complete meal, often a turkey with sides and desserts, for four to ten people, which must be ordered and paid for in advance. Catering companies and grocery stores run similar programs. Ask what is included and how to reheat it.

What about deposits and cancellation?

Holiday tables are scarce, so many restaurants ask for a deposit or a card number when you book. Read the terms: some deposits are credited toward your check, others are non-refundable, and some charge a fee per person for a late cancellation. Keep your confirmation email, and cancel as early as possible if your plans change. For a large group, confirm the headcount a few days before.

If you booked a holiday table months ahead, confirm it a few days before, since restaurants sometimes change plans or menus. Ask whether the menu has changed, whether there is a time limit on your table and whether children's pricing applies. Some set menus are priced per person including a drink, and others add drinks, tax and gratuity, so ask which applies.

Where are holiday meals especially popular?

Hotels in Charlotte, Raleigh and Asheville serve many visitors on both days. Resort areas such as the Outer Banks and the mountains have fewer open restaurants in December, and some are closed for the winter, so check hours well ahead. Cities with large international populations may have more options on Christmas Day, since many kitchens do not observe the holiday.

What if you wait until the last minute?

Be flexible. Call at opening time, ask about cancellations and consider a bar seat or an early or late time. A diner, a pizza place or a hot bar at a grocery store can fill the gap, and many gas stations sell sandwiches. If you are hosting guests, a takeout meal may be easier than a table. Always confirm that the place is open the same day.

Check whether a restaurant near you posts a holiday message on its page the day before, since a last-minute change may only appear there. If you must eat on the road, major highway exits usually have a chain restaurant open. Plan around the fact that holiday service can be slow because staff are fewer, and be patient. A thank-you to staff working the day goes a long way.

How do you tip on a holiday?

Holiday tipping practice is generous. The usual tip for table service is 18 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount, and many diners add more on a holiday when staff are working instead of being with family. Large parties often have an automatic gratuity, so check the bill before adding more.

What about children, allergies and dietary needs?

Many holiday menus include a children's plate. For allergies, tell the restaurant when you book and again when you arrive, because buffets and holiday kitchens are busy. Vegetarian and gluten-free options may be limited on a set menu, so ask in advance whether the kitchen can adapt.

How do you remember a holiday meal that worked in North Carolina?

The place that was open, welcoming and not rushed on a holiday is worth remembering for next year. Mosey is a food app for finding, rating and sharing places to eat, and it rates by the dish, so the Thanksgiving plate or the Christmas Day noodle bowl gets a score and a tag such as Family Friendly.

Keep those ratings in a list, share its invite link with the family you travel with and follow friends who stay in town over the holidays. Next November the list is your starting point.

Rate this year's holiday dish in the Mosey app.

More guides to read next:

• Where to eat in Chapel Hill and Carrboro: Franklin Street and the market
• North Carolina seasonal food calendar: what to eat in each month
• North Carolina State Fair food guide: what to eat and when to go

More in the US food guides and the ranked lists of places.