Restaurants open on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving in New York

Many New York restaurants close on Christmas Day, and some also close on Thanksgiving, yet the city has long had places that stay open, and holiday meals are a New York tradition. Know which kinds of restaurants tend to open, book early and call on the day.

Which restaurants are usually open on Christmas Day?

Three groups tend to open. Chinese restaurants have a long tradition of opening on December 25. Jewish delis and appetizing counters often stay open. Indian, Thai and other restaurants run by families who do not observe the holiday also tend to open. Hotels, steakhouses and big-name restaurants often serve special menus. Hours change every year, so call ahead.

How far ahead should you book?

Book holiday meals as soon as the restaurant opens its calendar, often in early November. Popular spots fill well ahead, and restaurants sometimes change holiday hours with little notice. For a large party, call and ask about a set menu. If you cannot book, aim for a late lunch, when demand is lower, and have a second choice.

What about Christmas Eve?

Christmas Eve is easier. Most restaurants serve dinner, and some Italian-American restaurants serve a seven-fishes meal, a tradition of seafood dishes on that night. Local news outlets publish a list each year of places open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Read the latest one and then call.

What is open on Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday of November, and holiday hours change every year, so call ahead. In general, many restaurants offer a fixed-price Thanksgiving dinner, hotels host large buffets, and some diners and delis open for the day. A number of restaurants close so that staff can be with their families. Look for announcements from early November.

What do holiday menus cost?

Fixed-price holiday menus often cost more than the usual menu, and some require a prepaid deposit. Read what is included, whether a tip or a service charge is added, and the cancellation terms. Remember sales tax. A buffet is a set price per person, and children are often charged less.

What if you cannot find anything?

Delis, bagel shops, convenience stores and hotel restaurants often have food. Pizza shops and Chinese restaurants are the most reliable late-day options. Delivery is available in some areas, but delivery services reduce hours around holidays and add fees. Another option is to cook: many grocery stores open on Thanksgiving morning and sell prepared holiday meals that need only reheating if you order ahead.

How should you behave on a holiday?

Staff working on a holiday often receive extra pay, but they give up time with family. Tip generously, arrive on time, and be patient. If your party grows, tell the restaurant. Say thank you.

What are the traditions behind Christmas Day dining?

The custom of eating Chinese food on Christmas Day is often traced to Jewish New Yorkers, for whom December 25 was an ordinary day and for whom Chinese restaurants were among the few open, since the owners also did not celebrate the holiday. The tradition has become part of city life, and the restaurants that stay open are part of its story. Deli meals, Indian dinners and movie-and-dinner outings are other common ways to spend the day. If you want a traditional holiday dinner, hotels and steakhouses often offer a set menu, though those fill earliest. Keep in mind that the practice is a custom and not a promise: each restaurant decides its own hours each year.

How do you handle a last-minute plan?

If you have no booking, start your search at midday on the day and call restaurants directly. Check for a waitlist or a cancellation list. Look for neighborhoods with large communities that do not observe the holiday, including Flushing, Jackson Heights and Chinatown. Ask a hotel concierge, since concierges often know which restaurants are open. Carry cash for places that prefer it, and be flexible about the time. A late lunch on December 25 is easier than a dinner. If you cannot find a table, a deli takeout meal in a park is a New York way to enjoy the day.

Whatever you choose, confirm on the day. Weather, staffing and demand can change a plan, and a restaurant that was open last year may be closed this year. Save the phone number, keep the confirmation email, and arrive a few minutes early, since holiday traffic and crowded subways make everything slower. If you are traveling with older relatives or small children, ask about step-free access and a quiet table, and choose a time that fits their routine.

Plan a holiday meal early and have a second option. Book as soon as the restaurant opens its reservations, read the cancellation terms, and ask whether a fixed menu applies. If you are traveling, have a plan for the day itself, since stores, delis and transit change their hours. Call a restaurant on the day to confirm it is open, because holiday schedules shift from year to year and from location to location. Allow extra time for travel, and bring cash in case card machines are slow.

How do you remember where you ate on the holidays?

The restaurant that saved your Christmas Day is worth remembering next year. In the Mosey app, rate the dish you ate, add a tag such as Celebration or Family Friendly, and keep the place in a list for the holidays. Share the list with family and friends who are planning with you, and they can add their own finds. Hours change every year, so the list is a shortlist of places to ring, and your ratings tell you which dishes were worth the booking.

Rate your holiday dinner in the Mosey app and start next year's list today.

More guides to read next:

• Manhattan Chinatown food guide: dim sum, dumplings and bakeries
• Tipping and sales tax at New York City restaurants (2026)
• East Village food guide: Little Ukraine, St. Marks and 6th Street

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