The Ultimate 2024 Guide: 30+ Restaurants Open On Thanksgiving Day (Plus Menus & Reservation Secrets)

Jan 10, 2026 • minute read

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Planning a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner this November 28, 2024? You're not alone. The trend of dining out or ordering a prepared feast is skyrocketing, driven by the desire to skip the hours of cooking and the dreaded mountain of post-holiday dishes. This comprehensive 2024 guide details the major national restaurant chains that will be open on Thanksgiving Day, offering everything from traditional turkey dinners to their standard menus, ensuring your holiday is delicious and relaxing. Whether you're traveling, hosting a smaller gathering, or simply want to reclaim your day, knowing which restaurants are open and what they offer is the key to a seamless holiday. We've compiled the most current information, including which popular spots—like Chick-fil-A and Chipotle—are definitively closed, so you can make your plans with confidence and secure those crucial reservations well in advance.

The Definitive List of Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day 2024

Securing a reservation or planning a quick, casual meal requires knowing your options. This list is categorized by dining style to help you find the perfect Thanksgiving experience, from upscale steakhouses to family-friendly diners.

Family & Casual Dining (The Traditional Turkey Feast)

These restaurants are the go-to for a classic, comforting Thanksgiving meal without the fine-dining price tag. They often offer special holiday menus alongside their regular fare.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store: Confirmed open with a special one-day dine-in menu featuring homestyle holiday favorites. They also offer their famous Heat & Serve meals, which start at the same price as last year (around $114.99 for a full feast) and are available for pre-order, perfect for those who want to eat at home without the cooking.
Bob Evans: Confirmed open and serving a special premium dinner that includes both slow-roasted turkey and hickory-smoked ham. For a take-home option, their Premium Farmhouse Feast serves 8–10 people and is packed cold for easy heating.
Golden Corral: Confirmed open and offering their legendary Holiday Buffet. While hours may vary, they typically operate from the morning until early evening (e.g., 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM), providing a wide array of all-you-can-eat options, including turkey, ham, and all the traditional sides.
Denny's: The quintessential 24/7 diner is a reliable choice and is confirmed to be open all day and night on Thanksgiving. They often feature a special holiday menu, like their popular Turkey & Dressing Dinner.
IHOP: Like Denny's, most IHOP locations remain open 24 hours a day, including Thanksgiving, offering a relaxed environment for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Waffle House: A true holiday hero, Waffle House is confirmed to be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, making it a guaranteed option for travelers or those seeking a non-traditional meal.
Boston Market: Open for dine-in and a popular choice for pre-ordered, fully cooked Thanksgiving meals, which can be picked up cold or hot.
Ruby Tuesday: Many locations will be open, often featuring a special holiday plate or buffet alongside their standard menu.
Applebee's: Hours are typically reduced and vary by location, but many Applebee's restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day.

Upscale & Fine Dining (The Reservation-Required Experience)

For a truly luxurious and stress-free holiday, these restaurants offer multi-course Thanksgiving menus that require advance booking.

Ruth's Chris Steak House: A perennial favorite for Thanksgiving, offering a traditional three-course turkey dinner with all the trimmings, in addition to their full dinner menu.
The Capital Grille: Confirmed to host Thanksgiving, offering a special dinner plate for dine-in guests. Reservations are highly recommended and should be secured early.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: Confirmed open, offering a special multi-course Thanksgiving meal. They often open early (e.g., 11:00 AM) and also offer their full dinner menu.
Morton's The Steakhouse: Confirmed to be offering a four-course Thanksgiving meal for dine-in guests.
Seasons 52: Open regular hours, offering a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. They also provide a "Green Box" for guests who prefer to take their holiday meal home.
Eddie V's Prime Seafood: Confirmed to be open, offering a special Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Casual & Specialty Chains (A Mix of American and Global Flavors)

These chains offer a break from the traditional turkey and stuffing, catering to those who prefer Italian, seafood, or comfort food.

Red Lobster: Many locations are expected to be open, offering their full seafood menu.
Bahama Breeze: Confirmed to be open, often featuring a Caribbean-inspired Thanksgiving meal alongside their regular menu.
Buca di Beppo: A great option for large families, Buca di Beppo is typically open and offers a special Thanksgiving feast served family-style, featuring sliced turkey, gravy, and Italian-American sides.
Bravo Italian Kitchen & Brio Italian Grille: These sister restaurants are generally open and offer a special Thanksgiving prix-fixe menu.
Bar Louie: Confirmed open, offering a more social, bar-and-grill atmosphere for the holiday.

Essential 2024 Thanksgiving Dining Tips: Reservations, Hours, and Takeout

Dining out or picking up a prepared meal on Thanksgiving is a fantastic way to enjoy a stress-free holiday, but it requires strategic planning. The popularity of "Turkey Day" restaurant meals means that availability is limited and time is of the essence.

The Golden Rule of Reservations for 2024

The best time to make your Thanksgiving dinner reservations is now. For upscale restaurants like Ruth's Chris, The Capital Grille, and Fleming's, reservations often open up 30 to 60 days in advance and the most desirable time slots (2:00 PM to 6:00 PM) fill up quickly. Many of these restaurants will be fully booked by the first or second week of November. Check OpenTable, Resy, or the restaurant's direct website immediately. If your preferred time is full, call the restaurant directly to be added to a waitlist.

Why Dining Out is the New Holiday Tradition

Choosing to eat out on Thanksgiving Day is a growing trend, and for good reason. The primary benefit is the dramatic reduction in holiday stress.

Zero Prep Work: You eliminate days of grocery shopping, brining, and chopping.
No Dish Duty: Perhaps the most compelling reason—no massive cleanup after the meal.
More Time with Family: Instead of spending the day in the kitchen, you can focus on watching the parade, football, or simply spending quality time with your guests.
Variety and Quality: Restaurants offer professionally prepared, high-quality meals with diverse options that can cater to various dietary needs or preferences (e.g., a seafood lover doesn't have to settle for just turkey).

Check Local Hours and Confirm Takeout Options

Even for chains confirmed to be open, local hours and participation may vary, especially for fast-food and casual dining. For example, while McDonald's and Burger King typically have many locations open, these are often individually owned franchises that set their own holiday hours. Always call your local branch or check its official website/app before you go. If you are opting for a "Heat & Serve" meal from places like Cracker Barrel or Bob Evans, be aware of the pre-order and pickup deadlines. These meals are incredibly popular and often require pre-payment and a scheduled pickup time in the days leading up to Thanksgiving (usually Tuesday or Wednesday).

The Chains That Are Closed: Know Before You Go

While many restaurants embrace the holiday dining rush, several major chains choose to close their doors to give their employees the day off. Knowing these closures is just as important as knowing what's open to avoid disappointment on Thanksgiving Day 2024.

Major Restaurants Confirmed Closed on Thanksgiving 2024

The two most prominent fast-food chains that maintain a strict "closed on major holidays" policy are confirmed to be closed again this year:

Chick-fil-A: All U.S. locations are definitively CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, a long-standing policy to allow team members to spend time with family and friends.
Chipotle Mexican Grill: Confirmed CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day 2024. They will be open the day before and on Black Friday with regular hours.

While most major grocery stores and convenience stores will be open for limited hours, always assume that most non-essential retail and fast-casual restaurants not listed above will be closed. Avoid a last-minute scramble by confirming the operating status of any smaller or local restaurant you plan to visit.

Dining Options by Cuisine and Price Point (Entity List)

To help you decide, here is a breakdown of the types of experiences and relevant entities available on Thanksgiving Day 2024:

Traditional American Feast:

Cracker Barrel
Bob Evans
Boston Market
Golden Corral (Buffet)

Steakhouse & Upscale Dining:

Ruth's Chris Steak House
The Capital Grille
Morton's The Steakhouse
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse
Seasons 52
Eddie V's Prime Seafood

Casual & All-Day Diners:

Denny's
IHOP
Waffle House
Applebee's
Ruby Tuesday

International & Specialty:

Buca di Beppo (Italian)
Bravo Italian Kitchen
Brio Italian Grille
Bahama Breeze (Caribbean)
Red Lobster (Seafood)

Limited/Varying Fast Food:

McDonald's (Check Local Hours)
Burger King (Check Local Hours)
Domino's (Check Local Hours)
Starbucks (Check Local Hours)

Confirmed Closed:

Chick-fil-A
Chipotle Mexican Grill

The Ultimate 2024 Guide: 30+ Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving Day (Plus Menus & Reservation Secrets)

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