Are fast food restaurants open on Thanksgiving and Christmas?

It depends on the chain and the store. A few chains close every location on Thanksgiving and Christmas, while others keep most stores open with hours that vary by location, so check the specific restaurant before you go.

Chick-fil-A is the clearest case. The company says all its restaurants are closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, and that hours may differ on other holidays. Most locations open on Christmas Eve unless it falls on a Sunday, though hours may be shorter.

Many big chains are franchised, so the owner of each store often decides whether to open. That's why two locations of the same chain can keep different holiday hours.

What's open on Christmas Day

For Christmas 2025, KRQE reported that most locations of these chains planned to open:

• McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Jack in the Box and Arby's
• Starbucks and Dunkin'
• Denny's, IHOP and Waffle House

The same report listed Chick-fil-A, In-N-Out, Raising Cane's, Taco Bell and Culver's as closed on Christmas Day. It also said hours may vary and to confirm your location's hours online or in the company's app. Chains can change these plans from year to year, so treat last year's list as a starting point.

Thanksgiving works the same way. Unless the chain closes every store, check the app or call the location that day.

Late Night Food Spots shows a holiday warning that hours may differ on holidays, and each listing shows the date its hours were last verified.