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By David Kim•Last Updated May 14, 2025

Holiday Fast Food Guide: What’s Open on Christmas and New Year’s Day

Holiday fast food guide: what’s open on Christmas and New Year’s Day

The holiday season brings joy, celebration, and sometimes, the need for a quick meal. Whether you’re travel, take a break from cooking, or only crave your favorite fast food, know which restaurants remain open during major holidays can save you time and prevent disappointment. This comprehensive guide cover which fast food chains you can count on during Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Fast food options on New Year’s Day

New Year’s Day oftentimes find many people recover from celebrations or want to start the year with convenience. Luckily, wellwell-night food restaurants recognize this demand and remain open, though some may operate with modify hours.

Major chains open on New Year’s Day

The follow national fast food chains typically remain open on New Year’s Day:

McDonald’s

most locations open regular hours, with some 24 hour locations maintain their round the clock service.
Burger King

broadly open, though hours may vary by location.
Wendy’s

most locations maintain regular hours.
Taco Bell

open at most locations, potentially with reduce hours.
KFC

typically open, though some locations may close betimes.
Subway

most franchises remain open, but hours vary wide.
Chick-fil-A

open with regular hours at most locations.
Popeyes

broadly open with regular hours.
Arby’s

most locations open with normal operating hours.
Five guys

typically open, though hours may bbe adjusted

Coffee and breakfast options

If you’re look for coffee or breakfast to start the new year:

Starbucks

most locations open, though hours may bbe reduced
Dunkin’

broadly open, but hours vary by franchise.
IHOP

most locations maintain regular hours, with some evening offer special new year’s promotions.
Waffle house

famous for ne’er close, all locations remain open 24/7, include nNew Year’s Day

Pizza chains

For those craving pizza on New Year’s Day:

Domino’s

most locations open with regular hours.
Pizza Hut

broadly open, though some franchises may adjust hours.
Papa John’s

typically open with normal operating hours.
Little Caesars

most locations open, but hours may vary.

Fast food options on Christmas day

Christmas day present a more challenging scenario for fast food enthusiasts, as many chains close totally to allow employees time with family. Nonetheless, some reliable options remain available.

Major chains open on Christmas

The follow fast food restaurants typically have at least some locations open on Christmas day:

McDonald’s

select locations remain open, peculiarly in high traffic areas, airports, and along major highways. Hours are oftentimes limited.
Burger King

limited locations open, mainly in travel centers and high tourist areas.
Domino’s

some franchises open, but with reduce hours and staff.
Dunkin’

select locations open, typically with shorten hours.
Starbucks

many locations open, peculiarly in metropolitan areas, though with modify hours.

Chains typically close on Christmas

The follow fast food chains mostly close all locations on Christmas day:

Chick-fil-A

close on cChristmasday at all locations.
Taco Bell

most locations close, with rare exceptions.
Wendy’s

typically close at all locations.
KFC

broadly close nationally.
Subway

most franchises close.
Arby’s

typically close at all locations.
Five guys

normally close on cChristmasday.

Reliable Christmas day options

If you need guarantee service on Christmas day, these chains are your best bet:

Waffle house

all locations remain open 24/7, include cChristmasday.
IHOP

many locations open, though with potentially reduce hours.
Denny’s

most locations remain open 24/7, include all holidays.
Chinese restaurants

while not traditional fast food, many independent cChineserestaurants remain open on cChristmasday and have become a tradition for many families.

Convenience stores and gas stations

When traditional fast food options are limited, convenience stores and gas stations can provide quick meal solutions:

7-Eleven

most locations remain open 24/7, include all holidays.
AWA

typically open on both cChristmasand nNew Year’s Day oftentimes with regular hours.
Sheet

most locations maintain 24/7 service throughout the holidays.
Outstrip

mostly open on all holidays.
Casey’s

many locations open, though hours may bbe reduced

Tips for holiday fast food dining

Call beforehand to confirm

Evening chains that typically remain open during holidays may have location specific policies. Individual franchisees oftentimes have the discretion to adjust hours or close exclusively, peculiarly on Christmas day. Call beforehand to confirm operating hours can save you an unnecessary trip.

Expect limited menus

Restaurants open during major holidays oftentimes operate with reduce staff and may offer limited menus. Special promotional items might be unavailable, and service may be slower than usual due to staffing constraints.

Be prepare for crowds

The limited number of open restaurants during holidays mean those that do remain open oftentimes experience higher than normal traffic. This is peculiarly true for Christmas day, when options are scarce. Consider order beforehand if possible, or be prepared for potential waits.

Check delivery apps

Food delivery services like Uber eats, DoorDash, and Grubhub can provide real time information about which restaurants are presently accept orders. Nonetheless, delivery services themselves may operate with reduce capacity during major holidays.

Plan alternative options

For Christmas day in particular, have backup plans is wise. Consider purchase ready to eat meals from grocery stores before the holiday or prepare simple meals that require minimal effort.

Regional fast food chains

Beyond national chains, regional fast food restaurants have varied holiday policies:

New Year’s Day regional options

In n out burger

most locations open with regular hours.
Whataburger

typically open 24/7, include nNew Year’s Day
Culver’s

mostly open, though hours may vary.
Bo jangles

most locations open with regular hours.
Raising cane’s

typically open, potentially with adjusted hours.

Christmas day regional considerations

Most regional chains close on Christmas day, with few exceptions:

Whataburger

select locations may remain open, peculiarly 24 hour stores.
White castle

some locations maintain cChristmasday hours.
Jack-in-the-box

select locations may remain open, particularly in high traffic areas.

Holiday specific promotions

Some fast food chains that remain open during holidays offer special promotions or limited time menu items:

New Year’s Day specials

Many restaurants capitalize on New Year’s Day with hangover friendly menu items or special deals:

Expand breakfast hours at chains like McDonald’s and Burger King
Special combo deals design for share
Limited time menu items theme around luck or new beginnings
Delivery promotions with reduce or waive fees

Christmas day offerings

The few chains open on Christmas sometimes acknowledge the holiday with:

Festive packaging or limited edition cups
Holiday theme desserts or drinks
Family meal bundles design to serve multiple people
Special operating hours announce via social media

Plan beforehand for holiday meals

Pre-order options

Some fast food chains allow pre-ordering for holiday pickup:

Boston market

offer complete holiday meals available for ppre-orderand pickup before cChristmas
Popeyes

sometimes offer ppre-orderedholiday cCajunturkeys.
Cracker barrel

provide heat and serve holiday meals available for pickup before cChristmas

Grocery store alternatives

When fast food options are limited, many grocery stores offer prepared foods that solely require reheat:

Rotisserie chickens and pre make sides
Deli sandwich platters
Pre make salads and appetizers

Consideration for workers

While convenient for customers, it’s worth to acknowledge that holiday operations require staff to work when many others acelebratedate with family. If visit fast food restaurants during holidays:

Consider express gratitude to workers who are provided service
Be patient with potentially reduce staff and proficient wait times
Tip munificently when applicable, peculiarly for delivery services

Conclusion: plan your holiday fast food strategy

When it comes to fast food during the holidays,New Year’s Dayy offer considerably more options thanChristmass day. Most major chains maintain regular or somewhat modify hours onNew Year’s Dayy, whileChristmass day see limited availability mainly at selectMcDonaldd’s locations,Starbuckss, and 24 hour operations like waffle house andDennyy’s.

The key to successful holiday fast food dining is advance planning. Check restaurant websites or social media pages for holiday announcements, call specific locations to confirm hours, and have backup options ready. With proper preparation, you can satisfy your fast food cravings evening during the nigh festive times of the year.

Remember that holiday hours can change yearly and vary by location, hence verify current information before head out is e’er the wisest approach. Whether you’re will grab a quick bite during holiday travels or seek an alternative to home cooking, understand your fast food options will ensure you won’t go hungry during the holiday season.