The cost, food choices, and ambiance can vary dramatically at these restaurants—as is to be expected. All of the restaurants on our list feature special prices for children, kid-friendly food, or both. One hot tip: make reservations! Did you wait until the last minute and can't find a reservation open? There's always Marie Callender's—it only takes reservations for groups of eight and up, so a smaller family can just show up!

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving on the Westside

1. Inn of the Seventh Ray — Topanga

$86 for adults (five-course meal), $42 for kids 12 and under (three-course meal)
If you have a family with vegans and meat-eaters, this is the Thanksgiving destination for you. The menu features a 5-course meal for adults and a 3-course meal for children, including free-range turkey or the vegan option of "faux" turkey with all the fixings. Both options offer an assortment of salads, soups, and pies. The Inn's special kids' menu also includes the option of turkey or faux turkey. Nestled in Topanga, it is gorgeous every day of the year, but extra special on Thanksgiving. Indoor or outdoor seating is available; when eating here with kids, we love to bundle up and sit outside so they can play creekside when they get restless.

2. Blue Streak — Santa Monica

$95 for adults, $35 for kids 10 and under
It's traditional turkey dinner meets traditional California lifestyle when you have dinner at the restaurant at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. On the menu: a family-style feast of traditional turkey, plus seasonal accompaniments including cornbread stuffing, baked yams with marshmallow topping, salads, desserts, and more. On the itinerary: a beach walk before and after dinner, to work up an appetite and then to stave off the tryptophan effects.

3. Dear John's — Culver City

$125 prix fixe
The three-course meal is hosted from 3pm-7:45pm and includes a mix of traditional Thanksgiving fare along with unique options like sand dabs in lemon caper butter and wild mushroom ravioli. The desserts are particularly appealing, with choices including Mascarpone cheesecake with raspberries, pumpkin pie with vanilla bean ice cream, or apple crumble pie with vanilla bean ice cream. While the price is the same for adults and kids, the fare is kid-friendly and delicious.

RELATED: Thanksgiving Activities Guide for Families

 
It's a splurge, but worth it, to have Thanksgiving at Craft LA. Photo courtesy of Craft LA

4. Craft LA — Century City

$160 prix fixe, children five and under are free
Tom Colicchio's Craft LA is one of the most renowned restaurants in the city and it's open for Thanksgiving! The three-course prix-fixe dinner includes salad or scallop starters and main course options like free-range turkey, Alaskan halibut, or Wagyu ribeye. Sides include stuffing, sweet potato puree, green beans, and cranberry sauce. Finish off the gourmet meal with pumpkin roll or dutch apple pie. This is our splurge pick for families wanting a traditional meal (that kids will love) that's a special occasion foodie delight.

5. Thanksgiving Cruises — Marina Del Rey

$94.90 for adultsx, $74.90 for kids 4-12
This year City Experiences is hosting a series of Thanksgiving Day brunches across the Southland. Departing from Marina Del Rey are two buffet cruises, one for brunch and the other for Thanksgiving dinner. The brunch cruise is two hours long with live entertainment, a buffet-style meal, and all-you-can-drink champagne and mimosas. The dinner cruise is two and a half hours long and includes a buffet-style Thanksgiving dinner. With so many things to look at, kids are entertained while parents linger over the meal.

RELATED: 50 Thanksgiving Crafts, Games, and Activities for Kids and Families

 
Got game? Photo courtesy of the Saddle Peak Lodge

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in the Valleys

6. Saddle Peak Lodge — Calabasas

$130 for adults, $65 for kids 12 and under
This restaurant is perfect for Thanksgiving, as it focuses on old-fashioned game, which is what our traditional turkey used to be. Sitting in stunning Malibu Canyon, it's also a beautiful place to escape for Thanksgiving dinner. The Thanksgiving menu includes a four-course meal for adults and a two-course meal for kids 12 and under. Bison tartare or braised pork belly might start you off before a main course of turkey, elk tenderloin, black cod, or wagyu beef short ribs. Decadent desserts include pumpkin pie, fudge brownies, and bread pudding.

7. Castaway — Burbank

$92 adult brunch, $35 brunch for kids 5-12
Choose from entrees like crab cake Benedict, wild mushroom pasta, and of course turkey at Castaway's four-course Thanksgiving brunch. For the adults, enjoy the bottomless Mimosa for $30. The brunch is served from 10:30am to 3:30pm with an a la carte dinner, featuring a traditional turkey special, from 5pm to 9pm.

RELATED: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2022: Where to Watch, What's New

Outdoor dining by the fire for the whole Thanksgiving crew. Photo courtesy of The Front Yard

8. The Front Yard — Studio City

Menu details and prices haven't been confirmed yet for 2022; check with the restaurant before booking. 
The Front Yard gives thanks this year with a special Thanksgiving dinner. This buffet-style dinner includes roasted butternut squash soup, tandoori roasted turkey, and most exciting of all, a banana split station! This tucked-away spot with a spacious patio has become a local staple; discover it for yourself.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Central LA

9. Fleming's Steakhouse — Multiple locations including DTLA

$57-82 per adult meal (depending on entree), $16-$29 per kids' meal (depending on entree)
Fleming's has several locations throughout the city, including Downtown LA, Pasadena, El Segundo, Rancho Cucamonga, Woodland Hills, Anaheim, and Newport Beach. The three-course meal includes soup or salad; turkey, filet mignon, or ribeye; and cheesecake or carrot cake for dessert. The shared sides include mashed potatoes, green beans, and cranberry sauce. There's also a specific kid's menu, though it has mostly the same entrees, sides, and desserts as the main Thanksgiving menu, with the addition of a mac-and-cheese for picky eaters.

RELATED: Best Holiday and Christmas Activities for Families in Los Angeles

 
Tucked away in an art gallery, Manuela itself is a work of art. Photo courtesy of Manuela DTLA

10. Manuela — DTLA

$85 for adults, $35 for kids 10 and under
Manuela's Thanksgiving feast has a family-style twist on the holiday meal. The first course and sides are shared amongst the table, family-style, while the main course and dessert are ordered individually. There are also vegetarian and vegan options that can be selected when reserving your table. This restaurant is tucked into a corner of an art gallery and is a wonderful and unique space with fantastic food.

Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving in Long Beach and the South Bay

11. Terranea Resort — Palos Verdes

$119 for adults, $59 for kids 5 to 12, kids under 5 are free
The Terranea Resort has several dining options that are open on Thanksgiving but the centerpiece is its Thanksgiving Ballroom Buffet. Located in the Palos Verdes Ballroom, the buffet has six seatings from 12:30pm–5pm and features a festive carving station plus menu options including seafood, pasta, braised meat, fresh vegetables, and a dessert bar. Additional restaurants at the resort are also open on Thanksgiving. There's no prettier spot for Thanksgiving, and you can walk off the meal with a cliff or tidepool hike after dining.

12. Sevilla — Long Beach

$49.50 for three courses
Though known for its Spanish-style tapas, Sevilla's theme for a three-course meal this year is "Thanksgiving from Another Feather," which means a non-traditional beer glazed duck is on the menu, followed by a unique spin on a pumpkin dessert: pumpkin empanadas. If the appeal of tapas is too much for you to resist, the dinner menu is also available on Thanksgiving.

13. Thanksgiving Dinner Cruise — Long Beach

If you want to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner out on the water, City Experiences offers a Thanksgiving dinner cruise from Long Beach. The cruise is two and a half hours long and includes a chef-prepared, buffet-style dinner, DJ entertainment, and cocktails for purchase. 

RELATED: Thanksgiving Jokes for Kids They'll Gobble Up

 
Save room for dessert at Tavern House Kitchen + Bar. Photo courtesy of Tavern House Kitchen + Bar

Orange County Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

14. Tavern House Kitchen + Bar — Newport Beach

$70 for adults, $30 for kids
Tavern House is back with its 4th annual Family Feast. The menu features a wide selection that ranges from traditional herb-roasted turkey and pepper-roasted prime rib to more modern selections like the Santa Fe Caesar Salad and Vegetable Cornucopia Plate. For dessert, choose from strawberry cheesecake, Southern pecan pie, or traditional pumpkin pie. If you don't feel like dining in, order ahead from the Thanksgiving To-Go menu. 

15. Ruth's Chris Steak House — Multiple locations

$44 for adults, $15 for kids
Like Fleming's, Ruth's Chris Steak House is a large chain with locations throughout the country. In the LA area, restaurants are located in Irvine, Anaheim, Woodland Hills, Pasadena, and Marina Del Rey. This year the steak house is offering a dine-in Thanksgiving dinner as well as a takeout option. The dine-in menu includes roasted turkey breast, sausage and herb stuffing, and cranberry relish, and includes your choice of soup or salad; sides like potatoes, sweet potato casserole, or creamed spinach; and a chef's-choice dessert.

Inland Restaurants Open on Thanksgiving

16. Pomona Valley Mining Company — Pomona

$47 for adults, $20 for kids
Enjoy Thanksgiving dinner with a view! This traditional Thanksgiving buffet features roast turkey, carved ham, and prime rib as entrées, and loads of fresh pies and pastries for dessert.

RELATED: Kid-Friendly Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Los Angeles

 
Want to make sure you don't have a dried-out turkey? Get an over-ready brined turkey. Photo courtesy of Akasha

Restaurants for Thanksgiving Takeout in Los Angeles

17. Akasha Restaurant — Culver City

\With takeout from Akasha, you'll avoid dried-out turkey from reheating—instead, they have a "take and bake" oven-ready brined turkey that comes with herb butter, turkey stock, and easy roasting instructions. The sides include herb-roasted mushrooms, mashed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, candied sweet potatoes, roasted Brussels sprouts, and more. Gravies, desserts, and more options let you assemble the perfect no-cook Thanksgiving feast for your family. Just be sure to order by November 16! Meals can be delivered on November 23 or 24.

 
This might be our favorite special meal takeout in town. Photo courtesy of the Huckleberry Cafe

18. Huckleberry Cafe — Santa Monica

The Thanksgiving take-out menu at Santa Monica's Huckleberry Cafe gives you plenty of options including various sizes of Mary's Organic turkeys, sold fully roasted or raw with an included roasting rack. The restaurant also offers roasted beef tenderloin, Scottish salmon, and for smaller gatherings, roasted organic turkey leg and thigh. There are many salad options as well as traditional Thanksgiving sides like stuffing, mashed sweet potatoes, roasted vegetables, gravy, and more.

19. Buca di Beppo — Multiple locations

$105 (feeds three) or $192 (feeds six)
Everyone's favorite family-style Italian restaurant offers takeout every Thanksgiving. This traditional turkey feast can be prepared cold for heat-and-eat or hot if you'd like it ready to serve on Thanksgiving. If you feel like adding on a few classic Italian dishes, no sweat—just add them to your order.

Happy Thanksgiving, and bon appétit!

Originally published November 7, 2016