Philadelphia Restaurants Open on Christmas Day
If whipping up a festive spread for the holidays isn't really your thing, a number of Philly restaurants open on Christmas Day can fill in the gap. Some eateries are serving customers on December 25th, while other restaurants open on Christmas Eve are planning special feasts that night, or offering takeout options. To make convenience a priority and spend more quality time with the fam this year, pick from our list of restaurants open on Christmas below, and let the professionals do the heavy lifting in the kitchen.
For all the ways to make holiday memories before and after the meal, don't miss the 30 Holiday Activities and Christmas Events for Kids. Get more stories like this sent straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters.
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Restaurants Open on Christmas in Philadelphia
Urban Farmer––Logan Square
This Logan Hotel eatery is offering a fantastic menu for Christmas Day. Takeaway service is also available on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve. Family-style meals include a choice of roasted 1855 beef ribeye or Pennsylvania ham with sides like Brussels sprouts, Yukon potato puree, and roasted winter vegetables, as well as a choice of coconut custard, sweet potato pie, or apple almond crumb pie. The full a la carte menu is also available. The restaurant is open for regular hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, 4pm to 9pm. Due to construction, the main entrance on Benjamin Franklin Parkway is currently closed. You can enter through the Logan Hotel, 1 Logan Square.
Dim Sum House––Rittenhouse and University City
Chinese cuisine is among the most reliable options for restaurants open on Christmas, and both of Philly's Dim Sum House locations will serve their regular selection of Cantonese and Shanghai dim sum on Christmas Day. Families can feast on dumplings, noodle dishes, and sticky rice with banana leaves, along with the rest of the restaurant's beloved dishes. Limited outdoor seating is also available.
Chima Steakhouse––Logan Square
Treat your family to a Brazilian Christmas right in the heart of Philadelphia at Chima. Guests can enjoy rodizio meats like top sirloin, filet mignon, and New Zealand leg of lamb along with sides such as eggplant salad and creamy mashed potatoes. The restaurant is accepting reservations from 4pm to 8pm on Christmas Eve and from 2pm to 8pm on Christmas Day. Children under from 7 to 11 are half off, and children under 6 eat free.
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Fogo de Chao is a meat lover's paradise.
Fogo de Chao––Center City and King of Prussia
After the kids have worked up an appetite unwrapping all those presents, this Brazilian-style steakhouse has two locations to sit down for a holiday meal. In Philadelphia and King of Prussia, Fogo de Chao is open on Christmas Eve from 11am to 1030pm and on Christmas Day from 11am to 9pm. Those who'd rather dine in comfort at home can order a holiday package to go which includes Filet Mignon or Roated Turkey au jus, along with your favorite Brazilian sides.
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Red Owl Tavern makes Christmas dinner a family-friendly affair.
Red Owl Tavern––Old City
Inside Old City's Kimpton Hotel Monaco, the Red Owl Tavern is open on Christmas Eve from 8am to 9pm and for limited hours on Christmas, from 8am to 2pm. À la carte options are available, and so is the regular kids' menu, with plenty of options for picky eaters.
Bank and Bourbon––Center City
Nestled inside the Loews Hotel, Bank and Bourbon offers a seasonal menu that includes entrees like Duroc Pork Chop, Sixty-South Salmon, Trout or a Roasted Amish Half Chicken, with sides like Roasted Baby Carrots and Smashed Fingerlings.
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Get delicious traditional Chinese food at Tom's Dim Sum.
Tom's Dim Sum––Chinatown
Craving traditional Chinese cuisine? Tom's Dim Sum is one of the best restaurants open on Christmas in the city for Chinese food. Guests can expect everything from dumplings and soup to rice and chicken, pork, and beef entrees. Takeout customers should order online in advance. The restaurant will be open for regular hours.
Dine on locally-sourced American cuisine for Christmas dinner at Square 1682.
Square 1682––Center City
Serving its classic brunch or traditional Christmas dinner, Square 1682 can please any appetite. The restaurant offers an array of vegetarian and gluten-free options and sources products locally. Typically, the Christmas menu is available on the website about two weeks before the holiday. Square 1682 is open on Christmas Day for regular hours.
Vernick Fish––Center City
The Four Seasons is lovely for a visit any time of year, so make a Christmas Eve reservation at Vernick Fish and see the grand hotel while you're there. The restaurant will finalize menus by mid-December and will have limited seating available for a special menu from 5pm to 8:30pm.
Parc––Rittenhouse Square
Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square is a particularly festive destination during the holidays, and on Christmas Day, longtime resident Parc is serving families its seafood-heavy menu laced with French flair. The full menu will be finalized by mid-December, and the restaurant will be open 10am to 8pm.
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Founding Farmers is offering a Christmas Brunch Buffet and a Christmas Dinner Buffet for the family to enjoy.
Restaurants Open on Christmas in the Philly Suburbs
Founding Farmers––King of Prussia
Bring the family to Founding Farmers in KOP for a Christmas Day Buffet, available from 9am to 8pm. Bacon lollipops, fried chicken, pancakes, and French toast star on this extensive menu. The buffet costs $43.99 for adults and $22 for kids ages 7-12. Kids 6 and under eat free. Choose options from the pasta table, seafood table, carving table, or supper table, with something sure to satisfy every appetite.
Tsunami—West Chester
If the kids have a hankering for Thai, Tsunami in West Chester is ready for your order. Indulge in sushi, tempura, fried rice, noodles, miso soup, and more. The restaurant will be open for dine-in and takeout from 12pm to 9pm on Christmas day.
1906 —Kennett Square
Open Christmas Day from 11:30am-6:30pm, 1906 at Longwood Gardens offers a prix fixe lunch and dinner. This year's menu items include local mushroom soup, winter squash salad, filet mignon, scallops, and salmon. Finish off the meal with a sticky toffee pudding, winter sorbet trio, or Yule log. The cost is $69 per person. Before or after eating, be sure to spend time touring the magical grounds, filled with lights and holiday decorations. Advance reservations are required.
Bocelli's— Doylestown
Families can enjoy delicious Italian cuisine at Bocelli's, which will be open on Christmas Day from 5pm-830pm. Chicken marsala, Caesar salad, pasta alla pomodoro, and crab and lobster ravioli are just some of the items on the menu. If you plan in advance, you can also order catering, with trays of appetizers (such as bruschetta or mozzarella salad), pasta, and entrees (such as chicken parm or baked eggplant), serving approximately 15 people each. The deadline for Christmas orders is a week before.
Lily Sushi & Grill— Kennett Square
For a great Asian restaurant open on Christmas in the suburbs, Lily Sushi & Grill has you covered. The Chester County restaurant has signature rolls, sushi, and sashimi. General Tso's shrimp, Chilean sea bass, and Alaskan salmon are seafood favorites. Teriyaki and hibachi options are also available. On Christmas Day, the restaurant will be open from 1030am until 930pm. It will also be open for extended hours on New Year's Eve, as well as regular hours on New Year's Day.
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From appetizers to main courses, Tredici Italian Market has it all.
Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve and Takeout Near Philly
Moshulu––Penn's Landing
While closed on Christmas Day, visiting Moshulu on Christmas Eve for brunch from 10am to 130pm. Its special dinner from 4pm to 8pm will make for some colorful holiday memories. Located on a tall ship at Penn's Landing, Moshulu offers indoor and outdoor dining on the decks, with takeout and delivery available. In addition to the Christmas Eve dinner, Moshulu will hold a New Year's Eve early dinner with a three-course meal from 3pm to 6pm and fireworks on the river at 6pm.
Barrel's Fine Foods––South Philadelphia
Trust us when we say it's worth a little planning to have a delicious holiday dinner from Barrel's. This South Philly restaurant serves antipasto, salads, appetizers, pastas, seafood, chicken dishes, and hoagie trays. Call in advance to place your order by December 22 for pick up on the 24th.
Buca di Beppo—Multiple Locations
Celebrate Christmas with authentic Italian cuisine. Buca di Beppo's Exton location is closed on Christmas Day, but customers can pick up catering on Christmas Eve. Catering requires at least 24 hours' notice, but the kitchen recommends ordering several days early to be certain. Options include eggplant parmesan, chicken saltimbocca, penne a la vodka, ravioli, an assortment of vegetables, and pizza.
Normandy Farm––Blue Bell
Enjoy a special Christmas Eve dinner from 4pm to 9 pm on December 24 at Normandy Farm with a five-course prix fixe menu. Entrees include center-cut filet, broiled lobster, sweet potato gnocci, with a soup course, salad course, and desserts like gingerbread hazlenut bread pudding, orange cherry trifle and chococlate peppermint pot de creme. Or pick up some holiday confections to jazz up your Christmas day celebrations, by ordering such delights as salted caramel apple pie, creme brulee pie, or a chocolate yule log. The bakeshop items must be ordered at least 48 hours in advance and can be picked up on December 22nd or 23rd.
Tredici Italian Market––Wayne
Plan ahead and enjoy some Italian delicacies, which can be picked up from December 19th through December 24th from Tredici Italian Market. All orders must be placed by 3pm on December 12th. Options include appetizers such as Italian wedding soup, Italian antipasto, cheese boards, sausage stuffed mushrooms, mini crab cakes, and mini meatballs. Entrees feature six different chicken options, meatballs, maple glazed ham, three different beef dishes, and crab cakes, as well as a selection of pasta, sides, and extras like a holiday quiche (Italian sausage with sage and cranberries).
Wayside Market––Media
The Wayside Market in Media offers an impressive holiday catering menu, with options for four people, 10 people, or à la carte. Order by December 17th for pick-up or delivery on December 24th. The menu will be released in early December but typically includes items such as Chicken Cordon Bleu, honey spiral ham, pineapple stuffing, mac 'n' cheese, scalloped potatoes, and garlic red bliss potatoes, with chocolate or vanilla cake for dessert. The market will be open until 3pm on December 24th for picking up holiday orders.
Wilson's Secret Sauce––Upper Darby
What better time than Christmas for comfort food like BBQ and deep-fried corn on the cob? Wilson's Secret Sauce in Upper Darby will take catering orders until December 19th to be picked up on December 24th. Choose from a variety of delicious entrees like rack of ribs, brisket, pulled pork, and grilled chicken breast, and sides like baked beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, or potato salad. The restaurant provides gluten-free options for many dishes upon request.
Writer Alyce Wilson contributed to a 2022 update.
All photos courtesy of the restaurants.
Places featured in this article:
Appetites on Main
Red Owl Tavern
Buca diBeppo
Longwood Gardens
Buca di Beppo
Barrel's Fine Foods
Tom's Dim Sum
Lily Sushi & Grill
Chima Steakhouse
Bank and Bourbon
Fogo de Chao–Society Hill
Wayside Market
Wilson's Secret Sauce
Vernick Fish
Tredici Italian Maket
Dim Sum House
Dim Sum House
Normandy Farm