Restaurants Open on Christmas in Philadelphia

Urban Farmer — Logan Square

This Logan Hotel eatery is offering a fantastic menu for Christmas Eve and 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 Brussel sprouts, Yukon potato puree, and roasted winter vegetables, as well as a choice of bourbon pecan, sweet potato pie, or Dutch apple 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.

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. Note that both locations are open on Christmas Eve, but only the Rittenhouse Square location is open on Christmas Day.

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 9:30pm 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 roasted turkey au jus, along with your favorite Brazilian sides. Advanced notice of 24 hours is required for to-go orders.

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 for limited hours on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for their weekly Mimosa brunch. À la carte options are available on Christmas Eve, 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 for a Christmas Buffet 2pm-9pm that includes entrees like spiral ham and whole roast salmon, with sides like roasted baby carrots and smashed fingerlings. Adults are $80. Children are $30.

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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. The restaurant offers a special Christmas Eve menu, 5pm-9-pm. Square 1682 is open on Christmas Day for brunch and lunch but closed as usual on Sundays for dinner 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 host a special take on the Feast of the Seven Fishes on December 23 and 24. It will have limited seating available for a special menu from 5pm to 10pm.

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 10pm for brunch, lunch, and dinner.

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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 2pm. The buffet costs $55 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 Eve and Christmas Day from 12pm-7pm, 1906 at Longwood Gardens offers a prix fixe lunch and dinner.  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-8:30pm. 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 at least two days in advance.

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 10:30am until 9:30pm. It will also be open for extended hours on New Year's Eve, as well as regular hours on New Year's Day.

RELATED: Philadelphia Restaurant Guide for Families

Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve and Takeout Near Philly

Moshulu — Penn's Landing

While the restaurant is closed on Christmas Day, you can visit Moshulu on Christmas Eve for brunch from 10:00am to 2:00pm. 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 2pm 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 with seatings from 5pm-10pm on December 24 at The Farmer's Daughter at Normandy Farm with a five-course prix fixe menu. 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.

From appetizers to main courses, Tredici Italian Market has it all. 

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 11th. 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 15th 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 1pm on December 24th for picking up holiday orders.

All photos courtesy of the restaurants. Writer Hillary Moses Mohaupt contributed to updates in 2023.