Between the hustle and bustle of buying gifts, attending holiday parties, and decorating the house, by the time Christmas Day rolls around, many people don’t have the energy or desire to deal with cooking a big meal. Even if the cooking part of the meal doesn’t sound so bad, clean-up and the dishes are the last thing anyone wants to do after a big holiday feast.
For those who decide they want to hit the “easy” button for their Christmas meal, here are some tips for last-minute Christmas day options to dine out.
You Forgot About Breakfast
It’s easy to work up an appetite opening Christmas gifts at 5:00 a.m. What if you have nothing in the house to eat for breakfast except a few candy canes and some leftover egg nog? No worries. While most major chains are closed on Christmas, Country Living reports that you can still find what you need at many Starbucks, Dunkin’, and McDonald’s. If you want to step it up a bit, check to see if there is a Waffle House, IHOP, or Denny’s near you that is keeping holiday hours.
Looking for Ingredients or Snack Food?
If you just need to pick up some milk for those mashed potatoes or someone in your family didn’t get enough treats in their stocking, you have options. According to USA Today, several places will remain open on Christmas Day to lend a hand. These include Walgreens and CVS stores, Wawa, 7-Eleven, and Cumberland Farms.
Dining Out on Christmas – the National Chains
At some point, you’re going to want a Christmas meal with your loved ones. You have more choices than you think. Money magazine reports that quite a few national restaurant chains stay open during the holidays. Some of these include Applebee’s (some locations), Chart House, Hard Rock Cafe (most locations), and Morton’s Steakhouse.
Chinese and Non-Western Restaurants
Not everyone gets excited about chain restaurants, even the fancy ones. One of the best tips for finding a delicious meal on Christmas Day is to look for a quality Chinese or other non-Western restaurant. These are often owned and staffed by people who typically don’t celebrate Christmas, so they are more likely to be open.
Chinese food on Christmas has become more than just an option; it’s become an institution in the United States. According to Google, the online searched for “chinese food” spike as much as 150% in the U.S. on Christmas each year.
The tradition began when Jewish families and others would flock to Chinese restaurants because they were the only thing open on Christmas Day. But it has evolved into a tradition that everyone enjoys. A lot of Chinese restaurants in cities around the world are open 365 days a year, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day.
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