Whether you celebrate Christmas Day or you simply go to the movies on December 25, the hardest part of the holiday is finding an open restaurant to grab a meal. The struggle is just as real on New Year's Day, as the whole country takes a moment to breathe before plunging ahead into 2024.
Luckily, there are a few chain restaurant chains in Canada that remain open on these holidays, along with several others that leave the choice up to individual store owners. That means you might just be able to recover from New Year's Eve with a cup of Tim Hortons or Starbucks, if your local coffee shop owner doesn't mind opening up on New Year's Day.
But which chains can you count on to feed you on the quietest holidays of the year?
We've rounded up the national restaurants that are typically open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day as a little holiday gift to you. You'll still want to check the hours at any individual restaurant before you go, but these are your best bets in general for finding a meal on December 25 and January 1.
It's also a smart move to look up your favourite restaurants on OpenTable, just to see if they're taking reservations on Christmas Day or New Year's Day. The last thing you want is to show up hungry and find out there are no spots left for you!
Here are the national chains that are most likely to be open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Pizza Pizza
Select locations open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Any day is a good day for pizza, and that includes Christmas Day.
Pizza Pizza will be hit or miss depending on the franchise owner, but if you really want some pizza with your creamy garlic dip, you stand a decent chance of finding a Pizza Pizza that'll serve you.
In the past, some Pizza Pizza locations have operated at a lower level on holidays. That means you might be able to get walk-in service, though delivery or call-ahead pickup might not be available.
Domino's
Select locations open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
While we're on pizza, you might have luck with Domino's over the holidays. There's nothing stopping these stores from opening on Christmas or New Year's Day, so give one a call and see who picks up.
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
Open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
If you're looking for something classy that's almost certainly going to be open, you can't go wrong with Gyu-Kaku. The Japanese restaurant chain is open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day and you can even book a table well ahead of time, just to be sure you've got your spot.
Gyu-Kaku has locations in Vancouver, Richmond, Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, so if you're in a major hub, this is a great option.
McDonald's
Select locations open Christmas Day and New Year's Day
What better gift is there to buy yourself on Christmas morning than a nostalgic "adult Happy Meal" from McDonald's Canada?
McDonald's franchise owners can decide whether they want to be open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, so check your local store's hours online before you visit. Also, if you're lucky enough to live near a McDonald's that's open 24/7, don't assume they're open on holidays. Hours may differ!
Starbucks
Select locations open Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Don't bet on your local Starbucks being open on December 25, but don't give up, either. If you're craving a specialty coffee on Christmas Day, simply look up the Starbucks nearest to you and you might get lucky.
Tim Hortons
Select locations open Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Once again, check your local Tim Hortons' hours on Google before heading out, but some locations might be open on December 25 and January 1.
Subway
Open New Year's Day
Subway Canada restaurants are typically closed on Christmas Day and open on New Year's Day, though with reduced hours. Check your local Subway restaurant's hours before visiting just to be sure.
The Mandarin
Open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Ask somebody to name one restaurant that's open on Christmas Day, and chances are they'll say "The Mandarin."
It's an unofficial tradition among Jewish people to eat Chinese food on Christmas Day, and that's partly because many Chinese restaurants are simply open when others are not. In fact, your favourite local Chinese restaurant just might be open on Christmas Day.
However, since we're talking about national chains, we definitely have to talk about The Mandarin. Most of their locations are open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day in Canada, though you can expect to pay a little extra for the buffet due to holiday pricing.
The Mandarin has a special holiday buffet menu in effect from December 6 until January 1, so you can get a taste of the season whether you're celebrating or not. The menu includes Hawaiian baked ham, sticky toffee pudding and a holiday chocolate cake.
Also, if you're really craving a roast turkey dinner on Christmas Day and you don't want to make it yourself, you can get it at the Mandarin. They've got turkey and all the fixings on the buffet menu from December 23-27.
This list is not exhaustive but it will give you a head start with figuring out where to eat on Christmas or New Year's Day.
Just remember that many malls are closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day, so don't count on getting food from a food court unless you're going somewhere like Pacific Mall near Toronto.
Regardless of where you are, hotel restaurants are also a good option for dinner over the holidays. They know they're hosting people without kitchens and so of course they'll want to have meals available for guests — and maybe you, too.
Happy holidays!
This article's cover image was used for illustrative purposes only.
