Thanksgiving dinner – the home owner’s greatest spectacle. You spend weeks perfecting your Pinterest board with festive recipes and inviting friends and family… Only to witness dishes pile to the ceiling, as your guests shuffle crumbs off their laps onto your once spotless floors. Rather than throwing a fit over painfully awkward conversations and runny gravy, throw in the towel on cooking Thanksgiving dinner, altogether. Your family might shun you at first for depriving them of deviled eggs and stuffing, but so what? Tell them to count their blessings and choose from one of the12 fast food restaurants open on Thanksgiving.
Fast Food Restaurants Open On Thanksgiving in 2019
You’re probably wondering: what restaurants are open on Thanksgiving near me? From drive throughs to sit-down restaurants, we have the run down on what’s open, what’s closed, and what Thanksgiving hours you can expect to see on the big day.
1. Boston Market
Presumably one of the safer Thanksgiving takeout options is Boston Market, offering everything from a whole roasted turkey to vegetable stuffing and cranberry walnut relish. Order a turkey meal for six, including six large sides and cornbread for just $42.54.
And if you can’t escape the Macy’s Day Parade or family political debates, don’t sweat it. Boston Market will deliver a fully-prepped Thanksgiving meal right to your doorstep. Most locations are open for at least part of the holiday, but double check your local spot’s hours to be sure you can score that whole pumpkin pie before you get the whole family excited.
Boston Market Thanksgiving Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
2. Starbucks
All of America is wondering the same thing: Is Starbucks open on Thanksgiving? And fortunately for you, you can still get your caffiene fix on the holiday. Not exactly a Thanksgiving dinner, but Starbucks offers seasonal flavors including pumpkin and cranberry-based beverages and baked treats.
Plus, Starbucks has taken pumpkin spice to a whole new level. They started with the ever-so-popular Pumpkin Spice Latte and have expanded their menu to include: a Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea Latte and a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino Blended Creme. The pumpkin offerings don’t stop there. They’ve also got pumpkin bread and a pumpkin cream cheese muffin. And if you need something to balance out all of that sweetness, you can try the holiday turkey and stuffing panini for less than $7.
Starbucks Thanksgiving Hours: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
3. McDonald’s
If you’re considering fast food, the question “is McDonald’s open on Thanksgiving?” has inevitably crossed your mind. So, when that turkey is taking way too long to thaw out, and Mom won’t let you touch the hors-d’oeuvres until everyone arrives, there’s only one thing left to do. Hit up your local McDonald’s, of course.
Order a baked apple pie, strawberry and creme pie, or hot caramel sundae for less than $1.29.
McDonald’s Thanksgiving Hours: open 24/7
4. Burger King
When your house catches on fire, your turkey is still frozen at dinner time, or you experience some other catastrophe on Thanksgiving – what do you do? Drive around town until you find a neon open sign, and there’s a good chance it’ll be Burger King or one of its competitors. A chicken sandwich may not be Mom’s famous honey roasted ham, but it’s only $7.49 with a side of fries and a small drink.
Burger King Thanksgiving Hours: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
5. Jack in the Box
Don’t worry – Jack in the Box will have curly fries whether it’s Thanksgiving or not, but their pumpkin spice shake is only around for a short season. It’s basically the same thing as your favorite holiday pie, right?
Jack in the Box Thanksgiving Hours: open 24/7
6. Papa John’s
A greasy, cheesy pizza delivered straight to your front door…what’s not to be thankful for? Papa John’s is open for delivery on Thanksgiving in most locations, making your Turkey Day meal as easy as opening your front door. Get an extra large pizza for $20.
Papa John’s Thanksgiving Hours: 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
7. Pizza Hut
Is Pizza Hut open on Thanksgiving? You bet! If you’re not a Papa John’s family, check if your local Pizza Hut is open on Thanksgiving Day. Most of them are, and you can score a large pizza for less than $15. Put that bad boy in front of the football fans, and no one will complain about not having a homecooked meal.
Pizza Hut Thanksgiving Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
8. Popeyes
Maybe your ideal Thanksgiving doesn’t include feasting on burgers and pizza, we get it. Luckily, Popeyes offers meals that more closely resemble a traditional Thanksgiving meal – chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, flaky buttermilk biscuits, home-style green beans with turkey bacon, cinnamon apple pie, and pecan pie. Toss those dishes onto your family’s fine china before anyone shows up, and no one will know you spent $20 on the big day. Family meals are between $12.99 and $37.99.
Popeyes Thanksgiving Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
9. Qdoba
If your family likes to throw tradition out the window, head over to Qdoba for your Thanksgiving dinner. You won’t find anything resembling a turkey or mashed potatoes, but chips and queso is always something to be thankful for.
Qdoba Thanksgiving Hours:
10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
10. Steak ‘n Shake
After spending the entire holiday listening to stories about your great uncle’s coin collection, you’ll probably need to sneak away and treat yourself with a Steak ‘n Shake milkshake… or a Frisco Melt (never a bad idea).
Steak ‘n Shake Thanksgiving Hours: open 24/7
11. White Castle
Who knows… Maybe you’re really craving one of those festive turkey sliders, or maybe nothing else is open nearby. White Castle has plenty of cheap season offerings for $1.59 or less.
Keep in mind, most of the time holiday hours are subject to the franchise owner’s discretion, so be sure to call in and check before you head out. And just remember — the world will keep spinning if you don’t cook on Thanksgiving Day (sorry, Mom).
White Castle Thanksgiving Hours: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.
12. Dunkin Donuts
If you can’t possibly go a single day without your Dunkin coffee, you’re probably wondering: is Dunkin Donuts open on Thanksgiving? Fortunately for you, most Dunkin Donuts are open on Thanksgiving, but some locations choose to close early for the holiday, so make sure to double check with your nearest store.
Dunkin Donuts Thanksgiving Hours: 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.
13. Del Taco
Del Taco is another one of the most popular fast food restaurants open on Thanksgiving in 2019. So, if you’re feeling tacos over turkey this year, you’ll have plenty of options all day long.
Del Taco Thanksgiving Hours: open 24/7
14. Applebee’s
Applebee’s is a great option on Thanksgiving for those who don’t want to cook but still want to enjoy a nice sit-down meal with friends and family. Most locations will open up on the holiday during their normal hours.
Applebee’s Thanksgiving Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
15. Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons is open on Thanksgiving, too! Whether you’re looking for your caffiene fix or want to satisfy your sweet tooth, you have plenty of options on the menu. However, Tim Hortons is known for closing early on Thanksgiving, so be sure to get there before 2 p.m. in most areas.
Time Hortons Thanksgiving Hours: 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Keep in mind, hours of operation on Thanksgiving may vary by location, so be sure to check with your local outlet to see when their open hours are.
Fast Food Restaurants Closed On Thanksgiving in 2019
No need to brave the brisk November air if the restaurant you’re headed to is closed… Here’s what’s not open on Thanksgiving Day:
Taco Bell
All you Mexican fast food lovers are probably wondering, is Taco Bell open on thanksgiving? Unfortunately, most locations are closed on the holiday and will reopen the following day on Black Friday.
Red Lobster
Red Lobster will also close its doors on Thanksgiving.
Olive Garden
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as unlimited breadsticks and salad at Olive Garden, but you’ll have to curb your cravings until the day after Thanksgiving because it’s closed on the holiday.
Chipotle
If you really can’t go without a burrito bowl on Thanksgiving, you’ll have to head to Qdoba because Chipotle is not open on Thanksgiving.
Cheesecake Factory
In a perfect world, Cheesecake Factory would be open on Thanksgiving day, but unfortunatley, it’s closed on November 2018 this year.
Wendy’s
Hold the phone – Wendy’s is closed on Thanksgiving, too. You may have to prepare your own baked potato and chili this year.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Unfortately, KFC is closed on Thanksgiving, so you might have to opt for Popeyes if you’re craving a drumstick.
And don’t forget to check out the fast food restaurants open on Christmas while you’re here!
Burger King by my house is closed all day…