Where to Dine Out or Get Take Out for Thanksgiving

Editor's Note: This story originally appeared on Living on the Cheap.

“Eat, drink and be thankful.” That much-loved saying is especially fitting if you don’t have to cook and clean up after your Thanksgiving Day feast.

If eating out for Thanksgiving is part of your plan this year, here’s a list of chain restaurants planning to be open for dining out or taking out on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021.

Some restaurants are letting you dine in; others also offer meals to go. It’s up to you how safe you feel celebrating this year. If you plan on eating at a restaurant, you’ll have the most success if you make reservations well ahead of time.

Note that prices, hours and participation may vary by location, and beverages are extra at most venues with fixed-price meals. Check out your local Living on the Cheap network sites for restaurants open on Thanksgiving near you.

Also, note there’s a difference between restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner and restaurants open for Thanksgiving. If you want the full, traditional turkey dinner, look for restaurants open that are also serving that special meal.

Similarly, where to buy a cooked Thanksgiving dinner is a different question too, and we’ve rounded that information up here.

Following, we give you as much information as possible about the restaurants open on Thanksgiving so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Bob Evans

They’ll be open Thanksgiving Day with their usual menu plus Thanksgiving specials.

Bob Evans is also offering take-home Farmhouse Feast meals that include your choice of entree (slow-roasted turkey, ham, or both), dressing, corn, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans with ham, macaroni and cheese, cranberry relish, rolls, and a pie for dessert.

Boston Market

Restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day (hours vary by location) and offer a traditional plated meal.

They’ll also have a la carte items available for order, and complete heat and serve meals for parties of from four to 12 people. Pick from turkey meals, turkey and ham meals, prime rib meals, and ham meals. All feature assorted sides, including stuffing, mashed potatoes, dinner rolls, and pie. Prices start at $59.99.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Open on Thanksgiving Day and offering turkey and ham meals. Restaurant hours may be shorter than usual, so call ahead.

Claim Jumper Restaurants

Check out the Thanksgiving Feast, available at most locations on Thanksgiving Day. Entree choices are roasted turkey ($25), ham dinner ($25), roasted tri-tip ($26), ham and turkey supper ($27), and the Feast ($30).

Claim Jumper Restaurants will also have non-traditional entree options featuring seafood and prime rib. Carry-out Holiday Dinner Platters ($135-$145, serving six to eight people) are also available if you want to do your feasting at home. Call your local restaurant for details.

Cracker Barrel

They’ll be open regular business hours on Thanksgiving Day serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal beginning at 11 a.m. Cracker Barrel is offering two to-go meal options. The Thanksgiving Heat N’ Serve Feast serves eight to 10 for $139.99. The Family Dinner package serves four to six for $89.99. Each comes with turkey and dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole, at least one country side, and dinner rolls. The Feast includes two pies.

Meals are available for pickup Nov. 20 through Nov. 27. If you schedule your pickup on Nov. 22 or 23, you’ll get a free bonus card ($10 for the Feast, $5 for the Dinner); 24-hour notice is required for orders.

Denny’s

Enjoy their turkey and dressing dinner for $10.49, which includes carved turkey breast, savory stuffing, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, dinner bread, and your choice of two sides.

Eddie V’s

Eddie V’s will be open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal, alongside the full regular menu, for $43 per person for adults and $15 per person for children.

Fleming’s Steakhouse

Fleming’s will serve a three-course Thanksgiving dinner, including your choice of herb-roasted turkey, bone-in ribeye or petite filet mignon, plus sides to share.

Their full menu will also be available, as well as a reduced-price children’s menu. They’re taking reservations now. And you can order a three-course takeout dinner to be picked up Thanksgiving Day.

Golden Corral

As you might expect, Golden Corral’s Thanksgiving Day buffet will include everyone’s favorites: carved turkey, fried chicken, rotisserie chicken, ham, meatloaf, and much more.

The price is likely to be a little higher on Thanksgiving Day than it usually is. Be sure to ask at your nearest Golden Corral restaurant location.

Hard Rock Cafe

Open on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021, the restaurant offers a special menu that includes slow-roasted turkey breast, roasted fresh vegetables, home-style classic stuffing, creamy sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce, and gravy.

Prices vary by location, and there may be a reduced-price children’s plate. They’ll also offer pumpkin pie and an espresso martini.

Luby’s

The remaining Luby’s sites will be open for dine-in, serving a meal for $11.99 that includes classic turkey and cornbread dressing with two holiday sides, plus a dinner roll and a holiday dessert.

Luby’s also offers dinners to go for pre-order. You can choose from several Thanksgiving combos.

The cheapest is the Select package, which starts at $74.99 and includes roasted turkey breast or spiral sliced ham, cornbread dressing, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, dinner rolls, and pumpkin pie. They’ll also have a la carte sides available for order.

Maggiano’s

Dine in to enjoy a three-course family-style meal for $39.99 per person ($17.99 for children 5-12). You can also order Thanksgiving packages from Maggiano’s carryout menu.

Packages are $179.99, serve four to five people, and include turkey with gravy and stuffing, ham with whipped sweet potatoes, spaghetti and meatballs, four-cheese ravioli, Caesar salad, mashed potatoes, freshly baked bread, cranberry relish, and pumpkin cheesecake.

They also have a la carte items available for order.

Mimi’s Cafe

Mimi’s Café will have a traditional dine-in meal available on Thanksgiving Day.

You can also order a turkey dinner to go, with roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, gravy, mashed candied sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, carrot-raisin nut loaves, a pumpkin pie, and a pecan pie. It’s $129.99; you can order from their catering site.

Romano’s Macaroni Grill

On Thanksgiving, Romano’s Macaroni Grill will serve a traditional three-course menu for $29.99 per person, with a kids meal available for $15. The regular menu will be available too.

They’re also offering two take-and-heat Thanksgiving meal options. The smaller package serves five and includes turkey, homestyle gravy, assorted sides, and your choice of dessert for $115. The larger option, $225, serves up to 10 people.

Pre-order through Nov. 21. Pickup times are available Nov. 23 through Nov. 25.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

A three-course Thanksgiving dinner at Ruth’s Chris will start at $42.95 per person. They’ll also have take-home feasts that serve four available for $175.

These include a salad, turkey breast, sausage and herb stuffing, gravy, cranberry relish, a choice of a side item, and four personal Chocolate Sin cakes. A la carte sides and salads are also available.