Restaurants Open on Christmas Day in Houston
Date Published
Several Houston restaurants are open on Christmas Day, December 25. The reliable categories are Chinatown dim sum halls, Brazilian steakhouses, downtown hotel restaurants, and a handful of institutions that have made it a tradition. This guide covers 10 places with a documented track record of opening December 25 — along with reservation tips and a note on how to confirm before you go each year.
One rule before you go: Christmas hours shift every year. Confirm with the restaurant directly or on their website before making the drive. We note the hours that were current as of late 2025.
Why Chinese restaurants are open on Christmas Day
The tradition is older than Houston's food scene. Chinese-American restaurants in cities across the country have opened on Christmas since the mid-20th century, in part because the holiday held no religious significance for the owners, and in part because Jewish families and others who celebrated it secularly needed somewhere to eat. In Houston, that tradition landed in the Bellaire Chinatown corridor and has stuck for decades.
Houston's Chinatown on Bellaire Boulevard has the densest concentration of restaurants open December 25 anywhere in the city.
The picks
1. Cleburne Cafeteria (West University)
4747 Bissonnet St · typically 11am – 8pm on Christmas Day
This is the most beloved Christmas tradition on the list. Cleburne Cafeteria has been open every Christmas Day since the 1940s. The story goes that founder Nick Mickelis was in the kitchen on Christmas Day when customers walked in — he couldn't turn them away, and the tradition stuck. His son George has kept it going ever since.
The menu is Houston cafeteria comfort food: fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, chicken and dumplings, and a long row of made-from-scratch pies. On Christmas the line stretches outside, but it moves quickly. This is the one to go to if you want to feel like you're participating in a genuine Houston ritual.
What to order: fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, coconut cream pie.
Tip: arrive before noon if you want a short wait. The late-afternoon crowd thins considerably.
2. Fung's Kitchen (Southwest Houston)
7320 SW Freeway · typically 10:30am – 9pm
Fung's Kitchen has been a Houston institution since 1990, and it tries to stay open for the community on every major holiday, including Christmas. It's one of the best dim sum spots in Houston on any day of the year. On Christmas morning the cart service fills up fast, so expect a wait if you arrive after 11am.
Note: when Christmas falls on a Monday (Fung's regular day off), call ahead at (713) 779-2288 to confirm. The restaurant occasionally modifies hours or opens later in that case.
What to order: har gow, siu mai, turnip cake, Peking duck (order 24 hours in advance).
3. Ocean Palace (Chinatown / Bellaire)
11215 Bellaire Blvd, Hong Kong City Mall · typically 10am – 5pm
Ocean Palace is one of the anchor restaurants in Houston's Bellaire Chinatown, and it runs dim sum service through the Christmas holiday season. The weekend-style dim sum is available even on December 25, with the full cart selection of dumplings, baked bao, turnip cakes, and seafood dishes. It's a reliable pick for a large family that doesn't want to make a reservation weeks in advance.
What to order: the dim sum service — get a table early and wave down the carts.
4. Kim Son (Bellaire / Chinatown)
10603 Bellaire Blvd · typically open Christmas Day
Kim Son is a multi-generational Vietnamese-Chinese restaurant group that has served Houston since 1982. The Bellaire Boulevard location in Houston's Chinatown corridor has a track record of opening on Christmas Day. Dim sum basket service is available through the holiday, and the Vietnamese menu — pho, lemongrass chicken — gives you an alternative to the carts.
Note: Tuesday is Kim Son's traditional day off. Call ahead if Christmas falls on a Tuesday.
What to order: lemongrass chicken, dim sum basket service, pho.
5. Morton's The Steakhouse (Downtown)
1001 McKinney St · typically 12pm – 9pm on Christmas Day
Morton's Downtown confirms Christmas Day hours on its official location page, typically noon to 9pm. The restaurant offers a special holiday menu alongside the standard steakhouse menu, including a Chateaubriand for two. This is the pick for a downtown celebration that needs a reservation — book on OpenTable several weeks in advance for December 25.
What to order: the Chateaubriand holiday special; the bone-in ribeye if ordering à la carte.
Tip: Morton's is also typically open on Christmas Eve, which gives you a second option if December 25 is fully booked.
6. Vic & Anthony's Steakhouse (Downtown)
1510 Texas Ave · typically 4pm – 9pm on Christmas Day
Vic & Anthony's is a Houston steakhouse institution adjacent to the Toyota Center. The restaurant confirms Christmas Day dinner service on its own events page with a special menu that typically includes filet mignon, Iberico pork bone-in ribeye, and a few chef features. It's one of the few places on this list that makes Christmas a distinct dining event rather than just staying open.
What to order: the filet mignon; the fried lobster mac and cheese as a starter.
Tip: seats go fast — book directly through the restaurant or OpenTable at least two weeks out.
7. Fogo de Chão (Multiple locations)
8250 Westheimer Rd and other locations · typically 11am – 8:30pm
Fogo de Chão has a company-wide policy of opening all locations on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Westheimer location is the flagship for the Houston area; there are additional locations on the Northwest Freeway and near Baybrook Mall. Brazilian churrasco means a rotating parade of beef, lamb, chicken, and pork brought to the table by gaucho chefs — it's a crowd-pleaser for large groups with mixed appetites.
What to order: the full churrasco experience, which includes picanha (top sirloin cap) as the signature cut. The full-service dinner includes the gourmet market table with salads, sides, and seasonal features.
Tip: the lunch price is significantly lower than dinner. If you arrive before the lunch-to-dinner cutover (typically around 3pm), you pay the lunch rate.
8. Toro Toro at the Four Seasons Houston (Downtown)
1300 Lamar St · typically 10am – 3pm Christmas brunch
Toro Toro, the pan-Latin restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, runs an annual Christmas brunch buffet that is one of the more lavish options in the city. The lineup typically includes beef tenderloin, roasted leg of lamb, bone-in country ham, a seafood station, lobster bisque, and an omelet station. Pricing has run around $145 per adult and $65 for children under 12, though confirm the current rates when you book.
This is the right pick for families that want a hotel-style Christmas brunch with a full spread and no cooking required.
Tip: the buffet is reservation-only and typically sells out by mid-December. Book on OpenTable or by calling the Four Seasons directly.
9. House of Pies (Kirby / Fuqua)
5112 Kirby Dr and 11311 Fuqua St · open 24 hours, 365 days a year
House of Pies has operated since 1967 and its core locations are explicitly 24 hours, 365 days a year — including Christmas. It's a classic Houston diner: Reuben sandwiches, chicken fried steak, and a display case full of pies that runs from Bayou Goo (a cream pie) to coconut meringue. There's no reservation required, and the counter is always open.
The insider fact: the Bayou Goo pie was invented here. It's a cream cheese and pecan filling in a chocolate crust, and it has been on the menu since 1968. If you visit on Christmas Day, that's your dessert.
What to order: the Bayou Goo pie, chicken fried steak, pancakes.
10. Brenner's on the Bayou (River Oaks / Memorial)
1 Birdsall St · typically 5pm – 9pm on Christmas Day
Brenner's on the Bayou is a classic Houston steakhouse sitting on the banks of Buffalo Bayou, and it opens for dinner service on Christmas Day each year. The setting — oak trees over the bayou, indoor-outdoor seating — makes it an especially pleasant choice for Christmas dinner. Brenner's also offers pre-order to-go prime rib packages for Christmas, so if the dining room is full, the takeout option is worth a call.
What to order: the 24-ounce prime rib, the seafood tower, the signature bread pudding.
Tip: the Katy Freeway location (Brenner's Steakhouse, 10911 Katy Freeway) also opens for Christmas, typically 11am – 7pm. Check both if you're deciding.
What about Taste of Texas?
Taste of Texas is closed on Christmas Day by policy — the family closes to spend the holiday together. It's open on Christmas Eve (typically until 7pm), which is worth knowing. Don't drive out on December 25 expecting a table.
Reservation tips for Houston Christmas dining
Christmas Day is one of the busiest reservation days of the year for Houston restaurants. Here's how to plan without getting shut out:
- Book 3–4 weeks in advance for hotel restaurants (Toro Toro, Morton's, Vic & Anthony's). These fill up in late November.
- Walk-in options: Cleburne Cafeteria doesn't take reservations — it's first-come, first-served. House of Pies and Fogo de Chão are also walk-in friendly.
- Call the week before to confirm hours. Restaurants sometimes shift their Christmas Day schedule based on staffing and reservations.
- Hotel restaurants are your safety net. If everything else is booked, a hotel restaurant downtown almost always has some availability. Try the Four Seasons, Marriott Marquis (Xochi or the Marriott's lobby bar), or any full-service downtown hotel.
- Chinatown doesn't require planning. The Bellaire corridor has enough restaurants open on Christmas that you can usually walk in to Ocean Palace, Kim Son, or several other options. Peak time is 11am – 1pm.
Save this: Christmas Day dining checklist
- Confirmed your restaurant's hours for the specific year (Christmas falls on a different day each year, which affects some spots)
- Made a reservation if required (Morton's, Toro Toro, Vic & Anthony's)
- Called ahead if Christmas falls on Monday or Tuesday (affects Fung's Kitchen and Kim Son)
- Noted the hotel restaurant name and number as a backup
- Checked if the spot offers a to-go option if the dining room fills (Brenner's prime rib)
More Houston food guides for the holiday season
Planning the full holiday stretch? See our Houston Christmas events guide, the Downtown Houston Christmas activities roundup, and the best steakhouses in Houston if you want the full steakhouse landscape beyond the Christmas picks. For brunch any time of year, our best brunch in Houston guide covers the options by neighborhood. If you end up in Chinatown, the best Chinese food guide is worth bookmarking.
Last verified: October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Which Houston restaurants are open on Christmas Day?
Restaurants with a strong track record of opening December 25 in Houston include Cleburne Cafeteria (West University), House of Pies (24/7, Kirby and Fuqua locations), Fogo de Chão (Westheimer and other locations), Morton's The Steakhouse Downtown, Vic & Anthony's, Toro Toro at the Four Seasons, Fung's Kitchen, Ocean Palace, and Kim Son. Always confirm hours for the specific year before going.
Is Taste of Texas open on Christmas Day?
No. Taste of Texas is closed on Christmas Day by policy — the family closes so staff can spend the holiday at home. It is typically open on Christmas Eve until around 7pm.
Are Chinese restaurants open on Christmas Day in Houston?
Yes. Houston's Bellaire Chinatown corridor has several restaurants open December 25, including Ocean Palace (dim sum, 10am–5pm), Fung's Kitchen (10:30am–9pm), and Kim Son (Bellaire Blvd, 10603 Bellaire Blvd). The Bellaire Blvd area is the most reliable spot for a walk-in Christmas Day meal in Houston.
Where can I get Christmas brunch in Houston?
Toro Toro at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston (1300 Lamar St, Downtown) runs an annual Christmas brunch buffet from around 10am to 3pm, with beef tenderloin, seafood, and an omelet station. Cleburne Cafeteria (4747 Bissonnet) opens at 11am for a full cafeteria spread. Both require either reservations (Toro Toro) or early arrival (Cleburne).
Do I need a reservation for Christmas Day dining in Houston?
It depends on the restaurant. Morton's, Toro Toro at the Four Seasons, and Vic & Anthony's require reservations and book up weeks in advance. Cleburne Cafeteria, House of Pies, Fogo de Chão, and most Chinatown spots are walk-in. Book by early December for the reservation-required spots.
What time does Cleburne Cafeteria open on Christmas Day?
Cleburne Cafeteria (4747 Bissonnet St, West University) typically opens at 11am on Christmas Day and closes around 8pm. It does not take reservations, so arrive early to avoid the longest lines. The tradition has run every Christmas since the 1940s.