When the confetti settles and the first day of the year begins, many Americans prefer heading out for a meal rather than cooking at home — and fortunately, a wide range of restaurants nationwide open their doors on New Year’s Day. While some locally owned or fine-dining establishments may choose to close so staff can enjoy the holiday, many major chains and familiar favorites remain open when others close their doors.
Fast-Food Favorites & Quick Bites
Some people need to recover after New Year’s celebrations (no judgment here). If that’s the case, many quick-service and fast-food restaurants are conveniently open on January 1st. Chains like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Chipotle, Domino’s, Dunkin’, Starbucks, and Subway typically keep their doors open, with some offering slightly adjusted holiday hours.
Casual Dining Chains
For sit-down meals, many popular casual dining chains remain open. Applebee’s, Chili’s, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, IHOP, Cracker Barrel, Buffalo Wild Wings, and The Cheesecake Factory are among the national brands that historically serve customers on New Year’s Day, often with lunch and dinner service available.
(This most certainly isn’t an exhaustive list, but it gives you a variety of options to get you started.)
24-Hour & Comfort Spots
Some chains like Denny’s and Waffle House operate 24/7 year-round, making them reliable choices on January 1st for breakfast, brunch, or late-night eats. (If they’re open on Christmas, then you can almost guarantee they’ll be open on New Year’s Day!)
Local Restaurants & Independent Spots
In many cities and towns, independently owned cafés, diners, and ethnic restaurants — including Chinese, Indian, and brunch spots — also stay open on New Year’s Day. Some may even have New Year’s specials, so it doesn’t hurt to check your local favorites.
Important tip: Always call ahead or check a restaurant’s website or app before visiting, as holiday hours can differ widely by location — especially during federal holidays.
For instance, some popular chains like Chick-fil-A are open on New Year’s Day, but on a reduced holiday schedule. For example, my local Chick-fil-A’s New Year’s Day hours are listed as 10:30 AM-9:00 PM instead of the usual 6:30 AM-10:00 PM.
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