Guide
Best Restaurants Open on Black Friday 2026: Complete Guide
By Food Menu Journal. Updated November 6, 2026. This is a researched guide. We checked official restaurant pages, mall hours pages and major deal coverage on November 6, 2026. We did not visit these restaurants for this guide, and hours can change by location, so call your local restaurant before you go. Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, 2026.
Introduction: Yes, Most Restaurants Are Open
Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, and by noon most shoppers are hungry, tired and ready to sit down. The good news is that most restaurants open black friday run normal hours, so a hot lunch is easy to find between stores. This guide lists the restaurants open black friday across fast food, sit-down chains, breakfast spots and mall food courts, with the hours we could verify and an honest note everywhere we could not.
Thanksgiving closes many restaurants, but Friday is a normal trading day for most chains. A few local spots stay closed, and a few open early or close early, so the difference is in the details. That is the short answer on restaurants open black friday: yes, most are open. We checked the black friday restaurants one by one on November 6, 2026, and we say plainly where a time is a regular Friday schedule rather than a Black Friday announcement. Use this guide to plan your black friday lunch before you leave home, and keep our sibling guide to Black Friday food deals 2026 open beside it for the discounts.
At a Glance: Top Restaurants Open Black Friday 2026
Short on time? This is the quick answer on restaurants open black friday. Most chains are open, most run regular Friday hours, and the exceptions are local spots and a few early closers.
| What you need | The short answer |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, November 27, 2026 |
| Most fast food | Open, regular hours |
| Most sit-down chains | Open, regular lunch and dinner hours |
| Breakfast chains | Open early, many close by mid-afternoon |
| Mall restaurants | Open, follow mall hours |
| Closed on Black Friday | Some local independents, for example Red Curry Thai |
| What to do first | Call your local restaurant to confirm |
Why We Made This Complete Guide
Every year the same question floods search on Thanksgiving night: which restaurants open black friday near me? The search results are thin. Google and Bing return mall pages, European discount lists and a handful of chain hours pages, and no single list covers the black friday restaurants shoppers actually use. We built this guide to fix that, by checking the chains one by one and writing down exactly what each source said.
We also wanted a guide that tells the truth about what is not known. No official 2026 Black Friday hours page was found for Starbucks, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC, Applebee’s, Denny’s or IHOP on November 6, 2026, so this guide lists those chains as open on regular hours and labels that clearly. That honesty is the point of this list of restaurants open black friday. A guide that invents times helps nobody, and a shopper who drives to a closed restaurant loses the best shopping hours of the day.
Restaurants and Hours: The Complete Table of Restaurants Open Black Friday
This table is the heart of the guide. It covers the black friday restaurants we could verify from an official source, a mall page or major coverage on November 6, 2026. Times marked regular are normal Friday hours, not a special Black Friday schedule.
| Restaurant | Black Friday status | Hours, Nov 27, 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Open | Regular hours, many open 24 hours | Busiest from early morning. Franchise hours vary. See the McDonald’s menu. |
| Chick-fil-A | Open | 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Closed Thanksgiving and Sundays. Open Friday. See Chick-fil-A coupons and deals. |
| Wendy’s | Open | Regular hours, often 6:30 a.m. to midnight | Rewards members can expect a Frosty treat offer, predicted not confirmed. See Wendy’s coupons and deals. |
| Burger King | Open | Regular hours, often 6:00 a.m. to midnight | Mall locations may follow mall hours. See Burger King coupons and deals. |
| Taco Bell | Open | Regular hours, often 9:00 or 10:30 a.m. to midnight | Late night option for shoppers. See Taco Bell coupons and deals. |
| KFC | Open | Regular hours | Limited time menu item expected for Black Friday weekend, predicted not confirmed. See KFC coupons and deals. |
| Chuy’s | Open | 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Closed Thanksgiving, back to regular hours Friday. |
| Olive Garden | Open | 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Times Square to 1:00 a.m. | Never-Ending Pasta Bowl from $14.99 ended Nov 22. |
| The Cheesecake Factory | Open | 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Mall location hours from Walden Galleria. |
| P.F. Chang’s | Open | 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. | Mall location hours from Walden Galleria. |
| Five Guys | Open | 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Mall location hours from Walden Galleria. |
| Texas de Brazil | Open | 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Dinner only at the mall location checked. |
| Dave and Buster’s | Open | 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. | Eat and play stop. Half price games expected. |
| First Watch | Open | 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Breakfast and lunch only. Confirm locally. |
| Waffle House | Open | 24 hours | Open nearly every holiday. |
| Black Bear Diner | Open | 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | Regular hours. Locations vary. |
| Denny’s | Open | 24 hours at most locations | Regular hours. Confirm locally. |
| IHOP | Open | 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. | $6 Everyday Value Menu at most locations, some charge $7. |
| Starbucks | Open | Regular hours | No Black Friday specific announcement found. Confirm locally. |
| Applebee’s | Open | Regular hours | Gift card bonus: $10 bonus card with every $50 gift card purchase, through Jan 3, 2027. |
| Hard Rock Cafe, Washington DC | Open | Brunch from 10:00 a.m. | Special Black Friday brunch menu. |
| Quack Daddy Donuts, Westfield | Open | 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Morning only. Closes at noon. |
| Red Curry Thai | Closed | Closed all day | One of the few confirmed Black Friday closures. |
Our Review: How to Plan Your Black Friday Lunch, Step-by-Step
Start with the mall, not the menu. Most restaurants open black friday inside a mall follow the mall’s hours, and malls open early and close late on Black Friday. Walden Galleria, for example, reopens at 7:00 a.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m., and its restaurants run inside that window. If your mall opens at 6:00 a.m., the food court will be ready for a black friday lunch by late morning, and the sit-down spots will be ready for dinner.
Pick your meal by the clock. Breakfast chains like First Watch and Waffle House cover the early hours. Fast food covers the midday rush, when lines are longest and speed matters. The restaurants open black friday with the shortest lines are the ones with a drive thru. Sit-down chains like Olive Garden and The Cheesecake Factory are the better pick for a late lunch or an early dinner, when you want to sit, rest your feet and regroup before the evening sales. Book ahead where you can, because Black Friday tables fill fast after 5:00 p.m.
Keep a backup. Have a second restaurant in mind, ideally a fast food spot with a drive thru, in case your first choice has a long wait. The best restaurants open black friday for app orders are the big fast food chains. Check the restaurant’s app before you walk over, and use delivery if the food court line is longer than your patience. Our guide to fast food Black Friday deals 2026 lists the chains with the best app offers for the day.
Best Fast Food Restaurants Open Black Friday
Fast food black friday restaurants are the backbone of Black Friday eating. McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC and Chick-fil-A are all open on Black Friday, and most run regular Friday hours. McDonald’s is the safest early bet, because many locations are open 24 hours and serve breakfast until late morning. Chick-fil-A opens at 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. and closes at 10:00 p.m., so it covers breakfast, a black friday lunch and dinner in one stop.
The deals are real but uneven. TGI Fridays gives five free onion rings with any entree on Black Friday, and Moe’s Southwest Grill gives Rewards members a buy one get one free entree from November 27 to 29. Wendy’s and KFC are expected to run app offers, but those were predicted, not confirmed, on November 6, so check the app on the day. For the full list of confirmed and expected offers, see our Black Friday food deals 2026 guide.
Top Sit-Down Restaurants Open Black Friday for Lunch
If you want a real break, sit down. Olive Garden opens at 11:00 a.m. and runs to 11:00 p.m. at most locations, with endless breadsticks, soup and salad with entrees. The Cheesecake Factory opens at 11:00 a.m. and runs to 11:00 p.m., and P.F. Chang’s opens at 10:00 a.m., so both are ready for an early black friday lunch. Chuy’s opens at 11:00 a.m. after closing on Thanksgiving, one of the sit-down restaurants open black friday with a published Friday schedule, and Texas de Brazil opens at 4:00 p.m. for dinner only at the mall location we checked.
Sit-down spots are also the best choice for groups. One table, one order, and everyone eats at the same time, which matters when half your group is still in a store. Most sit-down restaurants open black friday take walk-ins, but expect a wait after 5:00 p.m., and join the waitlist from the app or in person before you finish shopping, not after.
Easy Breakfast Restaurants Open Black Friday Morning
Early shoppers need breakfast, and the early options are strong. First Watch opens at 7:00 a.m. and serves until 2:30 p.m., which makes it the best early sit-down pick, though the chain’s own guide warns hours vary by location. Waffle House is open 24 hours, and Black Bear Diner opens at 6:00 a.m. IHOP opens at 7:00 a.m. with a $6 Everyday Value Menu at most locations, and Starbucks is one of the restaurants open black friday that opens earliest for coffee and a pastry before the stores open.
The most unusual find is the Hard Rock Cafe in Washington DC, which opens at 10:00 a.m. for a special Black Friday brunch with avocado flatbread, brunch burgers, breakfast sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, and brioche bourbon bread pudding. These are the restaurants open black friday that reward early risers, and if you are shopping in DC, that brunch is the one to book. Our Black Friday breakfast guide covers the early options in full.
Must-Try Mall Restaurants Open Black Friday
Mall restaurants are the easiest Black Friday meals, because they sit where you already are. At Walden Galleria the mall reopens at 7:00 a.m., and the restaurants follow: Dave and Buster’s from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., The Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Chang’s from late morning, Five Guys from 11:00 a.m., and The Melting Pot from noon. Food courts are the restaurants open black friday that open earliest inside a mall, so a quick slice, a sandwich or a coffee is available from the first hour.
Mall hours are the rule, not the exception. A restaurant inside a mall cannot open before the mall does, and it usually closes with the mall. That is why mall restaurants open black friday at the same time as the stores. Check your mall’s Black Friday hours page before you go, because the mall sets the window and the restaurant fills it.
Save Money at Coffee and Dessert Stops
Coffee is the fuel of Black Friday, and the freebies are worth planning around. Biggby Coffee gives a free 16 oz hot or iced black coffee with a Bragel or Maple Waffle Sandwich purchase, but only during the first hour after opening on November 27, so go early. Coffee shops are among the restaurants open black friday that open earliest, and Dunkin’ Rewards members can expect bonus points on drinks ordered ahead, while Caribou Coffee is expected to run a buy one get one 50% off beverage deal, though that one was predicted, not confirmed.
Dessert is the cheapest celebration of the day. Krispy Kreme is expected to offer $12 dozens and a free doughnut with a purchase for rewards members, and Paris Baguette gives rewards members a free medium coffee or pastry with any purchase on Cyber Monday, November 30. Keep the receipts, because several of these offers run through the weekend.
Picky Eats: Easy Picks for Fussy Eaters
Fussy eaters do well on Black Friday, because the restaurants open black friday with the simplest menus are the ones that stay open. McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A and Five Guys all serve plain burgers, plain chicken and fries with no surprises, and every one of them lets you order exactly what you want, with sauces on the side. Five Guys builds the burger in front of you, so a plain burger with nothing on it is a normal order, not a special request.
For kids, the safest picks at restaurants open black friday are chicken nuggets, plain pasta with butter at Olive Garden, or a cheese quesadilla at a Mexican spot like Chuy’s. Skip the tasting menus and the shared plates on Black Friday. The day is long, the lines are long, and a familiar plate that arrives fast beats an adventurous one that arrives late.
Parents’ Review and Family Tips: Don’t Miss These
Black Friday with kids works when you plan the meal like a rest stop. Eat before anyone is truly hungry, because a hungry child in a crowded mall is a short fuse. The restaurants open black friday that suit families best are the ones with kids menus, high chairs and fast service: Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Olive Garden and Denny’s all tick those boxes, and Denny’s is open 24 hours at most locations, so it works at any hour.
Bring snacks for the line, and let the kids eat a small snack before the meal so nobody is ordering in a panic. Most restaurants open black friday are loud and busy by noon, so ask for a booth in a quieter corner if you can. If your child needs a break, Dave and Buster’s pairs lunch with games, which turns the meal into the entertainment. And if the day falls apart, drive thru counts as dinner, and nobody will remember the difference.
Nutrition and Carbohydrate Info: Proven Numbers Only
We do not list calorie counts in this guide, because no chain publishes Black Friday specific nutrition, and meals at restaurants open black friday are the regular menus. The chains do publish nutrition for their regular items on their own websites, so check the item you plan to order there. As a rule, a fried chicken sandwich with fries and a regular soda is the highest carbohydrate choice on most fast food menus, while a grilled chicken sandwich, a side salad and water is the lightest.
If you are counting carbohydrates, the easiest wins are water instead of soda, a side salad instead of fries, and a grilled item instead of a fried one. Most chains list carbohydrate counts per item on their nutrition pages, and the apps show them at the point of ordering, which is the most accurate place to check on the day.
What to Know Before You Go: Limited Time Deals
Confirm before you go. Hours vary by location, by franchise and by mall, and the only way to be sure is to call the restaurant or check its app on the morning of November 27. The restaurants open black friday in this guide were checked on November 6, 2026, and hours can change in the three weeks before the day.
Expect crowds and plan for them. Lunch lines peak between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and dinner waits peak after 5:00 p.m. The restaurants open black friday with app ordering let you skip the line entirely, so order ahead in the app, use the drive thru, or eat at off-peak times like 10:30 a.m. or 3:00 p.m. Delivery is a real option too: DoorDash gives DashPass members 20% off gift cards on Black Friday, and most chains deliver through their own apps. Carry water, wear comfortable shoes, and keep your phone charged, because you will use it to check hours, join waitlists and order ahead all day.
Watch the dates on the deals at restaurants open black friday. Some offers run only on Black Friday, some run through the weekend, and some start earlier. The TGI Fridays onion rings and the Biggby free coffee are Black Friday only, while the Moe’s buy one get one free entree runs November 27 to 29 and the Whataburger biscuit deal runs November 25 to 30. Our Black Friday dinner ideas guide covers the evening meal if you eat at home after shopping.
Is It Worth It? The Secret to a Good Black Friday Lunch
Yes, eating out on Black Friday is worth it, if you plan it. The restaurants open black friday are the same restaurants you eat at all year, at the same prices, with the same menus, and the only difference is the crowd. A planned lunch break in the middle of a long shopping day is the difference between a good day and a miserable one.
The secret is timing. Eat early, eat off-peak, and eat somewhere with a deal. The best restaurants open black friday are the ones you planned before you left home. A free coffee in the first hour, a free side with an entree, or a buy one get one free deal turns a normal lunch into a small win, and a sit-down break at 3:00 p.m. gives you the energy for the evening sales. Do not skip lunch to save time. You will save twenty minutes and lose the afternoon.
FAQ: Your Top Questions Answered
Are restaurants open on Black Friday 2026?
Yes. Most restaurants open black friday, November 27, 2026, on regular Friday hours. Fast food black friday restaurants, sit-down chains, breakfast spots and mall restaurants are open, with a few local independents closed. Hours vary by location, so confirm with your local restaurant.
Is McDonald’s open on Black Friday?
Yes. McDonald’s is open on Black Friday, November 27, 2026, on regular hours, and many locations are open 24 hours. Franchise hours vary, so check your local restaurant in the app. See the McDonald’s menu for what to order.
Is Chick-fil-A open on Black Friday?
Yes. Chick-fil-A is open on Black Friday, November 27, 2026, from 6:00 or 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. at most locations. Chick-fil-A is closed on Thanksgiving Day and on Sundays, but Friday is a normal trading day.
What time do restaurants open on Black Friday?
Most restaurants open black friday follow their regular Friday schedule. Breakfast chains open at 6:00 or 7:00 a.m., fast food from 6:00 a.m. onward, and sit-down restaurants from 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. Mall restaurants follow mall hours, and malls typically open at 7:00 a.m. or earlier.
Are there Black Friday food deals?
Yes. Confirmed deals include five free onion rings with any entree at TGI Fridays, a free coffee with a sandwich purchase in the first hour at Biggby Coffee, and a buy one get one free entree for Rewards members at Moe’s Southwest Grill from November 27 to 29. See our Black Friday food deals 2026 guide for the full list, and the California version at Black Friday food deals California.
Which restaurants are closed on Black Friday?
Most chains are open, but some local independents close. Red Curry Thai, for example, announced it is closed on Black Friday, November 27, 2026. A few local spots also close early, like Quack Daddy Donuts, which closes at noon. Always check a local restaurant’s own page before you go.
Related Guides
- Black Friday Food Deals 2026
- Black Friday Breakfast
- Fast Food Black Friday Deals 2026
- Black Friday Dinner Ideas
- Black Friday Food Deals California
- Thanksgiving Dinner Menu
- McDonald’s Menu
- Burger King Coupons and Deals
- KFC Coupons and Deals
- McDonald’s Coupons and Deals
- Wendy’s Coupons and Deals
- Taco Bell Coupons and Deals
- Chick-fil-A Coupons and Deals
Sources and Review Notes
Every entry about black friday restaurants in this guide was checked on November 6, 2026, from the sources in our research note: The Krazy Coupon Lady Black Friday food deals page, Walden Galleria Black Friday hours, McDonald’s hours guides at mcmenus.us and eathours.com, Chick-fil-A location data, Chuy’s hours guide, First Watch Thanksgiving guide, Waffle House hours guide, Black Bear Diner hours guide, Olive Garden official location listings, Washington DC Black Friday brunch listing, and holiday hours posts from Quack Daddy Donuts and Red Curry Thai. Full source detail is saved in the research note for this post.
Review notes: no official 2026 Black Friday hours announcement was found for Starbucks, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Burger King, KFC, Applebee’s, Denny’s or IHOP, so those entries use regular Friday hours and say so. Deals marked predicted in the source are marked predicted here, and no prices are given except where a source gave them. If a time in this guide differs from your local restaurant, the local restaurant is right, so call ahead.
