Which Fast Food Restaurants Are Open on Thanksgiving 2026?

Which fast food chains are open on Thanksgiving 2026?

Most burger chains, Arby's and Whataburger are your safest bets on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, while Chick-fil-A is closed everywhere in the U.S. and Chipotle and Panda Express are likely to be closed too. Everything else is a store-by-store call.

Here is how we built this list. When we published on Oct. 27, 2026, we had not found 2026 Thanksgiving announcements from these chains, apart from Chick-fil-A's standing policy. In 2025, the national roundups appeared in the week or two before the holiday. So the table below shows what each chain did on Thanksgiving 2025, according to reports from People, TODAY, USA TODAY, Newsweek, ABC7 and FOX 2 Detroit, plus what each chain's own site says about holiday hours. Treat it as a strong hint, not a promise.

The main reason for the uncertainty is franchising. At McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Popeyes and most of the other chains here, local owners set holiday hours. Two restaurants a mile apart can make different choices, and one may close at 2 p.m. while the other runs a normal day.

Is McDonald's open on Thanksgiving?

Yes, most McDonald's restaurants open on Thanksgiving, but hours vary by location. TODAY and People both reported that most locations would be open in 2025, and USA TODAY noted that McDonald's tells customers to confirm with their local restaurant.

McDonald's holiday hours are set by each franchisee, and some stores shorten hours or close on days like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check the store locator in the McDonald's app before you go. If you are heading out early, remember that breakfast usually ends at 10:30 a.m., or 11 a.m. at some stores, and a holiday schedule will not extend it. See our McDonald's menu for current prices.

Burger King and Wendy's

Burger King and Wendy's look similar. In 2025, People said Burger King hours varied by location, while FOX 2 Detroit and Newsweek listed it as open. For Wendy's, People and TODAY said many locations would open on Nov. 27, 2025, and Newsweek said most would. Both chains say franchise owners set holiday hours, so some stores close early or stay closed. Our McDonald's vs Burger King vs Wendy's comparison can help you pick if more than one is open near you.

Is Chick-fil-A open on Thanksgiving?

No. Chick-fil-A says all of its U.S. restaurants close on Thanksgiving Day so that restaurant teams can spend the holiday with family and friends. That applies on Nov. 26, 2026, even though it is a Thursday, and on top of the chain's usual Sunday closing.

If you want Chick-fil-A for a Thanksgiving gathering, the company suggests ordering catering ahead and scheduling pickup or delivery before the holiday. Catering menus and availability vary by restaurant, so order early in the week. Chick-fil-A also closes on Christmas Day.

The day after Thanksgiving is a regular Friday on Chick-fil-A's Monday-through-Saturday schedule. Hours can be shorter around holidays, though, so check the store page in the Chick-fil-A App before a Black Friday run. If you are choosing between chicken chains, our Chick-fil-A vs Zaxbys comparison covers the menus side by side.

Are Taco Bell, Chipotle and Panda Express open on Thanksgiving?

Chipotle and Panda Express were reported closed on Thanksgiving 2025, and Taco Bell is a coin flip that depends on your local store.

Taco Bell

The 2025 reports disagreed. TODAY said many Taco Bell locations would open with varying hours, and FOX 2 Detroit listed Taco Bell as open with hours that may vary. Newsweek, however, put most Taco Bell locations on its closed list. Taco Bell's own guidance is that many restaurants shorten hours or close on major holidays, so look up your store in the Taco Bell app. If it is open, it may not keep its usual late-night schedule.

Chipotle

People, FOX 2 Detroit and Newsweek all listed Chipotle as closed on Thanksgiving 2025. Chipotle says many of its restaurants close on Thanksgiving and Christmas, so plan on it being closed and confirm in the Chipotle app. Unlike most chains on this list, Chipotle runs its own restaurants rather than franchising them, so a chainwide decision is more likely to apply everywhere.

Panda Express

FOX 2 Detroit listed Panda Express as closed in 2025. Panda Express says many stores close or shorten hours on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and mall locations follow mall holiday hours. Expect most to be closed. See the Panda Express menu for regular hours guidance.

Are KFC, Popeyes and Zaxbys open on Thanksgiving?

Some KFC and Popeyes restaurants open on Thanksgiving and some close, and we could not find reliable reporting on Zaxbys.

• KFC: TODAY reported that KFC's holiday hours vary, with some restaurants open and others closed on Thanksgiving 2025. Franchise owners set the schedule, and hours can be shorter than usual.
• Popeyes: FOX 2 Detroit said many Popeyes locations would be open in 2025 with varying hours, while TODAY said some would open and some would close. Popeyes says each franchise sets its holiday schedule.
• Zaxbys: We did not find a 2025 national report or company statement on Zaxbys and Thanksgiving. Zaxbys says each restaurant sets its own holiday schedule, so check the store in the Zaxbys app or on the zaxbys.com locator.

If you are planning a chicken order for the holiday, our KFC vs Popeyes comparison covers bucket and family-meal prices at both chains.

Which chains are the best bet for early morning or late at night?

Whataburger is the most dependable choice in its 17 states, Dunkin' covers mornings at many locations, and Arby's and Sonic are reasonable backups if you confirm first.

Whataburger

Whataburger says most of its restaurants are open 24/7, 364 days a year, and that most close on Christmas Day. In 2025, TODAY reported that Whataburger restaurants across the country would be open on Thanksgiving, and ABC7 and Newsweek said the same. If you need a burger at midnight after the dishes are done, it is the strongest option. Whataburger also serves breakfast from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m.

Dunkin'

Newsweek reported that many Dunkin' shops would open in 2025, some with reduced hours and early closings, and TODAY noted that some would close. Morning is the safest window.

Arby's and Sonic

People, FOX 2 Detroit and TODAY all reported that most Arby's restaurants would open in 2025, with hours that varied. TODAY said some Sonic drive-ins would open and others would close.

Cook Out

Cook Out does not publish a holiday schedule, and we found no reliable report on its Thanksgiving hours. Call the store before you drive over.

Outside our 15 chains, Waffle House was reported open on Thanksgiving 2025 at most locations, and Krispy Kreme shops closed at 2 p.m. local time.

What can you order ahead for a Thanksgiving crowd?

If your go-to chain will be closed, or you want backup food for a houseful of guests, several chains sell group bundles you can pick up the day before. Prices below are typical and vary by location.

• KFC $20 Build a Bucket: eight pieces of chicken or eight tenders with four sides and four biscuits. See the KFC menu for sides.
• Chipotle Family Meal: about $49 to $50 with chicken, or $60 to $61 with steak or barbacoa, for four to six people. It is a digital-only order, so place it in the app.
• Whataburger 10 Whataburger Box: $50.99 to $53.99 at the stores we checked, built to feed 10.
• Chick-fil-A catering: trays and packaged meals ordered ahead, with Family Style Meals at about $30.49 to $35.49 at the stores we checked. Schedule pickup before Thursday.
• Arby's Deep Fried Turkey sandwiches: the Deep Fried Turkey Gobbler and Deep Fried Turkey Club returned for a limited time on Oct. 26, 2026, if you want the holiday flavor without the oven.

For the cheapest single meals at each chain, see our cheapest fast food meals guide.

How do you check if your local restaurant is open on Thanksgiving?

Use the chain's own app or store locator, then call the restaurant if the listing looks unchanged from a normal Thursday. Holiday hours are set locally, so national lists can only tell you what most stores are likely to do.

1. Open the chain's app or store locator first. Every chain on this list except Cook Out has an app with store pages, and that is where a store's own hours are most likely to be current.
2. Try starting a pickup order for Thanksgiving Day. If the app will not offer pickup times for your store that day, treat that as a sign it is closed or on short hours.
3. Call the restaurant. A quick call is the surest check, especially for drive-ins and stores in malls, airports or travel plazas.
4. Plan for an early close. In 2025, several reports said some stores would run reduced hours. Aim for lunch or early afternoon rather than late evening.
5. Expect busier delivery apps. If you order delivery, check that your store is listed for that day and allow extra time.

If you need breakfast on the holiday, our fast food breakfast hours guide shows each chain's normal cutoff, which is a good starting point.