10 places open on Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, from The Grove to the Castaway, where to eat and what to do when everything else is closed.
Los Angeles doesn't shut down for Thanksgiving. Restaurants like Castaway and Geoffrey's Malibu run full prix-fixe dinners, Roscoe's and Buca di Beppo stay open for a non-traditional feast, movie theaters run a full holiday slate, and Runyon Canyon or Santa Monica Beach are free options if you'd rather skip a table. Here are 10 solid picks, in order.
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26, the fourth Thursday of the month as always. Most LA restaurants that serve Thanksgiving Day either run a special prix-fixe menu on shortened hours or close entirely, so a reservation isn't optional at the sit-down spots below — call or book at least a couple of weeks out.
Two real updates for 2026: Geoffrey's Malibu is back open after being shut for over a year following the January 2025 Palisades Fire and mudslide damage, rejoining Gladstones, Mastro's, and Duke's as Malibu's fire-recovered dining icons. And the Buca di Beppo at Universal CityWalk survived the chain's 2024 bankruptcy, which closed 13 locations nationwide — this one wasn't on that list and is still serving its family-style Thanksgiving spread.
The open-air mall stays open on Thanksgiving with holiday decor already up, and most of its sit-down restaurants run their own Thanksgiving service — it's LA Today's top pick because you get dinner and a head start on Black Friday shopping in one trip. Confirm which of the individual restaurants inside are serving before you go; not all of them do.
If turkey isn't the point for you, Roscoe's is the LA answer — a soul-food landmark serving its signature chicken and waffles instead of a traditional spread. It's a walk-up counter-service vibe, not a reservation, so it's an easy backup if your dinner plans fall through. Holiday hours can run shorter than a normal day; call the Hollywood location ahead to confirm it's open before you drive over.
Movie theaters are one of the most reliable "open on Thanksgiving" categories in any city, and Regal LA Live runs a full holiday showtime slate every year — it's the classic move for a family that wants to get out of the house after dinner, or skip cooking altogether for a matinee. Showtimes for the specific 2026 slate post closer to the date.
Castaway runs a dedicated Thanksgiving dinner every year, and the draw is the setting as much as the menu — a hillside dining room overlooking the whole San Fernando Valley. It's one of the most requested Thanksgiving tables in the area, so book well ahead of the date.
City parks and trails don't close for the holiday, and Runyon Canyon is the classic way to start Thanksgiving in LA before the food coma sets in — a steep, dog-friendly hike with skyline views that'll be crowded but rewarding on a clear late-November morning.
Geoffrey's closed for more than a year after the January 2025 Palisades Fire and the mudslides that followed, along with several other Malibu institutions. It's back serving oceanfront dinners for 2026, and Thanksgiving on that cliffside patio is one of the most requested tables on the coast — reserve early.
Right on the Walk of Fame, Hard Rock Cafe is a lower-key, no-reservation-required option for Thanksgiving if you're already out on the Boulevard or want something more casual than a formal dinner. It's a solid backup for families with kids who'd rather see rock memorabilia than sit through a long prix-fixe meal.
The lowest-key option on this list: a beach picnic in Santa Monica instead of a table anywhere. Skip the dining-room logistics entirely, bring your own food, and let the day be about the ocean instead of a seating time. Parking lots along the coast do fill up on a holiday with good weather, so get there early.
Catch LA's rooftop dining room is one of the most photographed tables in the city, and it's a strong pick if you want a seafood-forward Thanksgiving instead of a traditional one. Reserve early; the flower-covered patio is a magnet on any holiday.
Family-style Italian at Universal CityWalk, built for a group that wants a communal Thanksgiving feast without the cooking. The chain filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and closed 13 locations nationwide, but the CityWalk location wasn't one of them and is still running its Thanksgiving spread.
Thanksgiving 2026 falls on Thursday, November 26 — the fourth Thursday of November, same as the national holiday.
Yes. Geoffrey's closed for more than a year after the January 2025 Palisades Fire and mudslide damage, and reopened in 2026 alongside other fire-affected Malibu restaurants like Gladstones, Mastro's, and Duke's.
Yes. Regal and other major chains run a full holiday showtime schedule on Thanksgiving Day, including Regal LA Live — it's one of the most reliable "open on the holiday" categories in the city.
Yes. City parks and trails, including Runyon Canyon, stay open on holidays with no special hours or closures.
Yes. Buca di Beppo filed for bankruptcy in 2024 and closed 13 underperforming locations nationwide, but the Universal CityWalk location was not among them and remains open.
At any of the sit-down restaurants on this list — Castaway, Geoffrey's Malibu, and Catch LA especially — yes, and well ahead of the date. Counter-service spots like Roscoe's and casual chains like Hard Rock and Buca di Beppo are more flexible, but holiday hours can still run shorter than usual, so call ahead.