Where to eat on Christmas Day

14 best Houston restaurants serving up holiday feasts on Christmas Day

Make it a Christmas Day to remember at Musaafer.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Admittedly, dining out on Christmas is a little more difficult than on Thanksgiving. Fewer restaurants are open; after all, even cooks and servers deserve a day off with their families.

Still, a few places will be open for those who prefer not to spend their holiday sweating over pots and pans and doing dishes. Our only advice is to spread a little Christmas cheer by tipping more than usual. People whose employers ask them to give up their holidays deserve to be rewarded.

Of course, this list isn’t comprehensive. Many restaurants that serve cuisines from different parts of East Asia will be open on Christmas, particularly those that are located in Chinatown or in Asian-oriented shopping districts in other parts of greater Houston. Call in advance to confirm availability.

Blossom Hotel
The newly opened luxury hotel in the Medical Center will serve a Christmas Day buffet that features herb-crusted prime rib, smoked turkey, and baked salmon along with sides such as broccoli almandine and honey-citrus glazed carrots and a full dessert bar. A children’s menu features dishes such a chicken tenders and mac and cheese. Priced at $68 for adults and $38 for children 6-12, make reservations by calling 832-699-9777 or emailing sales@blossomhouston.com.

Cleburne Cafeteria
The Houston institution will be open on Christmas Day from 11 am - 8 pm with all of its comfort food favorites like chicken fried steak, roast turkey, and liver and onions. Save room for the freshly-baked cakes and pies.

Davis St. at Hermann Park
UPDATE: Davis St. will not be open on Christmas.

Doris Metropolitan
The Israeli-influenced steakhouse will be open for dinner on Christmas Day from 2-9. Pair any of the dry-aged steaks with starters and sides such as beetroot with cheese and pistachio filling, roasted octopus with tzatziki, and Israeli salad with tahini.

Fielding’s Local Kitchen + Bar
In addition to its usual offerings of steak, pizza, and other comfort fare, this eclectic restaurant in The Woodlands will feature Christmas Day specials of beef tamales at brunch and lobster ravioli and Chateaubriand for two at dinner. The restaurant’s extensive selection of wine, beer, and cocktails means anyone can find an ideal pairing for their meals.

Himalaya
A meal built around chef Kaiser Lashkari’s staples like chicken hara masala, Himalaya fried chicken, and Hunter’s Beef will be way more delicious than any Christmas ham. Plus, Himalaya’s BYOB policy makes meals there even more affordable.

Kin Dee Thai Cuisine
In addition to its usual menu, this popular Thai restaurant in the Heights will feature two large format specials: Thai-style ribs and pineapple fried rice that’s served in a fresh pineapple.

Mozambik South African Kitchen
Open from 4-10 pm on Christmas Day, this restaurant in The Woodlands will supplement its usual menu with two specials: beef Wellington and coffee-crusted pork loin with a dried fruit medley. Since quantities are limited, pre-orders are recommended. For those dining at home, the restaurant is offering a to-go special of leg of lamb with roasted red potatoes and caramelized Brussels sprouts.

Musaafer
The Galleria’s luxurious Indian restaurant will be open from 12 pm-midnight on Christmas Day. Look for specials such as Spiced Turkey Mosaic of compressed turkey, cranberry chutney, cumin celeriac mash, gold dust blueberries, and makhni sauce and Christmas cake. Reservations are recommended.

Phat Eatery
Chef Alex Au-Yeung adds a few Chinese-American dishes to his menu for the Christmas season. Dishes include chili crab rangoon, beef and broccoli, kung pao chicken, and General Tso’s chicken. They’re available through January 2, so even people who stay home on Christmas have the opportunity to try them.

The Red Lion Pub
Head to the Anglo-Indian pub for dishes such as Shepherd’s Pie, fish and chips, and chicken tikka masala. It will be open for regular hours on Christmas Day (11 am - 1 am).

The Rustic Uptown Park
The popular bar, restaurant, and live music venue will be open on Christmas Day from 4-9 pm with homemade tamales and a special beer bottle Christmas tree.

Safina Mediterranean at the InterContinental Hotel Houston
This restaurant in the Medical Center will feature a three-course, meal with choices such as roasted cauliflower soup, filet mignon rossini, and pecan pie. For reservations, call 713-422-2779.

Toro Toro at the Four Seasons Houston
The decadent brunch buffet at this posh downtown hotel will make for a memorable Christmas feast. Served from 10 am - 3 pm, chef Rafael Villalpando’s selections include an omelet station; seafood station loaded with shellfish; a carving station with tenderloin, turkey, ham, and leg of lamb; a dessert station, and more. The meal costs $135 for adults and $65 for children 11 and under. Reservations highly recommended.

news-you-can-eat holidays

the more things change

Houston's essential Jewish diner looks better than ever after refresh

Photo by Sergio Trevino

The dining room has more light than ever.

It’s tricky to renovate a restaurant that’s as essential to its community as New York Deli. A staple of Houston’s Jewish community for almost 50 years, the tiny restaurant near Meyerland will serve as many as 400 people during a busy Sunday brunch.

Still, the time had come, as the tape on the deteriorating banquettes and peeling wallpaper illustrated. With the restaurant’s lease up for renewal, co-owner Michael Saghian saw an opportunity for some updates.

“I couldn’t be the new guy who ruined the place by moving it,” he tells CultureMap. “We worked out a deal with the landlord [to stay] and did a big refresh.”

The most noticeable change is the removal of the restaurant’s front door and vestibule. Instead, diners enter through the restaurant’s companion bagel shop. Separate entrances made sense when the bagel shop was certified kosher by local religious authorities, but now that designation only applies to the Bellaire location that opened in 2020. Not only is the new setup easier for people with mobility issues to navigate, it allows more light into the dining room, brightening the place considerably..

Saghian and co-owner Riana Sherman worked with interior designer Erin Hicks on the refresh. Tables, chairs, and banquettes are all new, but the color scheme remains the same. The process yielded 10 more seats, and the furniture is a little more durable, too.

“People have flipped chairs because they’re so lightweight,” Sherman says. “We got a sturdier chair.”

Behind the scenes, an expanded kitchen allows for the restaurant’s cooks to work faster and more efficiently. An additional egg cooker should cut down the amount of time people wait for their food to arrive.

“The kitchen had one of everything. Now we have two of everything. We can pump out a lot more food,” Saghian says.

Photographs on the walls honor longtime customers such as the “bagel girls,” a group of woman who’ve eaten breakfast at the restaurant since the ‘80s. A piece of old wallpaper has been framed and hung on the wall, too, as a nod to the space’s history.

New York Deli interior changes Photographs on the walls honor longtime customers.Photo by Sergio Trevino

Photo by Sergio Trevino

The dining room has more light than ever.

Saghian says he suffered from sleepless nights as he worried about people’s reactions to the changes, but so far his customers have been effusive.

“It still feels like an old school diner,” Saghian says. “It has pieces you remember. Even the new stuff is old school.”

While the physical environment is new, the staff remains the same. To ensure he kept the same team of cooks and servers, Saghian paid their wages for the two weeks the restaurant was closed for renovations.

Even more importantly, the prices are the same. That’s something that will make even the oldest regulars happy.

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