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

don't call it a comeback

Veteran Houston chef's vibrant new cafe now open at the Menil Collection

Photo by Becca Wright

Flautas and campechana are both available at Chroma.

Visitors to The Menil Collection once again have a compelling, on campus dining option. Chrôma, the new restaurant from veteran Houston chef and restaurateur Claire Smith, is now open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Located in the former Bistro Menil space (1512 Sul Ross), Chrôma (styled in press materials as the all-lowercase “chrôma”) is an all-day cafe that serves Smith’s signature take on globally inspired comfort food.

"I'm honored by the trust the Menil Foundation has placed in me," Smith said in a statement. "Chrôma will be a space that reflects the creativity and warmth of the Menil community — a place where visitors, neighbors, and art lovers can gather, dine, and connect."

Smith worked with architect Dillon Kyle to transform Bistro Menil into Chrôma. The interior features a 30-foot sculptural bar that consists of seven kinds of marble in a butcher block pattern. The main dining room features a wood ceiling with bright orange felt leaves. Diners who opt for the 500-square-foot patio will have a view of the Menil’s celebrated Jack sculpture by Houston artist Jim Love.

"The space is an allegorical landscape," Kyle explained. "We have created a light and airy space that brings in the existing nature and landscape, aiming for a casualness that is comfortable to all.”

The menu will feel familiar to anyone who visited Smith’s previous establishments such as Shade, Canopy, and Alice Blue. Weekday breakfast includes classic egg dishes — think a green egg frittata; a bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwich; chilaquiles; and Smith’s signature quiche. Pair them with freshly baked pastries that include croissants, scones, danish, and a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie.

During lunch and dinner, meals start with appetizers, including Japanese eggplant, fried green tomatoes, cheese and charcuterie plates, deviled eggs, and campechana that’s made with shrimp and crab. From there, diners can pick one of six salads, including a chicken cobb, and entrees that run the gamut from a BLT to a cheeseburger, chicken flautas, and pan-seared red snapper in a Thai red curry sauce. Weekend brunch, served from 10 am-3 pm on Saturday and Sunday, offers many of the dishes from both the breakfast and dinner menus.

Considered one of Houston’s earliest advocates for using locally sourced ingredients on a menu, Smith opened Daily Review Cafe, her first restaurant, in 1994. She followed it with Shade, which debuted in the mid-aughts on 19th Street in the Heights. It earned a devoted following for its Southern-inspired comfort food such as the signature shrimp and grits.

In 2017, she transformed Shade into the European-inspired Alice Blue, with an assist from chef Jason Vaughan and beverage expert Sean Jensen — the duo who would go on to earn a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide for Nancy’s Hustle. She also operated all-day concept Canopy on Montrose Boulevard from 2009-2019.

Last year, Smith told CultureMap that she never planned to retire when Alice Blue closed in 2024. She was simply looking for the right opportunity to return to the dining scene.

“When the opportunity arose to open a project on the Menil campus, I jumped on it,” she said.

Chrôma opens daily at 7 am.

Photo by Becca Wright

Flautas and campechana are both available at Chroma.

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