What’s open in the Fort Worth area for lunch Christmas Day? Here’s the updated list
Sure, you can still dine out Christmas Day.
But you might have to wait in line.
Some of the Fort Worth area’s oldest, most traditional family restaurants are serving Christmas lunch, giving families a choice besides expensive steaks or Asian cooking.
These familiar, long-standing restaurants are open Christmas and every day. But be patient if there’s a crowd:
▪ Heaven’s Gate Restaurant, 3820 N. Main St., is a 45-year-old cafe serving a country-style lunch buffet every day with entrees such as meat loaf, roast pork and chicken-fried steak, plus some Tex-Mex.
The $18.99 lunch buffet opens at 10 a.m. Christmas. Owner “Miss Barbie” Stanislawski decorates for the holiday. It’s near Meacham Airport, 2 miles south of Loop 820 or 2 miles north of the Stockyards; 817-624-1262.
▪ The Iron Skillet Restaurant, 2001 Santa Fe Drive, Weatherford, draws lines every Christmas for its all-you-can-eat feast of turkey and dressing, ham, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.
It’s a 24-hour truck stop in growing Parker County, with online ordering — a big plus — for anyone who can’t stay and enjoy the ambiance. There’s a full menu of breakfasts, burgers and even steaks; ta-petro.com.
▪ Ol’ South Pancake House, 1509 S. University Drive, Fort Worth, and 225 E. Renfro St., Burleson, is the Benson family’s 60-year Texas breakfast tradition and also serves plate lunches, dinners, burgers and chicken-fried steaks.
Both locations will open at 8 a.m. Christmas Day and serve their regular menu. Santa Claus will be at the Burleson location Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. through lunch, and at the Fort Worth location Christmas Eve; 817-336-0311 or 817-989-9090, olsouthpancakehouse.com.
▪ Skillet N’ Grill, 1801 W. Division St., Arlington, is a busy breakfast and lunch cafe that opens holidays and usually serves a turkey or ham plate lunch special along with the regular menu.
Breakfast is the most popular item, but in Arlington, any day can be a Skillet N’ Grill day; 817-795-8682, facebook.com/SkilletnGrill.
Smaller diners
These smaller cafes are open Christmas:
▪ Amy’s Restaurant, 1537 N. Main St., is owner Amy Flores’ little menudo cafe open weekends for breakfast or lunch.
It opens at 7 a.m. every day all weekend, serving migas, chilaquiles, omelets, soups and stews; 817-841-2896, facebook.com.
▪ Day Break Cafe, 2720 White Settlement Road, is an American and Tex-Mex restaurant opening at 5 a.m. every day of the year, for early breakfast burritos after Santa has barely made his stops.
Owner Mario Garcia will serve his regular inexpensive grill menu of breakfasts, burgers and lunches. It’s the kind of place where you can order chilaquiles verdes with a side of pancakes, or chicken-fried steak with tacos and apple pie; 817-335-0805, facebook.com/DayBreakCafeandGrill.
The Asian specials
Three Asian restaurants are among many open and usually busy on Christmas Day:
▪ Asian King Buffet, 6051 SW Loop 820, Fort Worth, and 953 Melbourne Road, Hurst, is open daily and serves a wide selection of more than 200 items; 817-423-8888 or 817-590-8886, asiankingbuffet.com.
▪ First Chinese BBQ, 5310 E. Belknap St., Haltom CIty, is the highest-rated inexpensive restaurant open Christmas Day, serving a vast menu of more than 200 items including roast duck; 817-834-1888.
▪ Japan House, 7536 Boulevard 26, North Richland Hills, is a $29.99 all-you-can-eat hibachi and sushi restaurant with robot servers; 817-537-2223, japanhousedfw.com.
More picks
Other restaurants open for Christmas lunch:
▪ Fort Worth: 97 West, Asian King Buffet, Burgers n Beyond, Cast Iron, il Modo, Melis Taqueria, Mercury Chophouse, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Rosticeria el Limon, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Saltgrass Steak House, Texas de Brazil, Toro Toro, Wicked Butcher.
▪ Haltom City: First Chinese BBQ.
▪ Azle: On the Patio.
▪ Hurst: Asian King Buffet, Egg Haven Cafe.
▪ Regionwide: Applebee’s, IHoP, Waffle House.
This story was originally published December 20, 2021 at 5:45 AM.
