On Christmas Day 2025, only a small group of national chains will be open, mainly pharmacies, gas stations, and a few restaurant brands. This guide shows you where you can still grab keto friendly basics when most stores are closed.
Planning holiday errands is much easier when you know which doors will actually be open on December 25(Thursday). Maybe you ran out of heavy cream for your coffee, need eggs for a quick frittata, or want a low carb snack on the road.
Below, you will find a clear list of major chains that typically open on Christmas Day, their usual holiday hours, and the kinds of keto compatible items you can expect to find. We will also flag the big retailers that stay closed so you do not waste time driving to a locked door.
If you wake up on Christmas morning without the essentials for your keto meals, this page is your shortcut to the places that are still open and worth the trip.
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Which retail stores are open on Christmas Day 2025
Only a few major retail chains open on Christmas Day 2025. Most big box stores including Walmart, Target, Costco, and Aldi remain closed. The stores that stay open are mainly pharmacies and convenience chains that carry keto friendly essentials like eggs, cheese, nuts, jerky, and zero sugar drinks.
Retail stores open on Christmas Day 2025
Walgreens
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CVS
Convenience stores with consistent Christmas Day openings
These chains operate almost all locations on Christmas Day.
• 7 Eleven (keto items: eggs, cheese, beef jerky, nut packs)
• Wawa (keto items: custom bowls, hard boiled eggs, deli meats)
• Sheetz (keto items: made to order bowls, eggs, cheese, deli proteins)
• Circle K (keto items: nuts, jerky, cheese snacks)
• QuikTrip (keto items: hard boiled eggs, sausages, nuts, cheese)
All operate on modified or regular schedules.
Retail stores closed on Christmas Day 2025
These national retailers consistently close every Christmas Day. No exceptions have been announced for 2025.
Walmart
- Closed on Christmas Day nationwide.
Target
- Closed on Christmas Day.
Costo
- Closed on Christmas Day.
Dollar General
- Closed on Christmas Day.
Meijer
- Closed on Christmas Day
Home Depot
- Closed on Christmas Day
Aldi
- Closed nationwide.
Which restaurants and fast food chains are open on Christmas Day 2025?
On Christmas Day 2025, your most reliable keto friendly options in the U.S. are Waffle House, Denny’s, many IHOP locations, some McDonald’s, select Starbucks and Dunkin’ stores, plus 24-hour convenience chains like Wawa and Sheetz. Most burger, chicken, and burrito chains will be closed, so plan your low carb stops ahead.
Below is a quick breakdown focused on chains that can actually serve a keto compatible meal on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2025. Always confirm local hours in the app or store locator before you leave.
McDonald’s
- Christmas Eve 2025: Most McDonald’s restaurants will open, but many close early in the evening. Hours are set by the franchise owner, so do not count on late-night service.
- Christmas Day 2025: Many locations in busy areas will open with reduced hours, while others close all day. There is no single nationwide rule. Check the McDonald’s app or Google Maps listing for your exact restaurant
Find a McDonald’s near you and view its hours using its restaurant locator.
Starbucks
- Christmas Eve: Most standalone Starbucks stores will open with slightly shorter hours, often closing late afternoon or early evening.
- Christmas Day: Many Starbucks locations will close completely. Select stores in airports, travel centers, and dense city cores will open with limited hours and a reduced team. Licensed Starbucks inside retailers such as Target and most grocery chains will be closed if the host store is closed.
- Keto idea: Go for brewed coffee or an Americano with heavy cream or a splash of whole milk. Skip classic syrups and sweetened toppings; use sugar-free syrups only if your store carries them. For more ordering tips, see our Keto Starbucks Guide.
Dunkin’
- Christmas Eve: Most Dunkin’ locations open but often close early in the afternoon or early evening. Use the store locator or call ahead.
- Christmas Day: Many Dunkin’ stores will be closed. Some franchise locations in high-traffic areas may open for a short window with reduced hours. Assume closed unless the app says otherwise.
IHOP
- Christmas Eve: Most IHOP restaurants remain open, sometimes with slightly reduced evening hours. Verify hours here.
- Christmas Day: Many IHOP locations will open on Christmas Day, often with holiday hours that differ from their usual 24-hour or late-night schedule. Because hours are franchise controlled, always confirm via the IHOP store locator
Domino’s
- Christmas Eve: Many Domino’s stores will open on Christmas Eve but with earlier closing times than usual.
- Christmas Day: Domino’s corporate guidance treats Christmas Day as a closed holiday, but some franchisees choose to open for a few hours in high-demand areas. You must check your exact store in the Domino’s app before you assume you can order
Locate a Domino’s store and check its hours with the store locator.
Waffle House
- Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Waffle House still lives by its 24 hours, seven days a week model, including Christmas Day 2025, with only rare local disruptions
If you don’t want to take a chance during the holidays, use the Waffle House Store Locator to find hours and locations.
Golden Corral
- Christmas Eve: Some Golden Corral locations open with limited buffet hours and special holiday menus. Confirm with the store locator.
- Christmas Day: Many Golden Corral restaurants now close on Christmas Day, while a minority host a special Christmas buffet. Treat it as a “call first” option, not a sure thing.
Wawa
- Christmas Eve: Most Wawa convenience stores will operate close to normal, with some locations trimming late-night or overnight staffing. Use the store locator to confirm.
- Christmas Day: Wawa is one of the few large chains that keeps most stores open 24 hours, including Christmas Day 2025, especially in the Mid-Atlantic and Florida. A handful of locations may shorten hours.
Popular chains that are closed on Christmas Day 2025
These chains can be helpful on Christmas Eve for last minute keto friendly meals, but you should assume they are closed on Christmas Day 2025 unless you find a confirmed exception.
Taco Bell
- Closed on Christmas Day 2025, with most locations closing early Christmas Eve.
Find a Taco Bell near you and view its hours using the restaurant locator.
Chick-fil-A
- All U.S. restaurants will be closed on Christmas Day 2025, as they are on Sundays and Thanksgiving
Find a Chick-fil-A near you and view its hours using the restaurant locator.
Whataburger
- Holiday-hours sites list Christmas Day as a closed holiday for most Whataburger locations.
check its hours via the store locator.
Cracker Barrel
- Christmas Eve: Yes, it will be open until 2 p.m. Use the online store locator or call your local branch for confirmation.
- Christmas Day: Cracker Barrel will be closed for the holiday.
Jack in the Box
- Open daily except Christmas. All Jack in the Box restaurants are scheduled to close on December 25, 2025.
Use the Jack in the Box Store Locator to find hours and locations.
Burger King
- Recent 2025 holiday schedules flag Christmas Day as a closed day for most Burger King stores, regardless of normal daily hours
Wendy’s
- Most Wendy’s locations will be closed on Christmas Day 2025, though some airport or travel-hub stores may be exceptions
Cracker Barrel
- All 650 Cracker Barrel locations are closed on Christmas Day 2025 and close early at 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Applebee’s
- The vast majority of Applebee’s restaurants are closed on Christmas Day 2025. A few tourist-area exceptions may exist, but you should plan as if it is closed.
Panda Express
- Panda Express is closed on Christmas Day 2025, with only rare airport locations operating limited hours.
How to quickly confirm Christmas hours for your closest keto friendly spot
Because so many chains are franchise based, the safest workflow on December 24 and 25 is:
- Search the chain name in Google Maps and tap your exact location.
- Check the “Holiday hours” line. If it says “Hours may differ,” assume special hours.
- Tap through to the restaurant’s own website or app for that location.
- If it still is not clear, call once. A thirty-second phone call beats a wasted drive.
On Christmas Day 2025, you will have far fewer choices than a normal Wednesday, but if you prioritize Waffle House, Denny’s, IHOP, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Dunkin’, Wawa, and Sheetz, you can still stay keto and avoid a last minute scramble.
Conclusion
Only a small group of chains stay open on Christmas Day 2025, so plan around Walgreens, CVS, Wawa, Sheetz, and the few restaurant brands that operate on the holiday. These locations can still cover core keto needs like eggs, cheese, deli meats, jerky, coffee, and zero-sugar drinks.
Always confirm your exact store’s holiday schedule through its locator or app before you head out. Christmas Day hours vary widely, and many franchises make last-minute adjustments. If you want ideas for simple low carb meals you can put together with last-minute ingredients, explore our quick Keto Christmas Eve Dinner Ideas.
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