Edmonton 
Getting food on Christmas Day is usually a bit tricky. So, too, is finding a table for dinner on the 25th.
Credit: Unsplash
Luckily, several Edmonton restaurants are open for Christmas! This holiday is not celebrated by everyone, and for some restaurants, the 25th is simply another open day. On top of the restaurants that are open in Edmonton on Christmas, there are several more offering specials for Christmas Day dining. These, for the most part, require online reservations to be made in advance of Christmas. These restaurants offer choices between casual and formal dining experiences, choices between a huge variety of cuisine, and the options to dine in, or take it home.
1. Restaurants Open on Dec 25th
Szechuan Sweet Mango
Where: 9120 82 Ave NW, Edmonton
Spirit Bistro
The promise from Spirit Bistro is that their food will warm your soul. So, it would be fitting to have a hearty meal like those from Spirit Bistro for your Christmas dinner, or for a cold winter day. Their menu is available for dine-in and takeout on the 25th with group dinner options also on the menu. Order for groups of 2-8 people and enjoy dishes like fried rice, fried shrimp and chicken, spring rolls, sweet and sour pork, or a variety of other substitutions and additions.
Where: 10824 97 St. NW
Gyu-Kaku
Gyu-Kaku are open in Edmonton on December 25th for both lunch and dinner. The Japanese barbecue spot have a menu with a large selection of light or hearty dishes. These items are available for pickup or dine-in, with reservations also an option. In addition to Gyu-Kaku’s opening hours on Christmas, they are also open on New Year’s Day.
Where: 10416 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 1Z3
Riverside Bistro at Courtyard by Marriott
Make your holiday experience extra special with the Riverside Bistro and its beautiful downtown Edmonton location. The Riverside Bistro, inside the Courtyard by Mariott, offer in-person dining for lunch and dinner with a special seasonal selection of menu items for winter.
Where: Courtyard by Marriott – 1 Thornton Court NW
P.F. Chang’s
PF Chang is a new chain location in Edmonton and is a chain which Edmontonian may already know of thanks to its global popularity. And as a bonus for Edmontonians, this place is open on Christmas Day! The restaurant is open by reservations for in-person dining, and for online ordering for PF Chang’s to go.
Where: 6303 Currents Dr NW
Maple Pizza and Donair
Maple Pizza and Donair in north Edmonton are open Christmas Day with choices for lunch, dinner, or a spread of snacks and appetizers. Plus, the restaurant and takeout spot offer an array of specials and deals which make the meal more affordable! Choose between classic pizza topping combinations or something different and new, like alfredo chicken, maple, or all-meat pizzas.
Where: 13020 50 St NW
Saffron Indian Cuisine
Edmonton’s own Saffron Indian Cuisine are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this December. And that includes their new location in West Edmonton. Show the new location some grand-opening-love this Christmas with a hearty helping of their shareable dishes. The Safron menu includes rice and biryani dishes, tandooris, vegetarian mains, and meat entrees. Plus, they offer a huge array of sides and appetizers.
Where: 469 Parsons Rd. SW
17006-90 Ave NW
The Rec Room
This Christmas, treat family or friends to dinner, drinks, and a little fun and games. The Rec Room is open for the holiday and take reservations to help you ensure a spot for bigger groups. They are only open for the evening, rather than their regular hours, and only the south Edmonton Rec Room is open for Christmas Day.
Where: 1725 99 Street NW
Pizza Talks & Donair
Where: 3518 Ewing Trail SW
Yang Ming Buffet
Yang Ming’s major claim to fame in Edmonton is their massive buffet, possibly the largest in the city. Rely on Yang Ming’s Buffet this Christmas for a filling and memorable meal including lunch or dinner. There are two separate buffets for lunch and dinner, but each offers generally the same types of food. Expect fresh seafoods, sushi and sashimi, tempura items, vegetables, sweets, and much more. Reservations are available and encouraged for Christmas Day.
Where: 3414 118 Ave NW
Annam South Indian Cuisine
Annam South Indian Cuisine are a local restaurant in south Edmonton who also offer catering services, and a banquet hall for rent. They are open on December 25, 2023, with takeout options and in-person seating. Take in the restaurant’s assortment of colourful and aromatic flavours through curry dishes, vegetarian meals, and desserts.
Where: 2935 Ellwood Drive SW
Coco
You won’t get a full Christmas dinner or meal from Coco. But this smaller juice and tea company is open on Christmas Day. Head over for a refreshing pick-me-up, soothing teas, or for drinks fit to qualify as desserts. And as an added bonus, Coco has locations all around Edmonton including the north and south sides, central Edmonton near the University and downtown, and areas in the Capital Region.
Where: Various Locations
Japonais Bistro (Windermere only)
The Windermere Japonais Bistro is the newest addition to this group’s family of restaurants in Edmonton. And they are the Japonais Bistro location to count on for Christmas Day meal plans. The southwest Edmonton restaurant will be open on Christmas Day for lunch or dinner reservations, and takeout orders. The restaurant serves a huge array of Japanese cuisine including bento for lunch, appetizers, sashimi, sushi, nigiri, and desserts.
Where: 6138 Currents Dr NW
Jollibee
Each of Edmonton’s Jollibee locations are open this Christmas Day! This includes northeast, southeast, south-central, and northwest locations. So, no matter where you are, there is likely an open Jollibee nearby on Christmas. They are one of the biggest Asian fast-food chains in the world, and only have a select few Canadian stores. But their popularity quickly grew in Edmonton, and their famous fried chicken is a perfect meal to share over the holidays.
Where: 3803 Calgary Trail NW #914
881 Tamarack Way NW
17136 90th Avenue NW
1 Kingsway Garden Mall Northwest
Red Lobster
Most Canadian Red Lobster locations will be open for Christmas Day 2023. This includes Edmonton’s two Red Lobster locations with one in the south, and one in the northwest. Enjoy a seafood feast with the family and take advantage of the Red Lobster Daily Deals. The restaurant also offers a variety of Family Meals and is open on Christmas for takeout.
Where: 10111 171st St. NW
4111 Calgary Trail South
Restaurants with Christmas Day Dining Specials
The Westin
The Westin Hotel Christmas Day Brunch event is the perfect treat for families, couples, and groups of families. The buffet brunch is by reservation only and has a huge assortment of treats to look forward to beyond the brunch basics. Enjoy a carving station, waffle station, charcuterie bar, and an assortment of freshly baked treats.
When: December 25, 2022
Where: The Westin 10135 100 St. NW
How much: $58-$62 per person
The Fairmont MacDonald
Visit the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald in downtown Edmonton this Christmas for a luxurious and memorable holiday meal. The Hotel Mac will host a few events over the 24th-25th. On Christmas Eve, they offer a Festive Brunch, or a plated three-course dinner. And for Christ Day, choose between a brunch buffet, dinner buffet, or six-course plated dinner.
When: December 24-25
Where: 10065 100 St NW, Edmonton
How much: $109-$225 per guest
Fantasy Land Hotel L2 Grill
When: December 24-25, 2023
Where: 17700 87 Ave. NW
How much: $$40.65-$99.52 per person
Moonga Sashimi
Moonga Sashimi are happy to offer their Holiday Omakase 2023 for almost all of the Christmas break, including December 25th and 31st. This is likely to be a meal to remember as it features 22 courses! Each course is unique from the next and all were curated and created by Moonga’s top chef.
When: December 22-31, including Christmas Day
Where: 10903 23 Ave NW
How much: $200 per person
Braven
The Braven holiday menu is available for Christmas Day, as well as the three days leading up to Christmas. The downtown Edmonton restaurant and their chef Jason created a special three-course meal for the experience. The star of the meal is no ordinary turkey dinner, either. Braven is preparing wood-fired porchetta for this meal!
When: December 23-25, 2023
Where: 10344 102 St. NW Edmonton
How much: $80 per person
The Kitchen – River Cree Resort & Casino
The Kitchen restaurant in the River Cree Resort & Casino has two holiday buffets planned for Christmas. Join them for either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day for their large buffet spread. These are both evening buffets and will feature decadent items like prime rib, snow crab legs and a seafood table, turkey and holiday foods, and a large assortment of desserts.
When: December 24-25, 2023
Where: 300 East Lapotac Blvd.
How much: $79.99 per person
Italia – River Cree Resort & Casino
The River Cree’s Italia Restaurant is also open Christmas Day and will also have a feature menu for the holiday. This a la carte menu includes a variety of seasonal and Christmas features and is only available for one day. The menu includes antipasti, pastas, and a selection of gourmet entrees like ham or turkey.
When: December 22-25, 2023
Where: 300 East Lapotac Blvd.
How much: set menu
