No reservations? Here’s where you can go to dine in on Thanksgiving Day in Charlotte
Not everyone plans ahead for Thanksgiving in the Charlotte area with reservations or pre-orders — or maybe you did, and things just aren’t working out.
If your host falls ill, you find yourself with a turkey that is still frozen solid or any other number of other panic-inducing holiday deal-breakers, there’s no need to panic. There are options for eating a good Thanksgiving meal without reservations in the Charlotte area.
We’ve rounded up some options for restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving Day where you can walk right in (or at least stand in line), with no reservations required.
Angry Ale’s
Location: 1518 Montford Dr, Charlotte, NC 28209
If you’re looking from a break from the traditional Thanksgiving menu, Angry Ale’s will be serving up its usual offerings of burgers, tacos, wings and more. Another option is its holiday special, the Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich with roasted turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce. Look out for drink specials including a $6 Apple Pie Shots, $5 Angry Orchard cider and $3 Coors Light.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte. Leftovers sandwich is $10.
Holiday hours: 6 p.m.-2 a.m.
Benny DaCorsa’s
Location: 30 Church St S, Concord, NC 28025
In Concord, Benny’s DaCorsa’s will be open mid-day to help you feed a crowd or stock your fridge with enough leftovers to hold you through the weekend. If you order a whole pie ahead of time by phone at (704) 787-941 and pick it up yourself, you’ll also take home a free Benny’s baseball cap.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte. A whole cheese pizza starts at $36.
Holiday hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Bojangles
Location: Multiple
Turkey is no longer an option at Bojangles — the Charlotte-based chain stopped serving fried turkey years ago. But with fried chicken, biscuits, mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, you’ll hardly be missing out on a hearty holiday meal. A few individually portioned sweet potato pies can round out the dinner, and you’ll be all set.
Price: A la carte.
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.
Cracker Barrel
Location: Multiple, including Charlotte, Concord, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Kannapolis, Matthews, Mooresville and Rock Hill
Cracker Barrel will be open regular hours on Thanksgiving, serving up its full menu of all-day breakfast and Southern favorites. Holiday menu items will be available, as well, including broccoli cheese casserole and cinnamon roll pie.
Price: A la carte
Hours: Vary by location, but most are open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. or 10 p.m.
Eat, Gay, Love 2024
Location: Resident Culture South End, 332 W Bland St C, Charlotte, NC 28203
The inclusive Eat, Gay, Love dinner — led by Queen City Nerve and Brian DuBois in partnership with Resident Culture Brewing — is a free Thanksgiving meal for LGBTQIA+ community members. Eat, Gay, Love is operated through donations and volunteers, and any unserved food is donated to Block Love Charlotte to distribute to neighbors experiencing homelessness. Curbside pickup is also available.
Price: Free, but you can make a donation. Let them know you’re coming via Eventbrite.com.
Hours: 2-5 p.m.
Golden Corral
Location: 7701 N. Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28262
Location: 1540 Us Highway 29 North, Concord, NC 28025
Location: 2300 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054
Location: 11025 E. Independence Blvd., Matthews, NC 28105
Location: 2507 West Roosevelt Blvd., Monroe, NC 28110
Location: 120 Gallery Center Drive, Mooresville, NC 28117
Location: 2370 Cherry Rd., Rock Hill, SC 29732
Raleigh-based Golden Corral is offering its holiday buffet with seasonal specials alongside traditional home-style comfort foods.
Items may vary by location, but the holiday lineup will likely include:
- Carved roasted turkey, ham and pork roast
- Chicken pot pie, King Ranch chicken
- Mashed potatoes, gravy and stuffing
- Cranberry sauce
- Sweet potato casserole
- Yeast rolls
- Pecan pie and pumpkin pie.
Price: Lunch is $11.29 and dinner is $16.29, but may vary by location.
Hours: 10-8 p.m., but may vary by location.
Golden Owl Tavern
Location: UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 9041 Robert D. Snyder Road, Charlotte, NC 28262
Golden Owl Tavern, where reservations can be made but are not required, has several holiday-worthy items on the menu. Look for choices such as deviled eggs, sour cream mashed potatoes and collard greens with ham hock to dress up the entree of your choice.
Price: Vary, as items are a la carte.
Hours: Breakfast 6:30 a.m.-11 a.m.; Dinner 4 p.m.-9 p.m.; Bar 4 p.m.–10 p.m.
Le’s Sandwiches & Cafe
Location: 217 E. Sugar Creek Road, Unit 150, Charlotte, NC 28213
Le’s is open to fill all your banh mi cravings for Thanksgiving lunch, with the option to pick up meat by the pound, also. “We’ll have a few slabs roasting if y’all are interesting in grabbing a few pounds,” the restaurant posted on Instagram. “First come first serve. Recommend calling to check availability.”
Hours: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Metro Diner
Location: 8334 Pineville-Matthews Rd Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28226
Location: 14211 Reese Boulevard, Huntersville, NC 28078
Location: 10412 E Independence Blvd #400, Matthews, NC 28105
Metro Diner locations are open for breakfast and Thanksgiving lunch service, with holiday meals including a Stuff ‘N Waffle with turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.
Price: Vary, as items are a la carte.
Hours: 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
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Open Rice
Location: Metropolitan, 1100 Metropolitan Ave, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC
Open Rice’s Metropolitan location will be open for Thanksgiving lunch, offering its dim sum push cart selections. When the cart travels throught the dining room, you choose the dumplings, steam buns and other bites that intrigue you to piece together your meal.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Ruby Tuesday
Location: 8905 Red Oak Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28217
Location: 7780 Lyles Ln NW, Concord, NC 28027
Location: 1410 Old Springdale Rd, Rock Hill, SC 29730
All Ruby Tuesday locations are open for Thanksgiving and serving up its standard menu. Chicken, ribs, seafood and pasta are all possibilities, as are its daily $9.99 deals for burgers, boneless wings and even a chicken burrito bowl.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Vaulted Oak Brewing
Location: 3726 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205
You won’t find a meal at Vaulted Oak Brewing on Thanksgiving, but you can sit down for a beer or a cider after an early family lunch or before a late holiday dinner.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Hours: 3-8 p.m.
Waffle House
Locations: Multiple, including Charlotte, Concord, Dallas, Fort Mill, Gastonia, Huntersville, Mooresville
While there’s no white tablecloth service at Waffle House, the restaurant is open 24-7, 365 days a year. That means you can roll in to enjoy an All-Star Special or covered, smothered and scattered hashbrowns whenever you want — even on Thanksgiving.
Price: Varies, as items are a la carte.
Hours: Always open
This story was originally published November 20, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
