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An elegant wreath in a dining room.
The interior of the Lakehouse
The Lakehouse

Where to Dine Out on Christmas and Christmas Eve in Seattle

Whether you want a high-end prix fixe dinner or a traditional Chinese Christmas feast, we have you covered

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The interior of the Lakehouse
| The Lakehouse

Christmas is a chance to celebrate your friends and family, the date that marks the birth of Jesus Christ, or a typical winter Monday when a lot of places are annoyingly closed. Whatever that particular day is for you, you might end up wanting to eat at a restaurant — either because it’s your tradition, you don’t want to produce a huge meal just a month after Thanksgiving, or you just want to eat. Here’s a list of notable restaurants open for sit-down service on December 24 and 25, including Chinese food spots, celebration prix fixe menus, and vegan brunch.

As usual, this map is not ranked but organized geographically, north to south. Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing [email protected].

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Cedar + Elm

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Earlier this year, the restaurant inside the Lodge at Saint Edward State Park got a shot in the arm when Top Chef contestant and Noma alum Luke Kolpin took it over. If you’re looking to see what he’s done with the place, Christmas Eve is as good a time as any: Cedar + Elm is offering a $125 prix fixe menu with an optional wine pairing. (The menu isn’t online, but expect seasonal PNW offerings.) To book, go here.

A row of elegant restaurant booths.
The interior of Cedar + Elm
Cedar + Elm

The Lakehouse

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Just like last year, the chic Bellevue restaurant is taking reservations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when James Beard–winning Jason Wilson will serve a four-course meal with classic dishes like escargot and prime rib (there are vegetarian and vegan options for every course). Tickets are $95 (or $35 for children). For more, go here.

A hand pours brown sauce from a pitcher onto a plate of medium-rare beef
Prime rib at the Lakehouse
The Lakehouse

Plum Bistro

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Capitol Hill’s preeminent vegan bistro has a great option for those who dislike meat or planning — on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Plum will be serving its typical winter brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., walk-ins only. It also has a $165 take-home Christmas dinner that feeds five to six people, which you can order here.

IL Bistro

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If you want to have a grown-up Christmas dinner, look into this tucked-away Pike Place Italian restaurant famed for its cocktails. It is serving a three-course meal for $122 that includes Italian dishes like arancini, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, and tiramisu.

SHUCKERS OYSTER BAR

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The oyster bar inside the Fairmont Olympic Hotel has a ton of dark oak to go along with the seafood, a pretty extravagant and scenic way to celebrate Christmas Eve. Shuckers has a prix fixe menu with main courses that include citrus-brined turkey or prime rib, and eggnog creme brulee for dessert. For adults the price is $95 to $120 and for kids it’s $46 to $60. To book, go here.

Tai Tung Restaurant

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If you’re going to go out for Chinese food on Christmas, why not go with an unimpeachable classic that also has a cardboard cutout of former regular Bruce Lee? Tai Tung is Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant and still one of its best, serving the hits: egg rolls, Mongolian beef, sweet and sour pork... the list (and the menu) goes on. If you’re looking for something festive, you can get a whole Peking duck. You can make reservations, but you have to call the restaurant the old-fashioned way.

13 Coins

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Late-night legend 13 Coins hosts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners at all of its locations, including Pioneer Square, SeaTac, Bellevue, and Vancouver, Washington. The holiday menu includes grilled Australian lamb chops and prime ribs; you’ll also be able to order old-school treats like a bucket of clams and veal Marsala. FYI, you can only make reservations for parties of six or more.

Cedar + Elm

Earlier this year, the restaurant inside the Lodge at Saint Edward State Park got a shot in the arm when Top Chef contestant and Noma alum Luke Kolpin took it over. If you’re looking to see what he’s done with the place, Christmas Eve is as good a time as any: Cedar + Elm is offering a $125 prix fixe menu with an optional wine pairing. (The menu isn’t online, but expect seasonal PNW offerings.) To book, go here.

A row of elegant restaurant booths.
The interior of Cedar + Elm
Cedar + Elm

The Lakehouse

Just like last year, the chic Bellevue restaurant is taking reservations for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when James Beard–winning Jason Wilson will serve a four-course meal with classic dishes like escargot and prime rib (there are vegetarian and vegan options for every course). Tickets are $95 (or $35 for children). For more, go here.

A hand pours brown sauce from a pitcher onto a plate of medium-rare beef
Prime rib at the Lakehouse
The Lakehouse

Plum Bistro

Capitol Hill’s preeminent vegan bistro has a great option for those who dislike meat or planning — on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Plum will be serving its typical winter brunch menu from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., walk-ins only. It also has a $165 take-home Christmas dinner that feeds five to six people, which you can order here.

IL Bistro

If you want to have a grown-up Christmas dinner, look into this tucked-away Pike Place Italian restaurant famed for its cocktails. It is serving a three-course meal for $122 that includes Italian dishes like arancini, gnocchi with wild mushrooms, and tiramisu.

SHUCKERS OYSTER BAR

The oyster bar inside the Fairmont Olympic Hotel has a ton of dark oak to go along with the seafood, a pretty extravagant and scenic way to celebrate Christmas Eve. Shuckers has a prix fixe menu with main courses that include citrus-brined turkey or prime rib, and eggnog creme brulee for dessert. For adults the price is $95 to $120 and for kids it’s $46 to $60. To book, go here.

Tai Tung Restaurant

If you’re going to go out for Chinese food on Christmas, why not go with an unimpeachable classic that also has a cardboard cutout of former regular Bruce Lee? Tai Tung is Seattle’s oldest Chinese restaurant and still one of its best, serving the hits: egg rolls, Mongolian beef, sweet and sour pork... the list (and the menu) goes on. If you’re looking for something festive, you can get a whole Peking duck. You can make reservations, but you have to call the restaurant the old-fashioned way.

13 Coins

Late-night legend 13 Coins hosts Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners at all of its locations, including Pioneer Square, SeaTac, Bellevue, and Vancouver, Washington. The holiday menu includes grilled Australian lamb chops and prime ribs; you’ll also be able to order old-school treats like a bucket of clams and veal Marsala. FYI, you can only make reservations for parties of six or more.

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