These Tacoma restaurants will be open on Christmas. Plus, festive bars for before, after

Christmas Day remains the one day of the year in America where way more businesses are closed than open. Many restaurants that used to stay open have shied away from the choice in recent years, largely to give well-earned time to staff, but there are still some takers.

We’ve rounded up 13 bars and restaurants that will be open on Dec. 25 around Pierce County, from the Ruston Way waterfront to downtown Tacoma, into Puyallup and Gig Harbor. Beyond steak, lobster bisque and sandwiches, a few Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese and Indian restaurants will offer their hospitality.

In some cases, it’s walk-in only, but for others, we recommend calling the restaurant for large parties and if you’re running late — some might close a little early, depending on the crowds.

COPPER & SALT

▪ 5125 Grand Loop (at Silver Cloud Hotel), Ruston, 253-319-8290, copperandsaltnw.com/menus/christmas

▪ 4-8 p.m. - reserve online or by phone

The Italian-leaning restaurant inside Silver Cloud Hotel at Point Ruston will offer a prix fixe for $89 per person (excluding tax and gratuity) on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Select a starter of lobster bisque, crab dip or a salad, and a main of shrimp-scallop scampi, grilled lamb chops, prime rib or a vegetarian mushroom and squash ravioli. Finish with chocolate ganache cake, ricotta and pistachio cake, gelato or seasonal sorbet. The bar will sling some holiday cocktails, including a boozy eggnog and hot buttered rum.

STANLEY & SEAFORT’S

▪ 115 E. 34th St., Tacoma, 253-473-7300, stanleyandseaforts.com

▪ 3-9 p.m. - reserve online or by phone

A stalwart of staying open for the holidays, the classic steakhouse in Tacoma will have a limited menu on Christmas Day that’s sure to feature a few cuts, salads, soups and seafood. Reservations are recommended.

DOYLE’S PUBLIC HOUSE

▪ 208 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-7468

▪ 9 a.m.-2 a.m. - walk-ins only

Announcing that Doyle’s is open Christmas Day is like saying the sun will rise — it’s just the way of it! If you need to get away from your family, you’re far away from your family, or this is your family, this quintessential neighborhood pub has been warming our souls since 2006. In addition to the regular pub menu, the chef usually whips up something special.

MCMENAMINS ELKS TEMPLE

▪ 565 Broadway, 253-300-8754, mcmenamins.com/elks-temple

▪ Pub 8 a.m.-10 p.m., other bars open at 3 or 4 p.m.

Elks Temple always exudes coziness, but it’s especially warm around the holidays, with garlands, bows, trees and poinsettias aplenty. The Pub is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, while Doc’s, The Old Hangout, The Spanish Bar and The Vault open midday. Every bar will be open Christmas Day, so eat and bar-hop without leaving the building!

VK VIET KITCHEN

▪ 758 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253-474-3992, facebook.com

▪ 10 a.m.-4 p.m. - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

This 5-year-old Vietnamese destination in the Lincoln District will run limited hours on Christmas Day. In addition to mainstays of pho, banh mi and vermicelli bowls, you can relish lesser-seen dishes, including muc nuong sate (grilled squid) and bò né (steak and eggs, but better!).

YEN CHING

▪ 8765 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253-582-3400, yenchingrestaurant.net

▪ 3-9 p.m. - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

A stalwart of the scene for more than 40 years, Yen Ching will continue the tradition this Christmas. From the house special Peking chicken (fried chicken in garlic sauce) to Hunan beef, mapo tofu to sweet-and-sour shrimp and everything in-between, the full menu will be available.

TACOMA SZECHUAN

▪ 9701 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253-581-0102, tacomaszechuanwa.com

▪ 11 a.m.-9 p.m. - walk-ins only

As the only Szechuan restaurant in the area, Tacoma Szechuan is planning for a busy Christmas Day (and Christmas Eve). Walk-ins only to snag a table for hand-cut dan dan, mala chicken, twice-cooked pork belly, kung pao prawns and other seriously spicy stuff. Note there is no hot pot and no reservations.

CHUNG KI WA

▪ 8601 South Tacoma Way, 253-588-5976, chungkiwa.menu11.com

▪ 11 a.m.-10 p.m. (crowd dependent) - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

A longstanding Korean restaurant in Lakewood with a fairly new owner, Chung Ki Wa will fire up the table grills on Christmas Day. Keep decision-making to a minimum with a set menu for three to eight people, or pick and choose from the full menu of favorites, including fried chicken, sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu soup) and haemul-pajeon (seafood pancake).

THE GRILL 253

▪ 9312 South Tacoma Way, 253-267-5316, thegrill253.com

▪ 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (crowd dependent) - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

One of the best new restaurants in town, go here if you want to really go for it at a grilling table with friends and family. With USDA Prime beef and other proteins (pork jowl and belly, duck, crustaceans aplenty), the menu also offers prepared dishes including hot pot, stews and cold noodles.

YI’S TRADITIONAL KOREAN BEEF SOUP

▪ 8797 South Tacoma Way, 253-301-1655, yistraditional.com

▪ 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. - walk-ins welcome

New to Lakewood after many years with a restaurant in Federal Way, Yi’s just opened this fall and is open Christmas Eve and Day. The shorter menu focuses on seolleongtang, a milky beef soup with a broth forged from ox marrow bones. Add steamed dumplings and a seafood pancake to round out the meal.

TANDOORI GRILL

▪ 4423 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-268-0216, tandoorigrillwa.com

▪ 11 a.m.-9 p.m. - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

This newish, family-run Indian restaurant has a broad menu of Indian favorites. Don’t skip the namesake chicken (or try the fish) and get extra naan for all the shahi korma. The menu also teases out a handful of vegan options and several desserts.

KARMA INDIAN CUISINE

▪ 12623 S. Meridian, Puyallup, 253-770-6276, karmaindiancuisinepuyallup.com

▪ noon-midnight (crowd dependent) - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

A mainstay for Indian cuisine in the region, Karma will serve its menu of curries, biryanis, tandoori dishes and more on Christmas Day. Bonus: mango pickle!

BUTTER CHICKEN INDIAN KITCHEN

▪ 4107 Harborview Dr., Gig Harbor, 253-649-0885, butterchickenindiankitchen.toast.site

▪ 11 a.m.-9 p.m. - walk-ins welcome, call to reserve

New this year, the sister restaurant to Karma in Puyallup serves the go-to butter chicken and a similar menu. There’s also a full bar here with an eclectic martini list, wine and beer.

BONUS: BEST BARS FOR HOLIDAY HANGS

BUSY BODY!

▪ 2717 6th Ave., Tacoma, busybodytacoma.com

Busy Body will be closed Christmas Day, but before and after, find your holiday spirit amid the raucous decor for the Miracle pop-up. During its second-ever run in Tacoma, sip super-special cocktails in ultra-festive mugs while shuffling to retro rock ’n’ roll holiday music.

LAKE CITY PUB

▪ 9016 Veterans Dr. SW, Lakewood, 253-267-1309,

The owner redecorates for every season, but this old haunt — thoughtfully remodeled and reworked with a refreshing menu of comforting fare and great cocktails — really sings for the holidays. The bar is closed Christmas Day, but swing by another day or night to catch the 20-plus Christmas trees, snowflake ceiling and Harry Potter candle cloud.

This story was originally published December 22, 2024 at 5:00 AM.