Dining out in Madison, Wisconsin on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2016

Please note: This list is no longer being updated. There is no new list for 2017.

This list began nine years ago in 2007 as a post on my personal blog listing Chinese restaurants in the Madison area open on Christmas. It proved to be incredibly popular, drawing thousands of visitors. The following year, in 2008, we expanded the list by adding non-Chinese restaurants.

Over the years, publishing this list has become a very popular holiday tradition for us: We’ve welcomed thousands and thousands of visitors during the holiday season who are looking for this information — and learned that lots of people don’t dine at home on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. In 2015, we moved the list from our Madison on the Cheap website (which is on hiatus) to Quintessential Madison, a new website featuring stories about Madison people, places, and history.

Compiling and updating the list takes an enormous amount of time: Every restaurant on the list is called to confirm when they’re open.

Adhering to tradition, our list is divided into two sections: The first features Chinese restaurants; the second features other locally-owned Madison-area restaurants, most of which serve from their regular menus rather than cooking up Christmas specials. At the very end of the listings is a link to a list of “Restaurant Chains Open for Christmas 2016.” This list is compiled by RestaurantNews.com and it provides general, not specific, information about these options.

Important: Even though a restaurant is open on December 24th and/or December 25th, it may have limited hours or menu options. Plus, plans change. Please call ahead to confirm details.

Part I: Madison-area Chinese restaurants open December 24th and December 25th

A-8 China, 608 University Avenue, 608-250-8888

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Close December 25th

Chang Jiang, 948 W. Main Street, Sun Prairie, 608-825-9108

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. and December 25th from noon until 10 p.m.

China Inn, 4702 Cottage Grove Road, 608-222-8829

Open December 24th and 25th from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m.

China Kitchen, 6608 Mineral Point Road, 608-826-4432

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and December 25th from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m.

China Wok Buffet, 6913 University Avenue, 608-826-0333

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Fugu Asian, 411 West Gilman Street, 608-286-7277

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Great China, 617 N. Sherman Avenue, 608-244-9988

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Hong Kong Cafe, 2 S. Mills Street, 608-259-1668

Open regular hours December 24th and 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on December 25th

Imperial Garden West, 2039 Allen Boulevard, Middleton, 608-238-6445

Open December 24th from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.); closed December 25th

Reservations strongly suggested

Jade Garden, 1109 South Park Street, 608-260-9890

Open December 24th and 25th from 11:15 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Nani Dim Sum Restaurant, 518 Grand Canyon Drive, 608-826-9300

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Oriental Wok, 532 S. Park Street, 608-255-1288

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 12:30 a.m.

Tai’s Asian Bistro, 638 S. Whitney Way, 608-661-8889

Open December 24th and December 25th from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The Journey Buffet and Grill, 4325 Lien Road, 608-663-6686

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

World Buffet, 2451 W. Broadway, 608-222-2962

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. and December 25th from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.

World Buffet, 499 D’Onofrio Drive, 608-833-6789

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

Part II: Additional Madison restaurants open on December 24th and December 25th

1847 at the Stamm House, 6625 Century Ave, Middleton, 608-203-9430

Open December 24th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and closed December 25th

Angkor-wat Cambodian Thai Restaurant, 602 South Park Street, 608-422-5666

Open December 24th and 25th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Blue Moon Bar & Grill, 2535 University Avenue, 608-233-0441

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until “5ish” and December 25th from 5 p.m. until 2 a.m.

Edo Japanese Restaurant, 532 South Park Street, (608) 268-0247

Open from 11 a.m. until midnight on December 24th and 25th

Edo Garden Monona, 6309 Monona Drive, (608) 226-9828

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. and December 25th from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 750 North Midvale Boulevard, 608-233-9550

Open December 24th from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and closed December 25th

Reservations recommended

Gus’s Diner, 630 North Westmount, Sun Prairie; 608-318-0900

Open December 24th from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. and December 25th from 6 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Layla’s-Persian food with a local flare, 141 South Butler Street, 608-216-4511

Open December 24th from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Serving a specias Hanukamas (Haaa-new-ka-mas) menu, including Sufganiot Burgers, latke bar and more!

Liliana’s, 2951 Triverton Pike in Fitchburg, 608-442-4444

Open December 24th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Serving a four-course dinner.

Open December 25th from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Serving a Christmas buffet

Reservations highly recommended

Om Indian Fusian Cuisine, 3517 East Washington Avenue, 608-467-2110

Open December 24th from 11:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. and December 25th from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Parkway Family Restaurant, 1221 Ann Street, 608-255-2355

Open December 24th and 25th from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.

Taste of India, 2623 Monroe Street, 608-218-9200

Open for lunch from 11:30 until 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. on December 24th and 25th

The Edgewater Hotel, 1001 Wisconsin Place, 800-922-5512

The Grand Ballroom

Open December 25th for Christmas Brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Reservations highly recommended

Tandoori House Restaurant, 6713 Odana Road, 608-833-1824

Open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. on December 24th and 25th

The New Paradise Lounge, 119 East Main Street, 608-256-2263

Open December 24th and 25th from noon until 1:30 a.m.

Tip Top Tavern, 601 North Street, 608-241-5515

Open “regular hours” (11 a.m. until 2 a.m.) on December 24th and open December 25th from 5 p.m. until midnight (bar service only, no food)

Tully’s II Food and Spirits, 6401 Monona Drive, Monona; 608-222-4995

Open “normal hours” on December 24th and December 25th from 10 a.m.

Restaurant Chains Open for Christmas 2016

If you know about a Madison-area restaurant that will be open on December 24th or December 25th, please share the information with us by sending an email to us at madisononthecheap@gmail.com

Last updated 11/08/2017