35 Best Restaurants Open Late
Hunger doesn’t have a bedtime. Whether you’re on a date, out with friends or alone with your growling stomach, the United States is filled with late-night restaurants that offer at least partial menus well into the morning — and some even stay open to serve you 24 hours a day. From fast food and pizza to taco joints and subs, you’ve got plenty of options for late-night dinner — or even breakfast.
Keep reading to learn about 35 restaurants that stand ready to handle your late-night cravings.
Applebee’s
Most locations are open until at least 11 p.m., with many staying open until midnight and beyond — even on weekdays. You can go for a full meal or just opt for an appetizer and a drink.
Arby’s
Arby’s has the meats, so if that’s what you’re craving after hours, you’ve come to the right place. Although some Arby’s locations close at 9 p.m or 10 p.m., many are open until midnight, 1 a.m. or even 2 a.m.
Bahama Breeze
Not only is Bahama Breeze open late, but the chain often runs late-night happy hours. Most restaurants close at midnight Sunday through Thursday and 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Buffalo Wild Wings
If you’re in the mood for late-night wings and a huge variety of sauces, some Buffalo Wild Wings locations close as early as 10 p.m. while others stay open until midnight in many cases. Some locations don’t shut down until 1 a.m., depending on the night of the week. There’s also a big selection of burgers and other fare to satiate all your late-night cravings.
Carl’s Jr.
If you have a midnight craving for a Famous Star or a Western Bacon Cheeseburger, you’re in luck. Many Carl’s Jr. locations are open 24 hours a day, whereas others close at 11 p.m., midnight or 1 a.m.
Del Taco
Many locations are open 24 hours a day, while others serve customers until midnight or later — even on weekdays.
Denny’s
Many Denny’s locations are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Some restaurants close as early as 9:30 p.m., with others open as late as 2 a.m. if they aren’t round-the-clock operations. The diner chain offers a massive breakfast value menu that’s available any time of the day or night.
Donatos Pizza
Hours vary from franchise to franchise at Donatos Pizza locations. Many are open until midnight or 1 a.m.
Dunkin’
Some Dunkin’ locations are open 24 hours a day, while others close in the afternoons if they’re located in a business district. Download the mobile app, which not only lets you know if the doughnut-lovers chain near you is open late but also lets you place mobile orders on the way.
Hungry Howie’s
When it comes to closing times, Hungry Howie’s is all over the map. Some locations, like the one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is open until 3 a.m. Other outlets, such as the one in Edgewater, Florida, close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
IHOP
Some IHOP locations are open 24 hours every day and some just on select days of the week, but others close at 10 p.m. — or even earlier — daily. If you sign up for IHOP’s rewards program, you’ll get a free stack of pancakes once after you make your first purchase and again on your birthday.
In-N-Out Burger
Devotees of In-N-Out’s famous burgers, fries and shakes have plenty of late-night options. Most locations are open until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 1:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Jack in the Box
Jack’s late-night hours vary by location. In Seattle, you can dine at Jack in the Box 24 hours a day; in Fullerton, California, the restaurant is open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights; and in Blue Springs, Missouri, the lights turn off at 8 p.m. every day of the week. The iconic burger chain’s after-hours menu includes the Spicy Nacho Chicken Sandwich Munchie Meal.
Krispy Kreme
Although some Krispy Kreme locations close as early as 8 p.m., it’s not unusual to find one open until at least midnight — especially on Friday and Saturday. From classics to specialty items, the selection of doughnuts seems endless. In most locations, you can watch how they’re made while you eat.
Krystal
According to its Facebook page, Krystal is the second-oldest fast-food restaurant in the U.S. It was founded in Tennessee in 1932. The eatery specializes in square-shaped hamburgers but also has fare like pups and corn pups (aka hot dogs and corn dogs). Some Krystal locations are open until midnight; others only serve until 7 p.m.
Marco’s Pizza
Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco’s Pizza boasts more than 1,000 locations. While some close as early as 9:30 p.m., many are open until 11 p.m. at least one night of the week.
McDonald’s
In 2013, the most famous fast-food joint on earth began serving a select menu of breakfast and regular-menu items after midnight. Hours vary widely by location, but some stay open 24 hours. Some locations are open until 3:30 a.m. or 4 a.m. — great for super-late-night eating.
Miami Grill
This restaurant chain, formerly Miami Subs Grill, is based in Florida but has earned a reputation for fantastic Philly cheesesteaks. While some locations close as early as 8 p.m., you’ll also find some open until midnight or even 3 a.m.
Norms
When it came to 24-hour restaurants, Norms set the standard in Southern California. The restaurant revolutionized the 24-hour concept, but hours have been cut back. While you still might find a Norms open 24/7, most close at 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Panda Express
A handful of Panda Express locations — most of which are casino-based locations — stay open as late as 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. Most of the chain’s locations close by 9:30 p.m., while some are open until 10:30 p.m.
Papa John’s
You can get pizza delivered pretty late from Papa John’s, which maintains more than 3,000 locations in the United States. Most stores offer delivery and pickup until 11 p.m. or midnight.
Perkins
There are nearly 300 Perkins restaurants, and some are open 24 hours. Many are open until at least 10 p.m. or as late as midnight. Join the e-club and get a coupon for 20% off your next order as well as a gift for your birthday.
Steak ‘n Shake
While this famous Steakburger joint originally built a reputation for being open 24/7, many Steak ‘n Shake locations now are open until midnight, with some going until 2 a.m. Get a free milkshake when you join Steak ‘n Shake’s rewards club.
Subway
Subway is the king of quick-service restaurants in terms of number of locations in the United States with nearly 21,000, dwarfing the approximately 14,000 McDonald’s locations. If you’re hungry late, chances are you can score a sandwich at Subway. Some close around dinnertime, with many open until 11:30 p.m. and some locations staying open 24 hours.
Taco Bell
While many Taco Bell locations stay open until midnight or 1 a.m., you’ll also find plenty of them ready to serve you at the drive-thru until 3 or 4 a.m. The chain’s value menu runs eight items deep if you’re looking for a late-night bargain.
Taco Bueno
This regional restaurant chain has many locations that open mid-morning and keep serving Tex-Mex cuisine until 11 p.m., midnight or 1 a.m. Your late-night options include tacos, burritos, combo meals, salads and sides.
Taco Cabana
What are you in the mood for at Taco Cabana — tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, flautas, enchiladas or something else? Most locations close at 10 p.m., though you’ll find some still serving the Mexican fare at 11 p.m. or midnight.
Taco John’s
The hours of Taco John’s nearly 400 locations vary widely. Some are open until 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, while others close at 7 p.m. Looking for an all-night fix? Just check the “Drive Thru Open 24/7” box when you’re filtering by location on the company’s website.
Village Inn
Hours vary by location, but some Village Inn restaurants are open until 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Call before heading out, though, as some Village Inns close even before the dinner hour. As with Denny’s and IHOP, breakfast at Village Inn is served during all open hours.
Waffle House
Every Waffle House location is generally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year-round. When exceptions such as special hours or holiday hours apply, some locations close early, such as at 9 p.m.
Wendy’s
Like most major restaurant chains, individual hours of operation at Wendy’s vary from franchise to franchise. But Wendy’s makes it easy to find out when you can feed your late-night hunger. Just select the “Open Late” option on the location filter on the chain’s website to find the after-hours spot closest to you. Some locations stay open until 3 a.m.
Whataburger
Whataburger has more than 800 locations stretching from Arizona to Florida. Good news: The drive-thru stays open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at the majority of locations.
White Castle
White Castle is credited with inventing the slider, and its tiny square burgers have endured for nearly a century. Some locations stay open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Other White Castle eateries are open until 11 p.m. or much later — even 3 a.m.
Wingstop
Specializing in — naturally — wings, many Wingstop locations are open until midnight every day. Still, some locations close after the dinner hour every day of the week.
Yum Yum Donuts
If you’re looking for a doughnut-and-coffee alternative to Dunkin’, Yum Yum Donuts offers plenty of bakery items as well as tons of breakfast and deli sandwiches. And its locations are open 24/7 and have been since 1971.
Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting for this article.
Hours may vary by location. Information is accurate as of May 25, 2022.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 35 Best Restaurants Open Late
