These Tacoma-area diners, pubs and restaurants are open Christmas Day

Kristine Sherred

No matter how or whether you celebrate Christmas, there are plenty of options for dining out over the holiday weekend.

Three years ago when I arrived in Tacoma, I called Russ Heaton, the owner of Doyle’s Public House to ask about their Christmas Day plans. “We’re going to be the place for people who don’t have a place,” he said. When I messaged him this week to double-check that nothing had changed, he replied, “We are open 365!”

Let’s ignore the blip of the dark winter of 2020.

Coming off a wild month of World Cup viewing parties, the bar’s staff is actually looking forward to a brief respite before their other crazy season: St. Patrick’s Day.

I received a similar response when I called Zesty Steakhouse, a new-this-year destination for Cajun seafood boils, steaks and other pub fare. The bar is lined with televisions for the trio of NFL games.

Here’s a look at restaurants open Christmas Day in and around Tacoma — including two of TNT Diner’s best new restaurants of the year — as well as a few Christmas Eve ideas for entertaining out-of-town guests. Despite the official observed-holiday on Monday, Dec. 26, many places are also open standard hours.

TACOMA RESTAURANTS OPEN ON CHRISTMAS DAY

Dawson’s Bar & Grill

▪ 5443 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma, 253-476-1421, facebook.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 8 a.m.-midnight Dec. 24-26

▪ Best for: classic pub fare with super-friendly service at go-to STW neighborhood dive

Doyle’s Public House

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

▪ Holiday hours: open at 7 a.m. Dec. 24-25, back to standard hours Dec. 26

▪ Best for: Irish-inspired pub fare (specials include venison stew pot-pie) friendly service and new friends

Harbor City Tacoma

▪ 4816 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-503-3398, harborcitytacoma.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 24-26

▪ Best for: the city’s best dim sum and other traditional Chinese dishes

Knapp’s Restaurant & Lounge

▪ 2707 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253-759-9009, knappsrestaurant.com

▪ Holiday hours: 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 24, 2-10 p.m. Dec. 25, back to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 26

▪ Best for: diner fare, coffee and a booth seat in the attached lounge

Lunar’s Pho serves a fresh menu of Vietnamese fare, including salted duck egg shell-on prawns and sweet-and-savory honey-walnut shrimp over cabbage. The Lincoln District restaurant is open Christmas Eve and Day.
Lunar’s Pho serves a fresh menu of Vietnamese fare, including salted duck egg shell-on prawns and sweet-and-savory honey-walnut shrimp over cabbage. The Lincoln District restaurant is open Christmas Eve and Day.

Lunar’s Pho

▪ 757 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253-472-6153, lunarspho.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Dec. 24-26 (closing time crowd-dependent)

▪ Best for: some of Pierce County’s best Vietnamese with homemade mung bean milk tea

Pacific Southern

▪ 3832 S. Pine St., Tacoma, 253-474-9898, pacsouthtacoma.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 24, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 25, back to normal Dec. 26

▪ Best for: diner fare plus great Southern cooking, including chicken and waffles, with a family-friendly dining room and attached back bar

Spud’s Pizza Parlor

▪ 7025 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253-475-3366, spudspizzatacoma.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. Dec. 24, open at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 25, back to normal Dec. 26

▪ Best for: thin-crust pizza, sandwiches and stiff drinks in retro lounge with lively back bar, now under new ownership

The new owner of Spud’s Pizza Parlor has updated the pies but kept the bar’s retro charm.
The new owner of Spud’s Pizza Parlor has updated the pies but kept the bar’s retro charm.

Stanley & Seafort’s

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

▪ Holiday hours: 12-8 p.m. Dec. 24-25, back to normal 3-9 p.m. Dec. 26 (reservations recommended)

▪ Best for: great views with classic seafood and steaks; special holiday menu includes $49 prime rib and shrimp entree

Top of Tacoma

▪ 3529 McKinley Ave., Tacoma, 253-272-1502, thetopoftacoma.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 11 a.m.-close Dec. 24, open at 5 p.m. Dec. 25, back to normal Dec. 26

▪ Best for: sandwiches and other pub fare, drinks and good company

Top of Tacoma is open standard hours except for Christmas Day, when the bar opens at 5 p.m.
Top of Tacoma is open standard hours except for Christmas Day, when the bar opens at 5 p.m.

McMenamins Elks Temple

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

▪ Holiday hours: standard open at 7 a.m. at The Pub (reservations recommended), noon at the hotel’s other bars except The Vault, open at 3 p.m. (first-come, first-served)

▪ Best for: eclectic bar fare, house beer and cocktails; live shows in Spanish Ballroom Dec. 24-26, too

The Mix

▪ 635 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, 253-383-4327, themixtacoma.com

▪ Holiday hours: standard 2 p.m.-2 a.m. Dec. 24-26

▪ Best for: annual “onesie party” with “kinky bingo” at 7 p.m. and karaoke at 9 p.m.

Yen Ching Restaurant

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

▪ Holiday hours: standard 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 24, open at 4 p.m. Dec. 25, back to normal Dec. 26

▪ Best for: Mandarin and Szechuan dishes in longstanding, classically decorated restaurant

Zesty Steakhouse

▪ 9905 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, 253-300-7968, zestycajungrill.com

▪ Holiday hours: noon-10 p.m. Dec. 24, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Dec. 25, back to normal Dec. 26

▪ Best for: build-your-own seafood boils, steaks, wings and drinks in funky-casual setting with lots of TVs

CHRISTMAS EVE IDEAS

The Boom Boom Room

▪ 3016 6th Ave., Tacoma, facebook.com

▪ Holiday hours: open at 4 p.m. Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 (closed Dec. 25)

▪ Best for: cool cocktails and funky modern pub fare served tapas-style

Crudo & Cotto

▪ 2717 N. Proctor St., Tacoma, 253-292-1120, crudoandcotto.com

▪ Holiday hours: 4:30-9 p.m. Dec. 24, reservations required — call or email crudoandcottotacoma@gmail.com

▪ Best for: 4-course prix-fixe ($78 per person) at cozy PNW-Italian restaurant in Proctor

Dystopian State Brewing Co.

▪ 611 S. Baker St., Tacoma, 253-302-3466, dystopianstate.com

▪ Holiday hours: noon-11 p.m. Dec. 24 and through week of Dec. 26

▪ Best for: German-style beer in spacious wood-framed space near downtown, great for a pit-stop or a getaway with board games and natural light

The new cafe space at Farm 12 awaits your Christmas Eve morning with visiting family and friends.
The new cafe space at Farm 12 awaits your Christmas Eve morning with visiting family and friends.

fika by Farm 12

▪ 3303 8th Ave. SE, Puyallup, 253-697-9486, farm12.org/fika

▪ Holiday hours: 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 24 at fika, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. at Farm 12 restaurant

▪ Best for: coffee, house pastries and light bites at new Farm 12 cafe

The Lobster Shop

▪ 4015 Ruston Way, Tacoma, 253-759-2165, lobstershop.com

▪ Holiday hours: 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, back to normal through Dec. 31 (reservations recommended)

▪ Best for: last chance before the Tacoma waterfront restaurant closes for renovations in 2023

Sabor Colombiano Luis Panes

▪ 5640 South Tacoma Way, 253-212-0613, empanadasluispanes.com

▪ Holiday hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 24 (closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1)

▪ Best for: a great chance to try one of their traditional Christmas tamales

’Tis the season for tamales at Tacoma’s favorite Colombian restaurant

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