Thanksgiving in Los Angeles does not look like the postcard — there are palm trees instead of falling leaves, and the weather might be 70 degrees — but the city’s restaurants take the holiday every bit as seriously as anywhere else. If you are looking for thanksgiving dinner restaurants Los Angeles 2026 offers a spread as diverse as the city itself: rooftop buffets with downtown views, romantic canyon hideaways, old-school diners serving turkey since before you were born, and resort dining rooms where the ocean does the decorating.
This guide gathers ten standout spots to book for Thanksgiving dinner across LA, from Downtown to the beach cities. Each has served a holiday menu in recent years according to local dining guides, and each offers a different flavor of the holiday — classic American, French, Italian, seafood-forward, and even Brazilian steakhouse. Menus and prices change every year, so use this as your shortlist and confirm the 2026 details on each restaurant’s official holiday listing.
10 Great Thanksgiving Dinner Restaurants in Los Angeles for 2026
1. Rooftop at the Wayfarer, Downtown LA
Thanksgiving with a view: the Rooftop at the Wayfarer hotel has served a Thanksgiving buffet with sweeping Downtown LA views in recent years, with seatings across the day. The buffet format means everyone in your group finds something they love — roasted turkey and the classics alongside dishes like short rib and grilled salmon — and the rooftop setting makes the whole meal feel like an event rather than just dinner.
This is the pick for out-of-town guests you want to impress, or for locals who want the holiday to feel like a getaway without leaving the city. Rooftop tables are weather-dependent in the best way — LA’s late-November sunshine is usually on your side. Check the official 2026 listing for this year’s buffet hours and pricing.
2. Openaire, Koreatown
Set inside the Line Hotel, Openaire brings a greenhouse-like, garden-party atmosphere to Thanksgiving dinner. The light-filled space — all glass, greenery, and California ease — is a gorgeous backdrop for a holiday meal, and the restaurant has appeared in recent LA Thanksgiving dining roundups for its holiday service. The vibe is celebratory but relaxed, which suits the LA version of the holiday perfectly.
Openaire works especially well for groups that want beautiful food in a beautiful room without the formality of a classic fine-dining setup. Koreatown’s central location makes it easy for guests coming from all over the city. Confirm the 2026 Thanksgiving menu on the restaurant’s official listing.
3. Cavatina at Sunset Marquis, West Hollywood
Tucked into the garden of the Sunset Marquis hotel, Cavatina is one of West Hollywood’s most romantic dining rooms — and a lovely choice for an intimate Thanksgiving. Recent holiday roundups have included Cavatina for its Thanksgiving dinner service, where the garden setting and candlelit tables give the meal a magical quality after dark.
This is the spot for couples, small families, or anyone who wants Thanksgiving dinner to feel like a special night out rather than a production. The hotel setting means polished service and a serene atmosphere. Check the official 2026 listing for holiday hours and menu details.
4. Cecconi’s, West Hollywood
Cecconi’s on Melrose is a West Hollywood institution — the kind of place where the people-watching is as good as the food — and it has served Thanksgiving dinner in recent years. The Italian-leaning menu gives the holiday an appealing twist: you can go classic with turkey or lean into the restaurant’s strengths with beautifully executed Italian dishes. The bustling, glamorous room makes the holiday feel festive.
Cecconi’s is a strong pick for groups that want energy with their turkey. It is also one of the more reliable reservations on the Westside for the holiday, though you should still book early. Verify the 2026 Thanksgiving menu on the official listing.
5. Bourbon Steak, Glendale
Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak in Glendale brings steakhouse luxury to Thanksgiving. Recent LA holiday roundups have included the restaurant for its Thanksgiving dinner service, where you can expect the kitchen’s signature precision applied to the holiday — think beautifully cooked turkey or, for the traditionalists in reverse, a magnificent steak instead. The room is sleek and the service is top-tier.
This is the choice for the diner who believes Thanksgiving dinner should be the best meal of the year, full stop. It is also a good option for groups with mixed feelings about turkey, since a great steakhouse always has alternatives. Check the official 2026 listing for the holiday menu.
6. Circa 55, Beverly Hills
Inside the Beverly Hilton, Circa 55 has been a Thanksgiving staple in recent LA dining guides, serving a holiday dinner in one of the city’s most storied hotel dining rooms. The setting is classic Beverly Hills — polished, comfortable, and just glamorous enough — and the holiday menu has traditionally centered on the American classics done well.
Circa 55 is ideal for multi-generational groups: the room is comfortable for grandparents, the menu is crowd-pleasing, and the hotel setting takes the stress out of the occasion. Parking and logistics are easy, which matters more than you think on a holiday. Confirm 2026 details on the official listing.
7. Catalina Kitchen at Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
If you are willing to drive to the coast, Catalina Kitchen at Terranea Resort serves one of Southern California’s most spectacular Thanksgiving settings: a holiday buffet with sweeping ocean views, an expansive seafood bar, carving stations, and a dessert spread worth the trip alone. Recent years have seen the buffet run from morning through evening on Thanksgiving Day, with pricing tiers for adults, kids, and toddlers.
This is the destination Thanksgiving dinner — make a day of it, arrive early, and watch the sun set over the Pacific after your meal. It is also one of the best options for large family groups, since the buffet format handles picky eaters and big appetites with ease. The resort’s other outlets have also served on the holiday in past years. Check the official 2026 listing for this year’s buffet details and pricing.
8. Du-par’s, Original Farmers Market
Du-par’s is an LA landmark — the kind of place where the pancakes are famous and the coffee never stops — and it stays open on Thanksgiving Day serving a holiday feast. In recent years the restaurant has served roasted turkey with all the fixings: butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, stuffing, glazed carrots, green bean almondine, marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and pie. It is the classic American Thanksgiving dinner at classic American diner prices.
Du-par’s is the no-fuss, all-heart option: no reservations needed in past years, just show up and eat well. It is perfect for solo diners, small groups, and anyone who finds the whole prix-fixe scene a bit much. The Farmers Market location adds a fun, bustling holiday atmosphere. Confirm 2026 hours on the official listing.
9. Inn of the Seventh Ray, Topanga Canyon
Tucked into Topanga Canyon, the Inn of the Seventh Ray is regularly described as one of the most romantic restaurants in Los Angeles — and its Thanksgiving dinner lives up to the setting. Recent years have featured a multi-course holiday dinner with turkey and all the fixings, optional wine pairings, and the restaurant’s famously enchanting creekside ambiance. Twinkle lights, towering trees, and candlelight: it is Thanksgiving as a fairy tale.
This is the anniversary-Thanksgiving pick, or the choice for anyone who wants the holiday to feel truly special. The remote canyon location means you should plan your drive and book well ahead — it is a small room and it fills up. Check the official 2026 listing for the menu and reservation details.
10. Gwen, Hollywood
Curtis Stone’s Gwen — part butcher shop, part wood-fired restaurant — has offered a Thanksgiving menu in recent years, bringing its live-fire cooking philosophy to the holiday table. Expect the turkey treated with the same seriousness as the restaurant’s famous steaks, plus sides with a chef’s touch. The Hollywood location adds a dose of glamour to the proceedings.
Gwen is for the food-obsessed Thanksgiving diner: the person who cares as much about how the turkey was cooked as about the company. The butcher-shop element also means excellent take-home options have been available in past years. Verify the 2026 holiday menu on the official listing.
Watch: Thanksgiving Dinner, Restaurant-Style
Curious what goes into a restaurant-quality Thanksgiving spread? This cozy Thanksgiving dinner walkthrough — filmed with a French twist — shows the care, timing, and little details that separate a great holiday meal from a merely good one. It is the perfect appetizer while you wait for your reservation date.
In Pictures: Golden-Hour Thanksgiving in LA
Only in Los Angeles can Thanksgiving dinner happen on a sunlit patio under string lights, with palm trees swaying overhead. Here is the kind of scene waiting at the city’s best holiday tables — proof that you do not need snow for the holiday to feel magical.
At a Glance: Compare Thanksgiving Options in LA
A quick side-by-side of the ten spots above. Price bands ($, $$, $$$) reflect typical Thanksgiving service tiers based on recent holiday menus — confirm 2026 pricing and reservation policies on each restaurant’s official listing.
| Restaurant | Style | Price band | Reservation note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooftop at the Wayfarer | American buffet, rooftop | $$$ | Daytime and evening seatings in past years; book early |
| Openaire | California garden dining | $$$ | Beautiful room; reserve ahead |
| Cavatina | Romantic garden restaurant | $$$ | Intimate; small room fills fast |
| Cecconi’s | Italian-leaning, lively | $$$ | West Hollywood staple; book early |
| Bourbon Steak | Steakhouse | $$$$ | Special-occasion; reserve ahead |
| Circa 55 | Classic American hotel dining | $$$ | Great for families; easy logistics |
| Catalina Kitchen, Terranea | Resort buffet, ocean views | $$$ | Destination meal; kids’ pricing in past years |
| Du-par’s | Classic diner | $ | No reservations in past years; walk in |
| Inn of the Seventh Ray | Romantic canyon dining | $$$ | Tiny room; book well ahead |
| Gwen | Wood-fired, chef-driven | $$$$ | Food-focused; check take-home options |
Thanksgiving Dinner in LA on Any Budget
One of the best things about Thanksgiving dining in Los Angeles is the range. At one end you have white-tablecloth resort buffets and chef-driven tasting-style menus; at the other, you have beloved institutions like Du-par’s serving the full turkey dinner at diner prices with no reservation required. If budget is a factor, consider a few strategies: lunch or early-afternoon seatings are often priced lower than prime dinner hours; buffet formats give you the most food for your money; and some restaurants offer a limited holiday menu alongside their regular menu, which can be the most affordable way to eat out on the day.
Another smart move: split the holiday. Eat your big restaurant meal at lunch, then do a light evening at home with pie and leftovers. Or reverse it — a casual morning and a splurge dinner. LA’s Thanksgiving restaurant scene is flexible enough to accommodate whatever version of the holiday fits your wallet and your crowd.
Where to Eat: LA’s Thanksgiving Neighborhoods
Downtown LA has become a real holiday dining hub, with the Wayfarer’s rooftop buffet and Openaire’s garden room anchoring the area. West Hollywood offers Cavatina’s romance, Cecconi’s glamour, and Gwen’s fire-driven cooking within a few blocks. Beverly Hills and the Westside bring classic hotel dining at Circa 55. For a destination meal, Rancho Palos Verdes (Terranea) and Topanga Canyon (Inn of the Seventh Ray) are worth the drive — the settings alone justify the trip. And the Original Farmers Market gives you Du-par’s plus a festive, bustling atmosphere for a post-dinner wander.
If you are new to celebrating the holiday in Southern California, our guide to hosting Thanksgiving away from home has tips that work just as well for planning a restaurant-based holiday. And for the full seasonal picture, explore the Thanksgiving hub.
Thanksgiving Takeout and Hybrid Holidays in LA
Not everyone wants to eat in a restaurant on Thanksgiving — and in Los Angeles, you do not have to choose between cooking everything and dining out. The hybrid holiday is increasingly popular: order the turkey and the hard parts from a restaurant, and handle a few simple sides at home. In past years, LA spots like Bludso’s BBQ (Santa Monica and La Brea) have offered barbecue-style Thanksgiving takeout, and markets like Gelson’s have sold complete holiday meals to reheat at home. Several of the restaurants on this list have also offered take-home packages alongside dine-in service.
The hybrid approach works especially well for LA’s housing reality: small kitchens, big guest lists. Order a smoked or roasted turkey from a barbecue joint or a full feast from a market, make the mashed potatoes and a salad yourself, buy the pie from a great bakery, and you get 90 percent of the homemade feeling with 10 percent of the work. Order early in the week — the best takeout options sell out just like the best tables do. If you are assembling sides yourself, our guide to Thanksgiving ingredient substitutes can bail you out of a missing-ingredient crisis.
A Visitor’s Guide to Thanksgiving Week in LA
Coming to Los Angeles for the holiday? A few things to know. LA does not have a single iconic Thanksgiving parade the way New York does — the holiday here is more decentralized, built around meals, beach walks, and neighborhood wandering. Thanksgiving morning is a beautiful time for a walk or run along the beach bike path, a hike in Griffith Park, or a stroll through the Original Farmers Market (which has a festive buzz on the holiday). The Grove and the Americana at Brand go all-out with holiday decorations starting Thanksgiving weekend, making them perfect post-dinner destinations.
Traffic is the other thing to plan around. Thanksgiving Day itself is one of the lightest traffic days of the year in LA — a genuine pleasure — but the Wednesday before and the Sunday after are among the worst. If you are flying in, aim for Tuesday or early Wednesday. And if your group includes visitors from outside the US, a restaurant Thanksgiving is actually a wonderful, low-pressure introduction to the holiday — pair it with our guide on explaining Thanksgiving to non-Americans and everyone at the table will feel included.
Where the Locals Go: More LA Thanksgiving Picks
Beyond the headliners, Los Angeles has a deep bench of holiday tables worth knowing. 1Kitchen at 1 Hotel in West Hollywood brings California cuisine with a sustainability bent to the holiday — a fresh, modern take for diners who like their Thanksgiving virtuous. Lunetta in Santa Monica has served a traditional Thanksgiving menu in past years, pairing classic holiday cooking with ocean breezes just blocks from the beach. Playa Provisions on the Westside offers a seafood-leaning alternative for anyone who would rather do the holiday with oysters and grilled fish than turkey and gravy.
Further afield, Geoffrey’s Malibu pairs its famous oceanfront setting with holiday service — Thanksgiving dinner with the Pacific as your backdrop is hard to beat. And for the truly non-traditional, Fogo de Chão‘s Brazilian steakhouse experience — gauchos carving endless cuts tableside — has been a holiday option at its LA locations in past years. It is not turkey, but nobody at the table will be complaining. As with everything on this list, confirm 2026 holiday service on each restaurant’s official listing.
The 60-Second Decision Guide: Which LA Spot Is Right for You?
Still deciding? Match your situation to the list. Impressing out-of-town guests: the Rooftop at the Wayfarer (views) or Catalina Kitchen at Terranea (ocean + buffet). Romantic holiday for two: Inn of the Seventh Ray or Cavatina. Big family, mixed ages: Circa 55 or the Terranea buffet — buffets end all arguments. Food-obsessed group: Gwen or Bourbon Steak. On a budget: Du-par’s, no contest. Want it all planned with zero stress: Openaire or Cecconi’s, booked early. Whatever you choose, confirm the 2026 details on the official listing and enjoy the most relaxed Thanksgiving in America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation for Thanksgiving dinner in Los Angeles?
For most restaurants on this list, yes — Thanksgiving is a high-demand day and holiday menus are typically reservation-only. The exception in past years has been casual spots like Du-par’s, which have welcomed walk-ins. When in doubt, book.
What does Thanksgiving dinner cost at an LA restaurant?
Based on recent holiday menus, expect roughly diner-level prices at casual spots, mid-range prix-fixe menus at most restaurants, and premium pricing at resorts and fine-dining rooms. Buffets often have tiered pricing for adults and children. Always confirm 2026 prices on the restaurant’s official listing.
Are LA restaurants open on Thanksgiving Day itself?
Many are, though hours vary. Some serve all day, others offer limited holiday seatings. A number of restaurants that are normally closed on Thursdays make an exception for Thanksgiving. Always verify holiday hours before heading out.
Can I find non-traditional Thanksgiving food in LA?
Absolutely — that is one of LA’s strengths. Beyond classic turkey dinners, the city has offered everything from Brazilian steakhouse spreads to seafood-focused holiday menus to Italian and French interpretations of the feast. If turkey is not your thing, LA has you covered.
What about dietary restrictions?
Most LA restaurants handle vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free requests routinely, including on holiday menus. Mention your needs when booking so the kitchen can plan ahead. Buffets are naturally flexible for mixed-diet groups.
Is it better to eat out or order take-home in LA?
It depends on your group. Dining out wins on atmosphere and zero cleanup; take-home wins if you want the comfort of home without the cooking. Many LA restaurants have offered both in past years. If you go the take-home route, our notes on Thanksgiving ingredient substitutes can help you round out the meal, and explaining the holiday to international guests is useful if your table includes visitors from abroad.
The Bottom Line
Los Angeles proves that Thanksgiving dinner does not need falling leaves or freezing weather to be wonderful — it needs good food, good company, and a table you did not have to cook at or clean up after. Whether you choose a rooftop buffet downtown, a candlelit canyon hideaway, or a no-fuss diner feast, book early and confirm the 2026 details on the official listing. Happy Thanksgiving, LA-style.
