Restaurants open Christmas Day?

Question

Hello,

We will be in the area on Christmas Day and are wondering if anyone knows of any restaurants that will be open and serving dinner on Christmas Day. I have searched online without success thus far. Thank you in advance for your help.

Answer

Good question. I couldn’t find any reliable sources listing sit-down, full-service restaurants in Sun City Center, FL that are definitively open for dinner on Christmas Day. In fact, even on traveler message boards (TripAdvisor), people report being unable to find confirmed place options.

Here’s what the available information suggests, plus some nearby alternatives and strategies to help you find something that might work.

What the Research Shows

Local discussion (TripAdvisor) indicates uncertainty; no one on the Sun City Center forum confirmed a local restaurant open for dinner on Christmas Day.
According to a recent list of restaurants open on Christmas Day in Florida, common options include chains like Denny’s (24 hours), IHOP, Waffle House, and some limited locations of Applebee’s or Golden Corral.
Specific to the Tampa Bay area (which is relatively close), a 995QYK list notes about 13 restaurants open on Christmas Day—but many may be far from Sun City Center, and hours / menus may be limited.

Potential Nearby Options to Consider (These aren’t in Sun City Center itself, so you’ll likely need to drive or arrange a ride.)

Denny’s – Many Denny’s locations in Florida remain open on Christmas Day, and some are 24/7.
IHOP – Reportedly, many IHOPs are open for Christmas morning / all day depending on the franchise.
Waffle House – Very likely to be open; these are often a fallback on major holidays.
Starbucks / Dunkin’ / Fast Food – Select locations may be open (check individual stores).

Tips to Try

Use Google Maps or Yelp around Sun City Center (or nearby towns like Riverview / Apollo Beach) ~ a week or two before Christmas to check “Open Christmas Day” listings — sometimes businesses update their holiday hours late.
Call local chain restaurants (IHOP, Denny’s, Waffle House) in advance to confirm holiday hours.
Consider getting take-out or delivery from those chains if you can’t find a sit-down place nearby. Many fast-casual or 24-hour places are more likely to be open.
If you're okay driving a bit, look for restaurants in nearby areas (Tampa / Riverview) that are listed as open on Christmas Day. Use OpenTable or Google to make a reservation or check availability.

Bottom Line

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a well-known, locally owned restaurant in Sun City Center that guarantees dinner service on Christmas Day, based on available public info. Your safest bet is likely one of the nearby chain restaurants (Denny’s, IHOP, Waffle House) that commonly operate on major holidays. But be sure to call ahead or double-check online in the weeks leading up to your trip to confirm which locations will actually be open.