There are plenty of reasons why you might find yourself without a plan for lunch, dinner, or drinks on Christmas Day. Perhaps this week’s formidable weather pattern pulled the plug on your travel, or maybe that days-long blackout meant having to toss all the food you’d hoped to prepare.
Luckily, there are restaurants and bars in just about every corner of the city that will be open on Christmas Day. This list focuses mostly on casual neighborhood spots where you don’t have to worry about reservations and shelling out for an overpriced buffet. Just remember: Tip well and be kind to the folks flipping burgers and shaking drinks during the holiday.
Marina and Cow Hollow
Classic American diner chain Mel’s Drive-In (2165 Lombard St.) will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. For a more upscale option, head to Balboa Cafe (3199 Fillmore St.). The popular Cow Hollow restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. to satisfy your espresso-martini and burger-on-a-baguette needs.
North Beach
The Buena Vista (2765 Hyde St.), another beloved local institution known for caffeinated cocktails — in this case, Irish coffee — will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Food is available if you can grab a table, though you can perch on a stool or stand at the bar if you’re coming in just for drinks.
Have a dozen oysters and a martini at Lillie Coit’s. | Source: Chris Behroozian for The Standard
After 4 p.m., head to the neighborhood’s hottest spot for slurping oysters and late-night cocktails: Lillie Coit’s (1707 Powell St.). The kitchen stays open until 1 a.m., and the dining room is decked out with festive decor. For a more old-school San Francisco experience, you can’t beat Vesuvio Cafe (255 Columbus Ave.). It’s open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and is ideal for anyone wanting to soak up the beatnik vibes over a cold beer or classic cocktail.
Chinatown
China Live is part restaurant, part marketplace. | Source: Justin Katigbak/ The Standard
You can’t go wrong with Hon’s Wun Tun House (733 Washington St.), which will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. On a rainy day, the signature won ton soup is a soul-satisfying meal. Nearby, China Live (644 Broadway) will be open for lunch from noon to 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 to 9 p.m. The bilevel restaurant and market is a great option for visitors looking to try an array of dishes, such as scallion bread, shumai, roasted crab, and beef noodle soup. On the second floor, the Cold Drinks Bar will be mixing Scotch-centric cocktails from 5 to 11 p.m.
Downtown 
John’s Grill will be open for lunch and dinner. | Source: San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers
Historic John’s Grill (63 Ellis St.) will be open from noon to 9 p.m. serving three prix-fixe menus (opens in new tab): one with a choice of halibut or prawns ($95), one that stars Black Angus roast prime rib ($110), and a surf and turf with filet mignon and lobster ($125). All come with soup or salad and dessert.
Sears Fine Food (439 Powell St.), known for Swedish pancakes and American breakfast fare, will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a nightcap, head to R Bar (1176 Sutter St.), which will be pouring beers and shots of Fernet Branca from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
SoMa
There’s something for everyone at The Grove (690 Mission St.), which will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. The menu spans breakfast opinions like French toast and quiche; lunch standards, including sandwiches, salads, and soup; and dinner favorites such as prime rib, roast chicken, and pork ribs.
Mission 
Wise Sons makes some of the Bay Area’s best bagels. | Source: Adahlia Cole for The Standard
Whether for takeout or dine-in, you can always count on Pakwan (3182 16th St.). The Pakistani restaurant known for crowd-pleasers like chicken tikka masala and saag paneer and will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Local Jewish deli mini-chain Wise Sons (3150 24th St.) will be slinging bagels, reubens, and matzoh ball soup from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. And for those who just need a historic dive serving festive cocktails like eggnog and hot spiced cider, Elixir (3200 16th St.) will be open for regular business hours, 4 p.m. to midnight.
Haight
It’ll be business as usual at Dumpling Union (598 Haight St.), which means you can get Thai tom yum soup dumplings, classic pot stickers, and barbecued pork buns for lunch and dinner.
Japantown
Known for its umami-bomb noodle soup, Hinodeya Ramen (1737 Buchanan St.) will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Japantown. The most popular order is the house ramen, which features a rich dashi broth and thick slices of pork.
Sunset 
MuuKaTa6395 Thai Charcoal BBQ is a fun dining experience. | Source: Lauren Saria/The Standard
There’s almost always a line at popular Chinese bakery Pineapple King (1915 Irving St.), which will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. But true fans know that it takes online orders if you don’t want to wait for your butter-filled buns. For a dining experience unlike anything else in town, head to MuuKaTa6395 Thai Charcoal BBQ (4217 Geary Blvd.), where you’ll cook your own meats on a mini tabletop grill. It’s great for a group.
Richmond
James Beard Award-winning Burmese restaurant Mandalay (4348 California St.) will be open for lunch and dinner if your Christmas Day dining plans include tea-leaf salad and mango chicken. The restaurant also accepts takeout and delivery orders online. For a more tropical vibe, head to Trad’r Sam (6150 Geary Blvd.), a historic tiki bar. A frothy mai tai or umbrella-topped piña colada might even be strong enough to wash away the holiday woes.