Seasonal & Holidays
Christmas Brunch, Dinner: San Diego Co. Takeout, Restaurant Deals 2022
Whether you dine out or opt for an at-home holiday feast on Christmas Eve and Day, San Diego-area eateries are ready with festive offers.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CA — If you want to eat, drink and be merry over the holidays — without the hassle of cooking — Patch has you covered.
Check out our annual, Christmas dining guide, and scroll through the images above, for some of the best restaurant dine-in and takeout specials, plus sweet treats, offered at eateries near you in San Deigo County.
The list has something for all tastes and budgets.
Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Enjoy, and Happy Holidays, from Patch!
Know of other restaurants in your neighborhood with shout-out-worthy holiday dining? Share with readers in the comment section.
Find out what's happening in San Diegofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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ADELAIDE AT L'AUBERGE DEL MAR: Reservations are underway for Christmas Eve dinner (5 p.m. - 9 p.m.) and Christmas Day brunch (7 a.m. - 10 p.m.) on the cozy patio with coastal panoramic views. Brunch tickets are $165/adult & $80/child at this link, or call Adelaide at 858-793-6467. Bookings. At L’Auberge Del Mar, 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar.
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APPLEBEE'S: Be merry with $6 Sleigh Bell Sips — the most festive cocktails of the year. Returning from the North Pole are: "Tipsy Reindeer," holiday punch of Smirnoff Vodka, Ocean Spray Cranberry, passion fruit, premium lemon sour & topped with Santa gummy candy; and "Berry Merry Colada," Pina Colada-inspired with Captain Morgan between layers of strawberry & melon liqueur & Santa gummy. Offered through end of year, so don't miss out. Details. Location finder.
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BASKIN-ROBBINS: Deck your table full-on festive with any one of the holiday ice cream cakes (Brrr the Snowman, the reindeer, Santa, wreath, elf, polar bear, winter wonderland & more) offered for 2022. Customizable by ice cream & cake flavor. See options & order info here.
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BLACK ANGUS STEAKHOUSE: Dine-in, takeout & family-style to-go meals offered for stress-free holiday dining. Among in-house specials planned through Dec. 31 are prime rib & lobster, filet mignon & lobster and deluxe feasts for two to four. To-go, at-home deals include: prime rib family meal (with potatoes or rice, broccoli, molasses bread & eight cookies); and al la carte prime rib that serves six to eight or 12-14. And through Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, kids at the restaurants will receive a Santa Cookie along with a QR code sticker to track Santa’s whereabouts. Find locations here in Chula Vista, El Cajon, Escondido, then click for reservations or menu for ordering details.
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BOSTON MARKET: Heat-and-serve, to-go meals available for Christmas & New Year, serving up to 12 starting at $11.99 per person. Options include turkey, honey-glazed ham or turkey breast & ham combo, plus appetizers, sides, rolls & pies for a complete holiday feast. Individual meals also available. Orders can be picked up through Jan. 1 (excluding Christmas Day). Order details here. Find locales statewide.
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COVEWOOD AT SAN DIEGO MISSION BAY RESORT: Prix-fixe dinners from Executive Chef Roy Hendrickson are planned Christmas Eve & Day from 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. Among menu selections are lobster bisque, lamb, prime rib, sea bass & chocolate yule log for dessert. $75/adults & 25 for children 12 and younger. Info/reservations. At 1775 East Mission Bay Drive, San Diego.
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DEL TACO: Seasonal, fan-favorite tamales are back through Dec. 28! Wrapped in real corn husks with shredded pork, varieties include: Red & Green smothered with zesty red & tangy green sauces, sour cream & cilantro; and Chili Cheese with beef chili, cheddar cheese & sour cream. Available for two ($5) or four pack ($10). Find locations near you.
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DICKEY'S BARBECUE PIT: Ready your holiday orders! Choose from: Dickey’s Complete Feast for 10 to 12, with choice of ham, turkey, Cajun-fried turkey or prime rib, plus cornbread dressing, gravy, baked potato casserole, green beans with bacon & rolls; the Dinner Feast for eight to 10, with ham, turkey, Cajun-fried turkey or prime rib & dressing, gravy & rolls; or ready-to-serve Holiday Big Yellow Box, (feeds up to 12) with four pounds of turkey, large servings of potato casserole, green beans, dressing & rolls. Details. Location finder.
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DUNKIN': Don't let the holidays slip away without stopping by for this limited-time treat: the Peppermint Mocha Signature Latte. A new Cookie Butter Donut is also on menus. And through Dec. 24, Dunkin’ Rewards members can score one free classic donut with any drink purchase — limit one per member per member per day.
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EL TORITO: A Christmas Day all-you-can-eat brunch planned 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 25 with tri-tip, ham & taco stations, apple-jalapeno stuffing, chipotle-honey sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, made-to-order omelets, soups, salads, dessert bar & unlimited Champagne. $36/adults & $12/kids. Regular menu available 2 p.m.-8 p.m. And one dozen holiday tamales ($24), chicken, carnitas, sweet corn or mix & match in increments of six, can be ordered through Jan. 1. online or in restaurants with 24-hour notice. Website. Find location in San Diego.
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EUREKA!: The "Gingerbread Man Old Fashioned" is back for limited time at the scratch kitchen & craft bar. The holiday cocktail features Old Overholt Rye Whiskey, house-made Gingerbread Syrup, Douglas Fir Liqueur, chocolate bitters, herbal bitters & candied ginger. Restaurants statewide. Location finder here.
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FOGO DE CHAO: Reservations underway at the Brazilian restaurant for Christmas Eve & Day or New Year's Eve & Day. Prix-fixe feasts offer continual service of meats carved tableside by gaucho chefs, along with salads, soup, vegetables, charcuterie & more. Children 6 & younger dine free with purchase of adult Churrasco meal. Reservation info. Location: San Diego.
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GELSON'S MARKETS: Orders are due Dec. 23 by 3:30 p.m. for Christmas dinners for Dec. 21-24 pick-up, and by Dec. 24 for Hanukkah dinners for pick-up by Dec. 26. Holiday options roasted turkey, prime rib, beef brisket, chicken and plant-based celebration & hazelnut cranberry roasts. Such festive sides as mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, green bean casserole, latkes, tzimmes, matzo balls, apple noodle kugel, desserts and butter flake dinner rolls also available. See ordering info here. Find stores near you.
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KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN: KFC is marking the holiday season with limited-time return of Famous Bowls for $5, along with 2022 special edition, “Sharing is Caring”-themed holiday bucket. Twelve-piece & 16-piece meals come with six free cookies in the decorative buckets at participating locations and while supplies last. Info.
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KRISPY KREME: Add sweet touch to your holidays with Santa’s Bake Shop collection, available at participating shops for limited time individually or in Christmas-themed box. New this year: Sugar Cookie Doughnut with sugar cookie icing & sprinkles; Gingerbread Cookie Crumb Doughnut with gingerbread cream cheese & topped with gingerbread cookie crumbs; Red Velvet Cake Doughnut with cream cheese icing & red velvet cake crumbles. Returning fave is Santa Belly Doughnut, decorated like the Big Guy with icing & belt buckle sugar piece. Details here.
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MANCHESTER GRAND HYATT SAN DIEGO: "Over The Top Holiday Lounge" runs through Dec. 28 — a full transformation of Top of the Hyatt into a snowy, cozy cabin, winter wonderland for ages 21+. Pop-up offers slew of festive cocktails including "Classy Grinch" (Absolut vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, crème de menthe, chocolate drizzle), "Let it Snow" (vodka, white chocolate liquor, eggnog, graham cracker), "Sweater Weather" (Captain Morgan spiced rum, hot apple Cider, cranberries, cinnamon), "Build your own Cozy Cabin Coco" where patrons choose flavor of dark chocolate, salted caramel, or cookies n' cream and choose spirit of Baileys, Kahlua or Screwball Whiskey. At 1 Market Place, San Diego. Details here.
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MAYA'S COOKIES: Pick up sweet vegan treats for the holidays while also giving back to the community. Purchase one of Candy Cane Land collections for $50 & portion of proceeds will go to Detour Fancy - a mentoring program for girls of color. The bake shop also is selling DIY cookie Decorating Kits ($40 kit) with six Classic Gingerbread cookies, ready-to-use icing, piping bag, candies, sprinkles & links to helpful how-to videos. Locations: 4760 Mission Gorge Place, San Diego & 250 North City Drive, San Marcos. Ordering info here.
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MORTON'S THE STEAKHOUSE: A three-course "Chateaubriand Holiday Dinner" for two ($179) is offered through Dec. 31. Included: "Winter Green Salad" to share, with goat cheese, candied walnuts & balsamic vinaigrette; chateaubriand sliced tableside; choice of two sides; and one dessert per guest, either sticky toffee bread pudding, Morton's Legendary Hot Chocolate Cake or bruleed cheesecake. For dine-in only. Reservations here. Location in San Diego.
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MUSTANGS & BURROS AT ESTANCIA LA JOLLA: The "hacienda haven" will be open Christmas Day with dinner service starting at 4 p.m. At Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa, 9700 N. Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla. Reservations.
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OLIVE GARDEN: Family-style takeout meals could be the holiday way to go. Restaurants will close 8 p.m. Christmas Eve, remain closed Christmas Day & reopen Dec. 26. But before that, orders can be placed for to-go meals to serve four to six or up to 12. See meal deals here. Options include such dishes as ravioli, spaghetti, lasagna, shrimp alfredo, chicken parmigiana, with salads & breadsticks. Order info. Find locations near you.
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RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE: Prix-fixe menus served in-house Christmas Day, Eve & New Year's Day & Eve, with starter, entree choice of steak & shrimp or surf & turf, plus side & dessert. Or order takeout (serves four) with beef tenderloin, salad, mashed potatoes, creamed spinach & cheesecake. $195, though prices may vary. Booking & ordering details, 48-hour advance notice required for pick-up through Dec. 23. See sites in Del Mar & San Diego.
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RED LOBSTER: Make it a seafood-forward holiday with new party platters & takeout family meals. Check out catering or "Create Your Own Ultimate Feast" options — starring a new dish, "Cheddar Bay Shrimp," a mash-up of shrimp & the chain's popular Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Plus three, limited-time holiday drinks are on menus, including "Snowglobe Sangria," blend of Barefoot Moscato, St Germain Elderflower liqueur, edible shimmer, white cranberry juice & topped with cranberries. Ordering info. Find sites in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Oceanside & San Diego.
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SEASONS 52: Green Box to-go dinners, serving four to six, can be pre-ordered with choices for wood-grilled tenderloin or cedar plank-roasted salmon, plus lemon-parsley marble potatoes, French green beans, salad & six Mini Indulgence desserts. Available for pickup Dec. 23 -24. Pre-orders required 24 hours in advance. Order info here. Location in San Diego/UTC.
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THE MARINE ROOM: Enjoy four-course, prix-fixe Christmas feast at the iconic La Jolla Shores restaurant Dec. 25 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Among courses: amuse bouche of mushroom cappuccino shooters; appetizer selections; main offerings of sea bass, Sonoma lamb, Creekstone Farms filet or wagyu prime rib. Add-ons include lobster tail, caviar & truffle service. Dessert: The Christmas Trilogy featuring eggnog crème brûlée, gingerbread, yule log cake & candied cranberries. $150 per person. Reservations & details. At 2000 Spindrift Drive, La Jolla.
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THE SHORES RESTAURANT: Enjoy a coastal holiday with Christmas Eve dinner & Christmas Day brunch. Dec. 24 dinner features prix-fixe menu ($75 per person)with such selections as Baja mussels, arugula & beet salad, tequila citrus chicken, ribeye, swordfish & churros with ice cream or coconut flan. Christmas Day brunch starts at 10 a.m. ($72/person) with holiday buffet of traditional morning favorites. Info/reservations. At 8110 Camino Del Oro, La Jolla.
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20 | TWENTY: Dine amid palm trees lit with white lights on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. On Dec. 24, three-course meal ($105/person) will offer such selections as compressed pear salad, lobster bisque, ribeye roast, Chilean sea bass, winter squash wild mushroom quinoa & festive yule log served with chocolate sauce. Christmas Day's menu features prime ribeye roast special with potato gratin, au jus, creamy horseradish, green beans & glazed carrots. ($75/person.) Info/reservations. At 5480 Grand Pacific Drive, Carlsbad.
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URBAN PLATES: The chain has an $89 Holiday Bundle on its takeout menu through Dec. 31. The special feeds four with: choice of protein, (grilled chicken, chicken tenders, steak or salmon. Chimichurri steak is additional $2) two sides (roasted Brussels sprouts with turkey bacon, creamed spinach, roasted rainbow carrots or golden beets); rustic bread; salad; & cookies. Family-size sides also available. See here for order links. Locales in San Diego County.
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VESSEL RESTAURANT + BAR AT KONA KAI RESORT: The waterfront, Shelter Island eatery will serve Christmas Eve & Christmas Day breakfast, brunch & dinner. Reservations. At Kona Kai Resort & Spa, 1551 Shelter Island Drive, San Diego.
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ALSO SEE:
- Christmas Events & Hanukkah Fests 2022: San Diego County
- Holiday, Ice Skating Rinks 2022-23 Guide: San Diego County & SoCal
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FOR OTHER HOLIDAY EVENT GUIDES THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA:
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