Jax Humor Publishes 2026 Guide to What’s Open on Thanksgiving Day in Jacksonville

“For a lot of people, Thanksgiving in Jacksonville comes down to two options: cook everything yourself or go to Waffle House. But there are a lot of great local tables out there, and the good ones go first.” — Nate Morris, founder of Jax Humor

Jacksonville, Florida – November 12, 2026 – Jax Humor, the Jacksonville-focused local guide and merch brand, has published its 2026 guide to what’s open on Thanksgiving Day in Jacksonville. The guide sorts more than 30 restaurants open on Thursday, Nov. 26, by area, from downtown steakhouses to brunch spots at the Beaches.

It also covers take-out pre-orders, grocery and pharmacy closures, and what to grab the night before.

The guide is built for locals who aren’t cooking, visitors staying in hotels, and anyone who discovers on Wednesday night that the cranberry sauce, or even the turkey, never made it home.

“For a lot of people, Thanksgiving in Jacksonville comes down to two options: cook everything yourself or go to Waffle House,” said Nate Morris, founder of Jax Humor. “But there are a lot of great local tables out there, and the best ones go first.”

What the guide covers

• Restaurants by area. Downtown and San Marco, Riverside, Avondale and Five Points, Mandarin, St. Johns Town Center, Southside, Baymeadows and Arlington, and the Beaches and Ponte Vedra.
• Take-out and pre-order. Holiday meals to order ahead and pick up, with ordering deadlines.
• Grocery stores and pharmacies. Major grocery chains including Publix, Aldi, Winn-Dixie, Walmart and Trader Joe’s have closed on Thanksgiving in recent years. CVS and Walgreens often run limited hours instead of closing.
• Thanksgiving Eve. Most grocery stores keep normal or slightly extended hours on Wednesday, Nov. 25, which makes Wednesday night the time to pick up anything missing.

Featured restaurants in this year’s guide

• Curry Guys (Lomax Street, Five Points) is open Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. with its regular Indian street-food menu. Dine-in and takeout are available, no reservations are needed, and the menu includes many vegetarian and vegan options.
• Buddha Thai Bistro (Jacksonville Beach) hosts its annual all-you-can-eat vegan Thanksgiving brunch buffet from noon to 3:30 p.m. The buffet is $49.99 for adults, and reservations are recommended.
• Well-Oiled Events (Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach) offers a Thanksgiving Take & Bake menu with roasted turkey or glazed ham that serves eight, plus sides that serve four. Orders are due by email by Wednesday, Nov. 18, with pickup on Wednesday, Nov. 25, from noon to 3 p.m. Delivery is available for a fee.

The guide also points readers planning a full Thanksgiving morning to Tony’s Turkey Trot 5K and Petesgiving at Pete’s Bar in Neptune Beach. Beaches restaurants lean toward brunch, which fits neatly after both.

Hours and holiday menus change from year to year. Jax Humor recommends calling ahead to confirm and booking reservations early, especially at fine dining restaurants.

The full guide, with addresses, phone numbers and links to neighborhood-level guides, is available at jaxhumor.com/blogs/learn-about-jacksonville/whats-open-thanksgiving-day-jacksonville.

About Jax Humor

Jax Humor is a local media and merchandise company based in Atlantic Beach, Florida. Founded in 2025, the company publishes free guides to Jacksonville neighborhoods, events, local laws, history and businesses. It also sells Jacksonville landmark stickers, apparel, mugs and prints at jaxhumor.com. Its mission is to give residents and visitors accurate, practical information about Jacksonville while supporting local businesses.

Media Contact
Company Name: Jax Humor
Contact Person: Nate Morris
Email: Send Email
City: Jacksonville
State: Florida
Country: United States
Website: https://jaxhumor.com