What restaurants are open right now near me?

Looking for what’s open right now near you? Most U.S. fast-food chains have shorter hours than they did pre-pandemic, and very few are still 24/7 chain-wide. If you need food right now, food open at 3 AM, or food open in the early morning, knowing which chains and which specific locations actually stay open can save you a wasted trip.

Reliably 24/7 nationwide

Two chains genuinely run 24 hours a day at virtually every location:

Waffle House – virtually all locations are open 24/7 every day of the year. Waffle House is famous for staying open through hurricanes and federal holidays. The “Waffle House Index” is even used by FEMA as an informal disaster severity gauge.
Denny’s – most locations stay open 24/7, 365 days a year. The chain’s “always open, always welcoming” tagline holds up.

What’s open at 3 AM near me?

At 3 AM, most U.S. fast-food chains are closed. The reliable 3 AM food options are:

Waffle House – virtually all locations open at 3 AM, full menu
Denny’s – most locations open at 3 AM (24/7 standard)
Whataburger – virtually all Texas-market locations are open at 3 AM with full menu including burgers
IHOP – many locations open at 3 AM; some franchise locations close overnight, so check the IHOP locator
Jack in the Box – many California, Texas, and Arizona locations are 24/7 with full menu at 3 AM (drive-thru only after midnight)
White Castle – most Midwest locations are open at 3 AM (close around 4 AM)
Convenience stores – 7-Eleven, Wawa, Sheetz, QuikTrip, RaceTrac all serve hot food and are 24/7
Truck stops – TA Travel Centers, Pilot/Flying J, and Love’s run 24/7 restaurants (Country Pride, IHOP at some TA locations)
24-hour pharmacies – select CVS and Walgreens locations stock grab-and-go food

McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and most other major chains are NOT typically open at 3 AM. Rare exceptions include some highway and urban 24/7 locations near airports, hospitals, and travel plazas.

Does Whataburger serve lunch and burgers 24/7?

Yes. Whataburger serves its full menu, including burgers and lunch items, 24/7 at virtually all Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas locations. Unlike some chains that switch to a breakfast-only menu overnight, Whataburger keeps the full menu running around the clock at most locations. Newer expansion locations (Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia) may have reduced overnight hours – check the Whataburger app for your specific store.

What’s open at 5 AM (early-morning food) near me?

If you need breakfast at 5 AM:

Waffle House – 24/7, full menu
Denny’s – 24/7 most locations
Dunkin’ – typically opens at 5 AM in most markets
Starbucks – typically opens at 5 AM at most stores; some open at 4:30 AM
McDonald’s breakfast – typically starts at 5 AM (drive-thru); the breakfast menu runs until 10:30 or 11 AM
Burger King – many locations open for breakfast at 6 AM, some at 5 AM
Truck stop restaurants – 24/7 breakfast available at TA, Pilot/Flying J, Love’s
Convenience store hot food – 7-Eleven, Wawa, Sheetz serve hot breakfast around the clock

Often 24/7 but varies by location

IHOP – many IHOP locations are open 24/7, but some franchise locations now close overnight (typically 10 p.m. on weekdays and midnight on weekends). Always confirm via the IHOP locator.
Whataburger – a Texas-based chain with deep 24/7 culture in its core southern markets. Most Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas locations are still 24/7. Newer expansion locations may have reduced hours.
Jack in the Box – a high percentage of Jack in the Box locations are 24/7 in West Coast and Texas markets. Late-night business is drive-thru only at most locations after midnight.
White Castle – most Midwest locations are 24/7 or close very late, around 4 a.m.

Late-night but rarely 24/7

McDonald’s – varies widely by franchise. Most McDonald’s locations are NOT 24/7 anymore. The pandemic-era cut to overnight hours has not been broadly reversed. Some highway and urban locations remain 24/7 (drive-thru only after midnight).
Burger King – some highway and urban locations stay open 24/7 (drive-thru only after midnight); most close at midnight or 1 a.m.
Taco Bell – most close 1 a.m. to 4 a.m.; a small number of “Taco Bell After Hours” locations run 24/7 in major metros.
Wendy’s – most locations close at midnight or 1 a.m.
Steak ‘n Shake – the chain went through major restructuring and closed many locations. Remaining stores typically close 11 p.m. to midnight; the legacy “Up All Night” 24/7 menu is mostly gone.
Sonic Drive-In – most close midnight to 1 a.m.; a handful of locations near highways or college campuses run 24/7.

Not 24/7 (despite older listings claiming otherwise)

Dunkin’ Donuts – despite older articles, Dunkin’ is a morning-coffee brand. Typical hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Some 24-hour locations exist but they are uncommon.
Starbucks – typical hours 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. A small number of 24-hour Starbucks exist at airports, hospitals, and travel plazas.
Subway – typical hours 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Not 24/7.
Chick-fil-A – never 24/7. Chick-fil-A also closes Sundays at every location.
KFC – typical hours 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Not 24/7.

Late-night alternatives when no restaurant works

If no restaurant is open near you at 3 a.m.:

Convenience stores with hot food – 7-Eleven, Wawa, Sheetz, QuikTrip, RaceTrac all have hot-food sections and most are open 24/7.
Truck stops – TA Travel Centers, Pilot/Flying J, and Love’s have full restaurants (Country Pride, IHOP at some TA locations, Subway at some Pilot locations) that are typically 24/7.
Pizza delivery – some Domino’s locations deliver until 1 a.m. or 2 a.m. on weekends.
24-hour pharmacy snack aisles – 24-hour CVS and Walgreens locations stock basic snacks, drinks, and grab-and-go items.

How to confirm a specific location is open right now

The most reliable way to confirm a specific store is open right now:

Open the chain’s app or official locator (linked on each chain page on this site).
Filter for 24-hour stores or check that specific store’s posted hours.
Call the store directly. Posted hours are sometimes wrong; an actual phone call confirms.

For chain-specific holiday hours and Sunday schedules, check each chain’s page on this site. We maintain a verified weekly hours table and 16-row holiday calendar for every chain we cover.