Is Waffle House Open 24 Hours?

Yes. Waffle House restaurants are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays, and they serve the full menu at every hour.

24/7 every day365 days a yearFull menu all nightRarely closes
Short answer: Almost every Waffle House is open around the clock, every day of the year, serving the full menu at all hours. That includes Christmas Day, Thanksgiving and New Year’s. The only times a Waffle House closes are rare emergencies, such as severe storms or a local staffing problem, and even then the company works to reopen quickly.

Waffle House hours at a glance

Day or time Open? Notes
Weekdays Yes, 24 hours Full menu at every hour
Weekends Yes, 24 hours Busiest late at night and on weekend mornings
Christmas and Thanksgiving Yes Waffle House stays open on major holidays
Late night, 2 AM to 5 AM Yes The same menu, including waffles and hash browns
Severe weather Usually May switch to a limited menu or close for safety in the worst storms

Why Waffle House never closes

Waffle House was built to be open around the clock from the day the first restaurant opened in 1955 near Atlanta. Many locations sit near highways and serve night shift workers, travelers and late night crowds. The kitchen is a single open grill line, so a small crew can keep it running at any hour.

The Waffle House Index. Waffle House stays open so reliably that emergency managers use it as an informal disaster gauge. A Waffle House running a limited menu, or closed entirely, signals serious damage. Read more in What Is the Waffle House Index?

Is the full menu available all night?

Yes. Waffle House does not have separate breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Waffles, hash browns, eggs, bacon, burgers, sandwiches and All Star Specials are all available 24 hours. That is part of the appeal: a waffle at 3 AM or a burger at 7 AM are both normal orders.

Tips for visiting

  • Late night weekend visits are the busiest, so expect a short wait after bars close.
  • Learn the hash brown lingo: scattered, smothered (onions), covered (cheese), chunked (ham), diced (tomatoes), peppered, capped (mushrooms) and topped (chili).
  • Waffle House does not take reservations or offer delivery at most locations.

See typical prices for waffles, hash browns and All Star Specials on the Waffle House menu.

Related Questions

Is Waffle House open 24 hours?

Yes. Waffle House restaurants are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Is Waffle House open on Christmas?

Yes. Waffle House stays open on Christmas, Thanksgiving and other holidays.

Can you get breakfast at Waffle House at night?

Yes. The full menu, including waffles and eggs, is served at every hour.

Does Waffle House ever close?

Only in rare cases, such as severe storms or local emergencies, and the company works to reopen quickly.

When was the first Waffle House opened?

In 1955 in Avondale Estates, Georgia, near Atlanta.

What does scattered, smothered and covered mean?

Scattered means spread on the grill for crispiness, smothered adds onions and covered adds cheese.

More on Waffle House

About this guide. USA Food Menu is an independent reference site and is not affiliated with Waffle House. Hours can change at individual restaurants during emergencies. See typical prices on the Waffle House menu.