Where to find a holiday meal on Christmas Day

Dining options for those unable to eat at home this Christmas are available whether you can afford to pay or not.

Local shelters, churches and charity groups have organized special holiday dinners throughout the metro area. A limited number of local restaurants will be open along with a sampling of bars and lounges that will open in the evening.

Community dinners

City Rescue Mission staff, volunteers and clients will come together to celebrate Christmas during a festive holiday meal set for noon to 2 p.m. Sunday at 800 W California.

Volunteers have signed up to sponsor a table and decorate it for the banquet. They also provide dessert for individuals sitting with them during the Christmas meal.

Organizers said they expect to serve more than 800 meals during the event, which is open to the public.

Other Metro Area Community Dinners include:

Paw Paw’s No Hunger Holidays at Paw Paw’s Hamburgers, 1028 S 4 St. in Chickasha, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Paw Paw’s Steakhouse, 702 W Grand in Chickasha, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Paw Paw’s Steakhouse, 5717 N Council Ave. in Blanchard, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. 1,500 tickets available. Call (405) 448-5092.

Red Andrews Christmas Dinner, 1 Myriad Gardens, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The Red Shield Diner, 1001 N Pennsylvania Ave., open as normal to feed guests staying in Residential Services; public dinner on regular schedule.

The Jesus House, 1335 W Sheridan Ave., 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Christmas Day Community Dinner, 911 W Main Street, Norman, in the Norman High School Cafeteria, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Soldier Creek Baptist Church, 9020 SE 15 in Midwest City, noon to 2 p.m.

Dining Out

Christmas Day options for dining out are limited. National chains like Denny’s and IHOP remain open, along with a handful of others. Here’s a sampling of local restaurants and food options open:

• Oklahoma City’s Asian District is always teeming with activity Christmas Day. Grand House China Bistro, 2701 N Classen Blvd., will offer its dim sum, and Golden Phoenix, 2728 N Classen Blvd., will be open for business, as will many others in the area. Szechuan Bistro, 1010 W Memorial Road, and Ding Asian Fusion, 6400 NW 39 Expressway in Bethany, will be open regular hours. Fung’s Kitchen, 3321 N Classen Blvd., is open regular hours with dim sum served at lunch; Dot Wo Garden, 6151 N May Ave., opens noon to 9 p.m.

• Some bars will open Christmas Day. Lumpy’s Sports Bar locations open at 4 p.m.; WSKY, 228 NE 2, opens at 7 p.m.; Guyutes, 730 NW 23, opens at 7 p.m.; Cock O’ The Walk, 3705 NW 23, opens at 5 p.m.; and The Pump Bar, 2425 N Walker Ave., opens 4 p.m.

• Sooner Bowling Center and the Spare Time Cafe, 550 24th Ave. NW, will open at 5 p.m.

• The Deep Fork Grill, 5418 N Western Ave., will be open from 4 to 10 p.m., serving a prix fixe, three-course meal. Call 848-7678.

• Hotel restaurants are a good source for Christmas dinners. The downtown

Embassy Suites, 741 N Phillips Ave., will offer a Founders Brunch from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other hotel restaurants to check with include Flint in the Colcord, Park Avenue Grill in the Skirvin, 10 North Grille in the Renaissance, Mary Eddy’s in 21c, Viceroy Grille in the Ambassador Hotel, and EmberA-merican Tavern in the Waterford.

More times than not, hotel restaurants are open at least in limited service on holidays to accommodate overnight guests.

• Cafeteria and smorgasbord options include Luby’s Cafeteria, 9410 N May Ave., open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Fuze Buffet and Bar locations in Oklahoma City and Edmond, open 11 a.m. to 9

p.m.

• The Bamboo Room, 800 S Air Depot, will hold its annual Christmas potluck. The restaurant opens at 2 p.m. with dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Guests are invited to bring a covered dish.

• If you need to shop for groceries, Super Cao Nguyen, 2668 Military Ave., is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.