Christmas Brunch & Dinner: IE Restaurant & Takeout Specials 2023

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — To keep your holidays merry, bright and hassle-free, while still indulging in a Christmas feast, check out the variety of offers from Inland Empire restaurants.

We've rounded up some of the best — festive restaurant dining and easy takeout specials — in our annual guide with something for all tastes and budgets.

So peruse the list, scroll through the images above for visual inspiration, and find the offers and sweet treats near you.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays, from Patch!

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APPLEBEE'S: Keep feasting easy with newly launched Holiday Combos, starting at $13.99 & available for limited time for dine-in, to-go & delivery. Meals include two proteins, plus garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli & crispy onions. Options include: Honey BBQ Chicken Breast & Double Crunch Shrimp; Blackened Cajun Salmon & Double Crunch Shrimp; Sirloin & Double Crunch Shrimp; & Riblets & Honey BBQ Grilled Chicken. Plus, the holiday $5 Mucho Cocktails are back, along with $6 Stella Artois Brewtus draft beers. Details. Location finder here.

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BLACK ANGUS STEAKHOUSE: Dine-in & takeout options offered for Christmas Eve festivities. Along with holiday-centric drinks, specials include: Lobster & Potato Fritter starter ($12.99), with lemon aioli, hot honey & microgreens; and entree Steak Oscar ($49.99) — NY Strip, bearnaise sauce, lobster, asparagus, microgreens & two sidekicks. Also available from to-go Meat Market to cook at home: four-pound, raw prime rib ($110), with au jus, horseradish, creamy horseradish sauce & seasoning. New Year’s Eve in-restaurant dining deal planned, too, for Dec. 31: Surf 'n' Turf Dinner for Two ($115), with two filet mignons, two lobster tails, starter, sides, molasses bread, dessert & two Prosecco splits. Info/ordering/reservations. Find locales in Montclair, Ontario, San Bernardino, Temecula.

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BLAZE PIZZA: Here's a don't-miss holiday deal: an 11-inch, original dough Double Pepperoni pizza (approximately 32 slices of pepperoni!) for $8.99 through Dec. 31. Purchase online, via app or in store & no code needed. Website. Locations statewide.
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CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN: Two new dishes & festive cocktail on CPK holiday menus through Dec. 31. The innovative Neapolitan Burrata Pizza features creamy burrata & slow-roasted cherry tomatoes. Shaking Beef Pasta is hot, savory dish with seared filet & garlic-sesame soy sauce. And this year's specialty cocktail is Hand-Shaken Espresso Martini. Details here. Find locales here.

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DICKEY'S BARBECUE PIT: Holiday heat-and-serve meals make for hassle-free, at-home feasts. Takeout options: Complete Feast (serves 10–12) with smoked or Cajun turkey, prime rib or ham, with sides of cornbread dressing, gravy, baked potato casserole, green beans & rolls; Dinner Feast (for 8–10) with ham, turkey or prime rib, dressing, gravy & rolls; Holiday Big Yellow Box (for 10-12) 4 pounds of sliced turkey & large sides; or À La Carte Menu for individual meats & sides. New to this year's menu is Classic Sweet Potato Casserole. Find shops near you.
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EL POLLO LOCO: Festive Family Meals start at $24, with eight pieces of chicken, three sides & tortillas. Also launched is limited-time, pork carnitas holiday menu. With nod to Mexican heritage, options include: Carnitas Tacos (corn-blend tortillas, pork carnitas, avocado salsa, cabbage, cilantro, onion & fresh avocado) ; Carnitas Wet Burrito covered in green enchilada sauce & cheese; and Carnitas Stuffed Quesadilla. Plus, two items available only via Loco Rewards app: Pork Carnitas Nachos & Pork Carnitas Tostadas. Ordering links. Find locales.
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EUROPA VILLAGE: Bolero Restaurante will host holiday brunch buffets, including on Christmas Eve, with festive, chef-curated spread of Spanish-inspired meat & cheese boards, salads, grilled veggies, seafood, omelet & carving stations, salmon, pumpkin pancakes & more, plus dessert array. Reservations strongly recommended, but walk-ins welcome. Reservations/details. At 41150 Via Europa, Temecula.

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FLEMING'S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & BAR: Celebrate with three-course, limited-time, winter menu of salmon poke wonton amuse bouche, followed by citrus frisée salad, filet mignon, lobster tail & espresso martini chocolate mousse. And new to menu: Chilled Shellfish Tower of East & West coast oysters, crab legs, lobster & shrimp, with cocktail, creamy mustard & brandy mustard sauces. Reservations. Locations listed here, including Rancho Cucamonga.
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GELSON'S MARKETS: Takeout orders are due by Dec. 23 for Christmas dinners, with Dec. 21-24 pick-up, and by Dec. 29 for New Year's with pick-up Dec. 30-Jan. 1. Pre-cooked, to-go options include roasted turkey, prime rib, brisket, salmon, ham & plant-based celebration and hazelnut cranberry roasts, with such festive sides as mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole & rolls. Also offered are seafood selections, à la carte dishes, wines & Champagnes. See ordering info here. Find stores near you.

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GOLDEN CORRAL: Multiple options at this buffet-style chain. Dine-in for Holiday Buffet, featuring seasonal specials of turkey, ham, beef roast, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, rolls, pie & more. Or select Holiday Feasts To-Go for six to eight with turkey, ham or beef roast, trimmings, sides, rolls & pie. Pre-order online or via app. Holiday A La Carte Items To Go offer individual options. Plus, get $10 bonus card with $50+ purchase. Details. Location finder here.
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KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN: Unique, holiday-themed buckets are back — a tradition since the 1960s — with 2023 theme of “Secret Recipe of Joy.” Plus, two items on menus: Mac & Cheese Wrap & Colonel’s Homestyle Brownie. Info/website.

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KRISPY KREME: To commemorate 20th anniversary of holiday classic “Elf,” the chain unveils its first-ever “Elf” Doughnut Collection. Offered for limited time at participating shops, the line includes: "Buddy Snow Globe Doughnut" with chocolate “Elf” piece; "Buddy Makes Breakfast Doughnut," cake batter spaghetti buttercreme, candies, sprinkles & maple drizzle; "Christmas Lights Doughnut," with icing, sprinkles & chocolate “Elf”; plus return of popular "Santa Belly Doughnut," with Cookies & Kreme filling & Santa belt buckle candy piece. Details here.

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MARCO'S PIZZA: Keep this deal in mind for post-Christmas dining! Take 30% off regularly priced pizzas Dec. 26-30, when ordering via mobile or online using code GIFT30 — no limit on toppings. Website. Locales in IE.

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MIGUEL'S JR.: The holiday-fave tamales are back! Featuring co-founder Mary Vasquez’s secret family recipe for chicken or chile rojo pork, they are $3.59 a la carte, or $37.99 for dozen. Offered through Dec. 31. And while they're here, go off-menu with one of these tamale hacks: Order burrito with tamale inside; "Mexican Flag" it up & dress tamale in enchilada sauce, sour cream & guacamole; "Wet Style" douse tamale in enchilada sauce & cheddar cheese; or ask for "Deep Fried" & dipping sauce. See menu/ordering info. Find locales in Inland Empire.
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MORTON'S THE STEAKHOUSE: Make it a memorable holiday with "Chateaubriand Dinner for Two" offered only Dec. 24-31. Three-course, prix-fixe menu with winter salad, tableside-sliced Chateaubriand, deluxe sides, plus dessert. $179 for two. Add-on options include lobster tails & mini crab cakes. Reservations. Also through Dec. 31, limited-time "Best Steak Anywhere" promo allows guests to try steaks from Japan, Australia & U.S. (like A5 Niigata Snow Wagyu Filet Mignon from Japan) to learn of various flavors & aging processes. See locales here including Palm Desert.

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NORMS: Keep holiday prep simple with “Gobble-Gobble on the Go-Go”— takeout family meal that feeds four for $69.99. Included are turkey breast or brown sugar-glazed ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, chicken & sausage gumbo soup, salad & whole pumpkin or apple pie. Ordering details. Find diner sites throughout Inland Empire.
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PIEOLOGY PIZZERIA: Here's a gift that keeps on giving for Pie Life Rewards members! Order a "Craft Your Own Pizza" by Dec. 31 & you'll be eligible to unlock "Pies and Perks" offer, which sends a daily "Perk" of choice (such as side salad, cookie, or non-alcoholic beverage), alongside pizza purchases through 2024. Details. Locations statewide.
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RANDY'S DONUTS: Keep the holidays sweet with two, new box dozens, featuring the iconic chain's Christmas Tree, Snowman & Holiday Sprinkles doughnuts. Offered in "Classic" or "Premium Holiday" box sets. Available through Dec. 31. See shops throughout Southern California.

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RED LOBSTER: Locations will be open Christmas Day for a shellfish holiday with limited-time, shrimp & lobster specials. Choose: Lobster & Shrimp Holiday Feast (lobster & shrimp in orange-rosemary sauce); Lobster & Cheddar Bay-Stuffed Shrimp; or Lobster & Shrimp Overboard (lobster tail, linguini & shrimp skewer). Cheddar Bay Stuffing is new this year. Plus, new seasonal cocktails: Snowglobe Sangria; Seaside S'mores Martini; Cinnamon Whiskey Sour. For hosting at home, see to-go Holiday Side Bundles, Party Platters & Family Meals. Purchase Holiday Side Bundle with five sides & two dozen, free Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Find restaurants in Inland Empire.
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ROCKWOOD GRILL AT JW MARRIOTT DESERT SPRINGS RESORT & SPA: Hotel Executive Chef Eric Theiss & team are prepping a grand Christmas Day Buffet, 12 p.m. - 8 p.m., featuring variety of main & side dishes, carving station, children’s menu, dessert station & complimentary mimosas & sparkling wine. Adults $130/children 4-11 $49/under 3 free. Bookings. A breakfast buffet also offered Dec. 25, 6:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. in San Jacinto Ballroom, with no reservations required. Location: 74-855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert.

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RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE: "Celebration Surf & Turf" holiday dinner, filet & twin tails, served Dec. 22–24 & Dec. 29-31. Plus, festive, family-sized salads & sides can be ordered for takeout until Dec. 23, with 48-hour notice. See site in Palm Desert.

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7-ELEVEN: Don't miss these holiday deals: Whole pizzas are $6 for 7Rewards members on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve & New Year’s Day. And rewards members also can score a large coffee & doughnut for $2 for a limited time. Rewards info here.

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ALSO SEE: IE Guide To Outdoor, Ice Skating Rinks: Holidays 2023-24