California restaurants and resorts are preparing for Thanksgiving 2025 with a wide variety of dining experiences across the state. Chefs are using locally sourced turkeys, such as those from Diestel Family Ranch in Tuolumne County and Mary’s Turkey in Fresno County, to create traditional and unique holiday meals.
In Southern California, venues like Hotel del Coronado in San Diego will host buffets in historic rooms, while Fairmont Grand Del Mar offers both a three-course menu and buffet with options including Carlsbad oysters and pumpkin cheesecake. The Gambling Cowboy Chophouse & Saloon in Temecula provides an Old West–style four-course feast with views of the valley. Newport Beach’s Balboa Bay Resort pairs its buffet with waterfront activities.
Theme parks also participate: Disneyland Resort offers brunch and dinner buffets at Goofy’s Kitchen and Storytellers Café, while Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant near Knott’s Berry Farm serves both brunch and dinner buffets featuring their signature fried chicken alongside turkey.
Other notable options include the Purple Room in Palm Springs for a retro lounge-style meal with live jazz, Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Restaurants offering dining at mountain elevation, Aquarium of the Pacific hosting a rooftop buffet overlooking Rainbow Harbor, The Langham Huntington in Pasadena providing brunch and dinner spreads, and Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica serving a beachfront three-course meal.
Central California features Finch & Fork at Kimpton Canary Hotel in Santa Barbara with a harvest buffet using local produce; Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito offering both brunch and family-style dinners; Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo known for its selection of pies; The Padre Hotel in Bakersfield serving creative takes on holiday classics; and Elderberry House at Château du Sureau inn near Yosemite presenting a tasting menu paired with reserve wines.
Northern California hosts include Fairmont San Francisco’s grand buffet inside Laurel Court Restaurant & Bar; Claremont Resort & Club in Berkeley offering both dine-in and to-go feasts; Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa providing farm-to-table menus alongside wine tastings; La Toque continuing its tradition of slow-roasted turkey dinners; Napa Valley Wine Train combining scenic rides with multi-course meals; Montage Healdsburg featuring vineyard views during Thanksgiving week events for families; Delta King riverboat serving dinner on the Sacramento River; National Exchange Hotel delivering modern spins on classic dishes; Jimmy’s at The Landing by Lake Tahoe presenting lakeside prix fixe menus; Granlibakken lodge carving turkey tableside along Lake Tahoe’s shore; Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe highlighting Dungeness crab agnolotti among other dishes; Trillium Café Mendocino focusing on local flavors like Point Reyes blue cheese salad; Feather Falls Casino resort including salmon, pork chops, pies, bread pudding at their Dreamcatcher Buffet; McCloud Hotel near Mt. Shasta serving orange sage–roasted turkey alongside butternut squash ravioli.
The diverse offerings reflect California’s culinary landscape—from coastal resorts to mountain lodges—giving residents and visitors many ways to celebrate Thanksgiving throughout the state.
