24-Hour Chains
Waffle House
Always open
Denny's
Most 24hr
IHOP
Many 24hr
McDonald's
Select locations
Taco Bell
Many late night
Jack in the Box
Many 24hr
Steak 'n Shake
Many 24hr
Whataburger
24hr in TX
Types of Late Night Food
🍕 Pizza
Many pizzerias open until 2-4am, especially near bars and colleges. Delivery or late-night slice windows.
🌮 Tacos
Taco trucks and taquerias often stay open late. Perfect post-bar fuel in most cities.
🍔 Fast Food
McDonald's, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box. Reliable, cheap, and often 24 hours with drive-thru.
🥞 Diners
Classic 24-hour diners serving breakfast all night. Waffle House, Denny's, local spots.
🍜 Pho & Ramen
Some Asian restaurants stay open late. Perfect for a comforting bowl after midnight.
🥓 Korean BBQ
Many KBBQ spots open until 2-4am. Great for group late-night dining.
Late Night By City
- Always check current hours - many restaurants reduced late-night hours post-2020
- Food truck rallies often run late on weekends in big cities
- Bars with kitchens usually serve food until 30-60 min before close
- Delivery apps show what's actually open - filter by "Open Now"
- Vegas, NYC, and NOLA have the best 24-hour options by far
Best Late Night Foods
After Bar Classics
Pizza slices, tacos, hot dogs, falafel, kebabs. Drunk food staples in every city.
Comfort Food
Breakfast for dinner, mac and cheese, grilled cheese, burgers. Warming, satisfying, greasy.
Late Night Asian
Pho, ramen, Korean fried chicken, bao. Many Asian spots cater to the late-night crowd.