Where to Eat Dinner on Thanksgiving in Champaign-Urbana

Where you can eat out or order in your Thanksgiving dinner in Champaign-Urbana

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, so if you’d like to skip cooking in the kitchen, Champaign and Urbana have a whole bunch of great dine-in or carryout options for your family’s Thanksgiving table

We are here to help you try some of the delicious Thanksgiving classics that Champaign-Urbana restaurants and caterers have to offer.

When ordering takeout or a family meal to-go for Thanksgiving, our advice is not to wait until the last minute. Thanksgiving takeout seems to be popular!

Chambanamoms.com thanks Common Ground Food Co-Op for presenting this resource.

Common Ground Food Co-op’s Grab-N-Go Thanksgiving

Common Ground invites you to join them for this year’s Grab-n-Go Thanksgiving! Their kitchen and bakery have created a full menu to supplement your special holiday meal. Starting November 22 and continuing through November 27, their Grab-n-Go case will be transformed with delicious dishes made from scratch using organic and local ingredients. Grab entrees, essential sides, and seasonal pies and baked goods. This menu also offers a wide variety of vegan and gluten-free options!

See the full Grab-n-Go Thanksgiving menu here.

Dining in, carrying out or outsourcing dessert

If you’re planning on takeout for Thanksgiving, some options have deadlines for pre-orders or may have limited availability, so order early.

We will continue to add to this list, as not all options have been released as of our publishing date. Please note that information was verified at time of publishing, and might be subject to change due to a restaurant’s staffing or supplies.

Dine-in options

Neil St. Blues, 301 N. Neil St., Champaign: Neil St. Blues will be serving a Thanksgiving brunch buffet from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy all you can eat favorites such as cajun brined smoked turkey, sage cornbread dressing, Southern baked mac n’ cheese and more. Reservations available for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. seatings only; two-hour table time limit. Make reservations here.

Denny’s, 702 W. Town Center Blvd,. Champaign: Standard menu available, which includes a turkey-and-dressing meal: carved turkey, stuffing, turkey gravy and cranberry sauce with choice of two sides and dinner bread. Open 24 hours.

Bob Evans, 1813 N. Neil St., Champaign: Bob Evans dining room will be open on Thanksgiving Day from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. serving hot meals. It also has Thanksgiving feasts to go that can feed up to 10. Packed cold; heat and serve at home; available for curbside pickup and delivery.

Perkins, 214 W. University Ave., Urbana: Perkins is open on Thanksgiving for dine-in. The standard menu will be available, including pie.

Urbana Garden Family Restaurant, 810 W. Killarney St., Urbana: We have had readers report that Urbana Family Garden is a good option for dining in on Thanksgiving Day.

Free events

Urbana High School, 1002 S. Race St., Urbana: Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by UHS Student Senate. ALL are welcome to come, eat dinner, and socialize. Thanksgiving Day, 4-6 p.m.

Order ahead meal options

This list includes places you can order an entire Thanksgiving meal (or just sides … or dessert … or appetizers)

Big Grove Tavern, 1 E. Main St., Champaign: Again offering carry-out for Thanksgiving, including wine, old fashioneds and apple cider margaritas. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin cheesecake and more are in this year’s offerings. Email thanksgiving@biggrovetavern.com.

Hickory River Smokehouse, Urbana and Champaign: Order your choice of whole smoked turkey or half a ham by Nov. 22 for pickup between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. You can choose to order just the main meat or meat with sides for a complete Thanksgiving dinner.

Party in a Pinch Catering: Orders must be placed by Friday, Nov. 15. Pick up on Wednesday Nov. 27 at locations in Farmer City, Champaign and Mahomet. Meals serve up to 8 people and choices include turkey, ham, stuffing, corn casserole and many other sides. Appetizers and desserts also available. Call (217) 766-2031 or email ginger.bernard@gmail.com to place your order.

Piato Cafe, 804 E. Main St., Urbana: Order your choice of cider brined turkey, herb roasted turkey or a vegetarian dish of acorn stuffed squash filled with golden raisin and vegetable rice. Sides and desserts also available. Deadline for orders is Nov. 23 at noon. Pick up is 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 27. Delivery is also available for $10. Call (217) 344-9015 or email info@piatocafe.com to place your order.

Dessert orders

When you are looking for pies, pastries and other bakery treats, check out these options that exclusively offer baked goods (no to-go meal options here)

Curtis Orchard, 3902 S. Duncan Road, Champaign: The orchard offers a variety of pies, from apple to cherry to classic pumpkin and more. Curtis is a go-to option when we want to bring a treat to impress — without the work! — to a holiday dinner. Order via (217) 359-5565 or from the website.

Tasty Tart, 405 S. Neil St. Ste. C, Champaign: Pre-order for Thanksgiving week — build your own tart box from its regular flavors plus the special seasonal flavors.

Options we have yet to confirm for 2024

The following list consists of businesses we saw offer Thanksgiving options in 2023 but have yet to announce for 2024. Check back often to see who confirms their Thanksgiving to-go menus.

BakeLab, 410 N. Lincoln Ave., Urbana: In 2023, BakeLab had a limited number of dessert boxes available to order for your Thanksgiving table. Each box contained four desserts: a passionfruit and coconut tart, a black sesame seed dairy tart, a chocolate mousse cake, and a matcha and red bean tart.

Harvest Market, 2029 S. Neil St., Champaign: Last year, Harvest Market offered a Thanksgiving dinner for 6. Get turkey, cornbread, and gravy plus your choice of three sides and a dessert. Inquire in-person at the Harvest Market deli.

Hopscotch Bakery + Market, 802 W. John St., Champaign: Last year’s order ahead options included your choice of classic pumpkin pie, mini pecan pies, apple cardamom cranberry pie, vegan and gluten-free pumpkin cake, holiday rolls, or turkey pot pie strata.

Hunny Bunny Bakes, 2006 S. Neil St., Champaign: Pre-order your Thanksgiving pies from Hunny Bunny Bakes. Last year’s options included apple, pumpkin, or chocolate silk and could be ordered online. It also had Thanksgiving breakfast options.

Maize at the Station, 100 N. Chestnut St., Champaign: You can pre-order your Thanksgiving tamales while they last, for pickup the week of Thanksgiving. Choose between three different kinds: rajas (poblano w/cheese), pork in a red sauce, and chicken in a green sauce.

Modern Family Dinners, Carle at the Fields, 3302 Mission Dr., Champaign: We are waiting to see what options are available for pickup (four-person and 12-person) for your Thanksgiving feast this year. Main dish, sides, appetizers and desserts are expected to be included in the menu of options.

The New Sweet Indulgence, 2149 S. Neil St., Champaign: Take your choice of sugar cookies, a delicious assortment of pies, tarts, dinner rolls, pie crusts, cakes, and cupcakes. Also available are an assortment of cheesecake varieties as well as cake truffles. Place your pre-order by calling (217) 352-2433 or in person at the store.

Pekara Bakery & Bistro, 811 W. Springfield Ave., Champaign: Pekara and Central Illinois Bakehouse are expected to offer a variety of breads, pies, rolls, pastries, and more, fresh-baked for your Thanksgiving celebration. Order online on the website. All orders must be placed at least five days in advance.

Suzu’s Bakery, 114 N. Walnut St., Champaign: Thanksgiving pre-orders may be placed for special menu items including items such as a cookie box, Kabocha tarts, Japanese bourbon pecan pie, and Kabocha Japanese cheesecake.

Know of a business that we are missing? Email editor@chambanamoms.com with your information.

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