Fast Food Open Late: 11 Spots To Score 4 A.M. Eats

It's 4 a.m. and a craving for pancakes hits you hard. Tacos also sound good, you think to yourself. But where are you going to find either one of those things at this time of night?

Lucky for us, there are fast-food and chain restaurants that are either open 24 hours or serve until the early hours of the morning. Some have a specific night menu, while others offer the whole shebang all the time, much to the delight of night owls everywhere.

Since the pandemic started, many chains — including the ones that were known for being open 24/7 — have reduced their hours. On top of that, franchisees can choose their own operating hours. So while many locations of the restaurants on this list are open past 2 a.m., you should always check whether your local store is open before heading over late night.

1. Taco Bell

Hours: Midnight or later

Drive-thru: Yes

Late-night menu: No

"Fourthmeal" is one of Taco Bell's claims to fame, so it's no surprise that many of the chain's locations stay open late. Most are open until midnight or later, at least on the weekends. For locations near bar districts or other tourist hot spots, you'll even find some that are open until 4 a.m. every night, or even 24 hours.

Usually, the drive-thru is the only part of the restaurant open late at night, so that's a plus for convenience. You'll be able to order the entire menu (except breakfast) late at night, so get ready for those 2 a.m. frozen Baja Blasts and Crunchwraps. Taco Bell fourthmeal just hits different.

Want a sweet deal on Baja Blasts? Check out our guide to Taco Bell's Happiest Hour.

2. Jack in the Box

Hours: 2 a.m. or later

Drive-thru: Yes

Late-night menu: Yes

Jack in the Box caters to late-night customers who've had a pretty fun night. The chain even partnered with Snoop Dogg once to make the ultimate late-night Munchie Meal, complete with a brownie. 

Most locations are open until 2 a.m., but many are open until 4 a.m., even in suburban areas. Some are open 24 hours, but you'll have to look harder to find one of those locations.

All menu items are available all the time, but there's also a late night build-your-own Munchie Meal that you should absolutely get if you can't decide between burgers, tacos, and onion rings.

3. Cook Out

Hours: 2 a.m. or later

Drive-thru: Yes

Late-night menu: No

Cook Out is a Southern chain that's known for its all-American menu of burgers, dozens of shakes, and all kinds of fried goodies. The majority of its locations are open until 2 a.m. or later, with many drive-thrus open until 4 a.m.

The entire large and varied menu is served all the time, even late at night. You can get everything from a crispy chicken wrap to quesadillas, but fans swear by the char-grilled hot dogs, crispy hushpuppies, cheddar nuggets, and peach cobbler shakes.

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4. Waffle House

Hours: 24/7

Drive-thru: No

Late-night menu: No

Waffle House is the quintessential 24/7 greasy spoon with welcoming, anything-goes vibes. It's so well known for being open all the time that there's even a "Waffle House Index" for rating hurricanes. If Waffle House is closed, you know the weather is really, really bad.

Since it's a diner, there's no drive-thru, but hanging out with other night owls is all part of the Waffle House experience anyway.

Breakfast is always what you should get here, even at dinner time (though if you're looking for healthy fast-food breakfast items, this might not be the spot). Pecans waffles are a must, as are the loaded hash browns, which have their own language. Order them "all-the-way" if you want cheese, ham, onions, sausage gravy, and even chili on top.

Related: The Best Waffle House Secret Menu Items To Explore

5. White Castle

Hours: 2 a.m. or later

Drive-thru: Yes

Late-night menu: No

Many White Castle locations are open 24 hours a day, but almost all are open until at least 2 a.m. That means you can get those strangely irresistible sliders practically any time of the day or night.

Generally, only the drive-thru will be open late at night, but that's not stopping anyone from grabbing a sack of sliders. Chicken Rings, the chain's version of chicken nuggets, and loaded fries are popular. Don't miss the desserts on-a-stick if you have a late night sweet tooth.

6. McDonald's

Hours: 24/7

Drive-thru: Yes

Late-night menu: Yes

McDonald's is the biggest fast-food chain in the U.S., so the hours at its locations vary wildly. Many locations are open 24/7, while others close early at 10 p.m.

The trick to finding those glorious 24-hour locations? Look in urban locations, near airports, and right off busy interstate highways. That's where people tend to want late-night eats. Suburban or rural locations tend to close much earlier.

McDonald's menu is usually pared down during the late-night hours to make things easier on employees (and don't even think about ordering off the McDonald's secret menu). Chicken sandwiches, Filet-O-Fish, and Quarter Pounders are often off the menu. At least the Big Mac and McNuggets are always available. 

7. Del Taco

Hours: Midnight or later

Drive-thru: Yes

Late-night menu: No

Can't decide between 2 a.m. burgers or tacos? Del Taco can help with that. It serves a Tex-Mex menu of tacos and burritos plus burgers and fries to keep everyone happy.

Most locations are open late night until at least midnight. Some locations never close, though, so it's worth checking in your area if you're lucky enough to be able to get 5 a.m. crispy chicken tacos, queso fries, and churros.

8. IHOP

Hours: 24/7

Drive-thru: No

Late-night menu: No

We all probably have memories of hitting up IHOP after a late-night cram session in college. Since the pandemic, IHOP has reduced its hours overall, but many locations are still open 24 hours (and some still offer IHOPPY Hour).

It may not be the fastest place to grab food on the list, but it's definitely one of the most filling and satisfying spots for late-night eats. Pancakes of all flavors are the obvious go-to, but don't sleep on good old chicken strips and waffles in the early morning hours.

9. Denny's

Hours: 24/7

Drive-thru: No

Late-night menu: No

Like IHOP, Denny's shortened its hours during the pandemic. But many locations are back to being open all the time, so you can get simple sit-down meals at any time of night once again.

The chain is known for serving breakfast all day, so that's by far your best bet to order — especially since it makes up most of the menu. The famous Grand Slam will get you pancakes, meats, and eggs, or try Moons Over My Hammy, a ham, egg, and cheese sandwich with hash browns.

10. Domino's

Hours: Midnight or later

Drive-thru: No

Late-night menu: No

It's hard to beat cheap pizza after a long night, and Domino's is ready for you at 1 a.m. Most locations are open until at least midnight, with many open even later on the weekends. Some deliver as long as they're open, but some are pick-up only late at night.

People might not think of chain pizza as a late-night fast-food option, but it's one of the most reliable and affordable, especially if you have a lot of people to feed. Domino's long-running deals like the $7 carryout special run all night long.

We love the Handmade Pan pizzas with the caramelized cheese around the edges. And don't forget plenty of breadsticks when you need some carbs in your stomach, if you know what we mean.

11. Insomnia Cookies

Hours: 3 a.m. or later

Drive-thru: No

Late-night menu: No

Look, sometimes nothing but a warm, gooey cookie with satisfy you late at night. That's exactly why Insomnia Cookies exists. The chain will deliver hot, fresh cookies to your door until 3 a.m. from most locations. (Hint: If you live near a college campus, chances are you have an Insomnia nearby.)

You can't go wrong with a dozen cookies, and you can mix and match from classics like chocolate chunk and snickerdoodle, plus vegan and gluten-free cookies. You can also have ice cream delivered, or ice cream cookie sandwiches. And can you imagine surprising your friends with a 10-inch cookie cake at 2 in the morning?