Our favorite Chinese restaurants open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for dine-in, takeout and delivery, whether you're craving dim sum or Peking duck.
4316 Markham St., Annandale, 703-813-8181; 1319 Rockville Pike, Rockville, 301-251-7878
These dim sum houses have a large, loyal following so yes, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and order early (you can now opt for contact-free carryout and order online). We love feasting on spicy wontons, dan-dan noodles, beef rolls, smashed cucumber salad, and spicy beef soup. It’s hard to go wrong, unless you under-order.
305 N. Washington St., Rockville; 301-251-6652
This longtime restaurant is known for soup dumplings so flavorful they don’t need the accompanying dipping vinegar. The checklist menu of 100-plus Cantonese, Szechuan, and Taiwanese small plates can be intimidating to navigate, but you’ll feel like a pro ordering the fragrant cumin lamb and the spicy fried tofu. Order delivery here via GrubHub (for takeout, the restaurant is usually cashless).