Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Working Hours 2026
Most Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken locations open at 10:30 AM and close at 9:00 PM, seven days a week. Some spots stay open until 10:00 PM or open at 11:00 AM, since every store is franchised. On Christmas Day, nearly all Lee’s locations are closed, and Thanksgiving hours vary by store.
Planning a chicken run? Honestly, there is nothing worse than pulling into the parking lot and finding dark windows. I looked into this so you don’t have to guess. Lee’s is one of those chains where hours are not locked in company-wide, because almost every location is owned by an independent franchisee. That means the only hours that really matter are the ones at YOUR local Lee’s. Still, there are strong patterns across the chain, and they hold true at most of the roughly 130 stores in 12+ states. If you want the full food lineup too, check the Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken menu before you head out.
What Are Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Hours?
Here is the deal: the most common schedule at Lee’s is 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM, Monday through Sunday. Same hours all week. Sundays included, which is a nice change from chains that trim Sunday hours.
| Day | Typical Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM | Standard at most locations |
| Tuesday | 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM | Standard at most locations |
| Wednesday | 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM | Standard at most locations |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM | Standard at most locations |
| Friday | 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM | Some locations extend to 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:30 AM – 10:00 PM | Some locations extend to 10:00 PM |
| Sunday | 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM | Full Sunday hours at most stores |
But here’s the thing. Those are the typical hours, not a company mandate. Plenty of stores open at 11:00 AM instead, and some close at 8:00 or 10:00 PM. Locations in Michigan, for example, have been spotted running 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM across the board. So treat the table above as the safe bet, then double-check your store before a special trip.
Does Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Serve Breakfast?
Short answer? Don’t count on it. Lee’s is not a breakfast chain, and doors opening at 10:30 AM means the lunch and dinner menu kicks in right away. You will get the full Famous Recipe chicken, strips, sandwiches, pot pie and sides from the moment they unlock the door.
Every now and then an individual franchisee experiments with morning hours, but that is the exception, not the rule. If you show up craving biscuits and gravy at 8:00 AM, you are probably out of luck. Call ahead if an early opening matters to you, because the official site lists each store’s real schedule.
Are Lee’s Drive-Thru Hours Different From Dine-In?
Most of the time, no. The drive-thru and the dining room open and close together at the majority of Lee’s stores. That said, drive-thru windows sometimes run on their own schedule, and it is worth knowing which way your store leans.
A few stores flip to drive-thru only in the evening, closing the dining room an hour or two before the actual closing time. One Ohio location, for instance, runs drive-thru only after 5:30 PM on certain days. Others keep the dining room open right up until close. If you are rolling in late, the drive-thru lane is your safest bet, and honestly it is usually faster anyway.
Quick Check Before You Go
Late-night chicken runs can end in disappointment if you assume every Lee’s works the same way. A 30-second check saves you a wasted drive:
1. Look up your store on leesfamousrecipe.com/locations, the official locator lists real hours per store.
2. Google Maps shows live hours and a “closes soon” warning for most locations.
3. When in doubt, call the store. Franchisee hours can change with staffing, weather and seasons.
Is Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Open on Holidays?
Holiday hours are where things get interesting, and where most people get caught off guard. Since stores are franchised, there is no single chain-wide holiday calendar. But there are very reliable patterns.
Christmas
Expect shortened hours on Christmas Eve, something like 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM at many stores, and a full closure on Christmas Day. That Christmas Eve window is actually a smart play if you want to grab a big family pack for the holiday table. One location even switched to drive-thru only after 5:30 PM on Christmas Eve, so don’t plan a late sit-down dinner.
Thanksgiving
Most Lee’s locations close on Thanksgiving Day. A handful of franchisees have opened in past years, but closing is the norm. If you were dreaming of Famous Recipe chicken next to your turkey, you will need to pick it up the day before and reheat.
New Year’s Day
Good news here. Most stores open on New Year’s Day, often on the regular 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM schedule. Some open a little later in the morning, so a quick check never hurts.
What about the rest? Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July and Easter usually run on normal hours at most Lee’s stores. But again, the franchise owner has the final say. If it is a major holiday and you are planning around it, the official locator or a quick phone call is the move.
How Do I Find My Local Lee’s Exact Hours?
This is the part people skip, and then they complain in the reviews. Since every Lee’s is independently owned, the only hours that truly count are your store’s. Here’s how to get them in under a minute:
The official Lee’s location finder at leesfamousrecipe.com lists every store with its posted hours. Google Maps is just as handy, since most locations keep their business profiles updated and it will tell you whether the store is open right now. And if you want to be 100% sure, especially around holidays or bad weather, just call. Store teams deal with this question all day, so you will get a straight answer fast.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken opening hours on Sunday?
Most locations open at 10:30 AM and close at 9:00 PM on Sundays, the same as every other day. Some stores open at 11:00 AM, so check your local store’s posted hours.
Is Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken open on Christmas?
No, nearly all Lee’s locations are closed on Christmas Day. Many stores run shortened hours on Christmas Eve, often 10:30 AM to 6:00 PM, so plan pickup orders earlier in the day.
Does Lee’s have late-night drive-thru hours?
Most Lee’s stores close between 9:00 and 10:00 PM, so there is no true late-night service. Some stores switch to drive-thru only in the evening while the dining room closes earlier.
Is Lee’s open on Thanksgiving?
Most locations close on Thanksgiving Day. Hours vary by franchisee, so confirm with your local store if you are planning around the holiday.
Prices last verified: October 9, 2026. For the official source of truth, see the Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken official menu page.
