Strands is the New York Times’ daily word-search-style puzzle that challenges players to find themed words hidden across a grid. Today’s theme, “Feeling peckish?”, focused on places you might go when hunger strikes, with a set of eateries and a neat spangram tying everything together. The mix of venues made the grid fun and varied.

5 December 2025 NYT Strands Theme: “Feeling peckish?”

Today’s theme explored a range of dining establishments, from casual to more refined. The puzzle played with different types of eateries, each evoking a distinct dining experience. The variety felt intentional, and the spangram was perfectly on-theme, connecting all the answers with a clean, satisfying phrase.

5 December 2025 NYT Strands: Hints

  • Think about the kinds of places you might visit when hunger hits.
  • Look for words that describe food-serving establishments.
  • Some answers are more casual, while others lean toward full-service dining.
  • The grid includes both short and long venue types.
  • The spangram ties all these eating spots together under one shared idea.
  • Expect at least one word that suggests a hearty meal.

5 December 2025 NYT Strands: Answers

  • Cafe (a small, casual eatery serving coffee, snacks, or light meals)
  • Bakery (a shop where bread, pastries, and baked goods are made and sold)
  • Bistro (a small restaurant offering simple, moderately priced meals)
  • Brewery (a place where beer is produced—often with a tasting or dining area)
  • Buffet (a self-service dining format with multiple dishes laid out to choose from)
  • Steakhouse (a restaurant specializing in steaks and grilled meats)

Spangram

DINING OUT
This spangram connects all the answers by describing the overall activity: visiting eateries of various kinds to enjoy meals, snacks, or drinks across different styles of establishments.

How Strands works

Strands is a daily word search puzzle with a twist:
• You’re given a theme.
• The grid is packed with hidden words tied to that theme.
• Words can run in any direction, including diagonals.
• Once you find all the theme words, you’re done!
Each puzzle usually has around 6–8 theme words.

Tips to become a NYT Strands pro

  1. Start with obvious words. Look for clear connections to the theme first.
  2. Scan diagonals early. Strands loves to hide words at an angle.
  3. Build around found words. Clearing one area often reveals the next clue.
  4. Use hints wisely. Save them for moments when you’re genuinely stuck.
  5. Think about synonyms. Themes can be broad, so consider related ideas.

Final Thoughts

Today’s Strands puzzle felt accessible and fun, with a theme that most solvers could relate to instantly. The variety of dining venues kept things interesting without being overly tricky. How many did you spot before checking the answers?