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14 Restaurants with the Best Kids’ Menus, as Voted by Kids
By Candace Davison,
2 days ago
Your kids don’t define your dinner plans. You’re the adult; you run the show! But sometimes, it’s nice to head someplace where they’ll be just as excited by what’s on the menu as you are. And you don’t have to pay $14 for a hot dog and fries that they’ll inevitably declare “not as yummy” as the $1.50 Costco special you’ve snagged them on weekend grocery runs. I get it, which is why I polled parents across the country to get their recommendations for the restaurants with the best kids’ menus.
The criteria? They needed to have more than a burger and nuggets on the list, they couldn’t cost as much as an adult meal if they were offering smaller portions (because in that case, what’s the point?) and I needed kids themselves to vouch for their deliciousness. Bonus points were awarded if they offered special “kids eat free” deals or other perks.
So, if you’re stuck in an “anywhere but McDonald’s ” rut and aren’t sure where to direct your GPS, scroll down, moms and dads, and take your pick from the picky-eater-approved recs below.
Kids Menu Price Ranges:
The 14 Best Kids’ Menus at Restaurants, Vetted by Kids
Parents practically shouted “CPK!” at me the moment I asked about great kids’ menus. “Their ‘CPKids’ menu gets a 10/10 in my book for hitting every note in the picky eaters' playbook (buttered pasta, individual cheese pizzas, chicken nuggets), as well as offering your more adventurous menu options like BBQ chicken pizza, salad and meat sauce,” says PureWow Executive Editor Dara Katz . “It's not just the menu, it's also how they serve it. And the individualized options give headstrong toddlers the ‘I can do it on my own’ power they oh-so covet. Finally, they even offer at-home pizza kits if you really want to be mom of the year.”
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? Score half-priced kids’ meals when ordering an adult entrée Mondays through Wednesdays, now through Sept. 30
You want a homemade meal without having to make it yourself? Look no further. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is an underrated gem for its incredible sides —I’ve seen many a green-vegetable-hating kiddo make an exception after tasting the broccoli cheese casserole, and the sweet baby carrots are better than most restaurant desserts. You’ll find hearty burgers, crispy-breaded chicken tenders and shrimp, and ultra-cheesy alfredos on this menu, but I beg your kids to think beyond the fries when it comes to choosing sides.
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? No, but you can join the eClub to snag a free dessert on your birthday, among other perks
You better believe the menu famous for its 250ish options has plenty of picks for kids, whether they’re Team Grilled Cheese or Grilled Salmon . Drinks are sold separately, and the meals themselves are a bit pricier than others on this list (ranging from $9 to $14, depending on what you order for an entrée), but when you want a nicer night out—say, for a birthday, preschool graduation or weekend when the grandparents are in town—it’s a foolproof pick.
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? No, but you can sign up for the Cheesecake Rewards program for a free slice of cheesecake on your birthday, among other perks
Give a kid a crayon and let them circle their own entrée, side and drink, and you might be surprised to see what combinations they come up with—and that they might voluntarily choose mandarin orange slices or corn on the cob over fries. Chili’s Pepper Pals meals have a ton of options, from a mini cheese pizza to sliders to its classic chicken tenders (crispy or grilled), with just as many sides. Plus, you get one of each and a drink for roughly $6. Add a 3 for Me meal for you and your spouse, and you have a surprisingly budget-friendly night out—even if you do splurge on a Presidente margarita at the last minute.
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? Join the rewards program to snag occasional “free kids meal with adult entrée purchase” offers
While there are only two options for kids’ meals, it’s actually a good thing—no tyranny of choice! You can go with the tried-and-true small quesadilla or a Build-Your-Own box, which is essentially a simpler, smaller-portioned version of ordering a burrito or bowl. Both come with either tortilla chips or fruit and a drink, and the box’s individualized compartments for each ingredient let kids ease into trying new things. “It was definitely the safe but experimental mix-and-match that taught my son to like guacamole,” says PureWow Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint .
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? The brand has offered free kids’ meals with an entrée purchase on select dates in the past
Fun fact: While most kids’ menus are reserved for those 12 and under, Cracker Barrel is designed for “kids of all ages.” (Which was a relief for me growing up, since I’d get nervous about ordering as an eight-year-old and enduring the server’s side eye because I looked 12.) Breakfast is available all day, which is perfect for pancake lovers or kids who could survive off of scrambled eggs and hash browns. But this is another restaurant where the veggie plate is the unsung hero—for less than $6, you can choose any two sides (dumplins, mac and cheese, turnip greens and the Cracker Barrel-famous Hashbrown Casserole included) and snag a buttermilk biscuit or corn muffin and a drink.
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? No, but you can join the Peg Rewards program to earn free food and retail discounts
IHOP edged out several other breakfast and brunch chains for its sheer variety of kid-friendly options. Where else can your kid enjoy a glaze-and-sprinkles-topped Cupcake Pancake? Or a double chocolate-chip Happy Face pancake with strawberry eyes? They might not be the healthiest options out there, but they sure are a treat.
Spoiler: These kids’ meals come with dessert—and it’s a surprisingly good chocolate chip cookie. It’s your call whether they’ve earned it after digging into their taco, burrito or quesadilla, which are all smaller than the typical forearm-sized Moe’s fare. Oh, and each meal is rounded out with chips, salsa and a drink.
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? Check with your local restaurant; some offer free kids’ meals with adult entrée purchases on select nights
Getting kids to eat their veggies is no simple task, but Panda Express’s Cub Meals aim to make that a bit easier. They were designed based on USDA dietary recommendations for children, so each of the three meal options (orange chicken, grilled teriyaki chicken and broccoli beef, served with rice, noodles and/or veggies and apple crisps) clocks in at less than 600 calories, with more than 11 grams of protein. They’re also high fructose corn syrup-free and designed to be low cholesterol, and they come with a juice box or bottle of water.
Panera just revamped its kids’ menu this month, based on families’ feedback, offering full-sized sandwiches for its popular turkey and cheese and Black Forest ham and cheese sammies. You’ll also find Panera staples, like mac and cheese (my kids’ favorite) and Broccoli Cheddar Soup, and they all come with the choice of an apple, chips or a baguette. Drinks are sold separately, but at 89 cents more, it’s a bargain compared to other chains.
The land of Bottomless Steak Fries also offers Bottomless mac and cheese on its kids menu—and bottomless Sunset Lemonade, Poppin’ Purple Lemonade (a prickly pear lemonade), orange cream soda and root beer floats. So when you want to go all out, go here. And maybe plan on making it a Wednesday—that’s when kids’ meals are 50 percent off.
Classic burgers, chicken tenders and fries abound, but your kid can also choose crispy shrimp or less-expected sides, like grilled zucchini, a baked potato or coleslaw. (And, for $2 more, they could swap out their side for a premium one, like broccoli cheese soup or loaded fries.) Each meal includes a drink—even a Shirley Temple—but the real joy here is making a visit on Tuesday or Friday nights, when kids eat free (when you order a full-priced adult meal, that is).
The buzzy salad chain features three simple-yet-crowd-pleasing bowls (with a divided container, so ingredients are separated). Little Harvest, for example, pairs chopped apples with roasted sweet potatoes and roasted chicken, and it’s served with balsamic vinaigrette for dipping. But any option allows you to swap things out, customizing it to your kid’s tastes. PureWow Executive Editor Alexia Dellner swears by the meals because they offer “a little bit of everything, so there's usually something kids will munch on.” And you can feel good about it, too.
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? Kids Eat Free meal cards may be given out with certain promotions; check with your local store
Leighton and Peyton have expensive taste…but sometimes take three bites before declaring, “I’m full?” Head to Texas Roadhouse. You can order the usual hot dogs, burgers and tenders, but if your kid’s feeling fancy, they can snag a quarter-rack of ribs (the priciest option, at $13) or a sirloin steak ($12, offered with or without seasoning). There’s even a Steak Bites meal (from $8.50), freeing you from having to cut the thing up when it arrives! Can I get a hallelujah?
Fast Facts
Kids Eat Free? Check your local restaurant; you can receive freebies and discounts through the VIP Rewards program
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