Going out for dinner alone or with a partner is pretty easy. All you have to do is pick a date and a restaurant and head out but with kids; it’s not the same; it gets trickier and a bit pricey.
Thankfully, there are great “kids eat free” restaurants these days, so instead of planning a date night with a home-cooked meal, you can take your kids to order pizza, hot fries, or a nice cheeseburger and also have fun.
If you really want to keep your kids happy and save costs, take them to where they can eat for free occasionally. We have made a list of the best 25 restaurants. You start with the ones closest to you.
Table of contents
- List of Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free
- #1. Chili’s
- #2. IHOP
- #3. Bob Evans
- #4. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
- #5. Smashburger
- #6. Johnny Rockets
- #7. Marie Calendar’s Restaurant and Bakery
- #8. Holiday Inn
- #9. O’Charleys
- #10. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
- #11. Double Dave’s Pizza
- #12. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
- #13. Moe’s
- #14. Qdoba Mexican Grill
- #15. Tony Roma’s
- #16. Little Bitty Burger Barn
- #17. Jeffery’s Sports Grill
- #18. East Coast Wings
- #19. Firehouse Subs
- #20. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
- #21. Shari’s
- #22. Texas Land and Cattle
- #23. Arriba Mexican Grill
- #24. Blue Mesa Grill
- #25. Planet Sub
- Conclusion
- Recommendation
List of Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free
#1. Chili’s
Once you spend at least $5 every 60 days, your kid will get a free kid’s meal. The kids’ menu includes favourites like sliders, chicken fingers, pizza, pasta, grilled cheese, and quesadilla, so there’s bound to be something for everyone.
#2. IHOP
Kids can eat free Every day from 4 – 9 pm at the International House of Pancakes. You get one free kid’s meal for each adult entree purchased. This offer is valid for dine-in only and can’t be combined with other coupons or offers.
#3. Bob Evans
Kids under 12 eat free at Bob Evans every Tuesday after 4 p.m. when their parents order an adult entrée.
#4. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Kids under 12 eat free on Sundays for each adult that spends at least $10. Nobody will be left hungry with the hearty portions offered at Dickey Barbecue Pit.
#5. Smashburger
Depending on the location, Smashburger offers your kid a free meal once you purchase a burger or entree. It does have to be after 4 pm, and the day of the week differs. They’ll usually run the promotion on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays.
#6. Johnny Rockets
At some locations of this diner and burger joint, kids eat free on Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. by purchasing a regular entrée and drink.
#7. Marie Calendar’s Restaurant and Bakery
Kids under 12 eat free on Saturdays by purchasing an entrée at this regional chain with restaurants in California, Utah, and Nevada.
#8. Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn provides a free meal to kids on-site. There are no day or time restrictions. Kids must be 12 or younger to qualify for the promo.
#9. O’Charleys
O’Charley’s gives one free kid’s meal when you purchase one adult entree daily. Your kids need to be 10 or younger to qualify for the promo.
#10. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Your kid can receive one free baby cone if he is shorter than 40 inches.
#11. Double Dave’s Pizza
You get one kid’s buffet free when you buy an adult buffet at Double Dave’s.
#12. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
Kids eat free on Saturdays and Sundays at participating locations of Margaritas Mexican Restaurant.
#13. Moe’s
Depending on the location, kids eat free on Tuesdays. Plus, all entrées come with free chips and salsa, and kids’ meals also include a drink and cookie.
#14. Qdoba Mexican Grill
Buy a nice plate of enchiladas and get a free meal for your kid. The day varies from location to location. It’s usually on Sunday or Wednesday.
#15. Tony Roma’s
Kids eat free all day, every day, at the largest ribs joint in the country. Participating locations only.
#16. Little Bitty Burger Barn
Buy one full-price adult meal and get two free kid’s meals. Little Bitty Burger Barn lets kids 10 and younger eat for free all day only on Wednesday.
#17. Jeffery’s Sports Grill
Kids eat free all day on Wednesday at Jeffery’s. Limit one free kid’s meal per paying adult. There’s no time restriction.
#18. East Coast Wings
East Coast Wings offer free kids’ meal from 3:30 pm to closing.
#19. Firehouse Subs
Purchase one adult entree and score a free kid’s meal with a drink and a small treat. You can get two kid’s meals per adult meal purchased. The offer is valid from 5 – 8 pm on Wednesday evenings.
#20. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant
Subsist on more than free chips at this restaurant. On Saturdays, you can get two free kid’s meals for each adult meal you order at their East Hartford (CT) and Mystic (CT) locations.
#21. Shari’s
Make Saturday a family date night on the cheap with a free kid’s meal at Shari’s. They eat for free every Saturday from 4 – 9 pm.
#22. Texas Land and Cattle
On Saturday afternoons from 11 am – 4 pm, when you buy one adult entree, you can get up to two free kid’s meals for free.
#23. Arriba Mexican Grill
Purchase one full-priced adult entree at Arriba’s and get one free kid’s meal.
#24. Blue Mesa Grill
Buy one adult brunch meal and get a free meal for a child aged 5 or younger. The offer is only valid during brunch from 9 am – 3 pm.
#25. Planet Sub
Get a free kid’s meal for every adult meal you purchase. Valid only on Sundays.
Conclusion
Sometimes you don’t feel like cooking another meal, or you’ve had a busy afternoon shuttling the kids from various sports practices and after-school activities, and you want to dine out.
For those busy days or special occasions, the restaurants on our list are where you’ll find the best “kids eat free” deals to help you cut family dinner costs.
Related: Investing for Kids 101: Tips, Which Niche & How Much Should I Start With
Frequently Asked Questions
Many popular restaurant chains continue to offer promotions where kids can eat for free or at a discounted price by purchasing an adult meal. Some examples of such restaurants include Denny’s, IHOP, Applebee’s, TGI Fridays, and Chili.
You can typically find information on restaurants where kids eat for free by visiting the restaurant’s website or calling them directly. Additionally, several websites and apps are dedicated to providing information on these types of promotions, such as KidsMealDeals.com, MyKidsEatFree.com, and the Coupons.com app.
The age limit for kids to eat free or at a discounted price can vary depending on the restaurant’s policy. Typically, children under 12 are eligible for the promotion, but some restaurants may offer it for children up to 14 or 15.
Not necessarily. The promotion may vary by location, so it’s always best to check with the restaurant you plan to visit to confirm whether they offer the promotion and any specific terms and conditions.
Making a reservation when dining out is always a good idea, especially during busy times. However, in most cases, a reservation is not required to take advantage of the kids eat free promotion. It’s still a good idea to check with the restaurant to confirm whether they require reservations for the promotion.
This can vary depending on the restaurant’s policy, so it’s best to check with the specific restaurant to confirm their rules regarding combining promotions. In some cases, restaurants may allow you to use other coupons or discounts in addition to the kids eat free promotion, while in other cases, they may not.
References
- upparent.com – 54 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free in 2023
- moneysavingcentral.co.uk – Places Where Kids Eat For Free
- nwakidsdirectory.com – 2023 Kid’s Eat Free
Recommendation
