50 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Taking the kids out to eat always sounds like a good idea. You can avoid cooking while making some memories.

Everything is going great until you get the check and realize you are paying $9.99 for a kid-size grilled cheese sandwich. If you are trying to watch your spending, then paying that check always hurts.

There is a solution though. Plenty of restaurants offer deals that let your kids eat free. This can allow you and your family to enjoy a night out without a huge price tag.

Usually, restaurants offer kids eat deals on specific days of the week or with qualifying purchase.

Anything you need to know about these deals can be found in the list of restaurants that offer a deal for kids to eat free.

Sunday

1. Quaker Steak and Lube

Quaker Steak and Lube is a chain on the eastern seaboard that serves burgers, wings and more. On Sunday between 11 AM and 3 PM, kids 10 and under can order any Kid’s Lube Cruiser entrée with the purchase of an adult entrée.

2. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is a national chain that serves barbeque. On Sundays at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, kids 12 and under can receive a free barbecue kids’ meal with an adult purchase of $10 in food and/or drinks per child. You can claim this deal at 600 locations in 43 states.

You’ll need to place your food order through Dickeys.com or the Dickey’s Barbecue Bit app to claim this deal.

3. Arriba Mexican Grill

Arriba Mexican Grill is a Phoenix-based chain that offers kids a free meal every Sunday all day. The restaurant even has clowns, face painting and balloon figures available to kids who dine there on Sundays.

4. Blue Mesa Southwest Grill

Blue Mesa Southwest Grill is a Dallas chain that offers kids 5 and under a free brunch buffet on Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Monday

5. Planet Sub

Planet Sub is a chain based in the Midwest, but also has a few locations on both the east and west coast. Kids 12 and under can claim a free meal on Mondays.

For every adult entrée purchase, you may claim two kids’ meals. The deal may vary by location, call your local restaurant before driving over to claim the deal.

6. Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Macaroni Grill is a national chain that serves mostly Italian fare. Kids 12 and under can eat for free on Monday and Tuesday with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Tuesday

7. Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday is a national chain serving American fare. Appropriately, kids eat free on Tuesdays. You can claim one free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult entrée from 5PM to close.

8. Moe’s Southwest Grill

Moe’s is a nationwide fast-casual Mexican restaurant. Kids 12 and under can eat for free all day on Tuesdays. You can only claim one free kids’ meal for every $5 adult entrée purchase.

You might find that only certain Moe’s offer this deal. Call ahead to your local store to confirm.

9. Ikea

Yes, the furniture store has food courts at some of their locations. Kids 12 and under can eat for free all day every Tuesday.

For each adult entrée purchase, two kids can claim a free meal. Check to make sure your IKEA has a food court before driving over to claim this offer.

10. Genghis Grill

Genghis Grill is a national chain that specializes in Mongolian barbecue. On Tuesdays, Kids 11 and under can claim a free kids’ meal with every adult meal purchase.

11. Denny’s

A diner that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner across the country. Every Tuesday between 4 and 10 PM, kids age 10 and under eat free at Denny’s.

Although they have to order off the kids’ menu, there are breakfast, lunch and dinner items so they should be able to easily find something they’ll like. With one adult entrée purchase, two kids’ can order a kid’s meal.

12. Cody’s Original Roadhouse

Cody’s Original Roadhouse is a large chain throughout Florida that serves burgers, steaks and fish. On Mondays and Tuesdays, kids 12 and under can order off the kids’ menu for free. Two kids can order for every $12 adult meal purchase.

13. Bob Evans

At the nationwide chain, Bob Evans, you will find classic comfort food and a great deal. Kids can eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée on Tuesdays after 4 PM.

14. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s is a sports bar where kids can eat free on Tuesdays from 4-8 PM. The child must be age 12 or under.

Kids can order anything off the kids‘ menu as long as you order an adult entrée. The offer is dependent on location participation, but with 220 locations nationwide it is likely that one near you is participating.

15. Gator’s Dockside

Gator’s Dockside is a Floridian chain that serves burgers, wings and more offers kids age 12 and under a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée on Tuesdays.

16. Marie Callendar’s

Marie Callendar’s is a western chain with a location in California, Idaho, Utah and Nevada serve a variety of food types. Kids age 12 and under a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. The offer is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

17. Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut, everyone knows this national chain. Kids eat free with a dine-in purchase of an adult dinner buffet on Tuesday nights. The offer may vary by location, I would call your local restaurant to confirm before driving over. Just remember that it is a dine-in deal, not a carryout or delivery deal.

18. IHOP

Who doesn’t love pancakes? On Tuesdays, kids 12 and under can eat for free from 4 to 8 PM at IHOP. For every adult entrée purchase, one child may claim a meal. Pancakes for all!

IHOP also offers seasonal deals for kids meals. For example, this October, children could enjoy a free pancake with a Halloween theme from 4 to 8 PM on Halloween weekend.

19. UNO Pizzeria and Grill

UNO Pizzeria and Grill is a nationwide pizza place that offers kids a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée every Tuesday. This offer may vary by location, so call ahead to your local restaurant before claiming this deal.

20. Lone Star Steakhouse

Lone Star Steakhouse is a chain in the Midwest that offers a free meal to kids on select Tuesdays. The specific dates vary by location, so call your local restaurant to check into the details of their special.

21. Atlanta Bread

Atlanta Bread is a Georgia-based chain that serves soup, sandwiches and other light food. On Tuesday from 4 PM to close, kids can claim a free meal for every adult entrée purchased.

22. Ponderosa Steakhouse

Ponderosa Steakhouse is a national chain that offers kids a free meal on Tuesday from 4 PM to close. With each adult entrée purchase, you can claim two free kids’ meals.

23. Black-eyed Pea

Black-eyed Pea is a local chain in Colorado that is known for great homestyle meals. Your child can enjoy a free meal when you purchase an adult entree on Tuesdays!

With a fun menu, your child is bound to find something they love. 

24. Chick-fil- A

The popular chicken fast food spot offers free kids meals on Tuesdays at select locations. Take a minute to call ahead to your local Chick-fil-A to find out if they offer this deal in your area. 

25. Chevy’s Fresh Mex

Chevy’s offers a fun and affordable experience for you and your family. On Tuesdays, you can purchase an adult entree in order to get a free meal for your child.

This could be the perfect spot for your Taco Tuesday outing.

26. Godfather’s Pizza

Everyone loves pizza. Why not take your kids for a free meal from the buffet? You’ll need to buy a meal during lunch or dinner for your child to enjoy a free meal. 

The deal is only good for children 10 and under.

Wednesday

27. Red Robin

Red Robin is a national chain that mainly serves burgers. On the first Wednesday of every month, kids can eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée. Also, many of their burgers are served with Bottomless Fries, making this a double win.

28. East Coast Wings and Grill

East Coast Wings and Grill is a large chain that has most of its locations East of the Mississippi River. The fare includes wings, pizzas, mini corn dogs, sliders and more. Every Wednesday kids 12 and under can order off the kids’ menu with an adult entrée purchase.

29. Gatti Town

Gatti Town is a Louisiana based chain that offers a free meal to kids on Wednesdays. Kids 10 and under will receive a free buffet meal with the purchase of an adult buffet meal.

Thursday

30. Captain D’s

Captain D’s is a nationwide fast-food chain that specializes in fish. Kids 12 and under can eat for $0.99 on Thursdays. For every single adult entrée purchase, you can claim two free kids’ meals.

Friday

31. Piccadilly

Piccadilly is a cafeteria-style restaurant with some great food options. On Friday, kids 6 and under can eat for free all day long.

Additionally, kids age 12 and younger can eat for 0.99 cents all day on Thursdays and Saturdays.

32. Shoney’s

Shoney’s is a southeastern family-style chain that serves American fare. On Fridays kids 4 and under can claim a free meal with a paying adult.

Saturday

33. Steak n’ Shake

Steak n’ Shake is a national fast food chain that offers burgers, shakes and more. On Saturdays and Sundays, kids can order one kids combo for every adult purchase of $9. The $9 cannot include drinks or shakes, just meal items.

34. Quiznos

Quiznos is a large chain serving subs. Kids 12 and under can eat here for free on Saturdays with the purchase of one adult meal.

This deal only happens in some seasons of the year. With that, call ahead to your Quiznos to confirm that the deal is available.

Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free Everyday

35. TGI Fridays

TGI Fridays is a national chain that serves a variety of American classics. Kids can eat for free with a $20 purchase. You’ll need to place an online order in order to cash in on this win.

Some locations may not participate in this deal, so I would recommend calling your local restaurant before heading over.

36. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Kids can claim a free ice cream cone at Bruster’s Real Ice Cream every single day. The child has to be less than 40 inches tall. Sometimes not being tall enough to ride rollercoasters pays off.

37. O’Charley’s

O’Charley’s is a Nashville based southeastern chain that serves burgers, steaks, eggs, chicken tenders and more. Kids 10 and under can eat here for free all day every day.

That’s right, you can take your kids here anytime and they will eat for free. You can claim one free kids’ meal with every purchase of an adult entrée. This is only available if you dine-in.

38. Cafe Rio

Cafe Rio is a chain throughout Maryland and Virginia. Kids 10 and under will receive a free Nino quesadilla for every adult entrée purchased. This deal is good every day of the week.

39. Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn, the hotel chain, actually has a really great deal for kids’ meals. Kids 11 and under can eat for free at participating hotels.

The meals are provided at an onsite restaurant, but you do not need to be a hotel guest to claim this deal. For each dining family, up to four kids can eat for free, or two children per every adult meal purchased.

Varies by Location

40. Bennigan’s

Bennigan’s is a national chain that serves burgers, sandwiches and more. Kids can eat for free with the purchase of an adult entrée one night a week – usually Sundays or Mondays.

The selected night varies by location so call your local restaurant to confirm which night of the week the deal is offered in your city.

41. 4 Rivers Smokehouse

The 4 Rivers Smokehouse barbeque chain has locations throughout Georgia and Florida. Kids eat here free three nights a week.

Yes, at most locations you can choose to go Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to cash in on this deal. You will have to order an adult entrée for this deal.

The kids, age 12 and under, can order off the Lil’ Bite menu which has 8 different options. Call ahead to ensure that your location honors this deal.

42. Margaritas Mexican Restaurant

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant is a Mexican restaurant has locations throughout the northeastern, New England, and Pennsylvania. On weeknights, one adult entrée allows two kids age 12 and under to order something off the kids’ menu.

The offer varies by location, but it is a great deal at participating locations. I would call your local restaurant to confirm if they offer the deal before you drive over there.

43. Jason’s Deli

Jason’s Deli is a national chain that serves health-conscious sandwiches. On certain days, kids 12 and under can eat for free. Two kids can order off the kid’s menu for every adult meal purchased.

Some locations offer this deal on Wednesdays, others offer it on Saturdays. Since this offer does vary by location, I would call your local restaurant before making your way over to claim the deal.

44. Perkins’

Perkins’ is a national chain that serves a wide variety of food options. For every single adult entrée purchase, a kid can order a kids’ meal for free.

The offer is available in different locations on either Saturday, Wednesday or Tuesday. Since this offer does vary by location, so I would call your local restaurant before making your way over.

45. Qdoba Mexican Grill

Qdoba Mexican Grill is a nationwide chain that offers kids a free meal on Sundays or Wednesdays. The day of the week varies by location, so you will need to call ahead to confirm the details of this deal for your local restaurant.

46. Chili’s

Chili’s offers a free kids meal to members of the My Chili’s rewards loyalty club. You can receive a free kids meal with the purchase of a regular entrée. Your child will need to be 12 or younger to enjoy this free meal.

Not Quite Free Kids’ Meals

These last few restaurants do not offer a completely free kids’ meal, but are worth mentioning because they still offer some really great deals.

Although the kids’ meal is not free, it is almost free because it is offered at such a deep discount that taking the kids here will not cost an arm and a leg.

47. Fazoli’s

Fazoli’s is a national chain that serves specialty pasta among other things. Kids’ meals may be offered for as low as $0.99 per child on Tuesday nights.

The offer does vary by location though, I would recommend calling ahead to your local restaurant to confirm the discount at that location.

48. Fuddruckers

Fuddruckers is a national chain serving hamburgers and other American fares. Kids 12 and under can eat here for free or at a deep discount on Mondays between 5 and 9 PM.

The rules of this deal are location specific, so I would definitely call ahead to your local restaurant before getting in the car.

49. Buffalo Wild Wings

Buffalo Wild Wings is a national chain of sports bars that offers kids 12 and under a deal on Wednesday nights. Kids can order off the kids’ menu for $1.99 between 4 and 10 PM.

50. McAlister’s Deli

McAlister’s Deli is a nationwide chain that serves sandwiches, soups and salads. Kids’ meals are only $0.99 all day every day. Participation in this deal does vary, so call ahead to confirm that your local restaurant offers this deal.

Summary

All of the deals above are a great guide to finding an inexpensive family meal, but I would always recommend making a quick call to confirm with your local restaurant that they are participating in the deal.

If your specific location does not honor a deal, you could easily pick another place to eat before you even leave the house.

Hopefully, your next trip out to dinner with your kids will be more enjoyable. The best part is that their meal will be completely free (or at least very inexpensive)!