Raising kids is hard, not to mention expensive. While we all know eating out is not exactly a frugal habit, every once in a while it is important to take a break from the daily grind and have a restaurant meal with your family. It is good for your own sanity.
You may think bringing your kids to a restaurant is going to cost you. For many restaurants, that is indeed true. On the other hand, some restaurants will let your kids eat there for free. Bringing your kids to those restaurants not only will not cost you extra, but it will also save you money on groceries as you now have one fewer meal to buy groceries for.
In this article, we have prepared for you a list of the most popular restaurants where your kids can eat free. If there is one cardinal rule of frugal living, it is this: do not pay when you can get it for free. As a frugal parent, it would be insane not to take advantage of these free offers.
32 Restaurants where Kids Can Eat Free
Below is the table chart of restaurants that kids can eat free (or cheap). Please read their additional information and requirements in this article before you go.
| Restaurant | Free | When | Age | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-N-Out | Cup of cocoa | Any time | Under 12 | Find |
| Bruster's | Ice cream | Any time | Under 40" | Find |
| Café Rio | Quesadilla | Any time | Under 10 | Find |
| O’Charley’s | Kid's meal | Any time | Under 10 | Find |
| Ninety Nine | Kid's meal | Boston RedSox win | Under 10 | Find |
| Norm's | Kid's entrée | Mon-Fri, 3pm-10pm | Under 10 | Find |
| Fricker's | Eat free | Any time | NA | Find |
| Holiday Inn | 1 meal & desert | Any time | Under 11 | Find |
| Culver's | Frozen custard | Any time | NA | Find |
| Quaker | Cruiser entrée | Sunday 11am-3pm | Under 10 | Find |
| Blue Mesa | Brunch buffet | Sunday 9am-3pm | Under 5 | Find |
| Arriba | Kid's meal | Any time | Under 10 | Find |
| Planet Sub | Kid's meal | Monday | Under 12 | Find |
| Dickey's | Kid's meal | Sunday | Under 12 | Find |
| Romano’s | Eat free | Monday or Tuesday | Under 12 | Find |
| Ruby Tuesday | Kid's meal | Tuesday 5pm-close | NA | Find |
| Pizza Hut | Eat free | Tuesday nights | Under 10 | Find |
| IHOP | Free meal | Tuesday 4pm-8pm | Under 12 | Find |
| Chili's | Kid's meal | Any time | Under 12 | Find |
| Moe's | Kid's meal | Tuesday | Under 12 | Find |
| Denny's | Kid's entrée | Tuesday 4pm-10pm | Under 10 | Find |
| Perkins | Kid's meal | Tues/Wed/Sat | NA | Find |
| Genghis Grill | Kid's meal | Tuesday | Under 11 | Find |
| Bob Evans | Kid's meal | Tuesday after 4pm | NA | Find |
| Atlanta Bread | Kid's meal | Tuesday after 5pm | NA | Find |
| Chevys Fresh Med | Kid's meal $1 | Wednesday | Under 12 | Find |
| Godfather’s | Eat free | Tuesday | Under 10 | Find |
| East Coast | Kid's meal | Wednesday | Under 12 | Find |
| Buffalo Wings | Kid's meal $1.99 | Wed 4pm-10pm | Under 12 | Find |
| Captain D's | Kid's meal $0.99 | Thursday | Under 12 | Find |
| Piccadilly | Kid's meal $1.99 | Thurs/Sat 11am-4pm | Under 12 | Find |
| Steak n’ Shake | Kids Plate | Saturday & Sunday | Under 12 | Find |
In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger is a regional chain of fast food restaurants. Its menu offers standard American fast food items such as burgers, french fries, fountain drinks, and milkshakes.
Kids 12 and under can get a cup of hot cocoa for free at In-N-Out on any rainy day. Just get into any In-N-Out when it is raining and ask for a cup of hot cocoa. Your kid has to be with you for this to work.
In-N-Out has more than 350 locations in 8 states primarily in California and the Southwest. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream is a chain of ice cream parlors. Its ice cream and frozen yogurt are made fresh in the stores to avoid the formation of any ice crystal.
Kids can get a free Baby Cone of ice cream at Bruster’s any day of the week. To qualify, they have to be less than 40 inches tall.
Bruster’s has close to 220 locations in 22 states all over the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Cafe Rio
Cafe Rio is a fast casual restaurant chain based in Salt Lake City. It specializes in Mexican foods such as tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, tacos, and quesadillas.
Kids 10 years old or younger will get one free quesadilla at Cafe Rio for every adult entrée purchased. This offer is good on any day of the week.
Cafe Rio has more than 130 locations in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
O’Charley’s
O’Charley’s is a chain of casual dining restaurants serving standard American fares such as back ribs, steaks, cheeseburgers, and chicken tenders.
Kids 10 years old or younger get to eat free at O’Charley’s all day, every day of the week. You can get one free kid’s meal with every adult entrée purchased. Beverages are not included. Free meals for kids are only available if you dine in.
O’Charley’s has more than 200 locations in 17 Southern and Midwestern states. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub is a chain of casual restaurants and pubs. It serves American and New England fares such as buffalo wings, seafood chowder, fish & chips, steaks, chicken tenders, burgers, and fudge cakes.
Kids age 10 and under can eat free at Ninety Nine on the day after a Boston Red Sox win. You can get one free kid’s meal with every adult meal purchased. Your kid must be present to claim this offer.
Ninety Nine Restaurant & Pub has more than 100 locations in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Norm’s
Norm’s Restaurants is a chain of casual restaurants in Southern California serving diner-style fares such as fried steak & eggs, clubhouse sandwiches, bacon cheeseburgers, and Southern style chicken tenders. All Norm’s are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Kids 10 years old or younger get to eat free at Norm’s from Monday to Friday, 3 pm to 10 pm. You can get one free kid’s entrée with every adult entrée purchased. Beverages are not included. Free meals for kids are only available if you dine in.
Norm’s has more than 20 locations in Southern California. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Fricker’s
Fricker’s is a chain of sports bars serving standard sports bar foods such as wings, pizzas, fried chicken, steaks, ribs, and cheesecakes.
Kids get to eat free at Fricker’s all day, every day with the purchase of an adult entrée. This offer is only valid for dining in.
Fricker’s has more than 20 locations in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is a chain of hotels. The typical Holiday Inn comes with dine-in restaurants that can be great options for families.
Kids 11 and under can eat free at Holiday Inn’s dine-in restaurants when ordering for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. When you order one main course from the restaurant’s full priced menu, your kid will get 1 main course and 1 dessert from the Kids’ Menu for free.
This “Kids Eat Free” offer is limited to up to 4 kids per dining family, per meal, or up to 2 kids per parent, per meal. You do need to be registered as a hotel guest to take advantage of this offer. So if you are planning to go on a vacation, staying at a Holiday Inn would be a great way to save money. Your kids could be eating for free every meal there.
Holiday Inn has more than 600 locations in the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Culver’s
Culver’s is a chain of casual fast food restaurants that operates mainly in the Midwestern United States. It serves standard American fast foods. Its menu includes items such as butterburgers, frozen custard, fried shrimps, cod fillets, shakes, malts, and root beer floats.
Kids get a free scoop of frozen custard here with the purchase of a kid’s meal all day, any day of the week.
Culver’s has more than 700 locations in 25 states including Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, Florida, and Utah. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Quaker Steak and Lube
Quaker Steak and Lube is a chain of casual dining restaurants that is known for its motorsports-themed décor. So if you or your little ones are fans of cars, this would be a good restaurant to go to.
Quaker’s menu consists of standard American fares such as steaks, burgers, fried shrimps, salmons, cheesecakes, and sundae. Its signature dish is chicken wings seasoned with a wide variety of unique sauces such as Kentucky Bourbon Glaze and Dusted Mango Habanero.
Kids 10 years old or younger can get a Kid’s Lube Cruiser entrée for free with the purchase of an adult entrée on Sunday between 11 am and 3 pm.
Quaker has more than 50 locations in 12 states including Ohio, Indiana, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia, and South Carolina. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Blue Mesa Southwest Grill
Blue Mesa Southwest Grill is a chain of casual dining restaurants in Texas. It specializes in Tex-Mex cuisine with menu items such as tacos, nachos, enchiladas, and quesadillas.
kids 5 years old or younger can get a free brunch buffet at Blue Mesa on Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.
If you live close to a Blue Mesa, it is a good place to bring your kids to. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Arriba Mexican Grill
Arriba Mexican Grill is a chain of casual dining restaurants in Arizona. It serves Mexican foods such as tortillas, tacos, and tostadas.
Kids 10 years old or younger eat free all day on Sundays at Arriba. You get one free kid’s meal from the kid’s menu with every adult entrée purchased from the dinner menu. The restaurant even has clowns, balloon figures, and face painting on Sundays to keep your little ones entertained.
To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is the largest chain of barbecue restaurants in the United States. Its menu offers BBQ fares such as Texas Style Beef Brisket and Virginia Style Ham.
Kids 12 years old or younger eat free all day on Sundays at Dickey’s. You get one free kid’s meal per check with a minimum $10 purchase.
Quite unusual among restaurants, Dickey’s free kid’s meal offer is not limited to dining in. If you place an order of $10 or more on a Sunday on Dickeys.com or through the Dickey’s Barbecue Pit app, you can use the code KEFOLO to receive a free kid’s meal with your purchase.
Dickey’s has more than 450 locations in 42 states. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Planet Sub
Planet Sub is a chain of gourmet submarine sandwich shops based in Kansas City, Missouri. Its menu offers items such as Tempeh BBQ, Veggie Grinder, and Crab Californian.
Kids 12 years old or younger can get a free kid’s meal on Mondays. For every adult entrée you buy, you can claim up to two kids’ meals.
Planet Sub has close to 30 locations mostly in the Midwest plus a few locations in Texas, Arizona, and Michigan. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Romano’s Macaroni Grill
Romano’s Macaroni Grill is a chain of casual dining restaurants specializing in Italian-American cuisine. Its menu offers items such as Caprese Salad, Parmesan Truffle Fries, Pasta Milano, and Pomodoro Tortellacci.
Kids 12 years old or younger can eat for free all day on Mondays and Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Planet Sub has close to 90 locations mostly in 16 states. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Ruby Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday is a chain of American cuisine casual dining restaurants. Its menu offers familiar American fares such as Spinach Artichoke Dip, Quesadillas, burgers, steaks, seafood, and pasta.
Kids eat free at Ruby Tuesday on Tuesdays from 5 pm to close. You get one free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Ruby Tuesday has close to 300 locations throughout the United States other than the West Coast states. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Pizza Hut
Everyone knows Pizza Hut. It is one of the largest casual dining restaurants in the United States and the world. Its Italian American menu includes items such as pizzas, wings, pasta, cinnamon sticks, and chocolate chip cookies.
Kids 10 and under eat free at Pizza Hut on Tuesday nights with a purchase of an adult dinner buffet. This offer is only valid for dining in.
Pizza Hut has more than 7,000 locations all over the US. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
IHOP
IHOP is a chain of pancake house restaurants that serves more than just pancakes. Its menu includes items such as pancakes, crepes, french toasts, steak, chicken, and sandwiches.
Kids 12 years old or younger can eat for free at IHOP on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 8 pm. For every adult entrée you buy, one kid can claim a free meal.
IHOP has more than 1,700 locations all over the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Chili’s Grill & Bar
Chili’s Grill & Bar is a chain of casual dining restaurants serving spicy American food influenced by Mexican cuisine. Its menu offers items such as chili, fajitas, burgers, steaks, tacos, and quesadillas.
Kids 12 years old or younger can eat for free at Chili’s any day of the week. For every regular entrée you buy, one kid can claim a free kid’s meal from the Pepper Pals menu. To claim the free meal, you need to be a member of the My Chili’s Rewards loyalty program. Join the loyalty program here.
Chili’s has more than 1,600 locations all over the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s Southwest Grill is a chain of fast casual restaurants specializing in Tex-Mex cuisine. Its menu includes items such as burritos, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, and guacamole.
Kids 12 years old or younger can eat for free at Moe’s Southwest Grill all day on Tuesdays. For every $5 adult entrée you buy, you can claim one free kid’s meal.
Moe’s Southwest Grill has close to 700 locations in 40 states all over the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Denny’s
Denny’s is a chain of American table service diner-style restaurants. Its menu consists of standard diner fares such as pancakes, wings, onion rings, burgers, meatball spaghetti, steaks, and fried fish.
Kids 10 years old or younger can eat free at Denny’s on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 10 pm. For every adult entrée of $6 or more you buy, up to two kids can each claim a free entrée from the kid’s menu. One free entrée per kid. This offer is valid for dining in only.
Denny’s has close to 1,500 locations in all 50 states of the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery is a chain of casual dining restaurants that serves all-day breakfast as well as American comfort foods. It also has a bakery that sells pastries. Its menu offers items such as omelets, burgers, pot roasts, quesadillas, pasta, meatloaf, steak, fried shrimp, apple pie, and cookies.
Kids can eat free at Perkins on either Saturdays, Wednesdays, or Tuesdays depending on the location. For every adult entrée you buy, one kid can get a kid’s meal for free.
Perkins Restaurant and Bakery has more than 350 locations in the United States and Canada. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Genghis Grill
Genghis Grill is a chain of interactive Mongolian Stir Fry fast casual restaurants. Customers there can create their own stir fry bowls by choosing from a variety of 80 fresh ingredients. Other menu items include Kung Pao Chicken, Pork Potstickers, Garlic Citrus Edamame, and Double Fudge Brownies.
Kids 11 years old or younger can eat free at Genghis Grill on Tuesdays. For every adult stir fry bowl you buy, one kid can get a kid’s meal for free. And even better, that free kid’s meal can be refilled over and over again until your kid is full. There is also no limit to how many free kid’s meals you can claim. If you buy 3 adult bowls then 3 kids of yours can eat for free. This offer is good for dining in only.
Genghis Grill has close to 60 locations in 14 states over the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Bob Evans
Bob Evans is a chain of restaurants with a country-living theme. Its menu consists of standard American comfort food such as mac & cheese, fried chicken, roasted turkey, pancakes, burgers, pecan pie, and chocolate peanut butter pie.
Kids can eat for free at Bob Evans on Tuesdays after 4 pm. For every adult entrée you buy, you can claim one free kid’s meal.
Bob Evans has close to 500 locations in 18 states, primarily in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions of the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Atlanta Bread
Atlanta Bread is a chain of bakery cafes that serves more than just baked goods. On its menu are items such as Super Med Bowl, California Avocado Sandwich, Grilled 4 Cheese Panini, Tomato Onion Focaccia, Chocolate Chunk Cookie, and Strawberry & Cream Croissant.
Kids can eat for free at Atlanta Bread on Tuesdays after 5 pm. For every adult entrée you buy, you can claim one free kid’s meal. This offer is limited to 1 child per adult.
Atlanta Bread has close to 20 locations in 6 states, primarily in the Eastern part of the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Chevys Fresh Mex
Chevys Fresh Mex is a chain of Mexican-style casual dining restaurants. On its menu are items such as nachos, quesadillas, guacamole, wings, burgers, steaks, and flans.
Chevys used to have kids eat free Wednesdays, but now they have changed that to kids eat for $1. It’s not free but close enough. Kids 12 and under can get one kid’s meal for $1 all day on Wednesday, per adult entrée purchased. This offer is good for dining in only.
Chevys has more than 20 locations in 7 states over the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Godfather’s Pizza
Godfather’s Pizza is a chain of fast casual Italian American restaurants. On its menu are items such as Hawaiian pizza, gluten free pizzas, calzones, wings, and chocolate chip cookies.
Kids 10 or under can eat for free at Godfather’s Pizza on Tuesdays during lunch or dinner. For every adult buffet you buy, one kid can eat free from the buffet.
Godfather’s Pizza has more than 600 locations in the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
East Coast Wings and Grill
East Coast Wings and Grill is a chain of casual dining restaurants with most of its locations in the Eastern part of the United States. It serves standard American fares such as wings, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, wraps, soups, and salads.
Kids 12 or under can eat for free at East Coast Wings and Grill on Wednesdays from 3:30 pm to close. For every adult entrée you buy, one kid can get one free kid’s meal. This offer is good for dining in only.
East Coast Wings and Grill has more than 30 locations. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Buffalo Wild Wings
Buffalo Wild Wings is a large chain of casual dining restaurants and sports bars. It offers standard American sports bar fares such as wings, tenders, burgers, wraps, sandwiches, onion rings, tacos, fudge cakes, and cheesecakes.
Kids 12 or under can get a kid’s meal for only $1.99 on Wednesdays from 4 pm to 10 pm. No adult purchase is required. It is not free but it is close enough. This offer is good for both dine-in and take-out.
Buffalo Wild Wings has more than 1,200 locations across all 50 states in the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen
Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen is a chain of fast casual seafood restaurants. Its menu offers items such as fried batter dipped fish, grilled salmons, butterfly shrimps, and seafood gumbo.
Kids 12 and under can eat at Captain D’s for $0.99 on Thursdays. For every adult entrée you buy, you can claim two $0.99 kid’s meals.
Captain D’s has more than 500 locations in 23 states in the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a chain of cafeteria-style, casual dining restaurants. Its menu offers familiar comfort foods such as baked chicken, baked fish, fried shrimp, mac & cheese, and cornbread.
Kids 12 and under can get a kid’s meal for $1.99 each at Piccadilly on Thursdays all day and Saturdays from 11 am to 4 pm. For every adult meal you buy, you can claim two $1.99 kid’s meals. Each kid’s meal includes a kid’s entrée, two sides, a kid’s drink, and a kid’s dessert. This offer is good for dine-in only.
Piccadilly has more than 40 restaurant locations all across the southeastern United States with the majority located in the Gulf Coast region. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
Steak n’ Shake
Steak n’ Shake is a chain of casual dining restaurants. Its menu offers standard American fares such as burgers, melts, chili, chicken fingers, fries, onion rings, and milkshakes.
Kids 12 and under can eat for free at Steak n’ Shake every Saturday and Sunday. For every $9 you spend, one kid of yours will get a Kids Plate for free. That $9 cannot include drinks or shakes – only food items count toward it.
Steak n’ Shake has more than 550 locations in 28 states in the United States. To find a location near you, just click over to the store locator on its website here.
