101+ Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

Our family ate out at a local restaurant the other night, and we ended up choosing the establishment because kids eat free there on Wednesday nights.

We have two kids, and we like eating out. Our family doubled in size from two to four people within the past few years, and our dining out budget quickly got much more expensive.

One thing that definitely helps keep spending in line is if the kids are eating without paying!

No, we’re not suggesting that they should dine and dash! We’re talking about taking advantage of promotional “kids eat free” policies at local and national chains.

Why not go where your kids can eat free?

So the question is this, where can kids eat free? What restaurants have policies that allow your kids to have a free meal, free dessert or birthday freebie? What days do they offer free kids meals?

Today we’re going to share a giant list of restaurants where your kids can eat for free, and while we’re at it, share a couple of other tips to save you money while you’re eating out. So let’s get started!

Save More At Restaurants By Using Discount Gift Cards

Before we dive directly into the list of restaurants, there are other strategies you can use for saving money while eating out.

For example, if you know where you’re going to be eating out, it’s pretty simple to plan ahead and buy a discounted gift card for the restaurant you’ll be going to.

Use a service like Raise or Gift Card Granny to find a discounted gift card for sale for your restaurant of choice.

• Raise
• Gift Card Granny

Save At Restaurants By Using Cash Back Apps

You can also save while eating out by using a variety of cash back and coupon apps.

For example, we recently ate out at one of our favorite restaurants, and before we went I saw that you could get 5% cash back at that restaurant via the Dosh app.

We used out credit card that was linked to the app and got a $3 cash back payout. An easy win for no real extra work.

Another night out we used the GetUpside app and we saved 10% off our order at Wendy’s.

These apps work great for all kinds of restaurants, grocery stores and online and in-store shopping discounts, not just when you eat out. They’re free to use and are definitely worth a try.

• Dosh App
• Ibotta
• GetUpside
• Rakuten

Ultimate List Of Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free

We scoured the web to find all of the local and national chains that offer free meals for kids. This page has a listing of all of the restaurants that we found where kids can eat for free.

Many of the offers are tied to a specific day of the week, and will carry with them some fine print. Things like you have to have 1 paying adult for each kid, or you can get one kid’s meal free when you pay for a second.

NOTE: Please keep in mind that the offers on this page are subject to change and restaurants often change their policies and promotions that they’re running. Please call to confirm the information on your own, to make sure that your kids will in fact eat for free, and to find out all the fine print for their offers (kids eat free with paid adult, etc).

If you find any on this list that are in error, please let us know and we’ll make an update to the article.

Have your own restaurants, either locally or nationally that offer free food for kids? Tell us what they are in the comments.

Kids Eat Free Every Day Of The Week

Some offers for kids to eat free are tied to a day of the week. Some restaurants, however, offer freebies for kids that aren’t tied to a specific day. Here are some of our favorites.

• Bruster’s Ice Cream: Kids less than 40″ tall will receive a free baby cone.
• Fricker’s: Kids eat free all day, every day, with the purchase of an adult entree.
• McDonald’s: McDonald’s has a mobile app that will regularly give you free happy meals as a perk. Doesn’t need to be used on any particular day.
• Cici’s: Some locations will allow kids under 3 to eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.
• Steak ‘n Shake: Home of some of my favorite burgers, for every $9 spent, you can get one free kids meal.
• Norm’s: One free junior entree with an adult entree purchase.
• Culver’s: Free custard (delicious) for kids 12 and under with purchase of a meal.
• Cafe Rio: Kids 6 and under get a free quesadilla with adult entree.
• On the Border: Free sundae with kids meal purchase. Time for a sugar high!
• Ihop: Kids eat free every day from 4-10pm. Free 12 and under meal with adult meal purchase.

• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: For every adult entree purchased a kid 12 and under can eat free.
• Woody’s Bar-B-Q: Children 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.
• In-n-Out: Not a free meal, but kids can get free hot cocoa on rainy days.
• Golden Corral: Kids 3 and under eat free. Ages 4-12 can get buffet and drink for just 99 cents.
• O’Charley’s: Kids 10 and under eat free with an adult entree.
• Denny’s: Two kids eat free with one adult entree purchase of $6 or more. Call your location as days/times may vary by location.
• Double Dave’s: Buy an adult entree, get one kid’s buffet for free.
• Hard Rock Cafe: One free kids meal with each paid adult at participating locations. For kids 10 and under, every weekday (Mon-Fri).
• 99 Restaurant and Pub: If the Red Sox win, kids 10 and under get a free meal.
• Texas de Brazil: Kids 2 and under eat free with an adult meal. Discounted rates for kids under 12.
• Red Robin: While they don’t have a regular night where your kids can eat free, if you sign up for the “Red Robin Royalty” program your kids get a free burger entree in their birthday month.
• Holiday Inn: Kids eat and stay free. Up to 4 kids eat free with a paid adult.

Kids Eat Free Monday

Shrug off a case of the Mondays with a free meal for the kids!

The following restaurants let the kids eat free on Monday!

• Chili’s: Kids eat free through the Chili’s Rewards program where they’ll send you free kids meal offers that can be redeemed in the restaurant or online.
• Arooga’s: Kids 12 and under can get a free kids meal with one paid adult entree.
• Rock Bottom Cafe: This Minneapolis restaurant and brewery has some great beers, and kids 12 and under eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Which Which: Our local shop closed, but if you have one near you you can get a $0.99 kids meal with a purchase of a regular 7″ sandwich for an adult. Deal valid on Monday or Saturday.
• Texas Roadhouse: Participating locations have kids eat free night. One near me has it on Mondays 4-10pm. Check their site for details.
• Fuddruckers: Kids 12 and under can order from the kids menu for $0.99, drink included. Mondays 4-10pm.
• Macaroni Grill: Kids 12 and under get a free meal with parents paid entree.
• Cinzetti’s: Kids 12 and under eat free between 5-8:30pm. Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Brewzzi: Kids 12 and under eat free, up to 2 kids with one paid adult of $12 or more.
• Cody’s Original Roadhouse: Two kids eat free with each paying adult on Mondays and Tuesdays. Kids 10 and under.
• Planet Sub: Kids eat free all day on Mondays. One free kids meal per paying adult.
• TGI Friday’s: Kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Kids Eat Free Tuesday

Get your free food on a Tuesday! It’s a popular day for freebies for the kids!

• Carrows: Kids eat free Tuesdays from 11am to close. Two free kids meals with purchase of a regular priced adult entree.
• Famous Dave’s: Free Lil’ Wilbur Meal on Tuesday for a child 8 and under with purchase of an adult entree.
• Applebee’s: Kids 12 and under eat free on Tuesdays when an adult purchases a full price entree.
• Bennigan’s: With one adult entree purchase you’ll get one free kids meal on Tuesdays.
• Black Eyed Pea: Tuesdays from 5pm til close, kids 12 and under get a free meal with an adult entree purchase.
• Ikea: On Tuesdays, kids eat free at participating locations.  Kids love the Swedish meatballs!
• Green Mill: Kids 12 and under eat free with a paid adult on Tuesdays between 4-8pm. Limit 1 kid per adult entree.
• Perkins: On Tuesdays you can get one free kids meal with each paid adult entree.
• Back Yard Burgers: Kids eat free on Tuesdays with an adult combo meal purchase.
• Bob Evans: Kids eat free on Tuesdays after 4pm. Requires purchase of an adult meal for each kid.
• Chevy’s Fresh Mex: Kids eat free all day. Just requires one paying adult with each free kid’s meal.
• Atlanta Bread: Kids eat free from 4pm to close. One free kid’s meal with adult meal.
• Chik-fil-A: Kids eat free on Tuesdays with purchase of an adult combo meal between 5:30-8:30pm. Some locations may charge $0.99. Also sign up for their mobile app for regular freebies.
• Lone Star Steakhouse: Get 2 kids meals free on Tuesdays with the purchase of 1 adult meal.
• Moe’s Southwest Grill: You get a free kids meal with every paying adult. Kids eat free all day Tuesdays.
• Captain D’s: Kids eat free on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. Up to 2 free kids meals with each adult dinner purchased.
• Godfather’s Pizza: Kids 10 and under eat free with paid adult.
• Pizza Street: Kids age 4 to 9 eat free with adult purchase every Tuesday night from 4-9pm.
• Ponderosa Steakhouse: Two kids eat free with every adult meal purchased, Tuesdays after 4pm.
• Shari’s: From 10am-11pm on Tuesdays, 2 kids eat free with every adult meal purchase.
• Souplantation: Club Veg members get a free kids meal.
• Sweet Tomatoes: Join Club Veg and get a free kids meal.
• Luna Grill: One free kids meal with an adult purchase of a salad, wrap or plate. 10 and under.
• Uno’s Chicago Grill: Tuesdays kids can eat free with an adult meal purchase.
• Fazoli’s: Not free, but almost. Pay $0.99 for a kids meal on Tuesdays, from 5-8pm. Up to 2 kids meals with 1 adult entree.
• Ruby Tuesday: Buy an adult entree and you get a free kids meal. Tuesdays from 5pm until close.
• Smashburger: Kids eat free from 4-9pm on Tuesdays. Adult entree purchase required.
• Genghis Grill: Kids 12 and under eat free with an adult meal purchase.
• Chompie’s: Kids 10 and under eat free all day Tuesday with the purchase of an adult entree.
• Freebirds: Kids 12 and under get a free kid sized entree with an adult entree purchase on Tuesdays.
• Beef O’ Brady’s: Kids eat free every Tuesday with the purchase of an adult entree.
• Marie Callender’s: Kids 12 and under eat free on Tuesdays and Saturdays, with an adult entree purchase. Plus kids get free pie!
• Pizza Ranch: Tuesday 4-8pm kids 12 and under. 1 free buffet with adult buffet purchase.
• Zaxby’s: From 4-9pm on Tuesdays, kids get a free meal with an adult meal purchase.
• Hy-Vee Market Grille: Kids eat free on Tuesdays 11am to close.

Kids Eat Free Wednesday

The kids can eat free on a Wednesday at a variety of places.

• Claim Jumper: Every Wednesday kids eat free with a paid adult entree. Might be a limited time deal, so call for details.
• Luby’s: Wednesdays after 4pm you get a free kids meal with an adult meal purchase.
• Bertucci’s: Every Wednesday receive one free kids meal with every adult entree.
• Qdoba Mexican Grill: Kids eat free on Wednesdays, although some locations may have a different day.
• Firehouse Subs: Get a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entree. Deal available on Wednesdays 5-8pm.
• East Coast Wings: From 3:30 to close on Wednesdays, kids eat free with an adult entree purchase.
• Logan’s Roadhouse: Children 12 and younger eat free with an adult entree purchase.
• Jeffrey’s Sports Grill: One free kids meal with every paid adult meal. Wednesdays from 5-9pm.
• Little Bitty Burger Barn: Kids 10 and younger eat free with a paid adult meal. Wednesdays from 5-8pm.
• Skyline Chili: Get one free kids meal with an adult entree purchase of at least $5. Wednesdays from 5-9pm.
• Mr Gatti’s Pizza: Purchase an adult buffet meal, kids 10 and under get a free kid’s buffet.
• Friendly’s: From 4pm to close kids eat free with an adult combo purchase.

Kids Eat Free Thursday

Thursday specials aren’t as easy to find, but there are a few.

• Johnny Rockets: Kids eat free on with the purchase of an adult entree and beverage. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm-8pm.
• C.B. & Potts: Kids 12 and under eat for $1 on Thursdays with a full priced adult meal. Days and location participation vary.
• The Chartroose Caboose: With an adult meal purchase, kids eat free on Thursdays.
• Cafe Brazil: From Sunday through Thursday, kids 12 and under get a free meal with an adult entree purchase.
• Old Country Buffet: Kids don’t eat free, but almost. $1.99 buffet with adult buffet purchase.
• Quaker Steak & Lube: Kids eat free with adult entree purchase. 10 and under.

Kids Eat Free Friday

Friday night everyone is out having fun, and not many places are offering specials.

• Shoney’s: Kids under 4 eat free with an adult meal purchase on Fridays.
• JJs Grill: Kids eat free every day with purchase of an adult entree.
• Maple Tavern: One free kids meal per adult entree.

Kids Eat Free Saturday

One of my favorite restaurants, Fogo, offers a special on Saturdays. Beyond that pickings are slim.

• Fogo de Chao: One of my very favorite restaurants. Kids 6 and under are always free. Kids 7-12 are always half price.
• Texas Land and Cattle: Kids eat free Saturdays from 11am-4pm.

Kids Eat Free Sunday

Sundays are a popular day for families to dine out, so there’s a few more options for kids to eat free.

• Zebb’s Grill and Bar: For each adult meal purchased, kids 10 and under at eat free.
• Bonfire Wood Fire Cooking: One free kid’s menu item per adult entree purchased from 4-9pm on Sunday.
• Crave: One free kid’s meal per adult entree purchased.
• Willy McCoy’s: One free kids meal with an adult meal purchase.
• D’Amico and Sons: 1 Kid 10 and under eats free with each adult meal purchase.
• Jose Pepper’s: Kids eat free all day Sundays.
• Souper! Salad!: Kids 4 and under eat free with adult purchase.
• Slim Chickens: Kids eat free on Sundays all day. One free kid’s meal with purchase of an adult entree.
• Baja Fresh: Get one free kids meal with a purchase of an adult entree with drink.
• Jason’s Deli: Kids under 12 eat free all day Sunday (sometimes Monday or Wednesday). For each paying adult get one free kids meal.
• Arriba Mexican Grill: Kids eat free on Sundays. One kids meal per paying adult.
• White Castle: Kids eat free on Sundays from 4-8pm. Purchase of an adult meal over $4 is required.
• Salsarita’s: Kids eat free Sunday and Tuesday from 4-8pm with an adult entree purchase.
• The Nook: Kids eat free Sunday with a paid adult meal, 4-9pm. This is a local St. Paul, Minnesota place. I only add it because they have what I consider some of the best burgers in our area.

Offers & Specials May Vary By Location

I mentioned it above, but I feel it’s important to mention it again. Offers for kids to eat free can vary over time, and by restaurant location.

Some franchisees might offer the free meal to kids, while other locations of the same restaurant will swear the special doesn’t exist. It may not at their particular location.

Make sure you call ahead before you leave the house, make sure they offer the free meals for kids where you’re going. If they don’t, find somewhere else to eat. We’d also appreciate if you leave a comment for us here so we can update the post and remove any offers that no longer exist.

Have a great meal!

Frequently Asked Questions

What restaurants do kids eat free at?

A wide variety of restaurants have deals that allow kids to eat free, from fast food, to sit down restaurants. Many of the deals are advertised for days that restaurants have slower business, like Tuesdays, Wednesdays. Busier days on the weekend like Fridays and Saturdays have deals less frequently.

What age does a child need to be to eat free?

Most deals require that a child be 12 and under to eat free, while others have even lower ages to qualify for free meals. Ages we’ve seen in deals include 10 and under, 9 and under, 4 and under or even 2 and under at one restaurant.

Are there usually requirements or fine print for “kids eat free” deals?

Yes, most of the deals that give free meals for kids come with fine print. Usually the fine print is that in order to get a free meal there has to be an adult entree purchased at full price for each child. Some restaurants will only require 1 adult entree purchase for multiple children, but usually it is one free meal per paying adult.

Do all restaurants in a chain have “kids eat free” specials?

Usually if a chain has a “kids eat free” deal, most locations will participate, but sometimes they won’t. That’s why it’s important to call and confirm a deal before you go to the restaurant. Some restaurants will offer their deals on different days as well, or have different requirements in order to receive the deal. Make sure to call and confirm.

How can I be sure if a restaurant allows kids to eat free?

Always confirm with the restaurant before you go there for a meal. Special offers often change, or go away for a time, so make sure you to call and ask if their kids eat free deal still applies.