I have a confession to make – we enjoy eating out. Unfortunately, having a family of five means it quickly gets expensive. If you have children, you know the feeling. One of the best tricks to save money we’ve found is to find restaurants where kids eat free.
While we limit our eating out, we’ve found that going to places where kids eat free allows us to save at least $20 on our total bill. These savings provide the fun of dining out without an expensive bill.
We even double-dip on our savings by earning gift cards through Swagbucks or purchasing discounted gift cards through Gift Card Outlets.
If this sounds like something you’d like to use for your dining out budget, our guide shares some of the top national chain restaurants where kids can eat free, or extremely cheap.
Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free
If you’re asking yourself, ‘where can kids eat free near me?’, there are dozens of options to consider. We’ve researched who offers free kids meals, and various restaurants offer promotions for families to save money.
Just remember that restaurants often change promotions and offers may vary based on location. It’s best to call ahead to confirm if kids eat free today.
Some restaurants may require you to join a club, mailing list or rewards program to take advantage of kids eat free deals. You may want to use a different email address to avoid filling your inbox with unnecessary emails.
If you’re ready to start saving on restaurant bills, here’s our list of 67 restaurants where kids eat free.
Kids Eat Free Everyday
Want to know where can kids eat free tonight? Here are the restaurants where kids eat free everyday.
Applebee’s – You receive a free kids’ meal when you purchase a full-priced adult meal.
Boston Market – Do you like a free dessert? If you’re a member of the Boston Market VIP Club, you receive a free dessert on your birthday. This works for kids, too.
Cici’s – Love pizza? At select locations, children three and younger can eat for free with the purchase of a full-priced adult buffet. It does vary by location, so call ahead before going to the restaurant.
If your family loves pizza, read our guide on how to get Pizza Hut free delivery, as well as free delivery from other popular chain restaurants.
Culver’s – Kids 12 and under receive a free custard with their regularly-priced meal.
Golden Corral – Children three and under eat free from the buffet with the purchase of an adult buffet.
Holiday Inn – Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean it’s not possible to save money. When you stay at a Holiday Inn, up to four children can eat for free at their on-site restaurant. There are no time restrictions so you can get a free kids’ breakfast if you wish. Children must be 12 or younger to qualify.
IHOP – Breakfast for dinner! Kids can eat for free everyday from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. with the purchase of a fully-priced adult meal.
On the Border – Who doesn’t like free ice cream? Children receive a free sundae with the purchase of a kids’ meal.
Shoney’s – Kids four and under eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Smashburger – Mmm, cheeseburgers. Smashburger offers a free kids’ meal when you purchase an adult entrée. Most locations require it to be 4:00 p.m., or later to redeem the offer.
Steak ‘n’ Shake – This deal requires you to spend a specific amount. For every $9 you spend, you receive a free kids’ meal.
Monday
Have a case of the Mondays? Below are the top restaurants where kids eat free tonight.
Chevys Fresh Mex – Kids eat free on Mondays after 4:00 with the purchase of an adult meal.
Chili’s – Buy an adult entrée and your child gets their meal for free.
Dickey’s BBQ Pit – Love BBQ? Kids 12 and under receive a free meal for every adult meal purchased.
Fuddruckers – Fuddruckers was a family favorite when I was a kid. Kids eat for $.99 on Monday nights between 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Rock Bottom Cafe – Not just on Mondays, but also Tuesdays, children 12 and under eat free.
*Related: Looking for other ways to get free food? Check out our guide on the best free food apps to download for free meals.*
Spaghetti Warehouse – Buy an adult entrée and your child eats for $1.99. This promotion only applies to children ten and under, and you can only redeem for two free meals.
Texas Roadhouse – Kids’ meals are $.99 for each adult meal purchased.
Whichwich – When you purchase a 7” sandwich, children 12 and under eat for $.99.
Tuesday
Don’t feel like cooking tonight? Here are some restaurants offering free kids meals on Tuesdays.
Backyard Burgers – When you buy a combo meal, you get a free kids’ meal after 4:00 p.m.
Beef O’ Brady’s – From 4:00 – 8:00 on Tuesdays, children eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Bob Evans – Bob Evans was a favorite on family vacations when I was a child. On Tuesdays after 4:00 p.m., kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Chick-Fil-A – Receive a free kids meal from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. This does vary by location, so contact your local chain before going in.
Denny’s – Get a free kids’ dinner anytime between 4:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Famous Dave’s – Kids eat free all day on Tuesdays. Some chains charge $.99 for the kids entrée so make sure to contact your location prior to going in.
Fazoli’s – Italian for $.99? Yes, please! Kids eat for $.99 with the purchase of an adult entrée. You can get up to two kids’ meals this way.
Godfather’s Pizza – Kids eat free from the buffet on Tuesdays for lunch and dinner. Hours vary by location, and applies to kids ten and under.
IKEA – The retailer doesn’t just carry furniture. In some locations that have food courts, kids eat free on Tuesdays.
Marie Callender’s – Receive one free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Perkins – Kids eat free from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Pizza Ranch – Receive a free kids’ buffet with the purchase of an adult buffet.
Ponderosa Steakhouse – After 4:00 p.m., kids eat free tonight.
Ruby Tuesday – Receive one free kids’ meal per adult entrée after 5:00 p.m.
TGIFriday’s – Kids eat free all day on Tuesdays.
Tony Roma’s – Children 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée.
UNO Chicago Grill – Do you love Chicago-style pizza? Kids eat for free with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Wednesday
Need to get over the midweek hump? Below are restaurants where kids eat free today.
Bojangle’s Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits – Buy any adult meal from 5:00 – 7:00 you receive a free kids meal.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream – Everyone loves free ice cream! Kids 40 inches and under receive a free small ice cream cone.
Buffalo Wild Wings – Kids eat for $1.99 from 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. on Wednesdays.
*Related: Do you like to use meal delivery services? Read our guide on the best meal delivery companies like HelloFresh to save money on meals delivered to your door.*
Firehouse Subs – With each adult combo you purchase, two children can eat for free – including a dessert. Most locations limit this to 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Jason’s Deli – Children 12 and under eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal. You receive up to two kids’ meals per adult meal purchase.
Friendly’s – You receive one free kids’ meal per adult meal, from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Qdoba Mexican Grill – Kids eat free on Wednesdays, and some locations also offer free meals on Sundays.
Thursday
Are you asking yourself, ‘where can kids eat free tonight?’ Below are a few popular options.
Captain D’s – Get two free kids meals with the purchase of one regularly priced adult entrée.
Caribbean Jerks – You get one free kids’ meal for each adult entrée purchase. The promotion runs from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m., and is for children ten and under.
*Related: Looking for something fun to do tonight? Read our exhaustive guide of fun things to do with kids that don’t cost a lot of money.*
Old Country Buffet – Old Country Buffet works similar to Ryan’s. Kids receive a $1.99 with the purchase of an adult buffet, and you get up to two per adult meal.
Picadilly – All day Thursday kids eat for $1.99 with the purchase of an adult meal. Your kiddo gets an entrée, two sides, a drink, and a dessert. Not bad!
Red Robin – Kids eat for $1.99 per adult meal purchased.
Ryan’s Buffet – Kids get a $1.99 buffet with the purchase of an adult buffet. You can receive two discounted meals per one adult meal.
Salsarita’s – Like Mexican? Buy yourself a meal and your kid eats for free.
Friday
Do you want to know ‘where do kids eat free near me tonight?’ You have limited choices, listed below.
Chicken Out Rotisserie – Kids eat free all day on Friday with the purchase of an adult meal.
Double Dave’s Pizza – Receive a free kids buffet with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Saturday
It’s the weekend! Below are where kids eat free today.
Luby’s – Get one free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Maggiano’s Little Italy – Any kid five and under eats free today.
Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant – Get two free kids’ meals per adult meal purchased.
Shari’s– Kids eat free from 4:00 – 9:00 today.
Solos Pizza Café – When you a fully priced pizza, pasta, or salad entrée, kids 13 and under get a free pizza.
Texas Land and Cattle – When you buy one adult meal, you receive up to two free kids’ meals. This is good from only 11:00 am – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday
It’s time to prepare for a new week. Start the week off with savings from these restaurants.
Arriba – Kids ten and under eat free all day with the purchase of an adult dinner.
Atlanta Bread Co – Kids eat free all day when you buy an adult meal.
*Related: Looking for places to buy stamps? Check out our guide on where to buy stamps near me to find the best places to buy postage stamps.*
Baja Fresh – Baja Fresh is a favorite location for us in Southern California. Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal and drink.
Hooters – OK, it’s debatable if they’re family-friendly, but kids eat free each Sunday from 11:00 – 11:00.
Jersey Mike’s Subs – Receive a free kids’ combo when you purchase an adult combo.
Joe’s Crab Shack – Kids eat free today with the purchase of a full-priced adult meal.
Moe’s Southwest Grill – Kids eat free all day with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Planet Sub – Children eat free all day with the purchase of an adult meal.
White Castle – When you spend at least $4 on an adult meal, you get a free kids’ meal. This promotion only runs from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Bottom Line
Eating out costs a lot of money. The average person spends at least five percent of their income on food away from home, according to Business Insider. Lowering these costs is a great way to stretch your budget.
If you have a family and don’t want to give up dining out, finding restaurants where kids eat free is an excellent option to make dining out more affordable. Remember, contact a restaurant to make sure the offers are valid before going in to ensure scoring some savings.
How often do you eat out as a family? Do you look for restaurants where kids eat free to save money? What other ways do you save money while eating out?
Leave a Reply