20 Restaurants Where Kids Can Eat Free (Or Almost Free) This Summer
NO school 🍎, NO homework ✏, and NO problems 😎, right?! 😉 Summertime is practically here, which means it’s about to get hot and sweaty… and the kids are eventually going to get bored and whiny.
Around mid-June, the boredom starts to kick in – and when it does, you’ll want to be prepared. Sometimes, just taking everyone out of the house to grab some food does the trick. And what’s better than free food?! 🙌🏻 Here are 20 restaurants that offer free (or cheap) kids meals – so you can grab a bite and a bit of sanity when the kids start clawing at the walls and you can hardly wait for August. 😳
NOTE: Be sure to call the restaurant you plan on attending to verify details before packing up the kiddos and making a special trip, as these promotions may vary greatly by region and/or franchise.
1. Applebee’s
Kids can eat free (or for $0.99 at select locations) with the purchase of an adult entrée on a select day of the week at participating locations. The day of the week will vary by location, so follow your local Applebee’s on Facebook or call your restaurant before heading over there.
2. Captain D’s
Participating locations offer up to two free kids meals for each adult entree purchase at regular price (for kids ages 12 and under), valid for dine-in only. Contact your local restaurant to verify participation.
3. Chevy’s Fresh Mex
Every Wednesday, kids 12 and under can eat for just $1 from the kids menu with the purchase of an adult entrée at regular price, valid for dine-in only. Plus, kids can get a tortilla dough ball and take home an avocado pit to grow their own avocado tree! Find a location near you.
4. Chick-fil-A
Kids can eat free at select locations on Tuesdays between 5:30PM – 7:30PM with the purchase of an adult combo meal (note that some locations may charge $0.99). Be sure to contact your local restaurant for details as the day and promotional participation may vary by location. Go here to find the closest location nearest you.
5. Denny’s
On Tuesdays from 4PM – 10PM (may vary by location), kids can eat free with an adult entrée purchase at participating locations. Offer is valid at participating restaurants for up to two free kid’s entrées from the kid’s menu per one adult entrée purchase of $6 or more. Go here and scroll down for more details or check your local Denny’s Facebook Page.
6. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Every Sunday, get one free Kid’s Meal (for children 12 and under) per $10 paid adult meal, valid for dine-in only. Not valid with other offers or promotions. Go here for more details.
7. Famous Dave’s
On Tuesdays, at participating locations, kids ages 8 and under OR anyone named Wilbur can get a free Lil’ Wilbur Meal with purchase of an adult entrée, valid for dine-in only. Go here for more details.
8. Fazoli’s
On Tuesdays from 5PM – 8PM at participating Fazoli’s locations, get three kids meals for just 99¢ each with every adult entrée purchase. Go here for more details.
9. Fricker’s
Kids can eat free all day, every day with the purchase of one adult entrée and child beverage, valid for dine-in only. Go here for more details.
10. IHOP
Kids eat free every night from 4PM – 8PM with the purchase of an adult entrée. Limit one kids’ menu item per adult entree. This deal seems to vary by location so call your location before visiting!
11. IKEA
On Tuesdays, get up to TWO free kids meals for kids 12 and under (regularly $2.49 each) with the purchase of one adult entree at participating locations. Go here for more details.
12. Luby’s
On Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11AM to close, children 10 and under get one free kid’s meal per adult meal purchased. Click here for a list of participating locations or call your local restaurant.
13. Marie Callender’s
On Tuesdays and Saturdays, get one free kid’s meal (excluding drink) per adult entrée purchased for dine-in only, valid at participating locations. Go here for more details.
14. Moe’s Southwest Grill
At select locations, kids eat free (limit one free kids’ meal for each adult meal purchased) on a specific day of the week which varies by location. Be sure to follow your local Moe’s on Facebook to see participating times and locations.
Choose from the Power Wagon (hard or soft taco), Mini Masterpiece (cheese quesadilla), or Moo Moo Mr. Cow (burrito). Each kids’ meal includes a cookie and beverage plus free chips and salsa.
15. O’Charley’s
Kids eat free all day, every day at participating locations! Get one free kids meal (beverage not included) with the purchase of an adult entrée, valid for dine-in only. Go here for more details.
16. Piccadilly
Kids 12 and under eat for just $1.99 all day Thursdays and from 11AM – 4PM on Saturdays. Kids Meals include a choice of entrée – like Chicken Tenders, Fried Fish, or Small Chopped Beef – plus two sides, a drink, and dessert (Jello, Pudding, or Cupcake). Go here for details.
17. Romano’s Macaroni Grill
All day on Mondays and Tuesdays, kids ages 12 and under can eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée (excludes 3-course lunch and Romano’s Kitchen Counter Express Lunch or Dinner). Go here or check out your local Romano’s Macaroni Grill Facebook page for details.
18. Ruby’s Diner
Every Tuesday night is Family Night at Ruby’s Diner! From 4PM until closing, kids ages 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée, valid at participating locations only. Please check with your local Ruby’s Diner for more details. Limit one free kids meal per adult entrée ordered.
19. Ruby Tuesday
Every Tuesday from 5PM to close, kids can eat free at participating locations with an adult entrée purchase (limit one free kids entrée per adult entrée). Go here for more details.
20. Steak ‘n Shake
Kids can now eat free any time on any day of the week with a qualifying purchase at over 400 participating locations across the country. There is a limit of one free kids plate to children 12 and under for every $9 spent, valid for dine-in only.
Heading to Disney this summer?
From May 28th through August 30th, 2018, get a FREE dining plan for kids (ages 3 to 9) when you buy a non-discounted 3-night/3-day Magic Your Way package for you and the kid(s). This package includes a room at a select Disney Resort hotel, theme park tickets, and a dining plan. Valid for arrivals most nights from May 28th through August 30th, 2018, when you book through August 1st, 2018.
Our local Golden Corral Buffet (in FL) now charges $0.99 for a kids meal after 5PM, Monday-Thursday.
Still nice. I called all the local ones (in my area in FL) and they said they have no such thing as kids night or kids menu. I have a big gift card so I wanted to use it and tip.
I’m south and our Pembroke Pines location has the kids promo.
It is on Golden Corral’s website about 99¢ kids meals after 4pm with adult meal and up to 2. 🙂
what place you no that kids can eat free at .
Thanks for sharing!
you’re welome.
Oh yay! My oldest wants to do IHOP for her birthday. We were going to go in the morning, but now that I know this we’ll go in the evening and she can just have her birthday pancakes for dinner 🙂
Deer valley in Arizona does not offer this 🙁
Thank you for this great list!
Thanks for the list. I’m in metro Atlanta and to me O’Charley’s is the best deal. We usually go on free pie Wednesday and they give me a slice of pie as well as my son and his meal is FREE. We share a slice there and one for the house. Also both promos work together, free pie and free kids meal. Kids drink is extra though
You’re so welcome!
Pizza Hut has a free buffet for kids per paying adult on Tuesday nights from 5-8pm. We went tonight and enjoyed! You can also request the pizzas you like if they aren’t out.
Awesome! Thanks for the heads up!
Buffet was $7 per adult I believe.
Great to know
I’ve never known CFA to give free, or reduced, food on Tuesdays! Now I’m going to send this to our local restaurant and be like, “what about us, boss?!”
I got an email from my local unoos saying the month of July kid eat free probably varies on location!