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Sometimes, you just don’t have the energy or time to get dinner on the table. Life gets busy and by the time you look up, it’s 5 o’clock and there’s no dinner plan in sight. Those are the nights when your favorite restaurant comes in clutch. Going out to eat is a great way to relax, dive into in-depth conversations and enjoy quality family time without the hassle of cooking. The only issue? Eating at restaurants can add up quickly, especially if you’re feeding a family. With many households stretching their budgets these days, family dinners at a restaurant are becoming a special splurge, even if you’re opting for fast food. There are many ways to make your money go further when you’re dining out, but one of the easiest strategies for families is to look for spots that offer kids-eat-free deals. To help you find a spot (or maybe a few spots) near you where you and your little ones can eat for less, we did some research and created a mega list of 50+ restaurants where kids eat for free, including places that offer deals every day, plus spots where kids eat free on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday. Read on for all the details, plus a few smart tips to keep in mind before you head out to dinner. Related: Restaurants Have Stepped up to the Plate and Are Offering SNAP Deals—Here’s Where To Find Them 😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Parade Eats newsletter. 🍳🍔 Tips to Keep in Mind When Looking for Kids Eat Free Deals Check the details Like other promotions, these deals often have important fine print. Often, a free kid’s meal requires you to purchase an adult meal or spend a minimum amount. Join the club and download the app Some “kids eat free” deals are only available via the app or a rewards program. There are usually numerous other benefits to using the app or joining the rewards program, so this is worth the effort, especially since it’s usually fairly quick and easy. Confirm the offer is still valid (and is being offered at the location near you) These deals are often available for a limited time and are frequently only available at certain participating locations. Participation is especially likely to vary in the case of franchises, where each location or region may have its own specific promotions or policies. Related: Chick-fil-A’s First-of-Its-Kind Beverage Concept is Officially Open for Business—Here’s What’s on the Menu 51 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free Bruster’s Ice Cream Kids under 40 inches tall get a free “Baby Cone.” Participating stores only; offer may vary. Chick-fil-A This deal is very location-specific, so the details (if the deal is available at all) will vary, but some locations will have a “kids eat free” offer, most commonly on Tuesday afternoons or evenings. Typically, the offer allows for one free kids meal with the purchase of an entrée. Check with your local restaurant to see if they are participating in this deal. Chili’s If you sign up for My Chili’s Rewards, you’ll get offers for free kids’ meals rewards, which you can use for dine-in or online orders. Culver’s Although the full meal isn’t free, kids do get a treat at no cost. Each kid’s meal comes with a free scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard. Denny’s Get one free Kids Meal with the purchase of each adult entree every day from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. Restrictions, pricing and participation may vary by location. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit From 4:00 p.m. to close at participating U.S. locations, guests can enjoy one free kids’ meal with a purchase of $12 or more. Limited to one free kids’ meal per qualifying order and cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Available for a limited time. Flying Biscuit Café Certain locations offer promotions (often for a limited time) where kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. Fogo de Chão Kids six and under enjoy complimentary dining at Fogo, and ages seven to twelve dine at half price for the Full Churrasco Experience. Fricker’s Kids eat free every day with the purchase of an adult meal and a Kid’s beverage. Dine-in only. Habit Burger & Grill This CharClub exclusive deal lets kids enjoy a free Kids Favorite Meal with any $10+ purchase from Monday to Thursday at participating locations. This is available exclusively for CharClub members and the offer drops into your “My Offers” wallet every Monday. One free Kids Meal per week. Limited time only. Holiday Inn Meals at the Holiday Inn restaurant are free for children ages 11 and under in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. The rules? Kids must order from the restaurant’s kids’ menu with at least one adult guest when staying at Holiday Inn hotels. Huddle House Kids eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays. Get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree. IHOP This deal changes occasionally and often varies by location, but it typically allows guests to get a free meal from the kids’ menu when they buy an adult entrée between 4:00 and 10:00 p.m. daily. Luby’s Cafeteria Get one free kid’s meal per adult meal purchase, available Wednesdays and Saturdays for ages 10 years and under, dine-in only. Marriott Bonvoy Marriott Bonvoy members can get complimentary breakfast for kids 12 and under. This applies to up to two children per member at designated dining locations. Children staying at select hotels can also enjoy complimentary ice cream. Moe’s Southwest Grill Moe Rewards members can get one free kids’ meal with each purchase of an adult Entrée (Burritos, Bowls, Stacks, Nachos, Quesadillas, Three Tacos, or Salads; excludes One Taco, Kids Meals, and Meal Kits) at participating locations. One Kids Meal/ Entree. Valid for one transaction. Reward delivered via Moe Rewards, valid once per week, and expires each Saturday. You must apply the reward at checkout. Valid online and in-store. Ninety Nine Restaurant and Pub With locations throughout New England, this chain’s promotion has a regional twist: kids eat free the day after the Boston Red Sox win. Purchase one adult meal and get a free kid’s meal, with a limit of two free meals per party. Potbelly This fall, Potbelly is bringing back Kids Eat Free Weekends, where families can get a complimentary Kids Combo meal (for kids 12 and under) with each entree purchased. This offer is available in-shop only after 3:00 p.m. on Fridays and all weekend long at participating locations. Pro tip: You can also get one free Original sandwich after your first order when you join Potbelly Perks. Steak N Shake This is another deal that seems to come and go, and varies by location, but Steak N Shake restaurants frequently offer a free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult meal after 4:00 p.m. Ask at your location for details. Tony Roma’s Many locations offer a free kids’ meal with each adult entree (limit two per family) for kids 12 and under. Tucanos Brazilian Grill Kids ages six and under eat free with a paying adult. Wahlburgers The specific deal (and day of the week it’s offered) varies by location. On Thursdays, the Boston location offers a free kids’ meal with the purchase of any adult burger, sandwich or entree salad. Which Wich Some locations offer a “kids eat free” deal when you purchase any adult meal—in some cases, this applies all weekend, and other locations offer this only on Saturdays (or not at all). Check details at your nearby location. Woody’s Bar-B-Q Details vary by location, but many Woody’s Bar-B-Q restaurants host Kids Eat Free Nights, where a child receives their meal free of charge with the purchase of an adult entrée. The child (which, depending on the location, means either ages 10 and under or 12 and under) must order from the kids’ menu in order to receive their meal free with the purchase of an adult entree. Limit one child per adult entree. Participating locations only. Related: Chili’s CEO Says a Beloved Fan-Favorite Is Coming Back to the Menu Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free on Mondays Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings Kids Eat Free every Monday with a $10 minimum purchase. Available for dine-in only for children 12 and under. Kids’ meals include 10-inch Cheese Pizza or Kids Spaghetti & Meatballs. Toppings are an additional charge. Not valid for takeout, phone, online or third-party delivery orders. One kid’s meal per check. Participation may vary. Cowboy Chicken Kids eat free after 4:00 p.m. on Mondays. One free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult entree. Ages 10 and under, in-store only. Limited to four free kids’ meals per transaction. Frisch’s Big Boy Get one free kid’s meal (for children 12 and under) per adult purchase of $6.98 or more all day on Monday. Available at participating locations, dine-in only. King’s Family Restaurant Kids eat free on Mondays. One free kid’s meal with each adult entrée purchase. Only available for dine-in. Wings & Rings Kids age 10 and under eat free on Mondays with a paying adult. $10 minimum purchase. Dine-in only. One free kid’s meal per paying adult. Related: 30 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas for Kids Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free on Tuesdays Amici’s Kids eat free with the purchase of each adult meal on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until closing. Atlanta Bread Kids eat free on Tuesdays after 4:00 p.m. with an adult purchase (limit one child per adult). Not available at every location. (This promotion is generally offered on Tuesdays, but some locations may offer it on a different day.) Bob Evans At Bob Evans, kids eat free on Tuesdays with the app. Get a free kids’ meal when you order an entree (max three kids’ meals per three entrees). Not valid for use in orders placed outside of the Bob Evans app. Limit one offer per customer. Only Valid on Tuesdays. Coco’s Restaurant & Bakery Kids eat free on Tuesdays (pickup and delivery). Get one free kid’s meal with any cocosbakery.com order, on Tuesdays only. Use code FREEKIDSMEAL to redeem. Cody’s Original Roadhouse Little ones age 10 and under can get one free kid’s meal per adult entree every Tuesday night. Famous Dave’s Every Tuesday, kids can enjoy a Lil’ Wilbur Meal on the house when you order an adult entree. This offer is valid for a limited time at certain locations. Additional restrictions may apply. See store for details. Golden Corral At many Golden Corral locations, you can get two free kids’ meals with every adult buffet on Tuesdays from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Not all locations participate, and details may vary by location. La Madeleine Kids age 10 and under can enjoy a free kids’ meal with the purchase of an adult entrée every Tuesday at participating locations. Main Event Every Tuesday at Main Event, kids under 12 eat free when you buy a menu item for $11.99 or more, all day long. One free kid’s meal per food item purchase of $11.99 or more. Not valid at all locations. Miller’s Ale House Get one free kid’s meal with the purchase of $10 food item. Limit 2 per table. Pizza Ranch Most Pizza Ranch locations offer a free kids’ buffet with each purchase of an adult buffet at the regular price on Tuesdays. Availability and hours vary by location. Pluckers Kids 10 and younger eat free all day on Tuesdays. Two free kids’ meals per one adult entrée. Dine in only. Offer not valid at all locations. Ruby Tuesday Kids eat free on Tuesdays from 5:00 p.m. until close and all day every Friday, with the purchase of a full-price adult entree. Not available with limited-time offers or daily deals. Available for kids 12 and under. Dine-in only. Shari’s Get one free kid’s meal for little ones 10 and under with any dine-in order on Tuesdays. May not be combined with other offers or rewards. Available for dine-in only. Slapfish Kids eat free every Tuesday with the purchase of an adult entrée. Not available in all locations. Taqueria Tsunami Get a free kid’s meal with each adult entree when you dine in on Tuesdays. Related: Cinnabon Just Launched This Sweet-Smelling Limited Edition Holiday Item – and It’s Only $8.99 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free on Wednesdays Smashburger On Wednesdays through December 31, kids eat free in-store only at participating Smashburger locations during regular business hours. Offer for the value of a kids’ meal only with a minimum purchase of an adult meal (entrée, side and drink). Valid for Kids 12 and under only. Offer not valid online, in app or on third-party delivery services. Smokey Bones Kids eat free on Wednesday with the purchase of an adult entree. Dine-in only. Limited-time offer. Related: 55 Kid-Approved After-School Snack Recipes Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free on Sundays Cinnabon Buy any baked good item on Sundays and you can receive a free 5-count CinnaSweets. Must have a child under the age of 12 present at the time of purchase. Single use. Freebirds World Burrito Get one free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree per guest. Maximum two free kids’ meals per online order. Use code KIDSEATFREE at checkout. Melting Pot Many locations have a “kids eat free” promotion on Sundays, typically for a several-hour window in the afternoon. Kids 12 and under receive 1 free kid’s entree for every adult regular 4-Course experience. Tumbleweed Get one free kid’s meal (off the kids’ menu) per every adult entrée purchased. Not valid with any other offer, promo or discount. Dine-in only. Kids 10 and under.
