In an era where inflation keeps nibbling at our wallets and dining out feels more like a luxury than a leisure, finding kid-friendly, budget-conscious restaurant options is not just a desire—it’s a pressing need.
We get it: feeding a growing family can make a sizable dent in your monthly budget. But what if we told you there’s a way to satisfy those young taste buds without stretching your wallet?
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Dive into our comprehensive guide on where kids can eat for free (yes, you read that right!), and discover the best deals, tips, and strategies to make your next family dinner outing both enjoyable and economical.
Whether you’re a seasoned parent or a guardian new to the game, this is one list that’s bound to have you clicking ‘bookmark’. Let the foodie adventures begin!
Mastering the Calendar: Where Kids Eat Free Every Day of the Week
Planning family outings and dinners can be a mix of excitement and economic considerations, especially when accounting for the growing appetites of young ones. Yet, a multitude of restaurants have heeded the call of parents everywhere, offering special deals where kids can eat free or at a reduced rate. The key to capitalizing on these deals is all about timing. Knowing precisely which day of the week a particular restaurant offers its promotion can make all the difference in your dining experience and budget.
Here’s our curated list of where kids eat for free for each day of the week:
Note: Always check with individual establishments for the most current and accurate offers before heading out there.
Daily Kids Meal Deals (available every day of the week)
| Dining Establishment | Detailed Promotion Description |
|---|---|
| Applebee’s | At select locations, children might enjoy a meal at no cost when an adult dish is ordered. In some branches, special discounted rates like $1.99 for kids’ menu items might apply. |
| Bruster’s Real Ice Cream | Tiny tots who aren’t as tall as the store counter can look forward to a delightful complimentary ice cream cone. |
| BurgerFi | On Mondays, young diners up to 12 can avail a free meal when accompanied by an adult ordering for themselves. This offer is exclusively for those dining in. |
| Cafe Rio | A treat for young ones: Nino Quesadillas come free with every in-store adult entrée purchase. |
| C.B. & Potts Restaurant & Bakery | With an accompanying adult, children 12 or younger can opt for special menu items priced at just $3. |
| CiCi’s Pizza | For every adult who indulges in a buffet, a child can enjoy their meal for free, though age criteria might differ across different branches. |
| Culver’s | As an added delight, every kids’ meal comes with a scrumptious custard treat, suitable for those aged 12 and below. |
| Denny’s | Daily offer: Children up to 10 years old can enjoy a free meal, provided there’s an accompanying adult entrée order, subject to certain restrictions. |
| Fogo de Chao | For children below 6 years, the Fogo Churrasco dining experience comes at no charge. Those between 7-12 years old can enjoy it at half the standard cost. |
| Fricker’s | A delightful deal for kids up to 10 years old: With each adult ordering an entrée and a drink, they can dine for free. |
| Frisch’s Big Boy | Every day, post 4 pm, children 12 and under can have their meal at no cost, given there’s an adult expenditure of $6.98 or above. |
| Golden Corral | Daily special: Toddlers between the age of 1-3 are eligible for a free meal when they dine with an adult. Some variations might apply depending on the outlet. |
| IHOP | An evening treat from 4 pm to 8 pm: For every adult meal ordered, a child aged 12 or below gets to dine for free. However, the offer’s applicability might differ based on the branch. |
| Jason’s Deli | Children can savor a free meal when paired with an adult entrée purchase. The specifics of this deal might vary across different outlets. |
| Pizza Street | An enticing deal for the tiniest diners: Those aged 3 or below can enjoy a meal for just 99 cents. |
| Shoney’s | Weekday offer (Monday to Friday): For dine-in patrons, children up to 4 years old get to enjoy a complimentary meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. |
| Steak n’ Shake | Children aged 12 or below can feast on free meals when an accompanying adult spends $9 or more. It’s recommended to confirm this deal at your nearest outlet. |
| Tucanos Brazilian Grill | Experience the unique Children’s Churrasco at no extra cost for kids aged 6 and below, provided there’s an adult meal purchase alongside. |
| Woody’s BBQ | Depending on specific outlet policies, children (either up to the age of 10 or 12) can relish a free meal when dining with an adult who orders an entrée. |
| Zapata’s Restaurant | Sundays are designed to be family-friendly: Every adult meal order allows a child to dine for free. |
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Monday Specials for Kids
| Dining Venue | Detailed Promotion Description |
|---|---|
| Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar | Kick off the week with a special treat: On Mondays, kids get to enjoy their meal on the house, provided there’s an accompanying adult dish purchase. |
| Burger-Fi | Children aged 12 or below can feast for free every Monday when dining with an adult who orders an entrée. |
| Cody’s Original Roadhouse | Monday treat for the youngsters: Those aged 10 and below can savor a complimentary meal, provided there’s an adult meal order alongside. |
| Frisch’s | Start the week right: With an adult spending $6.98 or more, a child aged 12 or below can enjoy a Kids Mini Meal at no extra charge. |
| Huddle House | Exclusive in-store Monday offer: An adult entrée priced at $6 or above gifts a child with a complimentary dining experience. |
| Planet Sub | Children dine without additional charges on Mondays. For each adult meal bought, up to two kids can avail this deal. |
| Romano’s Macaroni Grill | A special treat for the start of the week: Both Monday and Tuesday offer kids a complimentary entrée when accompanied by an adult entrée purchase. |
| Village Inn | For a limited period, both Monday and Tuesday are made special for kids. When an adult entrée is bought, a child can select a dish from the Village Inn Kids’ Menu for free. Confirm with the outlet for participation details. |
Trending Checking Account Deal:
Tuesday’s Kids Dine Free
| Restaurant | Offer |
|---|---|
| Amici’s | From 5 pm onwards, children dine free with each adult meal order. |
| Beef ‘O’ Brady’s | Every Tuesday, kid’s meals are available for just $3.49. |
| Black Eyed Pea | Purchase an adult entree and children dine free. |
| Blaze Pizza | Exclusively in the U.S., each Tuesday of August promises a complimentary Kid’s Cheese Pizza with the order of any full-priced Pizza. |
| Bob Evans | Using their app and spending $15 unlocks a free Kids Meal on Tuesdays. |
| Champps | Limiting to 2 children per adult, kids aged 12 and below dine free. |
| Chick-fil-A | Some outlets offer either free kid’s meals or meals at 99 cents between 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., provided an adult combo is purchased. |
| Coco’s Restaurant & Bakery | Kids eat free when ordering online, for pickup, or delivery. The deal runs from 11 am until closing and allows up to 2 free kids meals per adult entrée. Participation varies. |
| Cody’s Original Roadhouse | Like on Mondays, children aged 10 and below eat free with the purchase of an adult meal. |
| Cross Creek Barbeque and Steakhouse | Both Mondays and Tuesdays offer one free kid’s meal, including a beverage, when an adult orders an entrée priced at $11 or more. |
| Famous Dave’s | Every Tuesday brings a free Lil’ Wilbur Meal for kids, given that an adult entree is bought. |
| Fazoli’s | Kids 12 and under have the opportunity to dine for 99 cents between 5 pm – 8 pm, but the offer’s specifics might change by location. |
| Huddle House | Similar to Monday’s deal, an adult entrée of $6 or more grants a free kids meal. Only valid in participating in-store locations. |
| Marie Callender’s | Tuesdays and Saturdays become special as kids dine free when an adult entrée is ordered. |
| Max & Erma’s | Every Tuesday, the purchase of an adult entrée brings a free meal for kids aged 12 and under. |
| Miller’s Ale House | An adult order of a menu item priced $10 or more ensures a free meal for kids, but the offer’s availability might be location-specific. |
| Panera | For every Tuesday in July, kids dine free when paired with the purchase of an adult entrée. The offer can be located on their app. |
| Perkins Restaurant and Bakery | Kids can enjoy a free meal every Tuesday, provided an adult meal is ordered alongside. |
| Pizza Street | For every adult buffet purchased, a child aged between 4 to 9 can eat for free. A drink purchase is mandatory. |
| Pluckers | Kids 10 and under eat for free. |
| Ponderosa/Bonanza Steakhouse | From 4 pm till closing time, kids dine free when accompanied by an adult entree purchase. |
| Rock Bottom Cafe | An adult meal purchase allows children, 12 and under, to eat without any charges. |
| Romano’s Macaroni Grill | Both Mondays and Tuesdays offer a free kids’ entrée with every adult entrée purchased. |
| Ruby’s Diner | Kids 12 and below can relish a free meal from 4 pm to close when paired with an adult meal order. |
| Ruby Tuesday | Post 5 pm on Tuesdays, kids can enjoy a free meal with an adult meal purchase. |
| Shari’s Restaurant | Dine-in orders on Tuesdays come with one complimentary kid’s meal. Exclusive for dine-in patrons. |
| Space Aliens | A Tuesday treat: Kids can grab a pizza for $4.99 and receive a free game card when an adult entrée is ordered. |
| Village Inn | As with Mondays, Tuesdays have kids dining for free from the Village Inn Kids’ Menu when an adult entrée is ordered. It’s advisable to check with the specific location for current availability. |
| Zaxby’s | On Tuesdays, kids aged 10 and below eat for free with an adult meal order. But, availability might vary by location. |
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Wednesday’s Kids Freebie Food
| Restaurant | Promotion Description |
|---|---|
| Chevy’s Fresh Mex | On Wednesdays, with the purchase of an adult meal, children have the opportunity to select meals for a minimal price of $1. |
| Duffy’s Sports Grill | For each adult entrée purchased, one complimentary kid’s meal is offered for those who choose to dine in on Wednesdays. |
| East Coast Wings + Grill | Between 3:30 pm and closing time, with the acquisition of an adult entrée, children are allowed to dine without extra charges. |
| IKEA | When an adult entrée is purchased, it permits two children to have meals at no additional cost. |
| Luby’s Cafeteria | Customarily, every adult meal purchase facilitates a free kid’s meal for those aged 12 and under. |
| Lucille’s Bad to the Bone BBQ | On Wednesdays, when an adult meal is ordered, it entitles up to 2 children, aged 12 and under, to dine for free. |
| Red Robin | Avail kids’ meals at half their regular prices on Wednesdays. Utilize the code KIDSMEAL50 for orders placed online. |
| Smashburger | Children up to 12 years are offered free meals with the condition that an adult meal, inclusive of an entrée, side, and drink, is purchased. |
Thursday’s Kids Meal Promotions
| Restaurant | Promotion Description |
|---|---|
| Cafe Brazil | Between 5 pm – 10 pm from Sunday to Thursday, children aged 12 and under are entitled to a free meal with the purchase of an adult entrée. |
| Cotton Patch | On Thursdays, when an adult meal is ordered, it grants children the privilege to dine for free. |
| Piccadilly | On Thursdays, and additionally on Saturdays from 11 am – 4 pm, an adult meal purchase entitles up to two children, aged 12 and under, to a meal at a special rate of $1.99. |
Friday’s Kids Eat Free
| Restaurant | Offer |
|---|---|
| N/A | There are no specific offers for Fridays yet. Do consider exploring the daily deals section. |
TRENDING DEAL:
Saturday’s Kids Free Meal Offers
| Restaurant | Promotion Description |
|---|---|
| Luby’s Cafeteria | Children aged 12 and under are eligible for one free Kid’s Meal with every adult meal procured. |
| Marie Callender’s | On Saturdays, children can have their meals without additional charges, provided there’s a corresponding adult entrée purchase. |
| Piccadilly | Between 11 am – 4 pm, children aged 12 and under can avail a meal for a reduced rate of $1.99, contingent upon an adult meal order. |
| Tumbleweed Southwest Grill | For every adult meal purchased, it offers children a complimentary dining experience. |
Sunday’s Kids Free Food Deals
| Restaurant | Promotion Description |
|---|---|
| Arriba Mexican Grill | Each adult meal purchase on Sundays enables a child to dine for free. |
| Cafe Brazil | From Sunday to Thursday, between 5 pm and 10 pm, an adult entrée purchase allows children aged 12 and below to dine without charges. |
| California Tortilla | Over the weekends, both on Saturday and Sunday, the procurement of an adult entrée offers a complimentary meal for children. |
| Dickey’s Barbecue Pit | On Sundays, children up to 12 years can avail a free meal, subject to a minimum spend of $10. For online ordering, the code KEFOLO is available. |
| Firehouse Subs | On Wednesdays and Sundays, from 4 pm to 9 pm, for every adult meal bought, children aged 12 and below are treated to a free meal. |
| Freebirds | On Sundays, an adult meal purchase permits children to dine at no extra cost. For online redemptions, use the code KIDSEATFREE. Physical store purchases might not require a code. |
| JB Dawson’s | An adult meal purchased on Sundays entitles children to a free dining experience. |
| Moe’s Southwest Grill | Children aged 12 and under are eligible for free meals on Sundays, provided there’s an associated adult entrée purchase of $6 or more. |
| Paradiso | When paired with an adult meal order, children aged 8 and under are allowed to eat for free. |
| Qdoba Mexican Grill | Sundays provide children the option to eat for free, though it might be beneficial to confirm the offer’s validity at local branches. |
| Slim Chickens | With an adult entrée acquisition, children are offered meals at a promotional rate of $1.99. This offer’s availability may be restricted to specific outlets. |
| Zebbs Grill & Bar | Children aged 10 and under can savor meals for a special rate of $3.99 on Sundays. |
Trending Checking Account Deal:
Here’s a breakdown of the other kids’ meal deals worth mentioning:
| Restaurant | Offer |
|---|---|
| Boston Market | Join the VIP Club and gift your child with a free dessert on their birthday. |
| Cafe Brazil | Kids aged 12 and under can have a meal on the house from Sunday to Thursday between 5 pm and 10 pm when an adult entrée is purchased. |
| California Tortilla | Throughout various days in a week, kids can eat for free given an adult entrée is bought. It’s best to check with your local store to find out about the participating days. |
| Chili’s | By signing up for their Rewards, you can receive an offer for a FREE KIDS MEAL through email. This comes with the purchase of an adult entrée and can be redeemed any time! |
| Firehouse Subs | On certain days, kids aged 12 and below get a free meal, but it’s contingent on the purchase of an adult meal. To ascertain the participating days, it’s recommended to check with your local outlet. |
| Fuddruckers | The offerings for kids vary across locations. It’s advisable to get in touch with your nearest Fuddruckers to understand the deals they might have in store for kids. |
| Johnny Rockets | Often, Johnny Rockets proposes deals where kids can eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal. However, the days and the nature of the promotions might differ based on the location. |
| MCL Restaurant & Bakery | From Monday to Wednesday, enjoy up to two free kids meals for every adult meal purchased, but this offer is valid only for dine-in. |
| Pizza Hut BOOKIT | As part of the Reading Reward program, kids who successfully meet their monthly reading goal are entitled to a Reading Award Certificate. This can be exchanged for a free Personal Pan Pizza topped with a choice of your liking. |
| Quaker Steak and Lube | Kids eat for free at selected Quaker Steak and Lube outlets, but an adult meal purchase is necessary. It’s crucial to note that the days when this offer is valid might differ across locations. |
| Rusty Bucket | Kids can benefit from the Bucketeer Bookworm Bookmark Tracker. By reading five books, they can claim a free kid’s meal. To avail this, pick up a Bookmark Tracker from your local Rusty Bucket. |
| California Pizza Kitchen | An offer that’s valid only until July 31st allows kids to eat for free from Monday to Thursday. However, an adult meal purchase is a pre-requisite. |
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The Value of Free Kid’s Meals
For families, especially those with multiple children, the cost of dining out can quickly accumulate. While it’s a treat to enjoy a meal prepared by someone else and indulge in a different ambiance, the bill can come as a shock when it’s time to pay.
This is especially true as children’s appetites grow, and their desire to explore the adult menu intensifies. Hence, promotions where kids eat free aren’t just marketing gimmicks—they’re genuine cost-saving opportunities.
Plan Ahead and Get the Most Out of Your Meal
Before excitedly bundling the kids into the car and heading to your chosen restaurant, it’s crucial to remember one thing: always call ahead.
Promotions can change frequently, and not every branch of a chain restaurant may participate in the same offers.
By confirming the details beforehand, you’ll ensure a smooth dining experience and avoid any unpleasant surprises at the end of the meal.
READ MORE: FIND MORE AMAZON DEALS AND PROMOTIONS HERE
The Kids’ Perspective on Dining Out
While parents might view dining out as a break from routine and a chance to indulge, children might not always share the same enthusiasm.
For many young ones, familiar settings and meals are more comforting.
It’s not uncommon for children to be hesitant or even outright refuse to eat unfamiliar dishes, leading to wasted food and money.
However, there’s an additional layer to consider. The very concept of “kids eat free” deals can make dining out a more enticing experience for the younger crowd. Knowing that their meal is “special” or “on the house” might encourage them to be more adventurous with their food choices or simply enjoy the outing more.
READ MORE: SEE THESE CASH BACK SHOPPING DEALS AND PROMOTIONS FOR BONUS CASH AND REWARDS
Bottom Line
Dining out with children can be a mixed bag of experiences. On the one hand, the “kids eat free” promotions present a significant savings opportunity for parents and can turn a restaurant visit into a more joyous occasion for the whole family.
On the other hand, the unpredictability of children’s appetites and their preferences might lead to some challenges. Furthermore, the variability in restaurant promotions, even within the same chain, emphasizes the importance of planning and research.
When approached with an understanding of both its benefits and potential challenges, these deals can indeed offer families a delightful break from routine without breaking the bank.
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