Best Chain Restaurant Kids Menu Deals - Including FREE Meals for Kids!

Check out our impressive list of children's meal deals at chain restaurants! Photo by RDNE via Pexels
Check out our impressive list of children's meal deals at chain restaurants! Photo by RDNE via Pexels
10/22/24 - By Maureen Wilkey

Too busy to cook but don't want to break the bank? Kids eat free or cheap at many chain restaurants across the US! Most of these kids eat free deals offer a free entree from the kids menu for children ages 10 or 12 and under with the purchase of an adult entree. Some restaurants offer other deals like half-off or 99-cent kids meals.

Here are 29 chain restaurants where kids can eat free or cheap on one or more days of the week, including the popular IHOP kids eat free and Denny's kids eat free deals.

For more freebies, visit our Guide to Free Activities, Events, Classes, and Camps for Kids. You can also find more kids eat free deals on our list of 64 birthday freebies for kids.

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Except where noted, we have verified each of these restaurants' kids eat free deals on their website or social media, but still double check before you head out, and mention deals if you don't get them added to your bill automatically. We hope this lists helps make everyone happy at dinnertime!

Chain Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free Every Day

1. Chili's

Join Chili's Rewards to get a text or email with a kids eat free coupon for each adult entree. The kids menu has 10 entree choices, and each comes with a side and drink. We were pleasantly surprised with the grilled chicken pasta!

2. Denny's

At Denny's kids eat free with an adult entree purchase of $6 or more. And what kid wouldn't want a Junior Grand Slam or Birthday Cake Pancakes? Plus, many Denny's locations are open 24 hours.

3. Noodles & Company

Make sure you follow the directions on the Noodles & Company app to order one free kids meal with any adult entree. Note that soups and shareables do not count as adult entrees. We love that Noodles kids meals come with a vegetable and a dessert!

4. IHOP

At IHOP kids eat free from 4-10pm with the purchase of an adult entree every day of the week for a limited time. If your kids like breakfast for dinner, they can order French toast sticks, chicken and waffles, and more.

5. Bruster's Real Ice Cream

Ok, this isn't a meal (except maybe on special occasions), but kids 40 inches and under can get a free kid scoop of homemade ice cream at Bruster's with a purchase. I wish I knew about this when I had preschoolers!

6. Potbelly

Kids can get a free kid combo with the purchase of an adult entree after 5pm on weeknights and all day on weekends. In addition to classic turkey and cheese, ham and cheese, or PB&J, children can pick a macaroni and cheese entree.

7. Fogo de Chao

At Fogo de Chao locations across the country, kids under 7 can eat all the meat they want—sliced off a sword, no less—for free every single day. Children ages 7-12 get half off the Full Churrasco Experience, which is still a great deal.

8. Fricker's

At this midwestern sports-bar chain, kids eat free all day, every day. The Lil' Fricker's kids menu for children 10 and under offers boneless chicken wings, a cheese quesadilla, a hot dog, and more.

9. Holiday Inn On-Site Restaurants

Traveling on a budget? Save yourself a few bucks by staying at a Holiday Inn. Kids eat free at all on-site restaurants at Holiday Inns nationwide.

RELATED: Family Dinner Table Games for Restaurants and At Home

Best Chain Restaurant Kids Menu Deals - Including FREE Meals for Kids!
A kids meal tastes so much better when it's free! Photo by Misha Zimin via Pexles

Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free on a Specific Day or Days of the Week

10. IKEA

Lots of parents need a break after furniture shopping with kids. Pick up two free kids entrees for each adult entree purchased at IKEA's on-site restaurant on Wednesdays.

11. Smashburger

Kids eat free at this tasty burger joint on Wednesdays, but this one requires a little more buy-in from the adult. You must purchase an adult entree, side, and drink to get a free kids meal.

12. Ruby Tuesday

Guess what day of the week our readers east of the Mississippi can find a free kids meal at Ruby Tuesday? That's right—Tuesday! After 5 pm, get a free kids' meal with an adult entree.

13. Bob Evans

Use the Bob Evans app to get one down-home kids meal for each adult entree on Tuesdays. You can get up to three kids meals per visit. With more than a dozen options on the kids menu, you'll be back for more soon!

14. Famous Dave's

Meat-loving kids can get a Lil' Wilbur meal on the house with the purchase of an adult entree at this barbecue joint on Tuesdays.

15. Pinstripes

Here's a strike! Kids eat free on Wednesdays with the purchase of an adult entree at many Pinstripes locations, and bowling is just $5. All locations have kids eat free the week of Halloween.

16. Miller's Ale House

Kids eat free at this pub-food favorite on Tuesdays with the purchase of a $10 food item. For something different, have your kids try fried shrimp or grilled chicken.

17. Dickey's Barbecue Pit

On Sundays, for every $10 spent for an adult entree you can get a free kid entree, up to two per table. Kids can choose one delicious barbecued meat, a homestyle side, and a drink in a little yellow cup.

18. BurgerFi

On Mondays, adults can order an entree, fries, and a drink to get one kids meal for free. Choose from a burger, a chicken sandwich, a hot dog, or a bowl, paired with natural-cut fries or another side, and a natural juice or Freestyle drink.

19. Huddle House

This Georgia-based diner offers free kids meals on Mondays and Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entree. Pick a breakfast (complete with grits), a pancake or waffle, grilled cheese, a cheeseburger, or chicken tenders.

Chain Restaurants With Deals on Kids Meals

20. Red Robin

For every adult entree you buy at Red Robin on Wednesdays, you can get half off up to four kids meals. If you have more than one kid, this may be a better deal than getting just one free kids meal. Plus, enjoy bottomless drinks when you dine in!

21. Chevy's Fresh Mex

This is an almost-free deal: Kids eat for $1 with the purchase of an adult entree on Wednesdays. Get tacos, nachos, or quesadillas for you and your little one.

22. Fuddrucker's

Each Fuddrucker's location is different, but most offer $1.99 kids meals on Monday nights. Call ahead before getting some delicious burgers you can top yourself at this fun burger chain.

23. McAlister's Deli

We have seen many McAlister's locations reporting 99-cent kids meals with a coupon code, or $2 kids meals on certain days of the week. The tasty kids menu includes deli favorites, grilled cheese, and more.

Chain Restaurants That Offer Kids Eat Free Deals Based on Location

24. Applebee's

Because these are franchises, each Applebee's location has a different policy on kids eat free. But, many of them offer deals on Monday or Tuesday nights. Call your location to find out if they have a kids eat free or other deal for eatin' good in the neighborhood.

25. Chick-fil-A

Many Chick-fil-A locations offer free or 99-cent kids meals on Tuesdays. Call your specific location to verify that they offer the deal.

26. Friendly's

This friendly east coast chain serves up American food, ice cream, and lots of memories for families. Plus, kids eat free every Wednesday in many locations. Call to check before you commit!

27. Steak 'n Shake

Several Steak 'n Shake locations offer free kids meals with a $9 adult meal purchase on Sundays. We love the mushroom Swiss burger and all of the milkshakes here!

28. Moe's Southwest Grill

In 2022, this chain announced kids eat free deals on Sundays in all locations, but it's unclear if that's still the case. Many sources still report that kids can get a free meal with an adult entree, including a kid-sized burrito, quesadilla, or taco.

29. TGI Fridays

Several TGI Fridays locations have announced Kids Eat Free Tuesdays on their Facebook pages, but not all have a clear end date to the promotion. Kids can top off their meals with an appetizing cup of dirt dessert!