Best 2020 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free, Arranged by Day of the Week

Michael QuanFamily, Free Money, Misc, Saving Money8 Comments

Some links below may be from sponsors. Please see our disclosure for more info.

Kids Eat Free

Where Do Kids Eat Free?

*Special UPDATE – 03-19-2020

With Coronavirus / COVID-19 disrupting millions of lives at home, there are some restaurants and organizations stepping up to help fill the uncertainty of your child’s next meal with special Kids Eat Free programs or deals:

  • Kids Eat FREE School Lunch Program – check with your local school district for FREE breakfast and/or lunch. In San Diego County, Los Angeles County, and numerous other school districts nationwide, they are providing DAILY meals to go via drive-up or pick up.
  • FREE Kids Meals Community Organizations – No kid should go hungry and many local community organizations and/or churches are offering FREE kids’ meal for pickup (nationwide); Consider checking your local community Facebook groups for details.
  • IHOP Kids Eat Free Breakfast – Yesterday our local IHOP was handing out free breakfast (pancakes and eggs) to any child for FREE (no purchase was required)
  • 2 FREE Kids Meals Burger King –  Beginning March 23rd BK will begin offering 2 FREE kids meals with any order to help with the disruptions from coronavirus
  • FREE delivery – many restaurants are providing or waiving delivery charges on during these unprecedented times
  • If you know of more, please let me know and I will update… thank you.

Finally, consider some of the “normal” KIDS EAT FREE options below to support your local restaurants. With pickup and/or delivery being the only option currently, simply ask them if it’s still applicable in this situation. I’ve had them say YES on more than one occasion.

Stay healthy and safe!

With two growing kids, my wife and I often find ourselves asking, “Where do kids eat free?”  We’ve identified a handful of local restaurants that have kids eat free specials, and we capitalize on a deal at least once per week.

In this post, I’ll expand this “Kids Eat Free” list to include restaurants across the United States, and arrange them by day of the week.

I will do my best to actively keep this list as up to date as I can but bear in mind that promotions change frequently, so call ahead to confirm.

If you live in a major metropolitan area, chances are you’ll have more luck catching some of these deals from national chains.  But, don’t dismiss your great local deals too!

When Do Kids Eat Free?

Kids eat free promotions are often tied to a specific day of the week.

For example, Tuesday is a common Kids Eat Free day because fewer people tend to dine out this particular day.  Saturday is another popular Kids Eat Free day.

But, fear not.  You can find kids eat free deals all days of the week if you’re keen enough to look.

Keep in mind that “kids eat free” usually refers to kids related deals like BOGO (buy one, get one), or highly discounted menu options.

The 2020 Kids Eat Free Restaurant List

– Updated as of August 11, 2019 –

Kids Eat Free Monday

  • Bertucci’s Pizza – Kids eat free this Summer – Monday to Friday – includes drink and dessert too!  Good for kids 12 and younger with the purchase of an adult entree $10.99 or more.  Dine-in only.
  • Fuddruckers – Get a kid’s entree for $1.99 with adult purchase
  • Chili’s – Receive one free kid’s entree per adult meal purchase (promo may vary by location)
  • Norms – One FREE Jr. Entrée from the Kid’s Menu (guests 10 and under) with each Adult Entrée purchased.
  • Souplantation – Kids Eat Free Mondays & Tuesday.  One free kid’s meal with a paid adult meal – all summer long!
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.
  • Buffalo Wild Wings – A reader reported that kids eat for just $1.99 on Mondays at his local BWW.

Kids Eat Free Tuesday

  • Applebees – Kids eat free, 12 and younger, when purchasing an adult entree at full price
  • Carrows – 11 am to close – receive 2 kids meals with the purchase of a regular-priced adult entree

  • IHOP – receive 1 kids meal with the purchase of a regular-priced adult entree from 4 pm to 9 pm (promo may vary with location, but we found this deal is active frequently)
  • IKEA – Kids eat free on Tuesdays at participating locations.  And, even if there’ no promo going on, it’s super cheap!
  • Famous Dave’s – FREE Lil’ Wilbur Meal with purchase of an adult entree Tuesdays.
  • Luna Grill – Kids Eat Free* every Tuesday from 4 pm to close!  Must dine-in and have a child present.
  • Bento Noodle House – receive 50% off kids meal for each $10 spent on other food
  • Marie Callender’s – Ahhh, a childhood favorite of mine.  Warm cornbread with honey butter!  It’s great to visit on Tuesdays and Saturdays because you can receive 1 kid meal (including dessert) with the purchase of a regular-priced adult meal.
  • Ruby Tuesdays – One free kid entree per adult entree purchase from 5 pm to close!
  • Coco’s Bakery – Receive 2 kids meals with the purchase of one regularly priced adult entree
  • Chick-fil-A – Receive one free kid’s meal with each adult purchase, from 5 pm to close.
  • Souplantation – Kids Eat Free Mondays & Tuesday.  One free kid’s meal with a paid adult meal – all summer long!
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.
  • Chompies – Kids eat free (age 10 and under) – with 18 entrees to choose from, there’s bound to be something your kid will like!  Available every Tuesday with the purchase of an adult entree.

Kids Eat Free Wednesday

  • Chevys Fresh Mex – Get a kid’s entree for $1 with purchase of one adult entree
  • Bento Noodle House – receive 50% off kids meal for each $10 spent on other food
  • Buffalo Wild Wings – Kids eat for just $1.99 with adult entree purchase
  • Rainforest Cafe – Kids eat for just $2.99 from 5 pm to close with the purchase of a full-priced adult meal
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.
  • Logan’s Roadhouse – Kids eat free every Wednesday. For guests 10 and under.  One kid’s meal per adult entree purchase.

Kids Eat Free Thursday

  • Hometown Buffet – Kids eat for $1.99, 4 pm to close, up to 2 kids per 1 adult/senior buffet purchased at full price
  • Piccadilly – Kids 12 and under can get a kids meal for just $1.99 with purchase of an adult entree
  • Johnny Rockets – Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult entree and drink. From 4 pm – 8 pm.
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.
  • El Pollo Grill – Kids 2 to 10 eat free. Offer varies by location, but typically one free kids meal per adult combo and drink.

Kids Eat Free Friday

  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.
  • Bertucci’s Pizza – Kids eat free this Summer – Monday to Friday – includes drink and dessert too!  Good for kids 12 and younger with the purchase of an adult entree $10.99 or more.  Dine-in only.

Kids Eat Free Saturday

  • Denny’s – Kids eat free at Denny’s on Tuesdays 4 pm – 10 pm (Saturdays also at certain locations)
  • Marie Callender’s – Ahhh, a childhood favorite of mine.  Warm cornbread with honey butter!  It’s great to visit on Tuesdays and Saturdays because you can receive 1 kid meal (including dessert) with the purchase of a regular-priced adult meal.
  • Maggiano’s – Kids under 5 eat free with the purchase of an adult entree
  • The Kebab Shop – Kids 12 and under eat free Sundays (and Saturdays!) with the purchase of an adult entree and drink
  • Piccadilly – Kids 12 and under can get a kids meal for just $1.99 with purchase of an adult entree
  • IHOP – receive 1 kids meal with the purchase of a regular-priced adult entree from 4 pm to 9 pm (promo may vary with location, but we found this deal is active frequently)
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.

Kids Eat Free Sunday

  • Dickey’s BBQ Pit – Kids Meal with $10 purchase per adult. Available at participating Dickey’s locations only. Kids 12 and under.
  • Qboda – Free kids meal with adult entree (days may vary by location)
  • The Kebab Shop – Kids 12 and under eat free Sundays (and Saturdays!) with the purchase of an adult entree and drink
  • Daphne’s California Greek – Kids 12 and under eat free at participating restaurants on Sundays
  • Hooters – Free kid’s meals from 11 am – 11 pm every Sunday at participating locations
  • White Castle – Purchase an adult meal for at least $4 and get one free kid’s meal from 4 – 8 pm
  • Baja Fresh – Buy an adult entree and drink and get a free kid’s meal.
  • Slim Chickens – One free kid’s meal with the purchase one adult entree. Child age 10 or under must be present.
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.
  • The Pasta House Co. – Kids eat free Sundays!

Kids Eat Free Any Day

  • McDonald’s – So this will vary by location, but you should download their app in order to get access to FREE kids happy meals.  These BOGO deals come by semi-frequently, so it’s worth checking in before paying full price.
  • In-n-Out – Okay, this one isn’t as much as eating for free, but drinking for free.  Did you know kids get free hot cocoa on rainy days?
  • Cheesecake Factory – babies/toddlers (in highchairs) get a free baby plate with some fruit and bread
  • Claim Jumper – Free baby plates for kids under 2 years old
  • Costco Foodcourt – This isn’t technically FREE, but it’s darn close!  For $1.50 you can get a drink and hot dog.  You can feed the whole family for a few bucks.
  • JJS Grill – Kids 12 and under eat FREE ALL DAY, EVERY DAY w/ purchase of an adult entree (dine-in only).  Kids meals include a drink and the choice of fries or fruit cup.

Bonus Tips

  1. Kids eat free deals aren’t limited to just traditional restaurants… don’t forget about hotels & lodges too!  A lot of smaller and boutique hotels are offering FREE breakfast for you and your kids!  Just pop out of bed and find a sumptuous breakfast awaiting you… items such as coffee, juice, tea, eggs, pancakes, bacon, sausage, waffles, danish, fruit, and cereal to name a few!
    • Country Inns – we just stayed at one of these last month and the kids loved the breakfast every morning!  I believe it went from 6 am to 10:30 am
    • Embassy Suites – free cooked to order breakfast for your entire family included in your stay
    • Holiday Inn Express –  Got a lot of sightseeing to do with the family? The Express Start™ Breakfast is a great way to kick off your morning.
    • Residence Inn – Free hot breakfast for the entire family
    • Marriot – Kids ages 4 -12 eat for free at participating locations
    • Etc. – There are a lot more, but I didn’t want you to overlook this great FREE dining option for the kids!
  2. Kids also get to eat FREE many times at buffet restaurants.  Each restaurant will note a specific age, but a lot of them are pretty reasonable.  For example, they don’t charge for kids under 4 at Souplantation.
  3. Don’t forget to rack up reward points at restaurants too. Many times you can earn free meals which can be spent on your kids (or yourself).  And, a lot of rewards programs will track your birthday and give you freebies or super special offers on or near your special day.
    • Baskin Robbins – Join the Birthday Club for your kids and they’ll get free ice cream on their birthday!  (be sure to add yourself, this one isn’t just for kids)
  4. Even if a restaurant doesn’t have kids eat free, they likely have a kids menu which could be significantly discounted.  Ask your server about portion sizes.  I was surprised to learn that some kid entrees are identical to the adult versions!!

Final Thoughts

Raising a family can be expensive, and it’s great to be rewarded for having kids.

Scoring the best kids eat free deals is an easy way to keep your hard-earned money in your wallet longer.

Remember, it’s always a great habit to ask if any restaurant has promos going on.  You never know what you’ll find!

Don’t forget to bookmark this page for weekly ideas for eating out with your family, and share this page with your friends.  🙂

Readers, what other restaurants do you know what offer Kids Eat Free promos?

Follow me
Latest posts by Michael Quan (see all)

8 Comments on “Best 2020 Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free, Arranged by Day of the Week”

  1. Reply

    Working on a blog post and I am gonna link to yours. Loved the list!! It’s a travel blog post.

    Lisa | Your Mom Village

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.