If you’re anything like me, you likely love the idea of getting out to enjoy the day with your little ones. That is, until hunger strikes. Suddenly, you’ve got a car full of tired and hungry kids waiting not-so-patiently as you drive around looking for a cheap and easy way to fill tummies. To be honest, the task of ordering takeout for the entire family has always stressed me out — with the ever-rising cost of food in general, feeding a family, especially multiple times a week, often feels like it’s breaking the bank.
Thankfully, there are restaurants out there that are more than willing to afford parents a break on the typical cost of dining out with kids — you only need to do a bit of digging to find out where and under what stipulations. In the upcoming post, I’m revealing the top 12 restaurant chains where you can receive a kid’s meal completely free. Bear in mind that you will need to personally verify all of the information provided in this post; as always, pricing, availability, and details surrounding how you will receive your child’s free food are subject to change. With that, load up the car seats and hop in — we’re going on a delightfully frugal journey to discover the best restaurant chains willing to feed your kids, free.
1. IHOP
Cupcake pancakes, cinnamon dippers, Jr. Waffles — the IHOP menu is practically a kid’s dream, and a parent’s dream, too, when it all comes free. Certain IHOP locations, including the one on West Wisconsin Avenue in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, allow kids to eat free daily with the purchase of an adult meal after 4 p.m. As with many kids-eat-free deals on the list, IHOP may require you to dine in order to cash out on this child-friendly deal, though whether or not that’s true for the location nearest you will be up to you to investigate.
Now, allow me to address the pink elephant in the room — no, the IHOP kid’s menu does not only feature breakfast fare. Given that the chain’s free kids meal deal only occurs in the evening as of the time of publication, it helps to know our little ones can have their choice of macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, or even a junior cheeseburger before the night’s end. What’s more is that the IHOP kids’ menu features generous side dish options — take advantage of its bacon, sausage, and egg side dish combo (yes, they all come as one “side”), fries, broccoli, mozzarella sticks, strawberry and banana slices, and more for no additional fee. Just keep in mind that as of the time of publication, IHOP children’s meals did not include a drink — check with your local IHOP chain, but plan on paying for a beverage as a separate cost.
2. Denny’s
At Denny’s, kids are welcome to eat free, though parents should note that the stipulations required vary. Home of the Jr. Grand Slam, this hometown favorite allows grownups to cash in on two free kids’ meals per adult meal, with each child able to enjoy a single meal for free. Denny’s website stresses that the days, times, and availability of this offer differ widely based on location, so it’s imperative you call ahead before rounding up your little ones…