Dining out with kids can be a trying endeavor, especially for those with little ones who can’t seem to sit still and who like to make a mess at mealtimes. Fortunately, there are a plethora of dining options in Los Angeles where both parents and youngsters can eat well and leave amply satisfied. The restaurants celebrated on this list are kid-friendly and sometimes even provide dedicated menus or play areas to keep them occupied. Here now are 17 restaurants perfect for discerning parents dining out with picky kids.
Read More17 LA Restaurants Perfect for Discerning Parents Dining Out With Picky Kids
A hotpot hideout with noodle dancers, a cafe on the LA River, and so much more
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
Head to Kura (multiple locations) for a sushi feast that’s fun for the whole family. The self-serve experience means that kids can select exactly what they fancy and food is ready upon arrival. The restaurant’s gamification elements encourage kids to eat more sushi for electronic and physical rewards.
HomeState
HomeState (multiple locations) offers a taste of Austin — breakfast tacos, migas, and queso — in LA. The menu’s bevy of taco choices and shareable items make it possible to please every family member for a casual breakfast or lunch. The laid-back atmosphere means that kids can wander freely indoors or out on the patio.
Haidilao Hot Pot Arcadia
Chinese hotpot chain Hai Di Lao makes it as easy as possible for parents. The outposts are located inside shopping malls and the amount of attention servers bestow upon kids is astounding. Little ones are given aprons to wear, along with a complimentary meal (with a toy) of staple fare like dinosaur chicken nuggets, red bean bao, and fruit (for those under 5). It’s almost like dinner and a show, with staff dancing with noodles throughout the meal.
Joy
This casual and cozy Taiwanese restaurant (a sister restaurant to Pine & Crane) is always a kid favorite. While there isn’t a dedicated children’s menu, there are enough items to keep them happy: shrimp wontons, thousand-layer pancakes with egg and cheese, desserts like fruit shaved ice, and fun drinks like Japanese Calpico. Bonus: the restaurant is spacious with a lively atmosphere.
Kitchen Mouse Cafe & Catering
Families have plenty of options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free fare at this Highland Park gem. The kid-friendly space has a fenced play area and serves a special kids’ menu with tried-and-true staples like mac and cheese and silver dollar pancakes.
Salazar
Salazar is a hot spot for families (and dogs) because of its relaxed atmosphere and expansive, breezy outdoor patio surrounded by trees. There’s also enough space for children to walk around if they get restless. While there isn’t a dedicated kids’ menu, there are plenty of dishes little ones can enjoy including quesadillas, guacamole, and chips.
Spoke Bicycle Cafe
Flanking the LA River, Spoke Bicycle Cafe is a vibrant daytime spot for families. The outdoor restaurant has a full breakfast and sandwich menu, and items specifically for kids like burgers, grilled cheeses, and fries. Parents can grab a coffee or a beer while they watch cyclists buzz by, and kids can have fun in the play area. The venue’s periodic live musical performances are a plus.
Southern Mini Town Restaurant
The Shanghai culinary canon offers something for every palate. Soup dumplings and fried fish filets are a hit with kiddos, while adults can share platters of sauteed eels and rice cakes. The fermented “Sesame Rice Ball with Wine Soup” makes for a stellar dessert.
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Blossom Market Hall
The owners of Blossom Market Hall have created an ideal place for families to come together. At this San Gabriel food hall, there are several vendor choices to satisfy different cravings, including Caribbean, Korean, and Mexican food. As a bonus, the venue often hosts musical performances and even has a tiny toilet stall for little ones.
Ospero
Ospero may very well be the most kid-friendly restaurant in Wolfgang Puck’s massive empire. Tucked inside the Pendry in West Hollywood, the restaurant serves many of the chef’s most famous dishes including the smoked salmon pizza, along with plenty of options for little ones like chicken fingers, cheese or pepperoni pizzas, buttered rigatoni, and more. Kid-sized cookies and cake are on hand for dessert.
DeSano Pizza Bakery
With killer pizzas, a spacious dining room, and plenty of picnic tables, this Hollywood pizzeria is often packed with kids running around. The casual atmosphere lends itself to merry-making and everyone always goes gaga for the gelato and cannolis.
Ronan
The kids’ menu at Ronan is chock-full of favorites for the younger set including plain cheese pizzas, buttered noodles, and marinara pasta. Carrots and broccoli, prepared unfussily, are also available for those rare kiddos in the mood for vegetables.
Poltergeist at Button Mash
Even though chef Diego Argotti is cooking up some of the most boundary-breaking food in LA, he keeps things accessible for kids dining out with their parents. With buttered noodles, grilled cheese sandwiches, french fries, and chocolate cake on Argoti’s Button Mash bar menu, children can easily fuel up before hitting the arcades.
Park's BBQ
Korean barbecue is a great activity for families with older kids looking to do something exciting during dinner. And with the decibels already loud at Parks BBQ, children will fit right in. For kids not interested in grilled meats, japchae and dumplings are also good options. The restaurant takes reservations, which is a plus, especially on weekends.
Birdie G's
This vibrant Santa Monica restaurant is perfect for older kids who embrace loud conversations and parents who enjoy good food. Kids 12 and under can order from a special menu that has fun dishes like potato-crusted chicken fingers and matzo pizza margherita.
King's Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant
The aloha spirit permeates the entire operation at King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant. Tables filled with multi-generational families are a common site. Kids can’t resist the all-day breakfast, Spam musubi, beef galbi, and chicken katsu.
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Noble Bird Rotisserie
Noble Bird Rotisserie looks out for kids with allergies. The owners opened the restaurant with their children’s dietary requirements in mind and the transparent menu is completely dairy-, peanut-, and tree-nut-free (except for coconuts). Kids' options include a chickpea butter and jam sandwich or chicken plate with sides like fruit, carrots, and hummus.
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