Whether you want to treat the kids to a fun experience or just want to take the night off from cooking because you know the next couple of months of your life will be spent making and packing lunches, celebrate a family night out at one the best kid-friendly restaurants in Chicago. And yes, chicken fingers are most definitely included.
El Che Steakhouse & Bar
845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
For parents who love supporting other very-recent parents, El Che Steakhouse & Bar in Chicago’s West Loop is the place to go. Chef & Owner John Manion is the recent two-time dad to a less-than-two-year-old daughter and less-than-four-year-old son, Maelyn and Maximo. Guests will notice the kid’s names make their way onto the menu at this kid-friendly restaurant in Chicago. An example includes the most popular dish at Manion’s former Time Out Market stall, the “Maximo beef rib.”
Gemini
2075 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
Tucked only a few blocks away from Lincoln Park Zoo on the corner of Dickens and Lincoln is a popular restaurant in Lincoln Park called Gemini. Husband-and-wife-duo Ryan and Anna O’Donnell’s first restaurant under the Ballyhoo umbrella, Gemini, opened in 2009 just days before their wedding. The neighborhood restaurant has become popular with families and kids who love the variety of choices on their menus:
-
Advertisement
-
Advertisement
Each main item of the kids menu tops off at $12, and meals come with fresh fruit and the choice of side like fries, brussel sprouts for the brave ones or even asparagus. Kids are sure to feel older with Gemini’s Zero Proof cocktails including strawberry lemonade, FKG, and the Danny-O.
Old Pueblo Cantina
1200 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
If you are looking for the best restaurants to attend with kids in the Lakeview area of Chicago, Old Pueblo is a neighborhood cantina highlighting authentic Mexican and Sonoran flavors. Parents love Mariachi Mondays from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Taco Tuesdays with $7.95 margaritas by the glass, $29.95 pitchers and $10 taco platters, and their kids menu with options like two tacos or a steak quesadilla topping out at only $9.95.
Read More: 7 Best Places to Order Brazilian Food in Chicago
PB&J: Pizza, Beer, & Jukebox
205 N Peoria St., Chicago, IL 60607
The West Loop’s recently opened casual restaurant and bar, PB&J, is actually an acronym for ‘Pizza, Beer & Jukebox.’ However, it does still serve the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich too, making it a great kid-friendly restaurant in Chicago. Kids can pick a classic Wonder Bread PB&J ($5) or get in touch with their Memphis roots with the Elvis Style ($7), which is toasted wheat bread, chunky peanut butter, honey and sliced bananas served open faced. A kid-specific menu includes kids cheeseburger ($8), chicken tenders ($12) and a grilled cheese ($7).Take a look at PB&J’s menu and see for yourself what looks good.
Sophia Steak
1146 Wilmette Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091
Ballyhoo Hospitality has always created family-forward & kid-friendly neighborhood restaurants, and their newest restaurant, Sophia Steak, is no exception. Sophia is a neighborhood steakhouse in the Chicago area in partnership with notorious Chicago restaurateur, Glenn Keefer. You may even want to order off the kids menu when you see it (kidding, ha…or?):
-
Homemade chicken fingers with fries ($12)
-
Steak plate with jasmine rice ($15)
-
Chicken plate served with jasmine rice ($12)
-
Pasta & meatball with fusilli pasta, red sauce and parmesan ($12)
-
¼ pound cheeseburger with aged white cheddar and served with fries ($12)
Kids will even have their own dessert menu for a perfect treat to end their meals. Parents will love the free valet parking available for all guests, which allows them to easily get dropped off in front of the restaurant without dealing with parking & pushing strollers across the restaurant parking lot.
Table at Crate
35 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, IL 60523
At Crate & Barrel’s first in-store restaurant in their large store in Oak Brook, Chef Bill Kim offers a great example of how chefs are spending more time thinking about the kid’s menu than they have in the past, offering unique and delicious items on The Table at Crate’s kids menu, whether you’re 6 or 60. If you are searching for the best restaurants for kids near Chicago, popular items on the kids menu include Popcorn Chicken Bites with Waffle Fries ($7), Corkscrew Pasta ($7), Mac and Cheese ($12) and a classic cheeseburger served with American cheese and Waffle Fries ($10). There’s room for the whole family at the table.
Read More: 10 Spectacular Mexican Restaurants in Lincoln Park
urbanbelly
1542 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Chef Bill Kim’s approach to a kids menu is simple: “When I was growing up, there was no kids’ menu at our home,” said Kim, who was born in Korea and moved to the U.S. when he was 7. “If you didn’t eat what the adults were eating, you’re not going to eat.”
Families have long frequented urbanbelly in Wicker Park for its convenience. The restaurant features a welcoming atmosphere and approachable kid’s menu. Chef Bill goes beyond basic chicken nuggets to offer delicious Asian American-influenced options in smaller portions, such as the Kid’s Chicken Rice, fried katsu chicken with steamed jasmine rice ($6), and Kid’s Noodle Soup, chicken broth and wheat ramen noodles ($4). For the pickier eaters in your household, Chef Bill even has fries ($4).
Featured Image Credit: Kinship Company