Dining out with kids doesn’t have to mean chicken nuggets at a fast-food counter—and it certainly shouldn’t break the bank. Whether you’re a local or a visitor to the western suburbs, you’ll find many restaurants that welcome families with open arms and even often offer free or discounted meals when you bring your little ones along. From soul food to Mediterranean favorites, pancakes to elevated pub fare, these places make dining out a pleasure for everyone at the table.
Here's an overview of our top ten restaurants in Melrose Park worth driving for.
Chicago's Home of Chicken & Waffles in Oak Park features delicious chicken-and-waffle combos with options including fried or grilled chicken, as well as dinner platters served with comforting sides such as creamy grits, potato salad, red beans and rice, or fries. The warm, welcoming environment is as appealing as the menu.
Family Deals: On Wednesdays, children 10 and under enjoy a free kid’s meal with each paid adult meal of $18 or more, and Junior’s Kiddie Special is available every day for just $9.25
Menu Highlights: Beyond full meals, you can also order individual pieces of chicken or specialty waffles, such as Toney's Pecan Waffles, along with a variety of sides and add-ons, including gravy, cornbread, and mac and cheese. And don’t forget desserts (mmm, peach cobbler!).
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Citrine offers Mediterranean-influenced cuisine with American flair in an upscale setting that is nonetheless family-friendly. Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible, and the menu changes seasonally.
Family Deals: On Tuesdays through Fridays before 6:00 p.m., kids aged 8 and under receive a free kid's meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.
Menu Highlights: Don’t skip the steak frites or the corn-and-ricotta ravioli made with sweet-corn puree and Spanish chorizo.
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At Kettlestrings Tavern, the pub grub is elevated: Think Angus beef burgers with bacon jam and shareable plates of truffle fries with parmesan, parsley, and garlic aioli. Its local owners bring neighbors, friends, and families together in an inviting atmosphere where there’s always a game on and great music playing.
Family Deals: On Sundays, enjoy a free kid’s meal with each adult entrée. The Little Pints Menu, available daily, features children’s favorites served with fries and a drink for just $7. Add a kid’s meal for just $5 with a Two for Tuesdays special.
Menu Highlights: Try the steak salad—sliced steak served on top of cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, and crispy mixed greens, with Kettlestring’s balsamic vinegar dressing—or the Oak Park Burger with house pickles and basil aioli on a potato roll.
Mora serves Asian/Filipino fusion dishes with a modern twist. From mouth-watering favorites like the Philly and dragon sushi rolls to the delightful Kamayan platter—it's served on banana leaves and eaten with fingers!—every dish is a treat for you and your adventurous little eaters.
Family Deals: Kid’s meals include orange chicken with jasmine rice and veggie or chicken fried rice and are priced between $7 and $8.
Menu Highlights: Mora offers a variety of tasty vegan specials, including the basil tofu and the rice noodles tossed with tofu, veggies, and vegan oyster sauce.
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The smokehouse menu at Babygold Barbeque salutes traditional American barbecue fare with brisket, ribs, and burgers, along with rotating specials such as beef ribs cooked on the outdoor stick burner. Authentic po’boys, wraps, and chargrilled oysters are available, as well as a handful of healthier-than-expected options, such as BBQ-spiced cauliflower, smoked shrimp, and a killer kale Caesar salad.
Family Deals: Kids 12 and under enjoy BBQ classics on the Kiddos Menu for just $7 every day, and $5 burger nights most Wednesdays make this a great budget-friendly spot for families.
Menu Highlights: Be sure to order a side of beans (loaded with big bites of brisket), dirty rice, and the creamy pimento mac and cheese.
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BZ Red Hots offers casual eats and family favorites—hot dogs, burgers, Italian beef—in an unbeatable location, right inside the Brookfield Zoo Chicago. BZ Red Hots offers mobile ordering for added convenience. Use the QR code posted on signs around the zoo to access the online ordering website.
Insider Tip: We recommend ordering by 11:30 a.m. to avoid long lines; you’ll receive your food more quickly, and it's much easier to find seats.
Learn More about Brookfield Zoo Chicago
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Gather with friends, family, and neighbors at Sebastian’s Ale & Whiskey House to enjoy a pub menu, an extensive menu of whiskeys and draft beer, and a game on one of the screens around the dining room. Many of the family-friendly menu items feature bacon, including bacon-wrapped wings, bacon mac and cheese eggrolls, and a legendary bacon-stuffed burger.
Family Deals: On Wednesdays, kids 12 and under eat free with the purchase of a full-priced adult entrée. Bonus: This special coincides with Bingo Wednesdays, making it a fun and budget-friendly activity for the whole family.
Menu Highlights: An extensive vegan menu includes a perfectly seasoned Impossible Burger on a vegan-friendly bun, “cheese” pizza, and plant-based “chicken” tenders.
Affectionately known as “the train restaurant,” Junction Diner offers fun for the kids, ease for parents, and a variety of delicious, healthy menu options for everyone in a train-themed setting that has welcomed families for 10 years.
Kid-Oriented Experience: The kids' menu includes quesadillas, spaghetti, chocolate-chip pancakes, and other favorites. The interactive train sets, a small play area, and a locomotive food delivery system make it a hit with kids of all ages.
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Dine indoors or out in a zero-stress atmosphere at Scratch Public House, a lively spot known for its made-from-scratch American cuisine. Look for special events that include live music, trivia, and bingo.
Family Deals: Scratch Public House welcomes families every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for Family Movie Night. Kids under 7 get free pizza, and everyone enjoys complimentary ice cream and popcorn.
Menu Highlights: The menu features inventive mac and cheese options, a delicious smash burger with the perfect crispy crust, and more than 100 craft beers.
This family-owned favorite has been serving up hearty Italian comfort food for more than 60 years—and it’s as kid-friendly as it is crowd-pleasing. With a relaxed atmosphere, budget-friendly prices, and big portions that often mean leftovers for lunch, Q’s is perfect for a casual family night out.
Family Deals: Q’s is famously affordable—so much so that it earned a spot in the Chicago Tribune’s “Cheap Eats” roundup. The kids’ menu is packed with choices, from simple pasta dishes to smaller versions of classic entrées, and freezer-to-go options make dinner even easier.
Menu Highlights: Start with the pizza bread, breaded ravioli, or zucchini sticks, then dive into Q’s signature gnocchi or baked lasagna. The Chicken Ala Q’s is a local favorite, and the house pizzas—like the Q’s Special or the Italian Beef Supreme—are piled high with flavor. Don’t skip dessert: tiramisu, cheesecake, and cannoli round out the experience.
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It’s not only La Grange's first brewery; Milk Money Brewing is also the kid-friendliest gastropub around! While the brewers and chef collaborate to harmonize food and drinks using simple, local, and top-quality ingredients, the front-of-house team creates a low-key, kid-welcoming atmosphere, complete with free classic arcade games.
Family Deals: Even items on the kids' menu, with prices from just $5 to $8.50, are elevated. The chicken “chunks” are Amish farm-raised, and the grilled cheese begins with buttery sourdough.
Menu Highlights: Enjoy a signature Milk Money stout that sips like a cold-brew coffee or a Tres Amigos Mexican lager with your MMB Burger, lobster sliders, or hickory brisket tacos.
IHOP has been treating families to breakfast all day since 1958. Sure, this popular family restaurant chain serves a variety of other breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, but isn’t it the world-famous pancakes—plus the welcome atmosphere and affordable prices—that keep everyone in your family happy?
Family Deals: Kids 12 and under eat free every day of the week from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entrée. IHOP’s kids’ menu features delicious favorites—in just the right portion size for your little ones—for just $7.29 all day.
Menu Highlights: From classic breakfast combos to pancakes and crepes, steakburgers and melts to crispy chicken platters, IHOP delivers quality food that satisfies appetites of all sizes.
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At Chef Shangri-La, the Fong family has been serving tropical drinks and fine Cantonese cuisine in a quirky retro atmosphere since 1976. From the full-service tiki bar to performances by celebrity impersonators, this Hawaiian paradise is a kitschy, fun experience for the whole family.
Family Deals: Children 12 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult entrée Tuesdays.
Menu Highlights: No meal at Chef Shangri-la is complete without Dr. Fong by your side. The family namesake cocktail's recipe is a secret, but it’s definitely a favorite.