Kid Friendly Restaurants
* Because we live in LA, most of the restaurants listed below are ones we frequent. If you have a favorite “kid friendly restaurant” in your city, please email me and tell me why you and your family love it. Our goal is to create a national, hopefully even international network of great restaurants for babies and kids.
*Click on the names of the restaurants below. It will take you to their website so you can view menus and other features.
2121 Hillhurst Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90027
My heart belongs to Mexico City. I’ve been eating here since I first moved to LA. My husband and I even had our wedding party here. Everything is made fresh and the staff is always loving and helpful. The best part is that they don’t give you the evil eye when your baby is making a mess.
8401 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90067
and
12851 Riverside Drive
Studio City, CA 91607
Hugo’s is committed to sustainability: a comprehensive program of sustaining the environment, natural resources, profitability, our workforce and community. Everything is made to order and the kids menu has everything from pancakes to pastas. The tea, smoothies and juices are heavenly.
2160 Colorodo Blvd
Eagle Rock, CA 90041
and
2140 Verdugo Blvd
Montrose, CA 91020
Delicious coffee, tea, gelato, pastries, wireless connection and a play area for the kids with toys, a train set and more.
414 N La Cienega Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90048
and
514 Santa Monica Blvd
Santa Monica, CA 90401
It’s hard to find vegan restaurants that serve tasty organic food and are beautiful too. There are two locations and their take out containers are recycled from corn so they’re biodegradable.
1966 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Inexpensive and easy. What else can you ask for. This Brazilian grill has delicious beans, rice and plantains that kids love. Every time you leave you end up with a doggy bag too.
1929 Hillhurst Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
I went here for lunch almost every day during my pregnancy and continue to go to Alcove now. Most of the tables are outside which is perfect for babies who make a mess, the portions are super fresh and the menu is incredibly diverse from salads to sandwiches to egg dishes.
120 N Robertson Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048
I have to admit that I love meat products and miss them when I’m at vegetarian restaurants, but this abode leaves me totally satisfied. Most things on the menu are perfect for the little ones and they don’t treat you like a leper when you push in the stroller.
4656 Franklin Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
When Kenya was only 9 months, I had him at a friend’s house during his lunchtime and they had just ordered from here. I had to feed him something so I gave him some curried chick peas. He couldn’t get enough. He was licking my fingers and loving the curry flavor. Indian food is great for babies being turned on to new flavors and textures. Even better, many dishes such as daal are super soft and mushy, perfect for babies.
3827 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
This isn’t one I would recommend for the baby set, but come on, a kids got to have ice cream now and then (that means the big kids too). Pazzo uses fresh fruits from local producers, the best chocolate and other flavors to make gelato. I like gelato better then ice cream because it’s made with milk instead of heavy cream making it in turn a healthier choice. It’s also fun to walk around the shops where it’s located in Sunset Junction.
519 S Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036
and
2507 Main Street
Santa Monica, California 90405
For Kenya’s first Birthday I decided to get a fruit juice sweetened cake. I know, it sounds like I’m taking the fun out of having a cake with tons of sugar and icing, but trust me, when your kid is calm after a party and not jacked up on loads of sugar, you’ll thank me. Mani’s has breakfast fare, vegan and regular soups and everything in between. Whether you eat in or take out, everything is healthy and perfect for everyone’s appetite.
3200 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
After being turned down for Easter Brunch by every hotel in Los Angeles, we ended up at Dusty’s. Fresh, healthy choices for kids and the adults alike. They have high chairs, a friendly staff and treat babies like true diners. Kenya ended up flirting with the hostess our entire meal which kept him busy, so we got to enjoy brunch too.
*check website for multiple locations around Los Angeles
I’ve been going to Jerry’s since I moved to LA. Whenever I missed home, their Thanksgiving platter was the perfect comfort food. They have an enormous kids menu with plenty of nutritious choices, so you don’t have to settle for the unhealthy alternatives. They also offer crayons for the little ones and the staff is beyond easy-going to boot.
11701 Wilshire Blvd # 11
Los Angeles Ca 90025
Giggles ‘N’ Hugs is a restaurant where kids can be kids and parents can just sit back and relax. This restaurant created for children to come and play or have their dream birthday party. The restaurant is divided in two with a large play area and sit-down dining area. The menu is a dream for any parent with healthy and delicious options that your kids will love. This is the kind of place where a parent can bring their computer, have some lunch and the little ones can go wild without disturbing anyone.
*Check website for multiple restaurants around the country
Parents magazine just named this spot one of it’s top 10 friendly family restaurants. How fresh is their produce? They say that within 24 hours of being in the ground, it’s on a refrigerated truck on its way to their locations. Their is made from scratch every day and the salad bar features over 50 fresh ingredients, including specialty tossed and prepared salads. In addition, they serve original recipe hot pastas, hand-crafted soups, scratch-made muffins, and Focaccia breads.
395 N Rosemead Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91107
This BBQ spot really has something for everyone. I’m not saying that most of the items are healthy, but boy are they delicious. From karaoke nights, to memorabilia on the walls, this restaurant aims to please. On Tuesday and Sunday nights, items on the kids’ menu are 50-percent off for each child dining with a paying adult which is a rare deal in town.
*Check website for multiple restaurants around Los Angeles
No, the chicken isn’t organic, but it sure is delicious. One of the best aspects of the restaurant is the variety of side dishes. Macaroni and cheese, steamed butternut squash, baked sweet potatoes and more all at a reasonable price. Several years ago when I was without a kitchen, I got a 20 pound turkey with all the fixins’ for Thanksgiving and didn’t even have to lift a finger.
*Check website for multiple restaurants around Los Angeles
Even the little ones can feel like adults here. Their mini sized portions are perfect for their mini sized guests. From the California Skillet to seafood or chicken fajitas, there’s a wide variety of dishes to tempt and palate.
*Check website for multiple locations around Los Angeles
I always have a hankering for sushi, but I hesitate to take Kenya out to a restaurant that I consider fancy or nice. En sushi is on the upscale side, but the staff is so accommodating and easy going, you feel right at home. I was also worried there wouldn’t be enough choices for him, but boy was I wrong. He ate an entire bowl of edamame, brown rice, miso soup and an avocado roll. Although half of the edamame pods ended up on the floor the staff didn’t bat an eye.
