Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Galveston

Welcome to Galveston, Texas, the bay destination that offers guests some of Texas' best attractions, from the lush and gorgeous Moody Gardens to the super soaked fun waterpark Schlitterbahn. Visitors to Galveston get to enjoy plenty of outdoor recreation and beach activities on top of the excellent attractions, as well as plenty of great food.

Fresh seafood choices greet guests around every corner, but which ones have good options for the kiddos, and are there any other good things to eat around here that your kids will like? Of course! We have found the top kid-friendly restaurants throughout the Galveston area that offer up the best that the city has to offer and also offer up plenty of great options for the younger crowd.

Here are our top choices for Best in Town, Seafood, Just Desserts, and Kids Eat Free!

Best In Town -

Sunflower Bakery Cafe - A local Galveston staple for over 20 years now, the Sunflower Bakery Cafe is an excellent place for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dessert! This eatery began as a small bakery on 16th and Church and grew into a full-service family restaurant that pleases 'both young and old alike'. You will find fantastic food made from scratch inside, from the famous tomato basil soup to a steaming stack of fresh fluffy pancakes!

Sunflower Bakery Cafe Interior Credit Galveston Island CVB

Sunflower Bakery Cafe Interior Credit Galveston Island CVB

Fisherman's Wharf - Labeled as one of the best seafood restaurants in Galveston, Fisherman's Wharf is an easy choice for both best in town and kid-friendly eateries in Galveston. This Texas-sized establishment offers outdoor dining with bay views and is located right next to the Tall Ship Elissa. You can enjoy the freshest fish caught daily here alongside classic favorites like the Shrimp Po'boy and Shrimp Kisses, the latter of which is shrimp with bacon and cheese...yum! Kiddos will want to try the signature dessert before they go, the Root Beer Bread Pudding.

Fisherman's Wharf Family Credit Galveston Island CVB

Fisherman's Wharf Family Credit Galveston Island CVB

Mosquito Cafe - 'One bite is all it takes'...that's what they say here at the Mosquito Cafe, the local favorite that first opened in 1999 in the East End Historic District of Galveston. Inside this eclectic and trendy little bistro, you will find fresh homemade food ranging from well-loved breakfast classics to unique local dishes like avocado smothered flounder. There are plenty of kid-friendly options on the menu, like kids bagels, grandma's meatloaf, and triple mac and cheese.

Mosquito Cafe Eggs and Shrimp Credit Galveston Island CVB

Mosquito Cafe Eggs and Shrimp Credit Galveston Island CVB

Gumbo Diner - Described as 'comfy, cajun, and creole', the Gumbo Diner is one of the most unique local favorites in New Orleans, oops scratch that, Galveston. Inside this diner you will find classic American dining with a NOLA flair, serving up classic New Orleans dishes such as seafood gumbo and fresh beignets, as well as Galveston fresh-caught specials such as Baja Fish Tacos. This eatery was started by the Galveston Restaurant Group, a local eatery group promoting 'the art of great eating'.

Gumbo Diner Beignets Credit Galveston ISland CVb

Gumbo Diner Beignets Credit Galveston Island CVB

Seafood-

Shrimp N Stuff - Shrimp salad, shrimp gumbo, shrimp tacos...no, this isn't Forrest Gump's stomping grounds, this is Galveston's very own Shrimp N Stuff, a local favorite since 1976. This shrimp stuffed eatery has been a favorite of young and old alike for decades, serving up their famous fried shrimp, hush puppies, and fresh catches daily. Enjoy cozy patio seating and 'good mood food' in two different locations in Galveston.

Shrimp N Stuff Credit Galveston Island CVB

Shrimp N Stuff Credit Galveston Island CVB

Miller's Seawall Grill - Another local classic seafood staple can be found at Miller's Seawall Grill, the eatery featuring fresh seafood and hearty home cooking. Enjoy huge, cheap daily specials in this large house eatery, located in a spot that gives guests perfect Galveston Seawall views. Breakfast omelets are a favorite, as are any dishes with fresh flounder, salmon, crab, or oysters.

Galveston Local Cuisine Credit Galveston Island CVB

Galveston Local Cuisine Credit Galveston Island CVB

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. - Now this actually is Forrest Gump's stomping grounds, this popular national chain eatery especially popular here in Galveston. This casual, kid-friendly eatery is located at Pleasure Pier and features a Forrest Gump themed interior, and a picturesque waterside exterior. Enjoy Bubba Gump classic dishes such as Coconut Shrimp, Jenny's Catch, and Forrest's Seafood Feast.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Pixabay Public Domain

Just Desserts -

La King's Confectionery - Inside this local sweet treat favorite you will find a candy counter that never seems to end, complete with an old-school candy maker offering traditional sweets like Peanut and Peco Brittle, Divinity, Pecan Pralines, Hand-Dipped Chocolates, Fudge, and their famous Salt Water Taffy. See a 1920s soda fountain, arcade games, and many original fixtures and pieces of equipment that date back to 1927 when Jimmy King began this endeavor.

LaKings Confectionery Exterior Credit Galveston Island CVB

LaKings Confectionery Exterior Credit Galveston Island CVB

Hey Mikey's Ice Cream - This family-owned and operated local Galveston ice cream shop first made it's debut in 2009 when Mike Bouvier decided to take all his Ice Cream University knowledge and invest it into an eatery for sweet treat lovers everywhere. Hey Mikey's Ice Cream features shakes, floats, sundaes, splits, and unique treats like Ice Cream Nachos and Ice Cream Donuts. Of course, the main feature of this sweet spot is the ice cream itself, coming in fun flavors like mango, coffee, cotton candy, green tea, and much more.

Ice Cream Pixabay Public Domain

Kids Eat Free -

Now we won't go into detail about what the following eateries offer, because you are likely already familiar with both, but we will tell you what day they offer Kids Eat Free specials!

Denny's - Tuesdays from 4 pm to 10 pm.

Golden Corral - Kids 3 and under enjoy a free buffet with adult meal purchase on any day or time. Other kid's specials are available all week long, depending on specific location.

Check out all our great Kid-Friendly Restaurant blogs, with locations from NYC to Vegas, San Diego to Charleston.