LA and Hollywood aren't just for adults, kids have plenty of opportunity for fun in the area too, especially when you know exactly where to take them to eat and play!
This is your handy guide to eating out with children in LA, providing you and your kiddos with all the best in kid-friendly eats! Iconic city spots, kids eat free locations, and dessert havens make up the best kid-friendly restaurants in the LA list, and this is exactly why.
Best in Town
Pink's Hot Dogs
This option is iconic in Hollywood, the stroll up takeout window serving up the best star-studded hotdogs in California for over 75 years now. Conveniently located on La Brea Avenue, this popular spot has seen several famous guests, many of whom had a dog named after them. There are umbrella-covered tables outside on the patio for seating, and there is even another location near the LA County Fair spot. Try the classic dog with their homemade chili on it, you certainly won't regret it and neither will the kids. Pink's provides Hollywood with a true love story, between both the owners Paul and Betty Pink, and LA and Pinks!
Clifton's Cafeteria
A city classic, Clifton's Republic/Cafeteria is one of the only remaining and largest cafeteria-style eateries in the state of California. Clifton is a survivor of the 'Golden Age of Cafeterias', today known as the 'Cabinet of Curiosities'. Find kitsch decor and trees galore inside the forest-themed environment, the spot holding several different 'areas', such as Crystal Caverns. The food is served buffet-style, different sections holding pasta, pizzas, home-style foods, desserts, and even a Thanksgiving feast themed section. Kiddos will love the Treasure Tray option, with their choice of a main dish such as fish and chips, burgers, spaghetti, and chicken fingers and the chance to grab a toy from the treasure chest after dessert! (This is a great way to get them to eat their whole plate for sure!)
DeSano Pizza
Pizza, pizza, pizza! This Italian American delight is always a great option for the younger crowd, especially at DeSano's. Inside this former mechanic shop, you will find 4 huge 900-degree ovens imported from Italy, with elements from Mount Vesuvius itself (if you play your cards right this can even be a history lesson and meal all in one). The pizzas are the Neapolitan style here, with chewy crusts and simple ingredients. The most common pizza ordered holds a hefty helping of mozzarella, Italian sausage, and Margherita sauce. There are also calzones and salads, plus a bevy of Italian classic desserts such as homemade gelato and cannoli.
Kids Eat Free
Obica Mozzarella Bar
Even the name of this one rings kid-friendly, a cheese bar sure to entice even the pickiest of eaters. Obica Mozzarella Bar allows kids to eat free each Sunday, the food inside ringing true to the name through and through. Though the kids won't likely be able to pronounce anything on the menu, the food is more simple than it sounds: meats and cheeses. Fine meats and cheeses at that, with additional pizza and pasta options the kids are sure to love. As an imported cheese specialist, we can guarantee that the one thing there won't be a shortage of here . . . do we even have to say it?
Cafe 50's
This one is great for several reasons: kids eat free on Wednesdays (under the age of 10), the food is out of this world, and even you can eat free on the last Wednesday of the month if you come in pajama-clad! That's right, this is such a fun spot that pajama Wednesdays are a thing. Enjoy what has been voted the 'most kid-friendly restaurant in Southern California' by LA Parent Magazine, the spot serving up amazing apple pies, bountiful breakfasts, fantastic fried chicken, and mouth-watering milkshakes. Cafe 50's has an obvious theme, the entire experience a great addition to the bevy of eateries and experiences on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Kid Classics
Au Fudge
A fine-dining eatery with a parents-only bar and a children's au pair service? Talk about being kid-friendly! This LA hidden gem was the brainchild of Jessica Beil, who created the perfect space for both upscale parents and energetic children to enjoy a great meal. Your children will have tons of fun in the onsite treehouse and playrooms, and you will have tons of fun enjoying the French Country house setting and truly delicious foods. One dish we think both you and your kiddos will love is the grilled cheese sandwich sticks, an ooey-gooey masterpiece no guest can resist.
Lemon Tree Kids & Family Restaurant
A 2,000 square foot indoor play space awaits your children here at Lemon Tree Kids and Family Restaurant, one of the most genuinely fun places to eat for kids 10 years and younger. Send the young ones off to play on the indoor merry go round or get lost in the ball pit while you enjoy the pizza, pasta, and Korean cuisine within. You can get Dokboki and fried rice, and your kids can get mac and cheese and nuggets. For dessert be sure to try the waffles with ice cream, because what kid doesn't want ice cream on their waffles?
Just Desserts
Diddy Riese Cookies
Cookies, brownies, and ice cream, oh my! Diddy Rise Cookies is one of the most fun dessert options in the state, in our opinion, with the option to create your own iconic ice cream sandwiches. The cookies here are made from scratch and baked fresh daily, and they have been since 1983. Your kids (and yourself, you should definitely not miss out on this one) can choose from 10 different cookies, from chocolate chip to sugar cinnamon, and 12 different Dreyers' ice cream flavors, vanilla bean to strawberry cheesecake chunk. The options here are seemingly endless, and we hope your kid's sweet tooth is too!
Shake Shack
Okay, so maybe the Shake Shack doesn't just serve desserts, but their frozen custard is certainly nothing to scoff at! Bring the kiddos to the shack and experience the 'gourmet fast-food' classic options, from juicy burgers to custom concretes. This counter-service chain is a true West Hollywood delight, serving up Shack Burgers, Shack-Cago Dogs, and for the tired parents, Shack Red Wine. While this is a chain brand, there is one extremely unique feature at this LA location, the Rainbow Connection Concrete, with donuts from Cofax and jam from Sqirl. The kids will love it!
