The Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Atlanta
Atlanta’s food scene has exploded and with this came a lot of great kid-friendly restaurants. Here are Atlanta Parent’s favorite family-friendly places to go. We have categorized by types of food Atlanta kids enjoy. For more kid-friendly restaurants, check out our list of favorite Atlanta foods every kid should try.
Burgers: While there are lots of great kid-friendly burger places throughout Atlanta, two favorites for kids and parents are Bocado and H&F Burger. Grindhouse Killer Burgers serves juicy burgers and shakes with multiple metro locations. You and your kids will enjoy the milkshakes and juicy cheeseburgers at Shake Shack. A Frosted Orange and cheeseburger at The Varsity has been a go-to for Atlantans for decades. Atlanta also has plenty of restaurants serving great veggie burgers.
Mexican: When you’re choosing from Atlanta’s best Mexican restaurants for kids, there are plenty all over the city. For order at the counter service, Taqueria del Sol has tasty tacos and chips and locations throughout metro Atlanta. For sit down options, try Superica or Verde Taqueria. Other favorites include El Rey Del Taco, La Botana and Cheeky Chastain.
Pizza: Whether it’s old-world Italian style or New York style, there are plenty of spots to get the best pizza for kids in Atlanta. Italian flavors such as San Gennaro or Margherita are baked in large brick ovens at Antico. With six-inch pizzas, pasta or calzone options, kids love Athens Pizza. Blue Moon starts with fresh, made-daily dough, then piles on tasty toppings. You can’t go wrong with Fellini’s, a venerable Atlanta establishment with several locations.
Barbecue: Parents and kids love the barbecue and sides at Community Q BBQ in Decatur. An Atlanta institution, Fatt Matt’s Rib Shack has great ribs and sandwiches. City Barbeque brings barbecue and more to families with easy, order-at-the-counter service. Travel to Hawaii just by walking in the front door of Waikiki BBQ. Get pulled pork or chicken, sliced beef brisket, turkey or chicken tender sandwiches at Pig-N-Chik. Stop by Greater Good BBQ in Kirkwood or Sweet Auburn Barbecue’s two locations.
Salads: Even though salads may be a hard sell for your kids, there are some excellent healthy food options in Atlanta that will satisfy you and your kids. Chopt brings a variety of inventive salad options. True Food Kitchen takes popular foods and transforms them into healthier versions. Salad selections get loaded at Recess with fresh veggies and a protein of choice. Visit Gusto for bowls, wraps or salads packed full of flavorful sauces and toppings.
Hot Dogs: No need to book a flight to the Windy City to get a good, Chicago-style hot dog. The chili dog at Brandi’s World Famous Hot Dogs is a Marietta favorite. Try your hot dog steamed, grilled or fried at The Original Hot Dog Factory with more than 20 different combinations. Skip’s Hot Dogs offer Chicago-style dogs with mustard, relish, onions, pickles, peppers, tomatoes and celery salt.
Sushi: If your kids aren’t sushi lovers, here are some ideas to get your kids into the fun. We provide you with some fun sushi related ideas and our picks of top local sushi restaurants to try with kids. Also, check out our favorite kid-friendly Asian restaurants.
Soup: Warm up with a tasty bowl of soup at one of Atlanta’s best soup places.
Breakfast: Atlantans love taking their kids out to the best breakfast places in the city.
Lunch: Looking for a great lunch spot in Atlanta to take the kids? These local spots offer fresh ingredients for mom and dads and kids to love. We provide “parent’s choice” and “kid’s choice” for the restaurants featured.
Bakeries: Consider popping into a bakery with your child for a chance to sit and linger over a muffin, brownie or pastry – and maybe a cup of tea or cocoa. Our roundup features five great Atlanta bakeries to go with your kids that promise an array of specialty baked goods.
Bagels: Bagels are the perfect quick breakfast item for when you want a more casual meal during the week or Sunday morning. Here is our list of best bagel places in Metro Atlanta for the most savory bagels, cream cheese and other toppings you can find.
Candy: If you are looking for a nostalgic, old-fashioned candy store or want to sample sweet, homemade treats, Atlanta’s best candy stores offer some of both.
Coffee: When families go for coffee, they discover fun and bonding in an unexpected place. Here are five of our favorite coffee shops that welcome families with more than just an open door.
Tea: We highlight three of our favorite Atlanta tea places to take your kids. These tea places are a fun way to spend some quality time with your child daughters in an elegant setting, while teaching them how to conduct themselves in a more formal tea.
Beer: Breweries are turning into more family-friendly spaces complete with grassy areas for picnics and giant yard games for play. Check out Atlanta’s best family-friendly breweries.
Hot Meal Takeout: When you have the urge to run to the drive-thru, turn the other way and pick up a homemade dish at Atlanta’s best hot meal takeout places. You find local places that serve read to eat casseroles and other home cooked meals that all you have to do is heat and eat.
Date Night: Leave the portable highchair and placemat at home. When you’ve got a sitter and you’re ready for an adult meal out, check out one of these date night restaurant picks in Buckhead.
Kids Eat Free: We rounded up a list of the best places where kids eat free in metro Atlanta. A reminder, restaurants often change their deals and menus.
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More Atlanta Parent Favorites:
Downwind Restaurant and Concorde Grill
Why not combine airplane watching and fun dining? With the world’s busiest airport, the seventh busiest general aviation airport (DeKalb-Peachtree), there’s ample opportunity to marvel at the miracle of flight, here are Downwind Restaurant and Concorde Grill do just that.
Bluetop Restaurant and Bar
Bluetop serves creative American fare in a fast-casual atmosphere.
Trader Vic’s
Trader Vic’s transports you to a south sea island with carved wooden masks and thatched hut décor.
Truett’s Luau
There’s no Chick-fil-A in Hawaii, but take a short drive to Fayetteville and you will discover a Hawaiian-themed Chick-fil-A.
Tupelo Honey Cafe
Self-described as a “Southern restaurant with Mountain South roots,” Tupelo Honey Café succeeds in serving up a menu everyone can savor.
No. 246 Restaurant
Looking for a dining experience well above the chain variety with delicious food and a classy, welcoming atmosphere?
Folk Art
Head over to Inman Park, and be prepared to put Folk Art on your list of favorites.
My Parents’ Basement
Self-described as a “nerdy Cracker Barrel,” it’s one of a kind: a combination comic book store plus restaurant and bar.
KirbyG’s Diner
A visit to KirbyG’s Diner feels like a trip to the 1950s with slaw dogs, salads, cheeseburgers and more. Temporarily closed.
First Watch
At First Watch, find new and nutritious twists on breakfast fare.
Tin Drum Asia Café
Inspired by street food in Asia, we noticed that theme everywhere, from the music to the soda machine.
R. Thomas’ Deluxe Grill
You can get a peanut butter chocolate pie or a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, along with veggie dinners and juices.
Star Provisions
Star Provisions is an order-from-the-counter restaurant with a nice open seating area with tables between the shops.
Roasters
Roasters is known for its chicken, ribs and veggies, and these items alter daily.
Egg Harbor Café
Originating in the Midwest, the third-generation family owners brought their cozy, country-style café to Georgia.
Figo
It’s not just about the taste, it’s about the overall dining experience. Figo doesn’t disappoint – mangia!
Galla’s Pizza
The signature square slices offer a pleasant departure from the usual pizzeria fare.
The Fickle Pickle
This cute restaurant offers a good – and delicious – array of options.
Twisted Kitchen
Build your own pasta, noodle, or wrap dishes on the fly. It’s instant gratification.
Pancake Social
This brunch-all-day spot is a great place to fuel up before heading to the BeltLine or celebrate a special occasion.