The best kid-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles

If your kids lean a little older, there’s no better spot to grab a bite before hitting the arcade. Echo Park’s combination restaurant and ode to the vintage game cabinet boasts dozens of old-school options like Pac-Man and pinball, while the food’s excellent for any age group. (Ginger chicken wings, fries, burgers and fried rice, anyone?) Note: This spot is 21+ starting at 9pm, so stop by during the day or early evening if you’re bringing the kiddos.

After Mama D’s long run in Manhattan Meach—now filling bellies in Redondo—South Bay residents already knows that this family-friendly Italian restaurant has a full menu that includes calamari fritti and bruchetta to start, as well as pizza and pastas. But the best part of the menu? Well, children can make their own pizzas by hand, customizing the toppings. While they wait, the little ones will also receive coloring papers and crayons for entertainment. When the meal’s all done, they can nibble on freshly baked cookies for dessert. Talk about Italian hospitality.

Looking for a kid-friendly spot that won’t sacrifice the quality of the cuisine? Stop by at almost any time of day and find Ludo Lefebvre’s Sherman Oaks location full of families—that’s because this French bistro goes above and beyond when it comes to making little ones happy. First off, there’s a children’s menu with some of the most elevated kids’ food out there. (You know Lefebvre’s excellent French omelette? They’ve got it pint-size.) They’ve also got a range of pastries, and when the kids get bored of those, they can turn their attention to the gratis coloring sets.

Sometimes kids just want to eat like a grown-up, and if they’re at that stage, head to Plan Check, where they can eat tiny versions of one of the best burgers in the city (and one that sports ketchup leather, no less). If they’re into something more traditional, there’s also mac and cheese, BBQ chicken strips, a fried chicken sandwich and a handful of special desserts—while there’s plenty of craft beer on tap for parents.

Do you go for the indoor jungle gym first, or the beef bulgogi Lemon Tree Family Restaurant serves pizza, pasta and Korean cuisine in a playful, kid-friendly atmosphere. There’s also a children’s menu, where ice cream, mac and cheese, spaghetti, and chicken nuggets (fried or grilled, thank you very much) make an appearance. To keep the kids entertained, there’s a 2,000-square-foot playground for children up to 10 years old that includes a mini train, carousel, ball pit, that colorful jungle gym and more.

Those looking to treat their little ones to something approachable but made with high-quality ingredients—and a whole lot of local and seasonal items, to boot—should head to SaMo’s Huckleberry, where the Rustic Canyon Family of Restaurants’ breezy cafe offers a children’s menu perfect for the occasion. There are Mary’s Organic chicken fingers; some PB&J slathered onto brioche made by sister restaurant Milo+Olive; and a grilled cheese sandwich made with pan di mie bread. (And those cookies and pastries aren’t to be slept on, either.)

If you’re looking for kitschy dining fun but you’ve already visited Johnny Rockets one too many times, you can still find the classic old-fashioned burger, milkshake or egg-cream. Just look to Cafe ’50s, where mini jukeboxes sit at each table and kids choose from items off the “Little Rock n’ Rollers” menu, complete with junior items of all the diner hits: eggs, pancakes, cheeseburgers, fried mac and cheese, corn dogs—you name it. The best part? Kids eat for free on Wednesdays when they wear their pajamas (note: with every adult-meal purchase).

This family-friendly spot is big, so it not only includes a play area for kids to run amok, but also a full cafe and a private dining area (perfect for themes birthday parties). But for adults, the main draw here is actually the food: The restaurant’s menu includes fresh, organic ingredients and its pizza was once named by Nickelodeon as the best pizza in Los Angeles. The venue also includes nightly entertainment such as magic shows, puppet performances and more.

There are around a dozen locations of Rock and Brews spread out around the country, and most locations offer play areas for children. Though adults come to the El Segundo location for its beer garden and vast beer selection, kids can enjoy a visit, too, thanks to a robust kids’ menu of hamburgers, grilled cheese, chicken kabobs and pizza. To make sure your tiny ones are always entertained, this chain also provide rock-themed coloring templates.

Whether you’re coming for a bite to eat or to let your kids run wild in the playground, Snooknuk is an indoor facility that has it all. With beautiful fairytale-like murals on all the walls, kids can get lost in their imaginations while they—and you— can get lost in the food menu, which includes salads, sandwiches, frozen yogurt, pastries, a full espresso bar, and snacks like Pop Chips and Welsh Fruit Snacks.