5 Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Austin
Traveling with kids presents many unique challenges. If your little ones are picky eaters, or simply need a place to blow off some steam after a good meal, today’s list may be perfect for you.
Read on to discover five fun restaurants in Austin for families and kids, featuring perks such as onsite playgrounds and special discounts.
Ski Shores Café
With locations at both Lake Austin and Barton Springs, Ski Shores Café has offered a relaxed, easygoing atmosphere with fresh-to-order cuisine since 1954. Featuring an arcade game room, playground and live music on the spacious open-air patio, there’s plenty for your tykes to enjoy while you grab a bite to eat.
The Café specializes in customizable breakfast tacos with toppings such as sausage, bacon, potato, chorizo or migas. The specialized kids’ menu features classics such as chicken nuggets, grilled cheese, corn dog bites and cheeseburgers.
Phone: +1 512-572-2997
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Kerbey Lane Café
Another of the fun Austin restaurants includes Kerbey Lane Café, which is a family-owned, local chain with eight locations throughout the city of Austin. Locations include Guadalupe Street, South Lamar Blvd, the University of Texas campus and the original location at 3704 Kerbey Lane. The Café first opened its doors on May 5th of 1980, with humble beginnings in a small house in north-central Austin. Kerbey specializes in homemade comfort food and remains 100% family-owned today. Meals are crafted from responsibly-sourced ingredients, partnering with local producers that prioritize the health and wellbeing of animals and consumers alike.
The menu includes a dedicated kids’ section, as well as family packages that provide everything for the perfect family meal at a value price. Packages include the Bag-‘O-Tacos: 12 tacos with choice of 4 ingredients, or the Brunch Package: including sparkling wine, orange juice, bacon and sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit and pancakes. Kerbey’s location at Round Rock also features an enclosed patio: perfect for running off a sugar-rush after a breakfast of homemade hotcakes. Children eat free on Tuesdays at all Kerbey Lane locations with the purchase of an adult entrée.
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Rudy’s Texas Bar-B-Q
Rudy’s Texas Bar-B-Q is a Texas Hill Country original, founded in the 1800s by Max Aue as a multiservice garage, grocery and gas station. The Bar-B-Q was established in 1989, and has served Southwest Texas ever since.
Austin’s location features a massive playground complex, complete with rock walls and slides that adjoin the restaurant’s outdoor patio. Menu items include made-to-order breakfast tacos, fresh-fired brisket, chicken and pork chops, along with classic Texan sides like potato salad, cream corn and cole slaw.
Rudy’s Texas Bar-B-Q
2451 S Capital of Texas Hwy
Austin, TX 78746
United States
Phone: +1 512-329-5554
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Central Market
Central Market is more of an open-air shop than your traditional eatery, but it could well be considered Austin’s original playground café. The Market features menus with fare for all ages, from pizzas and sandwiches to pasta and salads. Children eat free every Tuesday, from 5 PM to 8 PM.
While children play, shoppers can find everything from beverages to local cheeses, deli meats and flowers, and even seafood. Central Market specializes in locally-crafted, fresh goods.
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Gourmands
CLOSED - Updated 2024
Established in 2011, Gourmands focuses on serving down-to-earth cuisine in a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere. The restaurant is housed inside a historic Tejano night club, and has become a much-loved staple of East Austin.
Gourmands doubles as both a dive bar and a family gathering place, featuring a spacious back patio, an 80s style video game arcade complete with skee ball and ping pong, and a $4 sandwich menu tailored specifically for kids. Children are welcome until 9 PM each day, and an afternoon happy hour is available for adults from 4 PM to 7 PM, offering $5 appetizers along with discounted beverages.
Gourmands
2316 Webberville Rd
Austin, TX 78702
United States
Phone: +1 512-610-2031
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Which fun restaurants Austin would you add to today’s list? Let us know in the comments!
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