Kid-friendly Restaurants in San Diego
Eating out with kids in tow can be a challenge at a restaurant that is overly quiet, formal, or too stuffy for the normal chatter and excitement that comes from having both parents and young ones at the table. But going out for a delicious meal does not have to mean only counter-service restaurants or drive through choices when you have kids. We have rounded up some of the best kid-friendly restaurants in San Diego that the whole family will enjoy from breakfast time all the way to dinner and dessert.
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Corvette Diner (Liberty Station)
2965 Historic Decatur Rd, San Diego, CA 92106,
(619) 542-1476
This 1950’s retro themed diner is fun for kids of all ages. With a full-sized Corvette as the casual dining room centerpiece, young diners will love the atmosphere along with their burgers, fries, and milkshakes on the menu. Sassy costumed waitresses keep the fun ambience rocking and rolling to complete the full experience of the Corvette Diner. Parents will love the Gamers Garage area where kids and adults alike can play games of all types, and recently the Corvette switched over to a reloadable game card so keeping up with change to play or reward tickets won won’t be a hassle. Friendly servers and fun music amps up the decibels so expect that any kid squeals of delight won’t bother fellow diners. Sit in the Corvette Clubhouse room to marvel at the car’s history over the past decades or even the Regal Room to feast right next to the roadster in the room.
Photo credit: thefishmarket.com
The Fish Market (San Diego Marina)
750 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101,
(619) 232-5806
For super-fresh seafood, families will love the character and feel of The Fish Market in the marina area of town. Located close to Seaport Village, this kid-friendly restaurant in San Diego not only serves up some of the most delicious seafood, poke, and sashimi, it also features a classic oyster bar. Sitting outside over the water on the patio is a little more casual and perfect for dining with kids who can watch the water and wildlife while waiting for their order of kid-friendly meals that come with a delicious scoop of ice cream for dessert. Inside seating can still work for little ones in tow too, since the promise of devouring finger-friendly foods like fried shrimp or crispy fish tacos is a possibility for patrons with kids. The Fish Market is an entertaining place to peruse with kids before or after a meal, too, since fishmonger vendors sell their wares in the attached marketplace so you can take home some of the fresh treats from the sea to cook up at home.
Photo credit: realcheesepizza.com
Filippi’s Pizza Grotto (Little Italy)
1747 India St, San Diego, CA 92101,
(619) 232-5094
Hidden behind an authentic Italian deli and grocery, entering Filippi’s is like walking through a Harry Potter-esque portal. Kids and adults alike will love walking through and up and around the winding restaurant, hidden in plain sight from San Diegans and visitors not in-the-know. Filippi’s is a gem not to be missed with kids because their genuine Italian specialties like pizzas and pastas are always a culinary hit. Their kid-priced portions are still generous, and their desserts are to die for as well. Parents will love the quaint atmosphere with the red checkered tablecloths, and Filippi’s can accommodate large groups, so bring the whole family along to for a taste of Italy that has endured since 1950 in San Diego.
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Hodad’s (Downtown)
5010 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107,
(619) 224-4623
Billed as the best burger in the world, Hodad’s is one of the casual kid-friendly restaurants in San Diego loved by locals and visitors since 1969. This funky counter service joint even serves up a Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives inspired Guido Burger that comes with pastrami, Guy Fieri-style, as Hodad’s has been featured on the show multiple times. The wallet-friendly menu is rounded out with all the kid favorites of burgers, fries, onion rings, and shakes. Parents will appreciate the in-house brewed Hodad’s craft beers offered up as well as other regional favorite brews. Since Hodad’s also sponsors surf and skate benefits, kids will love looking at the walls covered in memorabilia, license plates, kitschy art.
Photo credit: miguelitostampa.com
Miguel’s Cocina (Coronado)
1351 Orange Ave, Coronado, CA 92118,
(619) 437-4237
No culinary experience in San Diego is complete without a visit to Coronado Island, and a perfect kid-friendly spot to try is Miguel’s Cocina. With Miguel’s appealing Mexican food flavors and welcoming patio, parents will love the delicious food and kids will have a great time as well. Kid-friendly foods like quesadillas or guacamole are sure to be a hit while parents dine on pork belly tacos or poblano chile rellenos. Sitting outside on the patio or at one of the street front tables at Miguel’s means kids will be entertained watching the street activities happening nearby, making for a parent-friendly dinner experience as well.
Photo credit: themissionsd.com
The Mission (East Village)
1250 J St, San Diego, CA 92101,
(619) 232-7662
This breakfast spot is just right for adults and kids with their tasty and creative take on breakfast and brunch foods. Mom and dad will love the Papas Locas made with rosemary potatoes and grilled jalapenos as well as Mission’s chocolatey Mexican Mocha. Kids will crave the triple stack of pancakes that can be ordered with one or more of their specialty flavors like banana blackberry. If brunch time is on the menu, kids will gobble up one of the sandwiches or lunch plates offered by Mission and parents can add in a michelada for themselves and a PB&J acai strawberry shake for the little ones to devour. This famous eatery also displays local artwork, so kids can learn while they nosh and parents can feel good about a place the prioritizes giving back to the community as well as making outstanding food.
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Puesto (Headquarters)
789 W Harbor Dr Suite 155, San Diego, CA 92101,
(619) 233-8880
With the options of al fresco or inside dining, eating at Puesto with kids means that everyone will have a mouth-watering meal and kids will be relaxed along with the casual atmosphere. But Puesto’s creative menu will delight young ones as they anticipate the tropical flavors to come when they order up a mango-lemon agua fresca or an icy horchata to cool down in the warm San Diego sunshine. All kinds of Mexican food classics are available, but so are delicacies like passionfruit and mango ceviche, Maine lobster, and filet mignon. Parents will be thrilled with the ever-evolving chef-driven menus and kids will love to dip and sample crunchy chicharrones or one of the variety of guacamoles on offer.
Photo credit: hotel-cosmopolitan.cz
Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant
2660 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 297-1874
Located in Old Town San Diego, this restaurant is an excellent option for families with kids. They have three levels filled with delicious Mexican food, desserts and drinks. You can find your favourite Mexican dishes like enchiladas and tacos, but their kid’s menu is what makes this restaurant shine. They have kid-friendly options like chicken tenders and nachos, which are great for both breakfast and dinner!
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Big Kitchen Breakfast & Burgers
3003 Grape Street, San Diego, CA 92102)
(619) 234-5789
Big Kitchen Breakfast & Burgers has two locations in San Diego: Hillcrest (San Diego) and Pacific Beach (San Diego). This restaurant is excellent for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have delicious food options like pancakes, waffles, french toast, eggs benedict and traditional American-style hamburgers or sandwiches. And one thing that makes this place kid-friendly is its play area! There’s a whole ball pit for kids to enjoy while waiting for their food. Big Kitchen Breakfast & Burgers is great for families with children or just anyone looking to grab something quick and tasty.
Photo credit: downtownnaperville.com
Frost King of Steaks & Ice CreamGhirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop
643 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 234-2449
This restaurant is located in Mission Valley (San Diego). Their top dish is their classic steak sandwich which is excellent for both breakfast and dinner. They also have salads, pasta dishes and several flavours of ice cream. And what makes this restaurant truly kid-friendly are the activities they have for kids! They have an area filled with classic games like Uno, Connect Four and Jenga to keep your kids occupied while you wait for your food. Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop is open till 1 am, making it the perfect restaurant to go to after a long day at Sea World (San Diego).
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
3940 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 500-3344
Snooze has some delicious breakfast options like pancakes, french toast and eggs benedict. They also have lunch and dinner items like sandwiches, salads and soup. And what makes this place kid-friendly is how they organize its menu. Their kids’ menu has specific sections for breakfast, lunch and dinner; every section is clearly labelled with pictures of food to make it easy for kids to choose.
Snooze also has a play area inside the restaurant where your children can play while waiting for your food!
Photo credit: goodeatssandiego.com
Carnitas’ Snack Shack
1004 N Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 696-7675
Carnitas’ Snack Shack is located in South Park (San Diego) and has delicious menus like tacos, sandwiches and salads. The restaurant has a few kid-friendly options like chicken tenders that come with rice or fries, kids burritos filled with cheese & beans, kids quesadillas filled with cheese & onions and mini-churros for dessert! And what makes this place unique is their outdoor area filled with games like Jenga, cornhole, woodblocks ready to be painted etc. Carnitas’ Snack Shack also has its parking lot, so you don’t have to worry about finding a parking spot if you drive to the restaurant.
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
The Broken Yolk Cafe
3577 Midway Dr, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 358-9966
This restaurant is popular with locals (San Diego) because it serves excellent breakfast dishes like eggs benedict. They also have a lot of lunch and dinner options like sandwiches, tacos and salads. What makes this restaurant, so kid-friendly is the different play areas located inside the restaurant! There’s a ball pit for smaller kids, a giant slide for older kids and even an area filled with legos to keep everyone occupied while they wait for their food. The Broken Yolk Cafe is a great place to take your kids for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Photo credit: zomato.com
Sea Rocket Bistro
3382 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 255-7049
The Sea Rocket Bistro is located in Point Loma (San Diego). What makes this place unique is its fresh seafood dishes mixed with Californian flair. They have many options for every palate, from prawns, crab cakes and fish tacos to steak salad and chicken sandwiches. And what makes them kid-friendly are the activities they have for kids! The restaurant has a crate filled with age-appropriate games like jacks, colour-wonder colouring pages and more! Sea Rocket Bistro is a Kid Friendly Restaurants in San Diego, and an excellent place for kids and adults to have fun!
Photo credit: luchalibretacosshop.com
Lucha Libre Taco Shop
1810 W Washington St. San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 487-1520
This restaurant is located in Mission Hills (San Diego) and has a vast menu filled with Mexican food like tacos, burritos and nachos! What makes this place Kid Friendly Restaurants in San Diego are the fun activities that they have on weekends! On Saturdays & Sundays starting at 11 am, kids can play games like ring toss, bean bag toss and more! Lucha Libre Taco Shop also has a Kids’ menu with kid-friendly options like quesadillas, mini churros and chicken tenders!
Photo credit: sandiegouniontribune.com
Puesto at The Headquarters
789 W Harbor Dr. Suite 155, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 233-8880
This restaurant is Kid Friendly Restaurants in San Diego and is located downtown (San Diego) and serves some delicious Mexican dishes with different twists. They have options for every palate from tacos, salads, chips & guacamole. What makes this place unique are its indoor garden structures that are filled with plants and flowers! These structures are significant for the kids to look at while you wait for your food.
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Il Postino restaurant
3959 30th St, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 325-0809
This restaurant is located in Little Italy (San Diego) and has an enormous menu filled with Italian dishes like pasta, gelato and tiramisu! But what makes this place unique is its patio area that overlooks the water! There’s a giant slide, a fire pit and even a train! Kids will never get tired of this place. This restaurant is also very family-friendly, with a large menu for kids, such as lasagna and chicken parmigiana.
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Siamo Napoli Restaurant
3959 30th St STE 105, San Diego, CA 92104
(619) 310-6981
This restaurant is located in the Grand Hyatt Hotel (San Diego) and serves different dishes from Naples like wood-fired pizzas, pasta, and Italian desserts! What makes this place kid-friendly is their activities for kids during dinner! Kids can make their pizza, ice cream and more. It’s a fun activity for the kids while you wait for your food! Siamo Napoli Restaurant also has an extensive menu of kid-friendly dishes, including spaghetti and meatballs!
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
South Beach Bar & Grill
5059 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 226-4577
This restaurant is located in Pacific Beach (San Diego) and has an extensive menu of American dishes like burgers, sandwiches and salads. What makes this place unique is its beach games available outside for the kids! A life-sized Connect 4 game, a giant Jenga set, and more to keep the kids entertained. South Beach Bar & Grill is very Kid Friendly Restaurants in San Diego and has a wide variety of dishes for kids like grilled cheese and chicken strips!
Photo credit: usarestaurants.info
Casa de Reyes
2754 Calhoun St, San Diego, CA 92110
(619) 297-3100
This restaurant is located in Seaport Village (San Diego) in beautiful San Diego Bay! They have an enormous menu filled with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options! What makes the place unique are its outdoor fire pits that are kid-friendly and great for roasting marshmallows! There’s also a small slide and swings to entertain the kids while you wait for your food.
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