Parents, this one’s for you. Cooking can be fun, but you deserve a break once in a while from meal prepping and plating endless snacks for the kids. Cue these family-friendly local restaurants — tried and true with Charleston kiddos.

When + where kids eat free

The Co-Op | Every Monday starting at 5 p.m., kids eat free with the purchase of an adult sandwich or salad.

Mineroji | So nice, you can do it twice. Kids 10 and younger eat meals up to $10 free every Monday and Tuesday.

Melvin’s BBQ | On Fridays, kids 10 and younger eat for free from 4 to 8:30 p.m. with the purchase of an adult meal.

Come Back Shack | On family Sundays, you can score one free kids' meal for every one adult combo.

East Bay Deli | Kids 10 and younger can eat for free with the purchase of an adult meal starting at 4 p.m. Check your local location for which day the deal applies to your neighborhood.

Pink Cactus | Every Wednesday, kids eat free off the kids menu with purchase of an adult entree.

Kid-friendly menus

Bodega

It’s kinda chic to take the kids to brunch. The Mount Pleasant location makes it easy with plenty of outdoor seating and a menu just for the kiddos loaded with $6 options.

Rancho Lewis

This Tex-Mex restaurant on upper King Street boasts a Los Niños menu featuring kid favorites like a bean + cheese burrito, quesadilla, mini corn dogs, and chicken tendies. If that plate is clean and you’re feeling bold, treat the kids to the Cowpoke Sundae for dessert.

Home Team BBQ

With locations in downtown, West Ashley, Mount Pleasant, and Sullivan’s Island, this BBQ spot has a sizzling ambiance. The downtown location includes a fenced-in play area with chalkboards for doodling, while the West Ashley restaurant has corn hole. The kids' menu stands out for its variety, kid-sized portions, and price range of $3 to $5.

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.

Both the taproom's and restaurant's patios are perfect for al fresco dining, and the kids' menu offers options like a burger with tater tots, a hot dog, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, and cheese or pepperoni pizza. For the parents, the tap list is glorious. Fun fact: The King Street taproom is located next door to Rancho Lewis.
Blondie’s Bagels & Cafe

Rise and shine. Get the little ones out of the house early and grab breakfast at this Daniel Island eatery featuring delicious bagels, spreads, and bagel sandwiches. After that, take them for an easy hike on the nearby Daniel Island Trail along the Wando River — it’ll get those wiggles out.

Did we miss your favorite family-friendly restaurant? Let us know so we can add it to our list.