You have planned your perfect vacation to Orlando, Florida. You have endeavored to make it the ultimate family vacation for all. Lodgings are booked, theme parks tickets are purchased, schedules are coordinated, and plane tickets or driving arrangements are set up. You’re all packed, gassed up, and ready to go. But wait! Have you remembered the most important thing? Food! Everyone has to eat, some for medical reasons, and sometimes your schedule revolves more around meal and nap times than the actual fun events. And if you have small children, it can prove to be even more of a challenge. Children are our darlings, the apple of our eyes, but they can also be a terror when eating out. They are notoriously picky and aren’t the neatest or quietest of guests, so planning dinner at a formal restaurant with seven-course meals probably isn’t the best of ideas. So you need a restaurant that understands the special needs and wants of small humans and can provide a menu that tempts their picky appetites.
Together we will go over several of the top kid-friendly restaurants in the Orlando area. From dinosaurs to Mexican food to pizza, you will surely find something here to delight your child’s palate! And many times, be entertained as well. Then, each entry will give you a brief description and tell you some of what appeals in each restaurant for children.
1. T-Rex Cafe
2. Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
3. Friendly’s
4. IHOP
5. Grills Lakeside Seafood Deck
6. Hot Krust Panini Kitchen
7. Mrs. Potato Restaurant
8. Capone’s Dinner and Show
9. Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
10. Keke’s Breakfast Cafe
11. Dixie Belle’s Cafe
12. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
13. Ginther’s Swirls Ice Cream
14. Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
15. Boma- Flavors of Africa
16. The Cheesecake Factory
17. Bread Box Hand-crafted Sandwiches
18. Flipper’s Pizzeria
19. Pirates Dinner Adventure
20. The Cirque Magique Dinner Show
21. Medieval Times
22. The Once Upon A Time Breakfast at Magic Kingdom
23. American Girl Bistro
24. Rainforest Cafe
T-Rex Cafe
Dinosaurs everywhere! Decorated heavily after the dinosaur eras, this restaurant is sure to entertain all children with its bright colors and music. Cosmo’s Cheesy Macaroni, Cosmic Key Lime Pie, and Paleo Pizza are just a few examples of the delights to be had that will tempt your child’s appetite. The T-Rex cafe is located within walking distance of Disney Springs, so that makes it super convenient, too, after a day of shopping and entertainment.
Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
With authentic Mexican food, this restaurant offers a colorful, lively place that will entertain most children. Their menu is kid-friendly, too, offering cheese quesadillas, adobe grilled chicken, nachos, guacamole, and more!
Friendly’s
From the make-your-own sundaes, where you can add your own toppings to chicken tenders, melts, grilled cheese, and soup of the day, you are sure to find something for the small child in this American-styled classic diner.
IHOP
Breakfast at dinner or breakfast in the morning, this well-known restaurant serves great pancakes and other breakfast items, sure to delight any child. They also have chicken tenders, Tex-Mex, burgers, waffles, omelets, and eggs. Some of the pancakes come with special toppings like chips or whipped cream or fruit, which may further entice the children’s appetite.
Grills Lakeside Seafood Deck
Enjoy a beautiful outdoor Florida morning here and let your children choose between Crabby Franks Benedict, Cinnamon Roll Slam, Alli’s Pizza Omelette, or more. Dinnertime options are available as well.
Hot Krust Panini Kitchen
Great for lunch, this place offers not only the signature paninis, but also burgers, soups, wraps, and french fries. They also offer gluten-free, vegan, and halal options, so there is something on the menu for nearly everyone. Kids may especially like the Nutella Marshmallow Panini!
Mrs. Potato Restaurant.
This Brazilian restaurant is dedicated to the almighty potato. From their Rosti Potatoes, filled with meat or vegetables and a hash brown exterior, to the more common baked potato or french fries. Potatoes are often one of the little one’s favorite foods, and they are sure to find a variety that they like here.
Capone’s Dinner and Show
One of the best dinner theater shows in the area, it has an Italian-American and Chicago gangster theme. The show is family-friendly and entertaining for all ages, and includes a kids menu, too, so your littles can find something to please them to eat, as well.
Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine
Have a kid with an adventurous palate? This Turkish restaurant serves genuine Turkish food in a kid-friendly environment. They can enjoy the deep-fried falafel with tahini sauce or the hummus or cold cucumber dip with warm bread.
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe
A great way to start your day with your kids. A kid-friendly, yet relaxing atmosphere, serving everything from silver dollar pancakes to blueberry waffles. And after 10:30, you can find paninis, mac and cheese, burgers, and fries.
Dixie Belle’s Cafe
If Southern comfort cuisine is what you’re looking for, then this is the place. Serving all three meals a day, you can find kid-sized portion meals of pancakes, meatloaf, and grilled cheese that is just some of what they have to offer.
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers
With classic kids’ menu items like chicken tenders, burgers, fries, grilled cheese, and applesauce for a side, this is an ideal place to bring your little ones. And don’t forget to try the Dirt’n’Worms Sundae!
Ginther’s Swirls Ice Cream
Ice cream on a hot summer Orlando day, need I say more? They even have the Dole Whip sundaes, Flavorburst ice cream swirls, milkshakes, and malts. What a great treat for any day of vacation!
Agave Azul Cocina Mexicana
With plenty of kid-friendly options, kids can also enjoy one of the best Mexican restaurants in town. From chips with queso to street corn and a build-your-own dish, where they can add what they like to eat, will ensure they get what they want.
Boma-Flavors of Africa
Authentic African cuisine at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Animal Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World is a great place to take a break for the day. Pita and hummus to Senelgese Yassa-style salmon for the more adventurous palate, or mac and cheese and pasta with marinara for the less so. Either way, you’ll find something to eat in this gorgeous restaurant.
The Cheesecake Factory
I mean, cheesecake, is there really a need for another reason? But even without their signature dish, there are several kid-friendly dishes here, from spaghetti, mini corn dogs, and salmon, to even omelets in the mornings.
Bread Box Hand-crafted Sandwiches
Located in Universal Studios, this appealing restaurant offers a variety of sandwiches and melts, with fries, tater tots, or coleslaw on the side. They also have kid options of BLTs and ham and cheese melts for example. Also available are vegan and vegetarian options, so many people can eat here.
Flippers Pizzeria
At Flippers, you can make your own pizza, by adding your own favorite toppings for the entire family to share, or one very hungry person! If you’re not inclined to share, they have calzones and brick-fired sandwiches for individuals. Here you can definitely find something your finicky child will eat!
Pirates Dinner Adventure
A lively dinner theater adventure for the entire family is sure to entertain. Listed as the most interactive dinner show in Orange County, it is welcome to all ages. Watch pirates battle on board an 18th-century pirate ship with 40-foot masts on a 300,000-gallon lagoon.
The Cirque Magique Dinner Show
Sitting in the middle of a circus while eating a delicious dinner is sure to wow everyone. Hand-selected from around the world, these performers interact with the guests to the guests’ delight.
Medieval Times
This medieval set dinner theater show offers a delicious meal while you watch knights fight for the princess’ favor or in a tournament. Also, there is a demonstration of the horses on display and a parade as they perform aerial tricks.
The Once Upon A Time Breakfast at Magic Kingdom
A character dining experience like no other in Cinderella’s Royal Table Restaurant includes. with Magic Kingdom passes. an all-you-can-eat meal and a free photo, and meet-and-greets with Disney princesses.
American Girl Bistro
Love the American Girl collection? Then this is the place for you. Didn’t bring yours? Don’t worry, they will loan you one for your meal. Dine in pink accents, with dolls and chandeliers at each table. Reservations are required FAR in advance.
Rainforest Cafe
With two locations, you are sure to find one at your convenience. One is at Disney Springs and one requires passes and is in Animal Kingdom Park. Aquariums and animatronic animals are sure to entertain all kids of all ages as they eat.
Conclusion
So in and around Orlando, Florida are several options for dining for the entire family, kids and all, even if they have dietary restrictions. Of course, there are many more options available not listed here, for lack of space. For the more adventurous palates to simple Southern cooking, you will surely find something for the kids and entire family to enjoy for mealtime. Finding somewhere to eat won’t be a problem. Deciding which place to eat at and what to eat once you get there may be another thing! Happy vacationing!