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Are you looking for a list of the most kid-friendly restaurants in downtown Chicago?
As you’re visiting all of the many sights and attractions in downtown Chicago, don’t wait until the last minute to determine where it is that you should go to find a child-friendly restaurant.
Instead, check out our list of the top 5 fun kid restaurants in Chicago that are both welcoming and enjoyable for you and the kids.
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Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Downtown Chicago
We love visiting the city of Chicago as a family so much that we visit there during summer (when it’s warm), and during winter (when it’s cold).
Believe it or not, we find the seasons equally enjoyable and have crafted both a 3-day Chicago itinerary for summer and a perfect 3-day Chicago itinerary for winter!
Along with needing to know what to wear when visiting Chicago, it’s important to know where to eat, especially when traveling to Chicago with kids.
When looking for a kid-friendly place to eat, look for a restaurant that has both kids and adult menus – each with a variety of tasty and affordable options.
The restaurant should have comfortable and spacious seating for families of all sizes and have an ambiance that isn’t too fancy or uptight.
These top 5 kid-friendly restaurants in downtown Chicago all meet these criteria, plus more.
Each one has its own additional features that make them a fun and unique downtown Chicago dining experience.
Oh, and psst…we LOVE Chicago so much, that we’ve written several other guides to help you plan your trip!
- Our Complete 3-Day Chicago Family Vacation Itinerary
- What to do in Chicago in Winter (+ 3-Day Itinerary)
- What to Wear in Chicago: A Visitor’s Guide to Every Season!
- 25 Things to do in Chicago at Night
- A Complete List of Things to do at Navy Pier Chicago
- Famous Chicago Food: 5 Iconic Chicago Foods to Try!
Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Downtown Chicago: SafeHouse
- Address: 60 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611
- Open for lunch and dinner
With only 1 other location in the United States, SafeHouse Chicago is an entirely unique experience and is the absolute best-themed restaurant in Chicago!
It starts off with a mysterious entrance through a bright red door (on an otherwise plain storefront) into a holding room.
Your group is asked if they know the password to get into the SafeHouse, and if not you must do a series of silly motions to be granted entrance.
Little do you know that the entire restaurant is watching from TV screens inside of the dining area.
Once inside, the chic darkness and bright lights of the spy-themed decor are both welcoming and intriguing for kids.
Upon being given a name tag, guests are asked to give themselves a “spy name” that they will be referred to during their dining experience.
Even then the menu uses spy lingo as you order things such as a Bourne Identity Salad or Double Spy Burger. The kids’ menu features a Jr. Spy Burger, Undercover Mac & Cheese, and others.
With other kid-friendly attributes such as an in-house magician, gift shop, scavenger hunt, and sporadic pranks, SafeHouse is definitely one of the top kid-friendly restaurants in downtown Chicago!
Additional planning tip: Safehouse Chicago is open Wednesday through Sunday evenings. Visiting unique Chicago restaurants like these is definitely on our list of the best things to do in Chicago at night!
Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Downtown Chicago: Rainforest Cafe
- Address: 605 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
- Open for lunch and dinner
(The Rainforest Cafe is permanently closed. We will update this information as more info becomes available.)
Though not unique to downtown Chicago, dining at the kid-themed restaurant chain Rainforest Cafe is a rite of passage during childhood as it is one of the coolest restaurants for kids.
As one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in downtown Chicago River North, Rainforest Cafe does not disappoint!
The tropical rain forest theming on both the inside and outside of the restaurant makes for an exciting ambiance that screams ‘kid-friendly’.
Located throughout the entire restaurant are plant growth, mist, waterfalls, and figures of animated animals including elephants, gorillas, tigers, leopards, and tropical birds.
The restaurant is also decorated with beautifully lit fish tanks and a wishing pond to toss coins into.
Standard food offerings include appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, pasta, and burgers.
The kids’ menu is titled “Wild Bunch Favorites” and includes items such as Jurassic Chicken Tidbits and Gorilla Grilled Cheese Delight.
Perhaps the most exciting and conversation-provoking menu item is the gigantic “Volcano” chocolate cake with ice cream.
Large enough to be shared by a group of 4-6, waiters sing their way through the restaurant to deliver this delicacy adorned with a lit sparkler on top.
Additional planning tip: Rumor has it that Rainforest Cafe in downtown Chicago may close indefinitely. Another one of our favorite Chicago family-friendly restaurants is Honey Butter Fried Chicago!
If you’ll be visiting Lincoln Park or Wrigley Field, there is a location only a few miles from there where you can enjoy their famous honey butter fried chicken, chicken tenders, and corn muffins!
Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Downtown Chicago: Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe
- Address: 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601 and 196 E Pearson St, Chicago, IL 60611
- Open for breakfast and lunch
Wildberry is a favorite stop for many when visiting downtown Chicago as well as gets amazing reviews on both Trip Advisor and Yelp.
In our experience, Wildberry provides the best lunch with kids when visiting Chicago and is the best family restaurant in downtown Chicago.
With 2 equally awesome locations in downtown Chicago, be sure to visit Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe near Millennium Park, or when close to the John Hancock Building and 360 Chicago in Water Tower Place (this is the Magnificent Mile area).
Wildberry is widely known for offering huge, delicious portions of breakfast and lunch comfort food.
Served during both morning and afternoon hours, breakfast fare includes eggs-quisite omelets, sizzlin’ skillets, crepes, and specialty pancakes.
Lunch options consist of signature sandwiches, wraps, paninis, and salads.
With both a kids’ menu (titled Little Berries) and a senior menu, there are great price points and serving sizes for everyone!
Wildberry makes the list in the top 5 most kid-friendly restaurants in Downtown Chicago because of its laid-back atmosphere, attentive service, and kid-friendly breakfast foods.
What kid doesn’t love Oreo S’mores’ Pancakes or Chocolate Chip Belgian Waffles, after all?
With its large menu and large menu portions, the line to get a table here speaks to its popularity.
Do not be discouraged, however, for the tables turn over quickly and their amazing food and atmosphere are totally worth the wait!
Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Downtown Chicago: Giordano’s Pizza
- Address: 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601, 223 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60606, 730 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611, & 700 E. Grand Ave. (Navy Pier location)
- Open for lunch and dinner
Another fun kids’ restaurant in downtown Chicago is Giordano’s!
In fact, Giordano’s is one of our favorite restaurants downtown, overall.
Serving up one of the most kid-friendly foods on earth, Giordano’s represents an epic downtown Chicago experience that should not be missed!
Whether dining on their famous stuffed deep-dish pizza, thin-crust, or extra-thin crust pizza, Giordano’s will be pleasing to the entire family.
Though the 45 minutes it takes to bake one of their stuffed deep dish pizzas is not the most kid-friendly, the large and bustling atmosphere of Giordano’s will make you feel right at home while waiting.
If adults are wanting a specialty pizza that may not be appealing to kids, the Girodano’s kids menu features pasta and individual kid-size pizzas.
Gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options are also included for those adults and children with dietary restrictions.
Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Downtown Chicago: Portillo’s Hot Dogs
- Address: 100 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60654 & 520 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607
- Open for lunch and dinner
You may or may not know, but there are several famous Chicago foods that the city has become known for.
Perhaps the most popular iconic Chicago food is the Chicago hot dog – a must ‘eat’ for both kids and adults!
One of the most kid-friendly restaurants in downtown Chicago where you can get a classic Chicago-style hot dog is Portillo’s.
If you’re not familiar with a Chicago-style hot dog, let me introduce you!
An authentic Chicago-style hot dog consists of:
- An all-beef hot dog
- Poppyseed bun
- Yellow mustard
- Chopped white onions
- Sweet pickle relish
- A dill pickle spear
- Tomato slice
- Pickled sport peppers
- Celery salt
Other classic menu options at Portillo’s include Italian beef sandwiches and standard fares such as chicken sandwiches, char-broiled burgers, and ribs.
The most kid-pleasing menu option is their beloved chocolate cake in the form of a slice or mixed into an ice cream shake. Mmmm!
You literally cannot go wrong!
All set to the Instagram-worthy decor of a 1950’s diner, Portillo’s is truly a fun restaurant in downtown Chicago!
*To note is that we did not get to experience any family restaurants in Chicago’s West Loop or Wicker Park neighborhoods. Similar to visiting New York and other big cities, there’s just so much to do and never enough time.
If you like our article on the Top 5 Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Downtown Chicago, click here to check out our Related Posts:
- 25 Exciting Things to do in Chicago at Night
- Top 10 Things to do at Navy Pier Chicago with Kids
- A Complete Chicago 3-Day Itinerary for Families
- Winter in Chicago: Best Things to Do + 3-Day Itinerary
- What to Wear in Chicago: A Visitor’s Guide to Every Season
- Famous Chicago Food: 5 Foods You Must Try!
*Before leaving, be sure to check our Travel Resources Page to find exclusive travel discounts and to book hotels, rental cars, and guided tours.*
I don’t about the kiddos, but they all look good to me! I’m ready for lunch now and it’s only 9:30AM!
Right? This list didn’t even include the incredible Chicago popcorn, donut, and ice cream joints!
Mmm… drooling over Wildberry Pancakes. One can never have too many pancakes…
Seriously, it is hard to put into words how delicious that place is!
Ok! Now I’m hungry! The Saferoom sounds so cool- adding that to my list for sure for our next trip. And I’m a sucker for all things brunch so Wildberry’s goes on the list too!
Yay! Glad they sounded appealing to you! We loved them!
We just came back from Chicago and we loved it! We didn’t get to Safe House, but it sounds so fun. I think my kids would have loved it when they were a bit younger. My daughter was desperate to try deep dish pizza and we went to Lou Malnati’s, but there were lots of great places to choose from. We ate SO much. So many places to choose from!
Yes! Lou’s is great pizza too…as is Uno’s! You can’t go wrong with either three!