Best Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Metro Detroit

One-of-a-kind pizza, burgers, fish and chips, delis and barbecue on the fly: Find it all at these delicious Detroit restaurants for kids and parents alike.

Romantic date nights for two may be hard to come by with littles in the picture, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a fantastic family meal at a local restaurant. 

For an exciting dining experience, visit a restaurant where entertainment is built into the establishment. Many restaurants offer games, events, activities and more for the kiddos, which means you can worry less about keeping the kids occupied and can focus more on which food and drink pairing you’d like to try. 

If you just want to kick back and let someone else do the cooking, we’ve found a mix of kid-friendly spots all over metro Detroit and Ann Arbor that are sure to fill your family’s bellies. 

Bon appetit! 

Macomb 

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse

Address: 14455 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights

This family-friendly chain restaurant has an extensive list of brews for adults and tons of food options for kids. The kids menu features chicken tenders, mini corn dogs, mini burgers, grilled chicken breast, mac ‘n’ cheese, mini deep dish pizza, boneless wings and a create-your-own spaghetti option. Kids also have their own desserts – mini Pizookie and kids sundae.

Paulee’s

Address: 48964 Hayes Road, Macomb

This restaurant has a kids meal for ages 12 and under. It features French toast, buttermilk pancakes, one egg with hash browns and meat, cheeseburger with fries, grilled cheese with fries, spaghetti and strawberry crepes. Families with a sweet tooth will love the sweet flavors of waffles and French toast. For a savory twist, try chicken on a buttermilk waffle. 

Portillo’s Sterling Heights

Address: 14425 Lakeside Circle, Sterling Heights

This Chicago-born hot dog chain is now in Michigan. Grab a famous meal that includes fries and a drink or other menu options like hot dogs, beef and sausage sandwiches, beef bowls, char-boiled burgers, salads and more. Although it doesn’t have an actual menu for kids, it offers many kid-friendly options. Also, make sure to grab a slice of the famous, homemade chocolate cake for dessert.

Terry’s Terrace

Address: 36470 Jefferson Ave., Harrison Township

No kids menu? Not to worry! This award-winning seafood restaurant has great meal options perfect for sharing with the littles. Start with fried cheese curds, or encourage your little ones to try shrimp poppers, tempura fried cauliflower or even Brussels sprouts. 

For your meal, the Turkey O’Connor Pretzel is thinly sliced turkey breast, melted Swiss cheese and honey Dijon. The Ham and Gouda Pretzel is grilled ham, smoked gouda and spicy pickles with chipotle mayo. Add soup, fries or sweet potato fries to make it a meal. Also, try the Oreo, red velvet and funfetti shakes.

Find more tasty eats at these kid-approved restaurants in Sterling Heights

Oakland

Georgio’s Pizza & Pasta

Address: 117 S. Main St., Rochester

Stop into this location in downtown Rochester. It offers a “Stuffed VIP Pizza,” which is a crusted pizza stuffed with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, genoa salami, meatballs and mozzarella cheese. The kids menu is for ages 12 and under and features chicken tenders and fries, fettuccine with Alfredo sauce and spaghetti with tomato basil.

The Jagged Fork

Address: 188 Adams Road, Rochester Hills

A menu customized for young children can be found at this restaurant. Families that want to have a fun eating adventure often choose this location because of the lively environment. The delightful choices on the “Little Forks” kids menu, including Mickey Mouse pancakes and chicken tenders, are sure to please youngsters.

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar

Address: 736 W. Big Beaver Road, Troy

We get it, kids and sushi don’t seem like the perfect fit. However, nothing makes sushi more appealing to littles than by delivering it on a conveyor belt that winds around your table! Embrace new cuisines and try something new by grabbing it off the belt, or use an interactive touchscreen menu to customize your own sushi or noodle dish.

HopCat

Address: 430 S. Main St., Royal Oak

This place is known for its “cosmic” fries and craft beers. It has a HopKittens menu for kids, which includes a cheeseburger, mac and cheese, a cheese quesadilla or chicken tenders paired with a side and drink.

Discover more kid-friendly restaurants in Rochester Hills

Washtenaw

HopCat

Address: 311 Maynard St., Ann Arbor

This place is known for its “cosmic” fries and craft beers. It has a HopKittens menu for kids, which includes a cheeseburger, mac and cheese, a cheese quesadilla or chicken tenders paired with a side and drink.

Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery

Address: 311 S. Main St., Ann Arbor 

Burgers, chicken bites and kid-sized pizzas are hard to beat, but the beauty of sharing a pizza with the family is that the entire meal can be bite-sized! Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery offers a wide variety of specialty, build-your-own pizzas. Parents will love this spot for the large cocktail and local beer list; kids will love it because, well, pizza! 

Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger

Address: 304 S. Ashley St., Ann Arbor

Families with young children will feel at ease and welcome in Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger. Dive into Krazy Jim’s unique “cafeteria-style” ordering system. As you wait for dinner, kids may enjoy seeing their custom burgers prepared in front of them. The whole family will also love the range of milkshakes. They come in a variety of flavors and make a fantastic drink with a burger.

Revel and Roll

Address: 1950 S. Industrial Hwy., Ann Arbor

This restaurant is ideal for a family dinner on a Saturday night. The restaurant’s dining menu includes all the well-known staples. This includes a huge variety of delectable selections, such as scrumptious pizzas, loaded tater tots, PB&J burgers and buffalo chicken nachos. In addition to serving delicious food, the restaurant offers a broad variety of entertainment, including 2,400 square feet of TV screens, 100 arcade games and 27 bowling lanes.

Zingerman’s Delicatessen

Address: 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor

Parents love this deli for its inventive sandwiches and large portions. Kids can enjoy their favorite PB&J, grilled cheese or hot dogs, or get a taste of what the deli is known for with a kid-sized turkey, corned beef, ham, salami, tuna salad or chicken salad sandwich. Meal deals include your choice of rice or chocolate pudding and a juice box. 

Check out even more kid-friendly restaurants in Ann Arbor

Wayne

Brass Rail Pizza Bar

Address: 18 W. Adams Ave., Detroit

A visit to Brass Rail Pizza Bar is perfect for when you need to squeeze in a meal before a concert, show or sports game in downtown Detroit. The pizza bar is only a short walk away from the theaters and sports arenas. Try a “red pizza” or “white pizza” or build your own pie. The kids menu has standard children’s fare — grilled cheese, chicken tenders and cheese pizza — but there are plenty of shareable plates that kids will enjoy, too. 

Ford’s Garage

Address: 21367 Michigan Ave., Dearborn

If your kids enjoy cars and are hungry, this restaurant is perfect for them. This restaurant has an automobile theme and offers a vibrant and cheerful atmosphere. The “Jr. Mechanic” kids menu includes dishes like sliders, chicken tenders and mac and cheese. One side dish and one beverage are included with every meal.

HopCat

Address: 4265 Woodward Ave., Detroit and 17800 Haggerty Road, Livonia

This place is known for its “cosmic” fries and craft beers. It has a HopKittens menu for kids, which includes a cheeseburger, mac and cheese, a cheese quesadilla or chicken tenders paired with a side and drink.

JoJo’s Shake Bar

Address: 88 W. Columbia St., Detroit

There are only five JoJo’s locations nationwide, and one of them is right here in Detroit! This upscale diner has a classic menu of burgers, fried apps and other American eats, but those of us with a sweet tooth know that the over-the-top Biggie Shakes are the real reason to visit JoJo’s. 

The signature shakes on the menu range in flavor from blueberry to vegan banana Oreo, and every shake is topped with a variety of sugary toppings — think chocolate-covered pretzels, giant cookies, cotton candy, doughnut holes and even marshmallow treats like s’mores! Be sure to look out for rotating seasonal shakes around the holidays. 

Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery

Address: 441 W. Canfield St., #9, Detroit

Burgers, chicken bites and kid-sized pizzas are hard to beat, but the beauty of sharing a pizza with the family is that the entire meal can be bite-sized! Jolly Pumpkin Pizzeria and Brewery offers a wide variety of specialty, build-your-own pizzas. Parents will love this spot for the large cocktail and local beer list; kids will love it because, well, pizza! 

Mati’s Deli

Address: 1842 Monroe St., Dearborn

For more than 35 years, this classic deli has been a staple in the Dearborn community. Mati’s not only serves mouthwatering sandwiches, soups and salads, but also is a setting that is ideal for families with young children. Additionally, it features outside seating, which is useful for dining with the family during the warmer months. A benefit for families looking for an early dinner preference is that Mati’s Deli closes early at 6 p.m.

Shake Shack

Address: 660 Woodward Ave., Detroit

This New York City burger chain is growing in popularity in metro Detroit, and for good reason! Kids will love getting to use an interactive touch screen to order their food. Every burger is completely customizable, which means picky eaters can enjoy all the burger and hot dog toppings they love without having to worry about picking off the ones they’d rather skip. Still hungry? Check out these kid-approved restaurants in Dearborn.


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