10 Toronto Restaurants Where Kids Eat Free This Summer
With just a few weeks left before the school year resets everyone’s routine, this is prime time to squeeze in a last round of family outings — without blowing the budget in the process. A handful of Toronto restaurants are helping make that easier with kids-eat-free deals running through the end of summer. Here’s where to go, from Korean barbecue to steaming bowls of ramen.
Chako BBQ & Izakaya — Richmond Hill, Midland, Vaughan, Eglinton, Aurora
Let the kids run the grill built into the table. Through August, children 10 and under (or 140 cm and shorter) eat free with the purchase of an adult all-you-can-eat dinner, working through short ribs, sliced beef, chicken, shrimp and tofu, plus kid-friendly extras like California rolls and miso soup. Follow the restaurant’s Instagram and show your server the relevant post to redeem.
Copacabana — 150 Eglinton Ave. E.
For a limited time, kids 11 and under get free access to Copacabana’s unlimited Brazilian rodizio menu every Sunday, with one complimentary child admission per paying adult. Servers carve more than a dozen meats tableside, while kids can stick to mac and cheese, Parmesan fries or cheesy pão de queijo.
Denny’s — multiple locations, including Dundas St. W., St. Clair Ave. W., Yonge & Sheppard
Two chances a week here: kids 10 and under eat free every Tuesday and Sunday from 4 to 10 p.m. with an adult entrée purchase. Breakfast options include the Jr. Grand Slam or birthday cake pancakes, while lunch and dinner cover the usual bases — chicken tenders, grilled cheese, mac and cheese.
East Side Mario’s — 2171 Steeles Ave. W. and other GTA locations
Tuesday is family pasta night: kids 10 and under eat free with an adult entrée priced $19.99 or higher. Kids can build their own pasta from a choice of noodles and sauces, or stick with cheesy cappelletti, chicken fingers or pizza. Note that the deal doesn’t apply to groups of eight or more kids.
Pickle Barrel — Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Yonge & Eglinton
Every Tuesday, dine-in only, kids 12 and under eat free with an adult entrée of at least $18. Choices include chicken fingers, grilled cheese, fish and chips, or a kid’s burger, with each meal including a drink and dessert.
Swiss Chalet — multiple locations, including Queens Quay, Dufferin St., Keele St., Bayview Ave.
Wednesdays are the move here: kids 10 and under eat free with an adult entrée purchase. Beyond the signature rotisserie chicken, kids can order tenders, a mini cheese pizza, a Cheezy Chalet Burger or a pulled-rib sandwich, each with a side, drink and dessert included. This one runs dine-in only through October 31, so it’s not just a summer-only deal.
Mandarin — North York, Scarborough, the Queensway
The most generous age cutoff on this list: kids four and under eat completely free from the buffet, with up to two children covered per paying adult. Kids five to 12 get half off. With over 100 dishes on offer, there’s plenty of room for picky eaters and adventurous ones alike.
IKEA Swedish Restaurant — IKEA North York and IKEA Etobicoke
If you’ve got a free IKEA Family membership, every Wednesday through August 31 comes with one free kids’ meal per qualifying adult main dish purchase — Swedish meatballs, plant balls or salmon for the grown-ups, and a classic or plant-based meatball meal for the kids.
Kelseys Original Roadhouse — 1972 Eglinton Ave. E. and 50 Cinemart Dr., Scarborough
Tuesdays bring a free kids’ meal with an adult entrée of $18.99 or more, plus a small $2 donation to BGC Canada. Kids can pick from chicken fingers, mac and cheese or a burger, each with a side, drink and push pop included.
Ramen RAIJIN — 24 Wellesley St. W.
Downtown families get two shots at this one: every Tuesday and Wednesday, kids 12 and under eat free as long as every adult at the table orders a main. Kids can choose between the rich pork-bone Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen or the lighter, soy-based Umami Shoyu Ramen.
Deal terms and dates can shift without much notice, so it’s worth double-checking directly with each restaurant before heading out.