Going out to eat as a family can be fun. Of course, if you’ve got squirmy little ones, it can also be challenging, but it’s always nice to get out of the house and enjoy a meal out once in a while. Especially on those nights after a long day when you just don’t feel like cooking dinner. I know we’ve all been there!
But, what’s not fun about eating out is the price. Depending on where you eat, a family meal can add up pretty quickly … but it doesn’t have to! Here is a list of places kids eat free (or almost free) to accommodate even the pickiest of eaters!
Note: Some restaurants only offer free kids meals specific days of the week. They are listed below by day. Also, offers can change, so be sure to verify details before you go.
Every Day
- Golden Corral (Forest Drive, Columbia) – Kids 3 and under eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
- Shealy’s BBQ (Batesburg-Leesville) – Tuesday-Saturday – Kids 4 and under eat free; Kids 5-6 $4.25, Kids 7-9 $5.75, Kids 10- 1 $8.50.
- Shoney’s (Garners Ferry Rd., Columbia) – Kids 4 and under eat free at the buffet with the purchase of an adult meal.
Monday
- Denny’s (Various Locations) – Kids 12 and under eat free from 4-10 p.m.
- Red Bowl Asian Bistro (Sandhills) – Kids 9 and under eat for $2.50. Dine-in only.
- Shealy’s BBQ (Batesburg-Leesville) – Kids 6 and under eat free, kids 7-11 eat for $6, and adults eat for $11.95.
Tuesday
- Beef O’Brady’s (Northeast Columbia) – Kids 12 and under eat for $3.49 with the purchase of an adult meal. Dine-in only.
- Carolina Ale House (Harbison) – Kids 10 and under eat for .99 with the purchase of an adult meal, 5-9 p.m.
- Denny’s (Various Locations) – Kids 13 and under eat free, 4-10 p.m.
Wednesday
- East Bay Deli (Sunset Court Location Only) – Kids eat free; One free kids meal per adult meal, 4-9 p.m.
- Hudson’s Smokehouse (Lexington) – Kids 10 and under – free buffet dinner. 5 p.m.
- Knead Pizza (Lexington) – Kids Meal 1/2 price with purchase of each adult meal. Dine-in only.
- Scottie’s Cafe & Grill (Blythewood) – Kids 11 and under eat free with purchase of an adult meal. Dine-in only.
- Smashburger (Columbia, Irmo, Lexington) – Free Kids Meal with the purchase of each adult meal.
Thursday
- Diablo’s Southwest Grill (Lexington) – Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Saturday
- Groucho’s Deli (Northeast) – Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal, 4-8:30 p.m.
Sunday
- Firehouse Subs (Various Locations) – .99 kids meals (up to 2 kids) per adult combo.
- Moe’s (Various Locations) – Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal. (Call your location to see if they participate).
- Red Bowl Asian Bistro (Sandhills) – Kids 9 and under eat for $2.50. Dine-in only
The Mor’s Location on Main St in Columbia does not participate—— get this, “because we have too many college kids”.
Ugh, really frustrating, especially when you live downtown AND have kids.
Salsarita’s on Killian does kids eat free from 4-8 PM Sunday and Tuesday! I’d love to see y’all out!
Awesome! Thanks for the info! Do you have a link to your Kids Eat Free info we can include? We’d love to stop by!
Cafe Strudel
Wednesday through Sunday. 1 kids meal per adult entree.
Thanks for sharing! We’ll add to our list.
Went to zorbas in Chapin last night and they said they do not have a kids night. 🙁
Oh no! Thanks for letting us know. We have updated our list.
Ok. We hit up the list this week. Which Wich on bower pkwy off harbison has a deal on Thursdays. It’s actually a free adult sandwich per kids meal purchased.
Thanks for letting us know! We will update the list.
Moe’s in Sandhill no longer participates in the Kids Eat Free/$.99 🙁
Thanks for letting us know!
Red Robin Columbiana Mall has $1.99 kids meals on Wednesdays, all day!
Were told today at McAlister’s Deli that Kids eat free will be terminated at the end of August.
Thanks for letting us know! We will update our list.
Firehouse Subs at Two Notch and Sparkleberry offers $0.99 kids meals (up to 2 kids) per adult combo purchase on Sundays and Wednesdays. (If my memory serves me correctly – might be 1.99 for the kid meals…)
Thanks for letting us know! We’ll update our list.
Fatz on forest dr does not participate
Thanks for letting us know. We’ll get this updated.