When the Census released its findings of the 29 American cities with the highest number of children, four cities within the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex appeared on the list. In other words, Dallas has a lot of kids, and plenty of parents who wouldn’t mind dining out now and then.
While the stereotype that kids and restaurants don’t mix has some validity, plenty of restaurants in town make the experience enjoyable for all. When in need of a break from cutting off crusts, cleaning up spills, and whipping up recipes that appeal to everyone between the ages of three and 50, North Texas has you covered. The restaurants on this list aim to entertain, so that the whole family can enjoy a break from the home kitchen.
Birdie’s Eastside
This neighborhood bar and grill has a 7,000 square-foot patio with a dedicated section where children can let out their wiggles and meet some new playmates. The approachable menu has something for everyone. Think starters like spinach-artichoke dip and popcorn chicken; sandwiches including BLTs and smashburgers; and sides like macaroni and cheese and sweet potatoes. Kids can order from their own menu and dig into butter and parm pasta or cheese quesadillas with fruit or fries. If you want to enjoy Birdie’s kid-free, the adults-only lounge offers a nice escape. 6221 E. Mockingbird Ln., Dallas, birdieseastside.com
Nico’s Cocina
Nico’s draws in families with its Tex-Mex classics, including nachos, tacos, chimichangas, and fajitas. Best of all, Nico’s has a playground. Grab a seat on the covered patio and sip margaritas as the little ones run, climb, and slide in full view. Treat them to warm churros to extend the leisurely al fresco experience. 3065 N. Josey Ln. #24 Carrollton, nicoscocina.com
The Stix Ice House
If you’re looking for a restaurant that doubles as a giant playground, head to McKinney to hang out at the Stix Ice House. The 14-acre venue offers endless entertainment for kids and adults alike, including live music, cornhole, volleyball, ping-pong, wiffle ball, and lively outdoor dining. A dedicated kids’ menu lets children pick from dishes like chicken strips, corn dogs, and quesadillas, each served with a Rice Krispies treat. Adults can satisfy their cravings too, with dishes like Frito pie and all-beef quarter-pound hot dogs. 301 Eldorado Pkwy. #100, McKinney,https://www.thestixicehouse.com
Vector
Breweries famously provide fun for the whole family, and in Dallas, Vector in Lake Highlands is among the best. There’s space to run around outside, plenty of patio seating, a stash of board games, a fish tank, and little mannequins hidden in the ceiling that kids love to hunt for. Grownups love the made-from-scratch sour-dough pizzas and ever-rotating selection of beers brewed in-house, while the under-age crowd can toast with Italian sodas or hot chocolate. A kids’ menu showcases a variety of pizzas and spaghetti with sauce, or without. As a bonus, Vector is open early, serving coffee and breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. 9850 Walnut Hill Ln. Ste. 405, Dallas, vectorbrewing.com
Heritage Pizza and Tap Room
This pizza restaurant with the plaid booths and hard-wood floors offers eight-foot pizzas. Go with a group and watch the kids’ faces light up when two servers deliver one to the table on a long wooden plank. On Monday nights, free music bingo might distract the kids while they wait for their food. If not, there’s a playground outside. Anyone who’s not in a pizza mood will enjoy baked pasta dishes, meatball subs, or mushrooms stuffed with spicy sausage and goat cheese. 3750 Plano Pkwy. Ste. 600, The Colony, heritagepizza.com
Tokyo Harbor
When it comes to dining out with little ones, hibachi is a no-brainer. Squirmy, impatient children are too entertained to fuss as the whole family gets an up-close view of the meal preparations. At Tokyo Harbor, chefs put on a show as they grill veggies and proteins, toss rice into the mouths of diners, or flip shrimp into their chef hats. Some restaurants that provide entertainment may pay less attention to the food, but Tokyo Harbor delivers consistently on both. Multiple locations, tokyoharbor.com
Slider and Blues
With baseball memorabilia adorning the walls, this casual restaurant known for its smashburgers appeals to sports lovers of all ages. Scan the wall of baseball cards for your favorite players or watch the game on any of the flat screens. Kids who couldn’t care less about checking the score will stay occupied in the on-site arcade. The menu offers five smashburgers, as well as a beloved chicken Caesar wrap, and in keeping with the baseball theme, three kinds of hot dogs. 6309 Hillcrest Ave., Dallas, sliderandblues.com
Kura Revolving Sushi Bar
At this conveyor-belt sushi spot, kids won’t have to endure the wait between ordering and eating; they can grab whatever they like as soon as they see it. That’s not the only thing that keeps kids interested: Order an item a la carte from a touchpad menu and see it zip down a special conveyor belt to your table. Watch the in-house robot deliver the drinks. And once the group has had its fill, insert your empty plates into a slot, get your bill, and receive fun prizes in plastic eggs. Multiple locations, kurasushi.com
Wild Acre
When the weather cooperates, spend an afternoon at this brewery in Fort Worth, where the outdoor patio offers a Jumbo Jumper (imagine a flat bounce house installed in the ground), pedal-operated go carts, a slide, lawn games, and more. All of the food is both kid-friendly and perfect for beer pairing. Think loaded cheese fries, mini corn dogs, and soft pretzel sticks with beer cheese. 1734 E. El Paso St. #190, Fort Worth, wildacrebrewing.com
Derby Restaurant
Kids, not to mention adults, who are fascinated by cars will be in heaven at Derby, a restaurant inside the Shop, a membership club for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. The show room is packed with members’ rare and classic cars, and on weekends, tours run every 30 minutes. A tour costs $10, but you won’t be charged for kids under five. The menu has lots of tasty options, so even if you don’t know a minivan from a school bus, you’ll enjoy yourself while the car aficionados nerd out in the show room. Indulge in red snapper and shrimp ceviche, pulled pork sandwiches, or lobster mac ‘n’ cheese. 9100 John W. Carpenter Fwy., Dallas, derbyrestaurants.com/dallas
The Magic Time Machine
If there’s one restaurant geared towards kiddos in Dallas, it’s the Magic Time Machine. Since 1979, this Addison staple has lived up to its name, with a salad bar situated in a vintage car, balloon makers, caricature artists, and servers who double as costumed characters from movies and books. The over-the-top décor, including a table fitted in an old refrigerator, is boredom-proof. Teeming with comfort food, like burgers, crispy chicken tenders, and steaks galore, the menu offers something for everyone. 5003 Beltline Rd., Dallas,magictimemachine.squarespace.com
Free Play Arcade
At this arcade with over 160 games, even parents will enjoy the nostalgia of the throwbacks, including Pac-Man, Guitar Hero, pin ball, and Atari Star Wars. Entry to the arcade is only $13 plus tax, and then, as the name suggests, the games are set to “free play.” The restaurant is nothing fancy, but it’s a perfect place to grab some mini tacos, flat-bread pizza, or a hummus plate, between rounds of Skee-Ball. Be sure to check the website before you go because certain hours at Free Play are adults-only. Multiple locations, freeplayinc.com/dallas
