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Favorite Family-Friendly Restaurants in Champaign-Urbana

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What makes a restaurant ‘family-friendly’ anyway?

We asked our readers for their favorite family-friendly restaurants in the Champaign-Urbana area, but we deliberately didn’t define the term. To our amusement, a reader consensus emerged — a family-friendly restaurant is apparently a venue that is louder than your own children.

Favorite Family-Friendly Restaurants in Champaign-Urbana

Of course, our readers did consider a few other parameters. Some of the places listed below are recommended for their kind employees, some for fast service (or in the case of Mexican restaurants, for bringing out chips right away), and some for the quality or size of the kids’ menu. Note that affordability is not a priority for every family — one reader listed Champaign’s Biaggi’s as their favorite family restaurant, and more power to them!

Many chain restaurants are literally marketed to families. For example, our readers are fans of Monical’s, Portillo’s, Chili’s, Texas Roadhouse, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and more. As with our other restaurant articles, however, we focus here on locally owned establishments.

While we at chambanamoms have eaten at most of these places, these recommendations come from our readers on social media and are not endorsements of these businesses. Please note that prices, menu options, or entertainment features may change without notice. 

83 Vietnamese Cuisine, southwest Champaign: “They have a free Pac-Man video console and they have a TV that’s always playing vintage Nickelodeon shows. Everyone there is super friendly, the food is the best in town, and our picky toddler loves the pork belly sticky buns. He’s usually so picky but slams them like nobody’s business.”

Aspen Tap House, south Champaign: “Our favorite! Noisy enough to hide loudness, and a kid menu for my picky eater.”

Billy Barooz, southwest Champaign: “Has short and tall high chairs so you’re covered no matter what kind of table you get. Has crayons/coloring books for kids and a good kids menu also.” “It’s always loud in there so no one notices if our kids get loud too.”

Chophouse on Main, downtown Mahomet: “Their team is amazing with our kiddos and we get to enjoy a nice meal/atmosphere.”

Courier Cafe, downtown Urbana: “Kid-friendly menu, books and crayons, comfortable ambience.” “Courier is great, because they have a pretty extensive menu — more than the usual mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese.” “Courier Cafe is our go-to especially since they have breakfast available all day.”

Kids at the Courier CafeFiesta Cafe, Champaign: “Such a friendly, easy-going place and when my kiddo would make a mess, rice all over the place, they were totally cheerful about it, wouldn’t accept an apology. They always seem sincerely at ease with kids, not making a big deal out of them all the time, but also seeing it as normal for kids to act like kids.”

Joe’s Pizza, Tuscola: “Joe’s has a game room with air hockey, crane machines, motorcycle riding games, and a basketball game!” “Very family-friendly!”

Jupiter’s at the Crossing, southwest Champaign: “We go to Jupiter’s for pizza a lot. Fun games for the kids to play and bowling too!”

Ko Fusion, downtown Champaign: “Popular place for families with kids of all ages.” “We have gone there several times with our littles and they have been SO accommodating.”

Riggs Beer Garden, southeast Urbana: “The selection of food trucks here is great or we can bring in our own picnic, our kid can easily get her preferred lemonade from the Riggs folks, and she LOVES running around the outdoor playground area with whatever other new best friends happen to be there. The selection of sweet dogs to pet is always a delightful bonus. And if she is running around and happy, Mom and Dad can have an actual conversation over an adult beverage.” “They encourage kids to be there, and it is a great place to just let them play while the adults socialize. They sell juice boxes at the bar for $1 too.” “We hosted my four year old’s birthday party there by his request. The kids had fun on the playground, we bought juice boxes for all the kids, and we had the most dads (and moms) show up for a preschool party I’ve ever seen.”

Tractor play area at Riggs Beer Garden

Smith Burger Co., downtown Champaign: “It has great kids’ options plus an Oreo as an extra touch, always kind to our little!”

El Rancho Grande (Villa Grove and Savoy): “A winner for us and especially my autistic son looooves their salsa!”

El Toro (multiple locations): “Fast service, basic and good food, and you can get loud and nobody cares.” “Our favorite go-to for family meals.”

Seven Saints, downtown Champaign: “We like to go early before it gets crowded. A slider is perfect for a preschooler.”

The Wheelhouse, St. Joseph: “Great kids prices. Excellent food.”

Is your favorite family-friendly restaurant not on our list? Send an email to let us know!

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