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Haven't had a chance to hit the grocery store? No time to cook? Eating out can seem daunting, but kids don’t have to put a dent in your wallet. Take advantage of the scrumptious cuisine at these Memphis-area locations to save big all year long.
EVERY DAY
IHOP • From 4 to 10 p.m., kids 12 and under can have a free dinner with the purchase of one adult entrée. Various locations.
O’Charley’s One free meal for kids under 10 with the purchase of an adult entrée. Various locations.
Buffalo Wild Wings • Each location has a different night of the week that they offer a kids-eat-off-the-menu deal for $1.99. Call location to confirm. 3770 Hacks Cross Road, Memphis (737-9463): Sunday Nights; 8385 US-64 #101, Memphis (380-9294) and 8544 N, US-51 Ste. 101, Millington (872-3800): Wednesdays; 7995 Craft-Goodman Frontage Road, Olive Branch (662-890-7285): Thursday nights; and 7188 Airways Boulevard, Southaven (662) 349-7776: Wednesday nights.
Texas De Brazil • When purchased with a full-price meal, children 2 and under eat free; 3-5, $5, and 6-12 eat at half-price. 150 Peabody Place #103, Memphis. 526-7600.
SUNDAY
Steak ‘n’ Shake • All Day Saturday & Sunday, children under 12 get one free meal with every $9 adult meal. Various locations.
Pig-N-Whistle BBQ • All Day Sat + Sun, kids eat free. 6084 Kerrville Rosemark Road, Millington. 872-2455.
Humdinger’s • From 4 p.m. to close, kids’ (12 and under) meals are $0.99 (limit two kids’ meals with the purchase of adult entree, dine-in only). 6300 Poplar Avenue #101, Memphis. 260-8292.
Lenny’s Sub Shop • One free kids’ meal with purchase of 7.5” (or larger) combo. Weekends in December. Dine in only. 2893 Poplar Avenue, 4740 Showcase Boulevard, 12 S. Cooper, and 4103 Elvis Presley Boulevard locations.
MONDAY
Abner’s Famous Chicken Tenders • (1100 N Germantown Parkway, Cordova): Kids eat free with adult entrée.
Three Guy’s Pizza Pies • Monday through Wednesday, kids eat free with adult purchase. Purchase any whole pizza and get a kids’ meal FREE. Small = 1 kids’ meal; large = 2 Kids’ meals; XL= 4 kids’ meals. Lakeland, Cordova, Collierville, Southaven.
Logan’s Roadhouse • Monday through Wednesday, kids eat from kids’ menu for $2. Various locations.
Central BBQ on Summer Avenue • Mondays and Tuesdays, one free kid’s meal with each adult meal purchased.
El Porton • Kids eat free with adult entrée. Various locations.
TUESDAY
Central BBQ on Summer Avenue • Mondays and Tuesdays, one free kid’s meal with each adult meal purchased.
Fazoli’s • Kids eat for $0.99 from 5 to 8 p.m. with purchase of an adult meal. 3587 Riverdale Road, Memphis.
Holiday Deli and Ham • Kids eat free Tuesday and Thursday evenings with an adult meal purchase. East Memphis, Germantown, Midtown, Collierville.
IKEA • Up to two kids’ meals with the purchase of an adult entrée 11 a.m. to close. 7900 Ikea Way, Cordova. 888-4532.
Ruby Tuesday •Kids 10 and under eat free after 5 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entrée. 1653 Sycamore View Road, Memphis. 382-9280.
McCalister’s Deli • Two kids’ meals with any adult meal after 3 p.m. Various locations.
Perkins • Kids eat free from the kids’ menu from 4 to 10 p.m. 3455 Poplar Avenue, 323-5300. 5112 Park Avenue, 323-5300.
WEDNESDAY
Crepe Maker (Collierville) • Ages 12 & under, one free kids’ meal with each adult meal.
Lenny’s Sub Shop • Kids eat free from 5 to 8 p.m.; two kids’ meals for every adult meal. Various locations.
Belly Acres • Kids 12 and under eat free on Wednesday with the purchase of an adult meal. 2102 Trimble Place, Memphis. 529-7017.
Logan’s Roadhouse • Kids 12 and under eat free on Wednesday with the purchase of an adult meal. Various locations.
El Toro Loco • Kids eat free with adult entrée. 2617 Poplar Avenue. 458-4414.
Pancho’s • Kids 12 and under eat free off the kids’ menu. One kid’s meal per adult. 3600 E Broadway Avenue, West Memphis, AR, 870-735-6466. 717 N. White Station Road, Memphis, 685-5404.
THURSDAY
Miss Cordelia’s • Kids get a free grilled cheese sandwich and a cookie with purchase of an adult sandwich. 737 Harbor Bend Road. 526-4772.
Captain D’s • Kids eat for $0.99 with the purchase of regular menu item. Dine-in only. Various locations.
Crazy Italians Restaurant • Kids meal $2.99 after 4 p.m. Dine-in only. 1250 N. Germantown Parkway #105, Cordova. 347-2449.
Moe’s Southwest Grill • Kids eat free 5 to 9 p.m. Various locations.
Piccadilly Cafeteria • Everything is $1.99 on the kid's menu with adult purchase. 2 kids per adult, dine-in only. Various locations.
Holiday Deli and Ham • Kids eat free Tuesday and Thursday evenings with an adult meal purchase. East Memphis, Germantown, Midtown, Collierville.
FRIDAY
Firehouse Subs • Fridays and Saturdays kids 12 and under eat free after 4 p.m. Various locations.
Lenny’s Sub Shop • One free kids’s meal with purchase of 7.5” (or larger combo). Weekends in December. Dine in only. 2893 Poplar Avenue, 4740 Showcase Boulevard, 12 S. Cooper, and 4103 Elvis Presley Boulevard locations.
SATURDAY
Steak ‘n’ Shake • All day Saturday & Sunday, children under 12 get one free meal with every $9 adult meal. Various locations.
Pig-N-Whistle • All day Saturday & Sunday, kids eat free. 6084 Kerrville Rosemark Road, Millington. 872-2455.
Piccadilly Cafeteria • Everything on the kids menu is $1.99 with adult purchase. 2 kids per adult, dine-in only. Various locations.
Firehouse Subs • Fridays and Saturdays, kids 12 and under eat free after 4 p.m. Various locations.
McCalister’s Deli • Kids meal $0.99 with purchase of an adult entrée, drink not included. Dine-in only. Various locations.
Lenny’s Sub Shop • One free kids’s meal with purchase of 7.5” (or larger combo). Weekends in December. Dine in only. 2893 Poplar Avenue, 4740 Showcase Boulevard, 12 S. Cooper, and 4103 Elvis Presley Boulevard locations.
See any we missed? Comment below and let us know!
For more ways to save, follow this advice from Cameron Huddleston, an online editor for kiplinger.com and the author of Kip’s Tips.
1. Lay down the law before you go out Let your kids know eating out is a privilege, and that there are certain stipulations they must adhere too. If you tell them before you sit down that they can only have a dessert or drink if it comes with the meal, there will be no room to “negotiate” if the circumstance is otherwise. This might also aid in preventing temper tantrums!
2. Don’t assume the kids meals are the cheapest option. A general rule of thumb: If a kids' meal is $3.99 or less, (with drink & dessert), it’s a good deal. If kid’s options are more than $4.99 or more, you’re better off ordering an adult entrée and splitting it.
3. VIVA Mexico - Mexican restaurants are typically economical and offer combination platters with several options.
4. Order a la carte - This is great for finicky eaters. If your children’s eyes are bigger than their tummies, pick out a few sides to munch on rather than ordering an entire meal.
5. “Follow” restaurants on social media - Most restaurants post promotions on Twitter and Facebook, so you don’t have to remember which day is which. This is also a great way to get instant feedback on menu items and other promotional deals.
Being frugal while dining out will also show your kids the importance of balancing a budget, forming habits for their later years. If you make dining out a treat rather than the norm, it will be more sacred to them as a “special occasion” rather than a right. Dine on.
This article was originally published in June 2015. Updated online February 2020.