This all-you-can-eat restaurant puts a fun spin on the already interactive hot pot experience by delivering your toppings and soup ingredients on a miniature train-led conveyor belt. Pick your broth and sauces, which are simmered at the table, and then build your ideal soup with seafood, frog legs, slices of beef, vegetables, and more as the choo-choo chugs along. Go for lunch, where it's $19 for adults and $9 for kids, or opt for dinner for $29 for adults and $14 for children.

With a gorgeous patio for al fresco dining and a welcoming playground, d’Alba is a restaurant both kids and adults can get behind. Enjoy oysters on the half-shell, wood-fired pizzas, and handmade pasta dishes that can easily be shared — but if the kids want their own meal, the children’s menu features chicken fingers, pasta, cheese pizza, and a good old classic peanut butter and jelly served with fries. Adults can enjoy big plates like the slow-baked King Salmon with Creole string beans, plus craft cocktails, like the Alba red mule, made with Deep Eddy Ruby Red vodka and hibiscus ginger beer. Treat the table to scoops of seasonal sorbet, the tres leches, or the freshly baked chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of ice cream.

This Stomping Grounds bakery and sandwich shop is a pitstop for families looking for quality handhelds made with smoked meats and fresh bread. Luloo’s boasts a solid fried chicken sandwich, a saucy smashed meatball sub, and a Foccacia-letta — its version of a muffuletta served on pillowy focaccia bread, plus other bites like fried okra and halloumi cheese sticks. The kid's menu is also top-notch, with a 44 Farms black Angus beef burger, grilled cheeses using Havarti and American on milk bread, and karaage chicken nuggets. The pastries, including co-owner Alyssa Dole’s cinnamon rolls and kolaches are not to be missed. Added bonus: If the weather allows, chill out on the patio while the kids enjoy themselves on the grounds’ greenspace.

With four locations around the Houston area, including this Garden Oaks/Oak Forest outpost, Local Table makes sure dining is a flavorful experience for all ages and diets. Adults can enjoy slow-braised short ribs, spinach artichoke dip, crab cakes, and vegetarian lemon pasta, while kids enjoy their own menu of diverse options, like a falafel ball “happy bowl,” cheeseburgers, pasta, and chicken tenders. The best part? You don’t have to forfeit your love of weekend brunch. Kids can chow down on French toast, breakfast quesadillas, and mini-chocolate chip waffles while grown-ups chill out with a mimosa flight or a glass of frosé.

Families often flock to this spacious Heights restaurant. With its roomy and chill atmosphere, the whole family can comfortably enjoy its slew of Italian offerings, which include sharable hand-tossed pizzas, salads, and pasta, plus wine and beer on tap for adults. The Critters menu boasts items like grilled chicken, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese, spaghetti, and pizza for $6 to $7, but if you visit on Monday, the whole family can enjoy half-off pizzas. Best of all, kids can frolic and let out their energy on the 5,000-square-foot garden patio, which features swings and a ping-pong table for competitive spirits.

Daily brunch, lunch, and dinner menus filled with staples and cocktails, plus its multiple locations make Dish Society an easy choice for families with children. Its $7 “Littles” menu offers popcorn shrimp, quesadillas, fried chicken tenders, buttered pasta, and grilled chicken strips but their meals can be completely free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entree, sandwich, or salad. Diners can additionally take the thought out of the dining experience with Dish Society’s family-style meals. Estimated to feed two adults and two children (or three adults), options include breakfast tacos, pasta, and a Farmers Plate package that comes with your choice of chicken or shrimp and brisket.

Face it, when it comes to many kids, hot dogs are often at the top of their favorite food list, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Head to Good Dog Houston, where dogs can be as adventurous or as plain as you’d like. Choose from the festive menu, which boasts sandwiches, chili dogs, Chi-town style hot dogs, corn dogs, and its intriguing Benedict Franklin, a hot dog topped with a fried egg, brown sugar ham, a mustard cheese sauce, and garlic aioli. Meanwhile, kids can enjoy Corny Dogs, sliders, mac and cheese, tenders, or a Plain Good Dog with their choice of French fries or apple slices. Top off the experience with a milkshake or a scoop of Amy’s Ice cream.

Let the kids monkey around at the Jimmy’s Jungle playground, offered at all Jimmy Changas locations, while they wait for their fuel. The Little Jimmy’s menu features a Tex-Mex twist with a choice of cheese enchiladas, crispy tacos, or quesadillas, plus complimentary soft-serve ice cream.

Located in CityCentre, this outpost of bellagreen is perfect for families looking to get a little sunshine in before, after, or during their meal. This affordable and health-focused restaurant features indoor dining and patio seating, plus it’s situated conveniently in front of the development’s green space, where children love to run wild — particularly during the kids’ friendly events held there. The food offerings are also delicious, with a robust menu of pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and pasta made with fresh ingredients. Added bonus: The restaurant takes special consideration for those who might have food allergies or need gluten-free fare.

Kids will stay occupied at Saint Arnold’s brewery thanks to its expansive outdoor beer garden, which is outfitted with mazes, decorative art cars, and on-site yard games like bocce and corn hole. Even better are the finger foods and sharable eats like the cheesy pizzas, the soft pretzels served with queso blanco, and a variety of sandwiches. The extra fizzy root beer, made in-house, is a special treat, which can be easily transformed into a float with a scoop of ice cream.

Spend a day in Downtown’s Market Square Park and dine at Niko Niko’s walk-up Greek cafe. Adventurous eaters can order mini gyros or chicken kabob pitas off The Little Greek menu or opt for pita pizzas and chicken strips. Bring a Children’s Museum ticket stub for a 10 percent discount.

Catering to anyone looking for country comfort, Mia’s features a small patio, classic checkered tablecloths, and free soft-serve ice cream for kids and adults young at heart. Enjoy the chicken-fried chicken or pulled pork sandwich with fresh-squeezed lemonade while the little ones snack on kid-friendly favorites like grilled cheese or hand-dipped corn dogs.

Sharing a delicious pizza with your choice of toppings is only half of the fun when at Luna. While waiting for your pie, grab a basket full of games and puzzles including tic-tac-toe and Magic 8 Ball to play with at the table. End your family-fun outing with a treat, like an apple tostada or the classic chocolate chip cookie.

Every Barnaby’s puts their love for kids on display right on their menu, which features kids’ fried chicken sliders, bite-sized burgers, corn dogs, macaroni and cheese, and more, plus their choice of dessert (Rice Krispie treats, strawberries, ice cream, or a cookie). But the Museum District location across from the Children’s Museum is especially perfect for family outings. Tykes can color, tinker with toy robots, or play games on the outdoor patio while they wait for their food.

Little Matt’s isn’t just kid-friendly, it’s kid-focused. Established in honor and memory of the owners’ son, entertainment is endless at this quaint eatery, which houses an iPad station, a candy counter spilling over with sweet treats, a photo booth, and an arcade. Kids aren’t the only ones having fun, though. Adults are treated to complimentary wine, beer, or margaritas. And to make it even more feel-good — a portion of the establishment’s proceeds goes to the Texas Children’s Hospital.

When the family is craving dessert with a dash of excitement, head to this fan-fueled, which debuts a new theme each month, inspiring newer takes on their ice cream sundaes, frozen and festive drinks, and light bites. The most recent theme is an Iron Maiden pirate theme, offering butterbeer and buildable sundaes, but the Bellaire shop has also gone all out in the name of arcade games, Stranger Things, Barbie, Ant-Man, holidays, and more.