You know the feeling, you’ve been flat out all day, somehow it’s 5pm and the kids are hangry. But instead of high-tailing it to the nearest drive through (and then drowning in mum guilt over fixing it with fast food), repeat after me – kids eat F.R.E.E.
SUNDAY – COMUNA CANTINA
If your little chicas love Mexican, then head on down to Comuna Cantina Pacific Fair, where every Sunday, kids can eat free with paying madre or padre’s. But first… let’s taco bout how awesome the food is… cheap taco jokes aside, there is nothing cheaper than FREE – so fill their plates with chicken or pork tacos, juicy chicken tenders or if you have a grazer, chips and gauc will hit the spot STAT. Gracias de nada…(look it up)…
MONDAY – MERMAID BEACH SURF CLUB
Sure to cure mini Monday-itis – give your little salties an extra dose of vitamin sea with a surf or a beach walk followed by Monday night dinner at Mermaid Beach Surf Club. Little nippers eat free and can choose from a tasty selection of surf club favourites, but if you want to eat like the local lifesavers – the spag bol hits legendary status around here! A free Zooper Dooper is awarded to champions that finish their dinner and a complimentary play room means mum and dad can enjoy some serenity by the sea too!
TUESDAY – MONTEZUMA’S
Taco Tuesday has been affectionately renamed Terror Tuesday at Montezuma’s with tiny’s under 12 welcome to eat free with every paying adult. But it is not just the iconic plates, filled with favourites like Mexican rice, enchiladas, tacos, nachos and tostadas delighting kids by the docena, there is free poncho making, Spanish counting lessons and good old fashioned colouring in to keep the terrors tamed while parents sip on sangria – ole!
WEDNESDAY – ALLEYS RESTAURANT
It’s waterside Wednesday – ok, we may have just made that up but location, location PLUS kids eat free on Wednesdays. One of the Gold Coast’s best kept secrets, Alleys Restaurant at Currumbin RSLhas award winning food, Little Diggers Kids Club (for the over 5’s) and even a courtesy bus to give mum’s taxi some time out too! You will need to be a member, but it’s $5 for a whole year – which is less than just one happy meal… amiright? Dishes are designed with home grown goodness in mind and the veggies are even lovingly grown in the onsite patch.
THURSDAY – MARIO’S BROADBEACH
Did someone say pizza? A perennial family favourite and when lauded as one of Gold Coast’s best family friendly restaurants, there really is no need for further ado… so head to Mario’s Broadbeach for your Thursday night family feast. Disclaimer though – the kids’ menu here does not have a kids eat free option technically BUT – in kids’ speak, a free soft drink and ice cream after the meal does! I mean, what do parents know anyway right?
FRIDAY – GRAZIERS STEAKHOUSE
What better way to end the week than a night off from cooking? Local families call this one their favourite, being one of the only places offering Friday night kids eat free on the Coast. Kids can hang out with their homies in the playroom or enjoy the kids entertainment. Parents can catch up with friends over a few frosties or, for fraught Friday mums, a lovely, long glass of TFIF wine (thank-full it’s Friday people!). A choice of alfresco or inside dining and delicious steaks make Graziers Steakhouse one of the best ways to welcome in the weekend with the fam bam.
SATURDAY – SHARING IS CARING
While there are very few restaurants offering KEF (kids eat free) on Saturdays (it is the busiest night of the week after all), there are a few cheeky ways you can still make your kid currency go further.
Hot diggity dawg. Hit the weekend with a hot dog in hand from Pure Meats Robina. For just $7 these gourmet dogs are huge (i.e. 2 for 1 for kids with just one well-placed slice, savvy mumsters) and pile that puppy high with coleslaw, cheese, sauerkraut and sauce for added tummy filling effect.
Oodles of noodles. Always a crowd pleaser, Noodle Haus at Pacific Fair has dishes big enough to share, with Chicken Soy Soup, pork, rice and dumplings that can easily make up your own yummy mummy yum cha platter. Don’t want to go out? No worries, UberEats will deliver these baby bok choy’s home.
OK – no judgement here, fast food is part of family life – we have kids, we get it. And so does KFC – all I have to say is 24 chicken nuggets for $10! Only challenge here – fighting it out with the kiddos to nab that last finger licking good one.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.