For parents, we all know the drill at mealtimes, which are often orchestrated, highly multitasking endeavours where we try to gulp down as much as possible in between cutting our toddler’s food into tiny pieces whilst also trying to keep the cutlery on the table and not flung across the room.
Dining out with kids can be fun – but also stressful. Parents may attempt to have a normal conversation whilst appeasing tantrums and demands, at the same time avoiding death stares from carefree childless adults who think Mum and Dad should be doing better managing the situation. Even more anxiety-inducing in Hong Kong, the city’s restaurants are typically small, leaving even less room to manoeuvre around the pressures of dining out with young children.
To maintain parents’ sanity and help them to keep their cool, we’ve put together a list of Hong Kong restaurants that do a good job at keeping youngsters satisfied and entertained.
The best family-friendly restaurants in Hong Kong
FINI’S
FINI’S is a hit with kids for its tasty Italian-American eats, and it’s a hit with parents for its bargain kids’ prices – kids aged 8 and under eat for free with each adult main course purchased. Must-orders that both children and adults adore include any of FINI’S New York-style pizzas, especially the margherita (HKD188/HKD348) and homemade sausage (HKD198/HKD368). Kid-size pizzas come with a blob of raw pizza dough to stretch, fold, and shape, keeping little hands occupied whilst grown-ups top up their vino.
FINI’S, G/F, 49 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2387 6338, book here
FINI’S, G/F, 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, 3182 0128, book here
Enjoy Foodie-exclusive rates at restaurants across Hong Kong
Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill
Dan Ryan’s is a stalwart of the family-friendly dining scene of Hong Kong, cherished by generations since the 1990s for the brand’s classic American comfort food and quirky decor, from a rolling train track on the ceiling to stuffed animals adorning the walls. On the kids’ menu, there are puzzles and games to keep the kiddos occupied till their food arrives, plus plenty of crayons for doodling on the paper tablecloths. The kids’ set (HKD98), presented in a pink car or blue train food tray, features a treasure trove of goodies for kids; in addition to a main course such as grilled cheese, fish fingers, or mac and cheese, children get a choice of fruit, fries, or garlic bread, a juice box or oat milk (chocolate included), and a surprise capsule toy. On Wednesdays after 2PM, it gets even better – kids aged 12 and under eat for free with every adult spend of at least HKD300. Lucky little ones even get to take home balloons and Dan Ryan’s coveted keychains after each visit.
Dan Ryan’s Chicago Grill, multiple locations across Hong Kong, book here
Cafe Roma
Cafe Roma is ideal for beach play dates and al-fresco lounging on Park Island, just a 30-minute ferry ride from Central. The kids’ set (HKD118) here caters to the taste buds of tiny eaters with the likes of mini chicken burgers with fries, spaghetti bolognese, and cheese pizza. Each set comes complete with a daily soup, side dish, and cup of juice, with a scoop of ice cream (+HKD30) an “optional” (read: kid-mandatory) addition. The restaurant even provides beach toys to keep children busy when the sun’s out and books, games, and colouring activities for rainy days. Cafe Roma is pet friendly too, ticking all the right family-friendly boxes.
Cafe Roma, Shop 7 & 8, 1/F, Beach Commercial Complex, Park Island, 3446 1226, book here
The Conservatory
A member of the Enoteca Group portfolio, The Conservatory is a great spot for dining with kids in tow whilst on a family day trip to Sai Kung. For youngsters, the eatery offers tiffins (HKD88), where a three-layer lunchbox reveals small dishes of rice or pasta, sweet-and-sour chicken strips or beef bolognese, and steamed vegetables. The kids’ menu doubles as an interactive paper place mat for doodling. To truly keep your children satisfied, a drink and brownie with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles seal the deal. A bonus, the restaurant opens up to a small square where kids can whizz around on scooters or bikes.
The Conservatory, G/F, 26 Wan King Path, Sai Kung, 2792 1105, book here
Jello & Mellow
Founded by the owner of boutique cake shop Vive, Vivien Lau, this family-friendly sanctuary in Quarry Bay offers both quality dining and a fun play zone known as Fort Jiggle. Soothing, pastel-toned Jello & Mellow’s creative à-la-carte menu is fresh and healthy, limiting salt, sugar, and oil. Grown-ups might opt for the prawn linguine with rich shrimp broth (HKD168) or roasted Canadian pork rack (HKD208) whilst their little ones dig into the kids’ pizza (HKD98) or kids’ curry chicken rice (HKD128). This spot also features a multipurpose room where workshops are held and a privacy room for breastfeeding and changing nappies. The play area comes with a charge of HKD30 per child on weekdays and HKD40 per child on weekends and public holidays, with minimum F&B charges too.
Jello & Mellow, 9/F, 1001 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, 5111 4895, book here
Mr. Tree
Mr. Tree is another spot marrying a playroom for kids aged 6 and under with a canteen-style restaurant, with this particular concept originating in Taiwan. In Hong Kong, the brand has clean and spacious locations in Causeway Bay and Lai Chi Kok. Kids at both branches will be kept out of your hair in the enormous ball pool, sandpit, water play, and STEM areas. Note that there are three sessions (12–3PM, 3:30PM–6PM, 6:30–9:30PM) for dining and playing at Mr. Tree, with prices of HKD99 per child on weekdays and HKD139 per child on weekends and public holidays, not including minimum F&B charges. The East-meets-West comfort-food menu is vast; kidlets can’t seem to get enough of Mr. Tree’s Swiss sauce chicken wings (HKD88/6pcs) and orecchiette bolognese (HKD138).
Mr. Tree, Shop 1501–1505, 15/F, Windsor House, 311 Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay, 3619 0633, book here
Mr. Tree, Shop 106–107 & 120–121, 1/F, D2 Place TWO, 15 Cheung Shun Street, Lai Chi Kok, 3184 0033, book here
Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon Restaurant & Bar
The newest member of Foodie’s family-friendly contingent, Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon is located at the new Kai Tak Sports Park, adjacent to the Joypolis Sports indoor playground complex. Before or after letting off some VR-gaming steam, take your kids over to this funky restaurant for a bit of Japanese-Western fusion sustenance matched with eye-catching and engaging decor. Kids with sophisticated taste buds should enjoy the scallion and shrimp tempura (HKD78/2pcs) and pan-seared salmon mentaiko cavatelli (HKD188), but there’s always the Wagyu beef cheeseburger with waffle fries (HKD188) and peanut butter and marshmallow pizza (HKD138) to please one and all.
Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon Restaurant & Bar, Shop WC-401, 4/F, Health and Wellness Centre, Kai Tak Sports Park, Kai Tak, WhatsApp 6361 4967, book here
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Children will delight in the jaw-dropping 360-degree views and all-American decor themed around Forrest Gump at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at The Peak. The kids’ menu (HKD100) showcases just about every kiddo’s dream dish, from ribs and pepperoni pizza to popcorn shrimp and chicken strips presented in cute paper boats. Each kids’ set comes with a side, drink, and jelly. The build-your-own sundae (HKD58) is an extra-special treat for kids on the “nice” list, topped only by the mango, strawberry, or blueberry lemon slushie (HKD89), which is served in a souvenir light-up glass. Families can make lunch or dinner at Bubba Gump part of a fun day out at The Peak.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Shop 304–305, 3/F, The Peak Tower, 128 Peak Road, The Peak, 2849 2867, book here
