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 both satisfied and entertained.
The best family-friendly restaurants in Hong Kong
1. 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 FINI’S New York-style pizzas, especially the margherita (HKD298), and the mac & cheese (HKD148). 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, 9143 2402, book here
FINI’S, G/F, 69 Stone Nullah Lane, Wan Chai, 9147 1834, book here
2. 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 & 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
3. 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, the brownie with vanilla ice cream and sprinkles seals 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
4. 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 garlic sauce (HKD168) or roasted Canadian pork rack (HKD208) whilst their little ones dig into the kids’ pizza (HKD98) or kids’ chicken à la king (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
5. Mr. Tree
Mr. Tree is another spot marrying a playroom for kids aged 7 and under with a canteen-style restaurant, with this particular concept originating in Taiwan. In Hong Kong, the brand has a clean and spacious location in Lai Chi Kok. Kids will be kept out of your hair in the enormous ball pool, sandpit, water play, and STEM areas.
Note that on weekends there are three sessions (12–3PM, 3:30PM–6PM, 6:30–9:30PM) for dining and playing at Mr. Tree, with admission 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 rice balls with corn cream sauce (HKD158) and orecchiette bolognese (HKD158).
Mr. Tree, Shop 106–107 & 120–121, 1/F, D2 Place TWO, 15 Cheung Shun Street, Lai Chi Kok, 3184 0033, book here
6. Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon Restaurant & Bar
A new member of Foodie’s family-friendly contingent, Hungry Tiger Hidden Dragon is located at 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 salted egg peanut butter chicken wings (HKD48) and snow crab mentaiko udon (HKD128), but there’s always the crispy caramel butter corn (HKD48) and Wagyu beef cheeseburger (HKD158) 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, 6361 4967, book here
7. 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 Louie’s lemon slushie (HKD89), served in a light-up spouvenir 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
8. Gassan
Like all the restaurants under The Food Story umbrella, Gassan has designed special dishes and menus specifically with children in mind. In the case of this upscale Japanese restaurant with its unique fishing-village theme, this translates to a nine-course kid omakase (HKD388), allowing young diners to dip their toes into the world of premium Japanese cuisine so beloved by Hong Kongers.
The menu includes the likes of chawanmushi, chicken karaage, four sushi creations, and A5 Wagyu udon. What’s more, on Saturdays and Sundays, The Food Story members who order a lunch or dinner omakase for every two adults will receive one complimentary kid omakase for each accompanying child.
Gassan, 19/F, H Queen’s, 80 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 3499 1427, book here
9. La Vache! Pacific Place
Whilst parents get their steak frites on at the Pacific Place branch of Parisian steakhouse chain La Vache!, youngsters can dig into the kids’ menu (HKD138) with burger sliders, bottomless fries, and a scoop of gelato for dessert. There’s also a colouring book with crayons to keep them busy till the food arrives, and Hong Kong Park is just around the corner to let off some steam post-lunch.
La Vache!, Shop 007, LG1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2801 6122, book here
