My Favorite Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Waco

By Kelsey Kennedy | July 17, 2024

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When it comes time to dine out with kids in Waco, your options extend far beyond the normal fast food chain spots on the side of I-35. I promise. There are actually a handful of REALLY good kid-friendly restaurants in Waco! My goal is to quickly show you a few of the best options for dining in Waco with your kiddos so you don’t have to go through the drive-thru at McDonalds or Chick-fil-a next time everyone is getting hungry.

When I’m trying to find fun kid-friendly places to eat in Waco with my two young boys, I’m focusing mostly on 1) a restaurant that has a lot of space, either indoor or out, because their tiny bodies are not going to stay in chairs for long, and 2) a place that actually has good food, because I’m a foodie at my core and I seriously don’t want to get stuck eating the same chicken nuggets and fries again and again and again. I want to experience the best Waco restaurants, period.

About me: I’m Kelsey, a bestselling travel book author and the creator of 3 Texas travel websites. As a native Texan, I spend my own time and money exploring this state to help millions of readers find the best food, things to do, places to stay in Austin and beyond. Check out my other sites: TheSanAntonioThings.com and TheAustinThings.com!

Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Waco TX

1. Health Camp

Health Camp is a fun spot because it's 100% not healthy...and I find that kids get a kick out of misnomers like that. And while the cuisine isn't necessarily going to "wow" you, it is a great spot to go for excellent burgers, fries, malts, and milkshakes.

Health Camp has been around since 1948, which is pretty incredible. It's a nostalgic spot to visit in Waco, whether you're stopping by with kids or not.

They have approximately 45 million flavors of ice cream (but really), which makes for another reason to stop by with kids! As an adult I get overwhelmed by anything over 4 options, but for some reason kids are completely thrilled with the idea of creating their own custom flavor. Health Camp is a huge win for dining with kids in Waco!

WEBSITE | 2601 Circle Rd, Waco, TX 76706

2. Backyard Waco

When you're looking for great spots to eat in Waco with outdoor space, Backyard Waco is the spot. It literally has the word "Backyard" in the name! They have TONS of outdoor seating, a bunch of picnic tables, corn hole, and a stage for live music in the evenings. When there's not a band playing, they'll turn on a huge outdoor TV and show sporting events and such.

This is a classic grill restaurant, so they have things like chips and queso, pizza, burgers, and various "baskets” that have a sandwich or fried chicken + fries. I wouldn't necessarily call this "great food," but it's tasty. And the ambiance is 100% that kid-friendly environment that you're looking for.

They also have cold beer, cocktails, and a pretty good selection of food on the kids menu. It's a fun spot for the whole family to enjoy!

WEBSITE | 511 South 8th Street, Waco, TX 76706

3. Slow Rise on the Brazos

Pizza, beer, and riverfront dining? What's not to love? Slow Rise Slice House has two locations (proof that the city of Waco is obsessed with this NY-style pizza!), but the Brazos location is my top pick for kid-friendly dining.

It's seriously a HUGE restaurant. It's a popular spot for Baylor University students to eat because they can dine with their entire sorority house without a reservation. But it's also a popular spot for Waco locals and Waco families. No one is going to get mad at toddlers for running around, dropping their drink on the floor, or just generally acting like toddlers.

And the pizza is excellent. It's good enough that I love to dine here with or without my kids! You can enjoy a huge patio, a bunch of craft beer, yummy appetizers, wings and pizza, and a few good dessert options. Huge win.

WEBSITE | 7608 Woodway Dr., Waco, TX 76712

4. Magnolia Market Food Trucks

Magnolia Market at the Silos (from Chip and Joanna Gaines) is the go-to destination in Waco for shopping. Actually, scratch that. It's pretty much THE go-to destination in the Waco area. It's one of the things that has made Waco famous! (Here’s my quick weekend guide to visit Magnolia Market at the Silos.)

And if you're looking for easy places to dine with kids in Waco, keep this place in mind. They have SO many food trucks here, and they're all parked outdoors within easy walking distance of a magnificent turf field where you can dine and let kiddos run around and be kids.

There are so many options, like pizza, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and even an iced tea truck. And since it's all outdoors, it's just a great atmosphere to enjoy with the family.

5. Jake’s Texas Tea House

Jake's is a total gem in Waco. They have delicious food, great service, and it's just a really fun southern spot! You can find things like chicken fried chicken and roughneck hamburger steak. The decorations are on point, the food is delish, and the desserts are always homemade and so good.

It's honestly just a cute place! I adore the retro design, the vintage car that they have in the dining room space, and all the memorabilia on the walls. Sure, adults love it, but it's truly a kids' dining paradise!

WEBSITE | 613 Austin Ave Waco, TX 76701

6. Hat Creek Burger Company

Hat Creek Burger Company started as a food truck in Austin's now expanded to dozens of locations all over Texas..including Waco! They're known for their burgers, fries, and (most importantly for you) epic playgrounds at every location.

I love Hat Creek because they also have really good salads, bowls, and Paleo-friendly menu items. Oh, and they have wine and beer on the menu, so even though it's a fast-casual restaurant that kids gravitate toward, mom and dad can enjoy a salad and an adult beverage while the little ones are playing outside.

WEBSITE | 103 Archway Dr. Woodway, TX 76712

7. Guess Family Barbecue

It was featured by Texas Monthly as one of the Top 25 New BBQ Joints in Texas, which immediately brought Guess Family Barbecue to my attention! It's certainly one of the best bbq spots in Waco.

I love Guess Family Barbecue as a place to dine with my children in Waco because it's a really large restaurant! There's not an outdoor space, but there's a lot of indoor square footage for them to move around. There's even a pool table in the corner, which they love!

WEBSITE | 2803 Franklin Ave, Waco, TX 76710

8. The Brazos Landing

You might know this restaurant under its old name - Buzzard Billy's. It opened way back in 1993, so it's quite the institution in Waco. They moved to their location near Baylor Campus in 2008.

Brazos Landing, their rebrand, is a more upscale-ish type of eatery. It's where you can get specialty cocktails, cajun shrimp and seafood, and all sorts of handhelds like meatball subs and po boy sandwiches.

But their more casual outdoor dining space, which is called Buzzard Billy's Swamp Shack, is the kid-friendly destination. It's where visitors can enjoy the outdoor patio and kids can feed the ducks and fish in the water.

WEBSITE | 100 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd Waco, TX 76704

9. Milk Bottle Cookies

These are seriously the most insanely delicious cookies in Waco! I clearly adore them, and my kids do, too. Word to the wise: they are massive cookies, so plan on buying a bunch of them and splitting them into pieces so you can try a bunch of flavors.

There's even a coffee shop component, so mom and dad can get a cappuccino while the kids are enjoying their cookies.

WEBSITE | 218 South 11th Street. Waco, Texas 76701

10. Cafe Homestead

Have you heard of Homestead Heritage? They call themselves “an agrarian- and craft-based intentional Christian community,” and they have a restaurant on site called Cafe Homestead. It’s a lovely place to visit with or without children, but for the purposes of this guide, I’m going to recommend you bring the entire family to dine at Cafe Homestead.

Since it’s on the site of numerous family homesteads and working farms, a good portion of their menu is raised or grown on site. That’s why the smoked chicken salad, pasture-raised eggs, and fresh breads are all so good! They have classic burgers made with local beef, award-winning local cheese, and a few Tex-Mex favorites like brisket tacos and green chile brisket quesadillas.

Cafe Homestead is a wonderful place to dine with your kids in Waco because they’ll be able to visit the other attractions at Homestead Craft Village like a general store, gristmill, blacksmith forge, and other shops with handmade items. It’s one of the most unique experiences in Waco!

WEBSITE | 608 Dry Crk Rd Waco, TX 76705

Posted in food, kid friendly