# Kid-friendly restaurants near Times Square

Written 2026-10-16 by Play Day. Where to eat with kids near Times Square and the Broadway theaters: singing waiters, cheesecake, barbecue for the table, frozen hot chocolate and a hibachi show. See which have a kids' menu and high chairs before you go.

Eating right on Times Square with kids is loud and busy, and that's fine, because so are they. The places on the square are the fun ones: singing waiters, cheesecake, a dessert that's become its own reason to go.

Walk two or three blocks west, to Eighth and Ninth Avenues, and it gets calmer and easier to find a table before a show.

## On the square

### [Ellen's Stardust Diner](https://ourplayday.com/places/ellen-s-stardust-diner-new-york)

Where: Broadway at 51st

The waiters sing Broadway songs between orders, and your kid will stop eating to watch.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- High chairs: Yes
- Reservations: No
- Order at counter: Yes

### [Junior's Times Square](https://ourplayday.com/places/junior-s-times-square-new-york)

Where: Broadway at 45th

Diner plates and the famous cheesecake, right in the middle of it all. When the line is long, there's a second Junior's four blocks up Broadway at 49th.

- Reservations: No
- Order at counter: No

### [Havana Central](https://ourplayday.com/places/havana-central-times-square-new-york)

Where: West 46th

Cuban comfort food in a lively room: chicken and rice, empanadas, and mac and cheese or chicken fingers on the kids' menu.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- Reservations: Yes
- Order at counter: No

### [Virgil's Real Barbecue](https://ourplayday.com/places/virgil-s-real-barbecue-times-square-new-york)

Where: West 44th

Southern barbecue platters with sides for the whole table to share, so everyone eats from the middle.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- Reservations: Yes
- Order at counter: No

### [Serendipity 3](https://ourplayday.com/places/serendipity-3-times-square-new-york)

Where: West 47th

Come for the frozen hot chocolate. There's a kids' menu for the meal first if anyone insists.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- Reservations: Yes
- Order at counter: No

### [Friedman's at the Edison Hotel](https://ourplayday.com/places/friedman-s-at-the-edison-hotel-new-york)

Where: West 47th

Mac and cheese, chicken and waffles and blueberry pancakes all day, and almost all of it can be made gluten-free.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- Reservations: Yes
- Order at counter: No

### [The View Restaurant & Lounge](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-view-restaurant-lounge-new-york)

Where: Broadway at 46th

A revolving dining room high above Times Square, so the city goes slowly past the window while you eat.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- Reservations: Yes
- Order at counter: No

## A few blocks west

Eighth and Ninth Avenues, in Hell's Kitchen, a five- to ten-minute walk from the theaters.

### [Joe Allen](https://ourplayday.com/places/joe-allen-new-york)

Where: West 46th

Theater posters and memorabilia on every wall, and an easygoing dinner before a show.

- Kids' menu: No
- Reservations: Yes
- Order at counter: No

### [Westway Diner](https://ourplayday.com/places/westway-diner-new-york)

Where: Ninth Avenue

A classic diner with a menu long enough that everyone gets what they want.

- Reservations: No
- Order at counter: No

### [Don Antonio](https://ourplayday.com/places/don-antonio-new-york)

Where: West 50th

Neapolitan-style pizza, when you want a sit-down meal that's still pizza.

- Reservations: No

### [McHale's Bar & Grill](https://ourplayday.com/places/mchale-s-bar-grill-new-york)

Where: West 51st

A bar and grill with a kids' menu, close to the theaters on the north side.

- Kids' menu: Yes
- Order at counter: No

### [Schnipper's](https://ourplayday.com/places/schnipper-s-times-square-new-york)

Where: Eighth Avenue

Burgers, chicken and comfort food ordered at the counter, for a quick meal before the show.

- Kids' menu: No
- Reservations: No
- Order at counter: Yes

### [Amy's Bread](https://ourplayday.com/places/amy-s-bread-hell-s-kitchen-new-york)

Where: Ninth Avenue

A bakery for sandwiches and pastries to take to the park or back to the hotel.

### [Schmackary's](https://ourplayday.com/places/schmackary-s-hell-s-kitchen-new-york)

Where: West 45th

A cookie shop with flavors you won't find anywhere else, for the walk to the theater.

- Kids' menu: No
- Reservations: No
- Order at counter: Yes

## Toward Rockefeller Center

### [Benihana](https://ourplayday.com/places/benihana-new-york-west-new-york)

Where: West 56th

The chefs cook at your table, onion volcano and flying zucchini included, and there's a kids' menu.

- Kids' menu: Yes

### [The Little Beet](https://ourplayday.com/places/the-little-beet-midtown-west-new-york)

Where: West 50th

Vegetable-heavy bowls for a quick lunch when everyone has had too much cheesecake.

- Kids' menu: No
- Reservations: No
- Order at counter: Yes

Page: https://ourplayday.com/guides/united-states/new-york-state/new-york/kid-friendly-restaurants-near-times-square