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The Dram Shop has hearty, reasonably priced fare, plus built-in entertainment. Photo courtesy of Dram Shop

What Are the Best Cheap Places to Eat in NYC for Kids & Families?

The Dram Shop – Park Slope, Brooklyn

Three different families mentioned this Park Slope spot within five minutes when I asked my school WhatsApp group for recommendations. Kids eat FREE every Saturday from 11:30am-4pm with a $20 adult purchase per kid. One friend said her (five!) kids love the cards and board games at the restaurant. There’s also a pool table. The owners are from Texas and know how to make a burger. The kids' menu includes all the usual suspects, like chicken fingers and grilled cheese, plus quesadillas and burritos.

Ichiran – Multiple Locations

A local friend and mom of two little girls swears by Ichiran Ramen, which has locations in Brooklyn, Midtown Manhattan, and Times Square. Kids under 8 can slurp their noodles for FREE, while parents can enjoy customizable ramen bowls for around $20.

Turnstyle Underground Market – Columbus Circle

This is a go-to stop for a local Mommy Poppins editor. It's located underground at the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station (before the turnstiles, so you don’t have to pay to enter the subway system). The food hall takes up a full city block and features more than a dozen vendors. Try the empanadas from Criolla’s or grab a CrunCheese corn dog. Just keep in mind that the space closes at 7pm. If you visit during the daytime, it’s a great place to fuel up before exploring Central Park. The sprawling Heckscher Playground and the Central Park Zoo are both nearby.

New World Mall Food Court – Flushing, Queens

Another Mommy Poppins editor's pick, this massive food court in Flushing is the go-to place for cheap, authentic Asian eats. It's located on the lower level of a shopping center and features dozens of vendors. Several stalls offer kid-friendly dumplings. You can also find scallion pancakes and plenty of noodles. Arrive before noon if you want to beat the crowds.

Louie and Ernie’s Pizza – Schuylerville, the Bronx

This local staple has been serving pizza and calzones for decades. Located inside a small brick house on Crosby Avenue, this pizza joint has slices for $3.50, or you can share a pie with the family for around $25. Outdoor seating is available when the weather is warm.

You're never far from a cheap, cheesy slice in NYC. Photo by NinjaDesigns via canva.com

Dollar (or Two) Pizza Shops – Multiple Locations

Dollar slices are increasingly hard to find (thanks, inflation), but if you’re willing to pay $1.50-$3, your options multiply. Cheap and delicious pizza can be found in all five boroughs. I like wandering into new-to-us corner shops with my family as we stroll through the city, but it's also easy to search for nearby dollar pizza on your phone. In NYC, you’re never too far from a cheap slice.

John’s Coffee & Donut Shop – Clinton Hill, Brooklyn

In honor of my fourth-grader, our resident picky eater, I had to include a diner on this list. Old-school diners aren’t hard to find in NYC, but tracking down an affordable one is not so easy. John’s Coffee & Donut Shop is a true local gem that won’t break the bank. It's so authentic, it doesn't even have a website. Both kids and adults can enjoy classic diner food, like pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and BLTs for less than $10. The space is small, so visit outside of the lunch and dinner rush or be prepared to wait.

Z-Two – Charleston, Staten Island

Z-Two offers FREE kids’ dinners on Friday nights from 5-7:30pm, plus FREE face painting, balloons, and a movie. Kids also eat FREE on Tuesday nights, which feature character visits. While the kids are entertained, parents can chow down on classic American fare like burgers, wings, and sandwiches. Some of the dinner entrees are on the pricey side, but there are plenty of options for less than $20.

Bogota Latin Bistro – Park Slope, Brooklyn

A local family with Latin roots recommended this colorful Park Slope eatery, which offers an affordable kids’ menu during afternoons and weekends, and FREE kids’ meals from 4-7pm Monday through Thursday. I love that kids have their own full menu, including appetizers like carrots and celery for $5, and meals like a fish taco or veggie taco for $10.

Ikea's cafeteria-style eats are easy on the wallet. Photo courtesy of IKEA

IKEA – Red Hook, Brooklyn

Where else can kids enjoy a mac and cheese meal (with peas!) for less than $3? The upstairs restaurant at Brooklyn's IKEA also has kids' portions of Swedish meatballs or plant balls for less than $5. There’s an adult-sized portion of chicken fingers and fries for under $15, which I like to share with my daughter when we visit. The best part of the restaurant is the view. Grab a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows to gaze out over Red Hook and New York Harbor. The biggest challenge is getting out of the store without buying cool home decor you don't need.

Are There Any Cheap Kid-Friendly Restaurants Near Major Attractions?

Yes, it is possible to find cheap eats in high-traffic NYC neighborhoods if you know where to look. Here's a sampling.

Empanada Mama – Multiple Locations

Whether you’re checking out Times Square or catching a Broadway show, Empanada Mama has a location nearby. Kids and adults can order single empanadas for less than $5, making for a pretty cheap meal. There are also locations on the Upper East Side, the Lower East Side, and the East Village.

Ballfields Café – Central Park

My family loves the Central Park Zoo. We do not love the overpriced, on-site restaurant, the Dancing Crane Café, which has a small selection of bland food and groups of aggressive squirrels scheming to steal your lunch from the courtyard tables. (Peruse a few of the many scathing one-star reviews if you don’t believe me.) Skip the sad fries and walk 10 minutes deeper into the park to Ballfields Café, which is open seasonally starting in March. It has better food, better value for your money, and (though I can’t explain this) less belligerent squirrels. It’s still a touristy area, so the prices reflect that, but my son can get a soft pretzel, and my daughter can get chicken fingers for less than $10 each, while my husband and I share a $15 crispy chicken wrap in peace. Note that this is a walk-up spot with no indoor seating. There are tables with umbrellas outside, or you can bring a blanket and have a picnic. Other nearby attractions include the Heckscher Playground and the Central Park Carousel.

Photo courtesy of NYCGo

Nathan’s Famous – Coney Island, Brooklyn

America’s Playground is always packed during the summer, probably because of the FREE beach. With the New York Aquarium, the Cyclones ballpark, and two amusement parks nearby, tourists flock to the area by the thousands. While Nathan’s Famous doesn’t have the cheapest hot dogs in town, you can still get one for less than $5. The home of the famous hot dog eating contest is known as a summertime destination, but the Nathan’s location on Surf Avenue is open year-round. Ride the Q train (which runs mostly above ground in Brooklyn) down to Coney Island on a warm day during the off season for a hot dog and fries. Nathan's also serves burgers, shakes, chicken sandwiches, and more. Sign up online for its coupon club to receive monthly discounts in your inbox.

How Can Families Save Money While Eating Out?

• Check ahead of time to see if there are specials, like certain nights when kids eat for free or happy hours with deals for the grownups.
• Share entrees or side dishes.
• Go out for breakfast or lunch instead of dinner. (Bonus: Little ones will be less tired.)
• Skip the alcohol—or the drinks altogether—and save a lot of cash by sticking with water.
• Cook at home and take your family out to share some dessert. It’ll feel like a splurge but won’t cost as much as ordering lunch and dinner (depending on where you go.)

Which Popular Restaurants Aren’t Worth It?

If you’re trying to save money, beware of pricey diners, especially in Manhattan. The word "diner" was once associated with affordability, but these days, many diners across the city lead to sticker shock. My family is drawn to diners because they have options for our picky eater, but they can also get pricey fast. (I cannot justify paying $20 for pancakes.)

One well-known NYC spot with diner vibes is Junior’s Restaurant & Bakery, famous for its cheesecake. My family recently visited the Brooklyn location and did not have an enjoyable time. Our server mostly ignored us, it took more than an hour to get our food, they were out of multiple ingredients early in the night, and the bathrooms (up a long flight of stairs) were filthy. Despite our attempts to be frugal, the bill was eye-popping, given the mediocre food.

For a more hospitable experience off the beaten path, try Brooklyn Farmacy & Soda Fountain in Carroll Gardens. It doesn't carry cheesecake, but the dessert-only restaurant has 1950s vibes and over-the-top treats like the Cookie Monster sundae and frozen hot chocolate.

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