Kerbey Lane has long been a family-favorite due to its comfort food and casual atmosphere. The restaurant’s Round Rock location has an enclosed playground for running off that plate of pancakes, along with the diner chain’s usual menu and chipper service. Kids 12 years old and younger can eat for free on Tuesdays with the purchase of an adult entree at all locations. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

One would be hard-pressed to find a family that hasn’t taken a drive to the original Salt Lick at some point — but those up north can dine on the same familiar favorites at picnic tables next to a large playscape at the Round Rock location. It’s also near the Dell Diamond minor league baseball stadium, making it an easy mark for pregame dining. Kids under the age of 10 can order from a discounted small plates menu or partake in the Sundays-only children’s family-style menu pricing. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Davis Spring restaurant is named after the owners’ mother, who raised three kids on her own while working in Mexican restaurants. The para los ninos (for the kids) menu offers flautas, grilled cheese, and lots of other options, and the patio has a small grassy area with some games. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

It’s the barbecue chain you know, only with a huge playground complete with rock walls and slides adjoining the restaurant’s patio. As with all Rudy’s, there are breakfast tacos in the mornings, and barbecue for lunch and dinner. This location is convenient for stops when heading to or from the lake. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Domain Northside location of the New American chain serves hearty fare like pork ribs, fried chicken, and fish and chips, and has a full cocktail bar and happy hour specials. The restaurant’s secret weapon is an outdoor lawn games area, complete with a ping-pong table, corn hole, and foosball. The children’s menu includes the crispy shrimp, cheeseburgers, and mac and cheese for $10. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

With its excellent New Jersey-style pizza, a wide selection of sandwiches and salads, tasty desserts, and an outdoor dining area, the deli serves as the heart of the Crestview neighborhood, plus a second location in Windsor Park. On any given night, the restaurant teems with families who've walked or biked for an easy, affordable, tasty dinner. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The Lakeway location of the Austin pizzeria gets high marks from the neighborhood for its thin-crust pizzas, but parents head there to allow kids to roam around the enclosed playground. The $7.50 kids’ menu is better than most, with roasted chicken and broccoli and fettuccine alfredo offered in addition to pizza options. Adults will find a lengthy menu of pastas, calzones, and antipasti. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are delivery orders as well as Uber Eats and DoorDash deliveries; and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Three words: conveyor belt sushi. Plus, eating dishes will earn you prizes. There are indoor dine-in services.

The North Loop restaurant’s children-friendly efforts include dedicated kids’ menus for dinner and brunch, with simple dishes like pancakes, buttered noodles, French toast, and ice cream. Plus there are crayons for coloring time. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

Don’t be fooled by Hank’s gorgeous minimalist decor — the restaurant has a few toys for kids like rocking horses and the staff is notably extra-accommodating. The $5 kids’ menu has burgers, carrots and hummus, and, for brunch, there are chocolate chip pancakes and scrambled eggs. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The OG of Austin playground cafes, Central Market has been helping hungry shoppers take a break for almost 30 years. The varied menu features standard fare, but there’s something for everyone: pizzas, sandwiches, pastas, and grilled proteins (try the black bean burger or the salmon salad). There’s a dedicated kids’ menu with burgers, grilled cheeses, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and chicken tenders. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.

The large outdoor area at the casual Blackland neighborhood restaurant is very kid-friendly, from the gravel ground to random yard toys to board games to misters. Pair that with an easy-going menu (yes, there’s a dedicated kids’ menu with a breakfast taco, quesadilla, and cheeseburger), and it’s a family winner. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The menu at Tex-Mex chain and Austin original Chuy’s is a crowd-pleaser for anyone, but the kids’ menu (with typical fare like a burger, chicken tenders, and enchiladas) comes with a choice of sides (mac and cheese, fries, or rice and beans), a drink, and dessert. Kids will love the funky decor, too. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The spirit of old South Austin lives on at the Bouldin Creek restaurant. There’s standard Tex-Mex fare like beef enchiladas and crispy tacos, laid-back service, and a garden-style patio with party lights and a small playscape for the kids. Children can order from the kids’ menu, or simply grab a half-order of nachos. Takeout orders can be placed over the phone or in person; there are third-party deliveries (DoorDash, Grubhub); and there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

There's usually a lot of waiting to be done at the Travis Heights pizzeria, from waiting for a table to waiting for the piping hot pizza to arrive. But the restaurant gets that waiting is the hardest part, and kids love playing ping-pong on the back patio, the coloring sheets and complimentary ball of pizza dough to play with while waiting for dinner, and the Smarties that come with the check. Oh, and the pizza's pretty good, too. There’s an elaborate outdoor area at the North Loop location. Takeout orders can be placed online or in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The South First location of the popular taco shop has a large play area for kids, including a chalkboard wall. The kids’ menu includes tacos, queso, a quesadilla, and a bowl — plus, there are things like nachos for everyone to enjoy. Takeout orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

A terraced patio gives parents a great vantage point to watch kids roam the expansive play area and climb trees at Doc’s in Sunset Valley. The menu is standard bar fare, with tacos, salads, burgers, and nachos all featured heavily. The kids’ menu includes chicken strips with gravy, bean and cheese tacos, bean and cheese nachos, and cheeseburger sliders. There’s an excellent selection of Texas craft beer on tap, while cocktails lean toward the light porch pounders with vodka and tequila mixers. The outdoor seating area is large here, but quite popular — expect a short wait during peak hours. Takeout orders can be placed in person; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The massive Arbor Trails branch of this casual Italian favorite has a large patio just around the corner from the Arbor Trails mall playground. While there’s not a direct line of sight, it’s close enough to order food and drink, then watch the kids until dinner is served. The kids’ menu meals includes a scoop of gelato means makes this place a particular favorite for children, as does the small section of little tables available. The adults can grab discounted wine or a $4 draft beers on the happy hour between 3 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Takeout and delivery orders can be placed online; there are indoor and outdoor dine-in services.

The sheer size of Meanwhile Brewing means there’s plenty of room to run and play, while food trucks (including ice cream truck Bésame) offer a range of dining options. Meanwhile offers beer, wine, low-ABV cocktails and mocktails, coffee, and chocolate milk. There are indoor and outdoor dine-in areas.