What are the best kinds of restaurants for kids in Toronto?

Dim sum, pizza and Italian, Greek, Indian lunch buffets and diners tend to be flexible and relaxed with children.

What time should I eat out with kids in Toronto?

Early, usually between 5 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend brunch has the longest lines.

Do Toronto restaurants have high chairs?

Many do, but numbers are limited, so ask when you book.

Do I tip more at a table with children?

The normal range is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount. Many people tip at the higher end if the family needed extra help.

How do I manage food allergies when eating out with kids?

Tell the restaurant when you book and when you order, and ask how the kitchen handles cross-contact. Restaurants are not required to print allergen lists on menus.

City guide

Kid-friendly restaurants in Toronto: how to eat out with children (2026)

Mosey · November 11, 2026 · 5 min read

Toronto is a family city, and most restaurants here are used to children. The trick is not finding a restaurant that allows them. It is choosing the kind of place, the time of day and the table that make the meal pleasant for everyone. The best family place is the one that fits your children's ages and appetites, so choose by kind of place, hour and table.

Which kinds of restaurants suit families?

Dim sum and Chinese banquet restaurants: large round tables, lots of small dishes, a noisy room and a trolley or ordering sheet. Children usually love the variety, and nobody notices a dropped spoon.
Pizza, pasta and Italian restaurants: reliable and flexible, with simple dishes children recognize.
Greek restaurants on the Danforth: sharing platters and warm, lively rooms.
Indian and Pakistani restaurants: mild dishes such as butter chicken, naan, rice and biryani, plus lassi and sweets. Many offer a lunch buffet.
Diners and breakfast places: all-day breakfast, pancakes and kids' menus.
Food halls and markets: St. Lawrence Market and food courts let each person choose different food.
Pubs and brewpubs with kids' menus: many welcome families at lunch and early dinner, though some restrict children after a certain hour, so check.

What time should you eat out with young children?

Early. Toronto restaurants are quietest from 5 to 6 p.m. and fill from 7 p.m. Weekend brunch is the hardest meal with children, because of the lines. If you must go, arrive at opening or put your name down and walk around the block. Lunches on weekdays and in the early afternoon are usually calm.

What should you ask when booking?

Do you have high chairs or booster seats? Many do, but numbers are limited.
Can you seat us near the door or in a booth? An easy exit helps.
Is there a kids' menu, or can the kitchen make a half portion? Many kitchens will.
Is there a change table? Larger or older buildings may not have one.
Is the patio accessible with a stroller? Some patios have steps.

If you are eating with a stroller, call ahead, since many older Toronto buildings have steps or narrow rooms.

How do you handle food allergies with children?

Tell the restaurant when you book and again when you order. Ask how the kitchen handles cross-contact, particularly with peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, milk, eggs and wheat. Canadian priority allergens must be declared on packaged foods, but restaurants are not required to print an allergen list on menus, so ask. Some restaurants will not take the risk, and that is a good answer to get before you sit down.

How do you keep a meal calm?

Bring a few small toys, a book or paper and crayons. Restaurants often have crayons, but not always.
Order a starter quickly, so children have something to eat while they wait.
Share dishes, since that is easier than ordering a separate meal for each child.
Take a short break outside if someone is restless.
Pay quickly when the meal is done. Many restaurants let you pay at the table with a card terminal.

What about the bill and tip?

Menu prices do not include tax. In Ontario, 13 percent HST is added at the bill. A tip of 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount is normal at a table with a server, and a generous tip is appreciated if your family took extra attention or made a mess. At large tables, some restaurants add a gratuity for groups, so check the bill.

Where can you eat near family attractions?

Near the Toronto Zoo, High Park, the Ontario Science Centre area, the waterfront and the Toronto Islands ferry, restaurants and food stalls cater to families. Prices near major attractions are often higher. A packed lunch in the park and dinner away from the main sights is a good balance.

How do you check a restaurant is clean?

Toronto Public Health posts DineSafe inspection results. A green pass sign in the window or an online search shows the latest result.

How do you remember the restaurants that worked for your family?

A good family restaurant is one you want to find again, and a list is how you do it. Mosey is a food app for finding, rating and sharing places to eat, and in it you can rate the dish your child actually ate, such as "plain pasta, small portion, finished it", and add a tag like Kid-Friendly or Family Friendly. Keep a list called Family dinners with a note on the high chair, the noise and the hour that worked.

Invite the other adults with the link so they can add their own finds, and follow friends who have children of the same age to see where they have eaten.

After your next family meal, open the Mosey app and rate the dish everyone finished.

Common questions

What are the best kinds of restaurants for kids in Toronto?
Dim sum, pizza and Italian, Greek, Indian lunch buffets and diners tend to be flexible and relaxed with children.
What time should I eat out with kids in Toronto?
Early, usually between 5 and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Weekend brunch has the longest lines.
Do Toronto restaurants have high chairs?
Many do, but numbers are limited, so ask when you book.
Do I tip more at a table with children?
The normal range is 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount. Many people tip at the higher end if the family needed extra help.
How do I manage food allergies when eating out with kids?
Tell the restaurant when you book and when you order, and ask how the kitchen handles cross-contact. Restaurants are not required to print allergen lists on menus.