In this economy, free food is a blessing we can’t take for granted. Check out these Des Moines restaurants offering free kids’ meals once a week.
Sometimes, we go to restaurants because of their absolutely stunning views. Other times, we go to specific restaurants because they have the best farm-to-table dishes. Still, there are just some periods when we need to alleviate some financial burden and hop on a good deal. Luckily, if you’re located in or around Des Moines and have a child, you can take advantage of free kids’ meals at many local establishments.
And we’re not just talking about chain restaurants. While some chains, like the Chicago-based Giordano’s, have good deals here in Des Moines, some local hot spots, from Beaver Tap to Zombie Burger, are creating great deals that not only bolster their business but also help keep money in local families’ pockets. We could go on a tangent about how important it is to support local businesses, but we’ll save that for another time.
Now, let’s break down eight restaurants where your kids can eat for free once a week—because you deserve to have dinner taken care of once in a while.
1. Beaver Tap
Address: 4050 Urbandale Ave, Des Moines
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:30 a.m.-12 a.m.; Friday-Saturday: 8:30 a.m.-2 a.m.; Sunday: 8:30 a.m.-12 a.m.
Whether you’re looking to catch up with friends over drinks or just enjoy a really lovely meal, Beaver Tap has you covered. Oh, and your kid can eat free each Monday with the purchase of an adult entree. In this economy, you can’t beat that! Beaver Tap’s menu covers classic grill items, from steak to burgers and even Cajun chicken pasta, as well as Wisconsin staples like pork tenderloins. Did we mention this restaurant serves Mexican food as well? Oh yes, you can indulge in tacos, enchiladas, and more while spending time with your family.
2. Mullets Uptown
Address: 617 SW 3rd St Suite 103, Ankeny
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Mullets Uptown fits in perfectly with Des Moines’ food scene. It offers classic American dishes and flavors prepared with fresh ingredients and lots of care. You’ll find dreamy biscuits and gravy, crunchy yet tender chicken fried steak, and sumptuous catfish dinners, as well as innovative bites like breakfast tacos and Philly cheesesteak poboys. Needless to say, this is the perfect place to start your week if you want to indulge in seriously good grub while saving a few bucks. Thankfully, kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal every Monday.
3. Giordano’s
Address: 120 Jordan Creek Pkwy, West Des Moines
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
What better family time is there than pizza night? Cheesy goodness, laughs, and maybe even some fizzy soda pop create childhood memories that can truly last forever, and Giordano’s has a perfect deal to make this dream a reality. Every Tuesday, the deep-dish spot from Chicago offers a free kid’s meal per adult entree purchase, and if you haven’t had Giordano’s before, you’re going to want to take advantage of this. Here, a thick layer of gooey cheese hugs the tender crust, while a layer of tomato sauce sits on top. It’s different from your everyday pizza, but you may just find that it’s your new favorite style of pie.
4. Zombie Burger
Address: 300 E Grand Ave, Des Moines
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
At Zombie Burger, you can order your burgers as simple or extreme as you want—whether you just want it filled with fresh, crisp vegetables or you want fried mac and cheese to serve as your bun. This makes it a particularly fun place to take your kid, too. Luckily, Zombie Burger offers a free kid’s meal every Tuesday so long as you purchase an adult-sized burger or full-sized salad at regular menu price. In addition to hamburger and cheeseburger options, your kid could claim a free grilled cheese, mac and cheese, or chicken strips. Yum!
5. Scorno’s Pizza & Pasta
Address: 1930 SE 14th St, Des Moines
Hours: Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m.-8 p.m.
Scorno’s Pizza & Pasta has been serving the Des Moines area for more than 50 years, and you can get a cheaper taste of everything it has to offer each Wednesday, when one free kids’ meal is offered for each $15 spent on adult meals. The pies here range from classics like margherita to fun flavors like BBQ chicken and taco-themed pizzas. Scorno’s even offers breakfast pizzas that have bacon, scrambled eggs, and more on them as a perfect way to start your day. Mama mia, that sounds delicious!
6. Chuck’s Restaurant
Address: 3610 6th Ave, Des Moines
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 4:30 p.m.-9 p.m.
Chuck’s Restaurant is good old-school, stick-to-your-rib food served pipin’ hot and ready to fill your stomach for the evening. By this, we mean you can order everything from fried lasagna and fried mushrooms to pork tenderloins and meatball subs. It may not be fancy, but it’ll keep you full and happy—and taste delightful going down. Here, your kiddo can get in on the action for free every Thursday. If you’re interested in more than one deal a week, you should also know that Chuck’s offers $5 off a large pizza every Wednesday.
7. Cozy Café Johnston
Address: 8385 Birchwood Ct, Johnston
Hours: Monday-Sunday: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Nestled in the Des Moines suburbs is Cozy Café Johnston, which is just as pleasant as its name suggests. You can’t go wrong here, regardless of whether you order breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but you may want to try everything after your first bite. Some standout menu items include the huevos ranchero, homemade cinnamon rolls, French dip sandwich, and smoked beef brisket. If you’re looking to try them without breaking the bank, make sure to head over on a Thursday, when kids eat free with an adult entree purchase. Kids’ meal options include chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, mini corn dogs, cheese quesadillas, and more.
8. Flame Cantina
Address: 1315 SW Oralabor Rd, Ankeny
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Looking for Mexican food but on a budget? Stress no longer, as Flame Cantina has you covered with each and every Sunday. Like other restaurants, you need to purchase an adult meal to get the free child’s meal. However, Flame Cantina’s deal is more generous than others, offering two free kids’ meals per adult entree. Here, the kids’ meal options include a queso-inspired mac and cheese, cheeseburger, cheese quesadilla, and flour taco, and each includes a drink. It doesn’t get much better than that, if you ask us.
