This Is The Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant in The U.S., According to Yelp and Parents

For parents who have experienced firsthand dining with tiny children, relief is an arm's length away. Little Matt's in Houston's West University is on the top slot on Yelp's just-revealed 2025 list of America's 100 most kid-friendly restaurants. The annual list recognizes restaurants that strike an elegant balancing act: being playful for children without adults feeling like they're dining in kindergarten.

A Menu with Mac & Cheese & Margaritas

Little Matt's is more than another burger joint with crayons on the table. Jim Reid started this place in 2009 in memory of his son's battle with leukemia, now owned by parents-turned-entrepreneurs Bill and Cindy Lillard, who lost a child as well. This restaurant is all about personal heritage blended with good times. The crowd-pleasing menu features chicken tenders, corn dog bites, grilled cheese, and even respectable penne pasta. And for mom and dad? A beer, margarita, or glass of wine on the house—salud to that.

More Than Just A Bite to Eat

It's not necessarily on the plate that really sets Little Matt's apart. It's all that's surrounding it. The restaurant has an off-to-the-side video game area, iPads at tables, toy vending machine, even Icees—making dinner an event. And while kids accumulate their tokens or chomp frozen treats, adults get to indulge in an enormous dinner menu (their burgers being particularly prized) as well as plenty of screens for news or sports. It's not eating out; it's choreographed chaos, all in an orderly package.

Outside of the Booths: Philanthropy

Little Matt's philanthropic mission extends beyond the confines of its busy, lively dining area. Some part of its proceeds is donated directly to Texas Children's Hospital, keeping its original purpose alive while making parents feel that with every order, they're doing some good. It's where fun and philanthropy cross paths—and chicken fingers have more to their purpose than filling tiny tummies.

National Trends: What Parents on Yelp Want

Stepping back, Yelp's full list reveals that families desire more than placemats made of paper and high chairs. Well-rated restaurants tend to have open spaces, mindful design, and in-restaurant entertainment that doubles as a tool for parental survival. Restaurants like Pigeon Forge, TN's The Local Goat (love those fried deviled eggs) join the list, indicating that cuisine is not sacrificed for kid-appeal—it is enriched by it.