As the producer and mom on the Eat Like a Local crew, I\u2019ve visited more than 150 restaurants across Houston with our host, James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd. <\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m sharing the casual spots I take my family when the cameras are off. I\u2019ve been lucky to try plenty of amazing, family-friendly spots in Houston for my job, and I have two boys who love to eat and are fairly adventurous, so our list of go-to spots is fairly long. To narrow things down, I\u2019ve set the following criteria: <\/p>\n
A \u2018regular\u2019 menu with multiple dishes my boys love: I don\u2019t let my kids order from the kids\u2019 menu (sorry, not sorry), so no chicken nuggets and hot dogs on the ticket here. These places have signature dishes my kids love.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Wiggle room: Whether it\u2019s a friendly staff who doesn\u2019t mind a bit of movement or an activity like watching the boats on the water, outdoor space or play area, these restaurants accommodate the energy that comes with being a kid.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Adult-approved dishes and atmosphere: These places are great for the whole family which means my husband and I are just as happy to go or bring our own friends along.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
With that in mind, these are the top five restaurants I take my own kids to in the Houston area.<\/b><\/p>\n
1. Luloo\u2019s Day & Night<\/b><\/p>\n
\ud83d\udccd Northwest Houston<\/p>\n
From the team behind Blood Bros. BBQ, this spot is an all-day gem. Morning kolaches and house-made baked goods for breakfast, fun and funky sandwiches for lunch and a full bar with cocktails for the adults at dinner. This is our go-to when everyone wants something different. The green space is perfect for squirmy kids to run around while you relax on the patio. <\/p>\n
Why kids love it:<\/b> Kolaches, fun sandwiches and a green space<\/p>\n
Why parents love it:<\/b> Thoughtful, chef-driven comfort food and a chill neighborhood vibe<\/p>\n
Please note: <\/b>Luloo\u2019s Day & Night<\/a> is closed on Mondays.<\/p>\n Luloo’s Day & Night | 1223 W 34th St, Ste C-600 Houston, TX 77018 (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)2. Little Rey<\/b><\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd River Oaks<\/p>\n Little Rey brings chicken al carbon, out of this world quesadillas (seriously, your kids will want to order them and you will want to eat them, so order one for yourself) and playful Tex-Mex energy to Houston\u2014and we\u2019re so glad they did. It\u2019s counter service, so a great option when you need something quick or when the kids are approaching the hangry stage. Pro tip: They also have whole bird chicken al carbon family meals which are great for weeknight takeout.<\/p>\n Why kids love it:<\/b> Crispy cheesy quesadillas, soft serve ice cream and outdoor space<\/p>\n Why parents love it:<\/b> Great margaritas, delicious wood-grilled chicken, and fast service<\/p>\n Website:<\/b> Little Rey<\/a> <\/p>\n Little Rey | 2345 Mid Ln, Houston, TX 77027 (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)3. Live Oak Grill<\/b><\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Sugar Land<\/p>\n Live Oak Grill has nailed Texas-style comfort food with a side of nostalgia. It feels like eating in someone\u2019s backyard\u2014if that someone served smothered chicken fried steak and had a playscape for your kids.<\/p>\n Why kids love it:<\/b> Huge menu to satisfy even the pickiest eaters, Tuesday pasta night, play area<\/p>\n Why parents love it:<\/b> Big portions, picnic tables, and zero judgment for loud kids<\/p>\n Website:<\/b> Live Oak Grill<\/a> <\/p>\n Live Oak Grill | 12935 Dairy Ashford Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77478 (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)4. Harry\u2019s<\/b><\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Midtown<\/p>\n Harry\u2019s has been satisfying Houston\u2019s breakfast needs since 1948 for a reason. It\u2019s retains its classic Greek and American roots while adding modern takes and Latin-inspired dishes to breakfast brunch and lunch. Spacious and busy – a few wiggly kiddos blend right in.<\/p>\n Why kids love it:<\/b> Fun twists on childhood favorites like merenda pancakes or baklava french toast<\/p>\n Why parents love it:<\/b> Diverse international menu, great coffee, and creative brunch cocktails<\/p>\n Please note: <\/b>Harry\u2019s<\/a> is closed on Tuesdays.<\/p>\n Harry’s | 318 Tuam St, Houston, TX 77006 (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)5. Katie\u2019s Seafood House<\/b><\/p>\n \ud83d\udccd Galveston <\/p>\n If we\u2019re doing a day trip or staycation by the water, this is always on the list. Katie\u2019s sources directly from their own dock right next door, which means ultra-fresh fish in a family-welcoming space right on the water.<\/p>\n Why kids love it:<\/b> Watching boats in the harbor while eating fresh caught fish, shrimp and crabs; the giant mint chocolate chip sundae is also a crowd pleaser<\/p>\n Why parents love it:<\/b> Fresh Gulf seafood, fun cocktails, and coastal views<\/p>\n Website: <\/b>Katie\u2019s Seafood House<\/a><\/p>\n Katie’s Seafood House | 2000 Wharf Rd, Galveston, TX 77550 (Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n Houston has no shortage of amazing food, but when you\u2019ve got kids in tow, finding that perfect combo of delicious and accommodating is key. <\/p>\n These five spots keep my whole family happy. Which ones are your family\u2019s favorite spots? Post yours in the comments, and for more options of where to eat around town check out Eat Like a Local with Chris Shepherd<\/a> on YouTube or our map of Eat Like a Local restaurants on Click2Houston.com<\/a>. <\/p>\n See Luloo\u2019s Day & Night on \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/p>\n See Little Rey on \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/p>\n See Live Oak Grill on \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/p>\n See Harry\u2019s on \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/p>\n See Katie\u2019s Seafood House on \u201cEat Like a Local\u201d<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As the producer and mom on the Eat Like a Local crew, I\u2019ve visited more than 150 restaurants…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":139552,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5130],"tags":[83458,990,4345,988,358,3187],"class_list":{"0":"post-139551","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-houston","8":"tag-eat-like-a-local","9":"tag-food","10":"tag-houston","11":"tag-restaurants","12":"tag-texas","13":"tag-tx"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115015590704765479","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139551","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139551"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139551\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/139552"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139551"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139551"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139551"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}