Baby Bites: 7 Surprisingly Kid-Friendly Restaurants in San Jose

It is the wish of every parent that their kiddo grows into civilized diners with good palates, but kids often don’t start out that way. When you decide to take your kids out make sure the spot is not only serving food but there is a space where they can run and burn that vibrant energy after they are done eating.

That said, there is no shortage of exciting places in San Jose where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy with your kids. Whether you’re looking for a casual meal or more formal dining, here are the best kid-friendly and family-friendly places to try out in San Jose.

San Jose is surely a great place for every family that visits the city, but it’s definitely not cheap. With GiftYa electronic gift card, it’s now easy to check out so many restaurants and enjoy that meal that you have been craving. The best part is that they are easy to attach to your major credit card. Go ahead and swipe, tap, and enjoy the food in these kid-friendly restaurants in San Jose.  

Back A Yard Caribbean Grill

80 N Market St, San Jose, CA 95113 backayard.net

Flawless eatery serving hearty American and the Caribbean fare including jerk-chicken combos!

Want to take your kids to a place they will never forget? Make sure you take them to the Bark A Yard Caribbean Grill. Here you get the best of both worlds, a fusion of the Caribbean and American cuisines. Come here and try out their signature Jerk chicken and beef oxtail plate – the most popular combo. Guest can also enjoy other favorites including barbeque spareribs, curried goat, coconut curried tofu, vegetarian jerk tofu, and freshly made Caribbean Cobb salad with Salmon.

While you order the combos, the kids can order something from the kid’s menu. They can have sandwiches, a mini burger, dino chicken nuggets, as well as mac and cheese. You can also order desserts, a drink, and a choice of side.

The quick eats are served all day long with options such as chicken, pork, BBQ spareribs, or coco bread – all served with bread. They have vegan options too!

Bill's Cafe – Alameda

2089 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126 billscafe.com

Try out some homemade freshly baked goods and soups made from scratch in this casual eatery in San Jose!

Breakfast is served! And its homemade baked goods and delicious soups made just the way you want it. This and more is what you get at Bill’s Café in Alameda.

This casual restaurant offers authentic American cuisine that caters to both kids and adults. Everything is made fresh here with options such as freshly sliced fruits, squeezed fresh juices, homemade soups, baking croissants, and cinnamon rolls being made from scratch.

The menu is quite spread out with classic breakfast traditions, along with a wide array of creative specialties. The kid’s menu has everything your child wants with options such as mini pancakes, Belgian waffles, grilled cheese, cheeseburger with fries, mini omelette, and the little country that includes a scrambled egg and fresh hash browns – all served with Country gravy and biscuit.

If you come in late in the evening, you can be assured that you will get breakfast as it’s served all day at Bill’s with a wide selection of lunch items including salads, sandwiches, and the daily chef’s specials.  

Adults can grab either a mimosa served in a giant fishbowl, brews, or their iced coffee as an accompaniment to your main meal.

Bibo's NY Pizza

1431 Bird Ave, San Jose, CA 95125 bibosnypizza

Small, unfussy pizzeria dishing out delicious pies topped with buffalo mozzarella!

Pizza is always a favorite for many especially kids. So, the next time you decide to go out, then make sure you go to Bibo’s NY Pizza. This popular pizzeria is popular for offering a diverse selection of great pizzas with different flavors to choose from.

If you enjoy pizza, you can enjoy the classic combo that comes with garden fresh mushrooms, green bell peppers, olives, pepperoni, and NY-style Italian sausage toppings. If you want something a little light, you can go ahead and order a Slice of Heaven with bacon, fresh basil, and fire-roasted tomatoes. They also offer other options including Margherita, white pie, buffalo chicken pizza, or veggie options for the vegetarians.

They also allow you and your kids to build your own pizza with gluten-free and cauliflower crust options available. If you get a chance, you should try building the 14-inch medium pizza with all the toppings you want. All their pizzas come with a good portion of special mozzarella cheese.

Grownups can try one of their signature wines, cocktails, and crafted beers to enjoy along with their meal.

Café San José

Family-friendly restaurant popular for the big selection of breakfast specials and delicious lunch fares such as soups and sandwiches!

Café San Jose is the spot that you go to when you want to have a nice night out or that weekend family day out. Whether you want to grab a quick bite or celebrate a special occasion, this family-friendly spot is the perfect combination of classy and kid-friendly.

When you come here you should taste their specialty waffles, French toast, and pancakes. Kids can have something from the kid’s menu with options such as Minnie’s French toast, The Mickey-shaped pancake, Tweetie’s chicken tenders, AJ’s cheeseburger or the Tinker’s turkey and cheese sandwich with American cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise on white or wheat bread.

Make sure you grab a milkshake or juice and one of the sides for your kid to enjoy with their main meal.

Smoking Pig BBQ Company

Southern-style BBQ spot serving brisket, slow-smoked ribs, and pork in a modest setting!

How about you take your family out and this time at a BBQ spot? At Smoking Pig BBQ restaurants, you will find lots of fresh and hand-crafted dishes for both kids and adults to enjoy.

At this laid-back bistro, slow-smoked meats, mixed signature cocktails, and hand-crafted sides are what sets them apart from any other BBQ restaurant in the city. Gather the family around a table and order something from the menu including the smokin’ pig burger that is house-made and comes with the ground, smoked pork and parmesan cheese, with bacon, smoked onions, and peppers toppings. If you still have some space you can order the single meat plates, combos, and one of their savory sides.

For the kids, they can have the mini burger, new mac n’ cheese balls, or the kid-sized soda. Each meal for the children is served with a small drink and a choice of one side.

LUNA Mexican Kitchen - The Alameda

Inviting Mexican eatery and bar that serves farm-fresh Mexican fare in a cozy setting!

Craving for healing foods made in ancestral methods? Then you should head down to Luna Mexican Kitchen at the Alameda. At this eatery, everything is made from scratch, and in case you’re wondering how those grains come out so perfect with a better flavor, then the secret is soaking corn in alkaline overnight then rinsing it and grinding it with stone in a labor-intensive process, which few restaurants do.

Now to the menu. You can enjoy plenty of traditional Mexican dishes and ancient superfoods that are sure to leave you satisfied. Try out options such as horchata French toast, nopales scrambled eggs and chilaquiles for breakfast. If you want something a little heavy for lunch or dinner, be sure to order the bacon-wrapped Camarones, enchiladas, salads, and one of their savory sides.

Kids can enjoy selections from the kid’s menu including the taquito, chicken bowl, or the kid’s breakfast with options such as eggs, bacon, potatoes, and refried beans with jack cheese served daily until 3 pm.

The Boiling Crab

Casual hidden gem offering boiled-in-bag Cajun fare and other favorites!

How about you try some seafood on your next family day out? If you want to have only the best Cajun fare, then you should go to The Boling Crab. Share your love for seafood with the entire family by ordering classic dishes such as blue crab, snow crab legs, shrimp, oysters, crawfish, lobster, clams, or mussels.

Add some sauce including Rajun Cajun, the whole Sha-Bang, garlic sauce, or lemon pepper to your main dish, and pick your favorite spice for your dish. Don’t want sauce, you can go for options such as naked or half-naked crawfish or shrimp. For those who like their food fried, you can have a great time feasting on fried catfish baskets, shrimp, calamari, oysters, chicken tenders, hot wings, or Shabang Bang shrimp.

All their platters come with an option of one delicious side as an accompaniment. An extensive drink menu is also available for adults. No matter what you order here, you’ll be sure that everyone will leave full by the end of the day.

There are plenty of things that kids can do and see when they visit San Jose. They can also try some of the best foods in town, something they will enjoy. These top restaurants in San Jose are sure to make eating out with kids easy and fun. So, why not come to San Jose next time and try out some of these kid-friendly spots, and don’t forget to share your experience with us!