There’s no question that people in Champaign-Urbana like to eat out. And there are several places that offer kids-eat-free specials, so it’s no biggie if the crockpot accidentally didn’t turn on one morning, or if the dog ate your turkey.
Credit: iStockPhoto
We have confirmed these deals as of June 2012 unless otherwise noted. Note that age and the “fine print” vary by restaurant. Call ahead if you have any questions.
Notice a new deal? Send us your tips (pun intended)
- Denny’s, Champaign. Kids eat free Tuesdays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get two kids meals free ( for kids 10 and under) per adult entree purchased
- Prairie Fire, Champaign: Kids eat free all day on Sundays — children 12 and under can eat free when ordering off of the kids menu, no limit on how many kids. Includes a drink (milk/soda). 100 Trade Centre, Champaign; 353-5333 (confirmed Jan 2013)
- Every Tuesday, kids 12 and under eat FREE at Bob Evans from 4 p.m. to close with each adult entree purchase. Valid for dine-in only. 1813 N. Neil St., Champaign; 356-1006
- Perkins - Tuesday and Thursday – KIDS EAT FREE all day! For each adult entrée purchased, kids 12 and under receive one free meal from the children’s menu. 1214 W. University Ave., Urbana. 328-3000
- Chili’s, Champaign. We’ve been featuring special Chili’s Kids Eat Free days all winter, but now our local franchise has decided to do Kids Eat Free every Tuesday! Kids eat free all day (open 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.) off the kids menu with purchase of adult meal. 1905 N. Prospect. 398-2161
- Denny’s Diner in Tuscola. Kids eat free Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Get two kids meals free ( for kids 10 and under) per adult entree purchased. 104 Tuscola Boulevard, Tuscola (217) 253-6756
- Kids eat free at El Toro in Rantoul all day, every Monday (from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.). Get one kids meal from the child menu per adult entree purchased. 1668 East Grove Avenue Rantoul (217) 893-0100
- O’Charley’s - Monday thru Thursday. Kids (10 and under) eat free from kid’s menu per each paying adult; drink not included. 730 W. Town Center Blvd, Champaign. 355-3901
- Flat Top Grill – Mondays. Kids 10 and under free; one free kids meal per each adult entree purchased. Everyday, kids 4 and under eat free during lunch or dinner (but not weekend brunch). 607 S. Sixth Street, Champaign. 344-3200
- Atlanta Bread Co. – Tuesday 4-9. One kids’ meal (off the kids menu)per one adult’s purchased meal. 12 and under (includes drink and cookie). 1905 S. Neil St., Champaign; 356-8040.
- Pizza Hut - Tuesday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. One child 12 and under eats free off the buffet per adult meal purchased. Dine in only. 409 N. Mattis Ave., Champaign. 359-8807
- Steak ‘n Shake - Saturday and Sundays. One kids plate (12 and under) per $8 spent, dine in only. All metro locations.
Other great deals for kids:
- Za’s - Everyday. $1.99 meals for kids 10 and under, one for each adult meal purchased; comes with a drink and snack side. Dine-in and drive-thru! Both Champaign locations.
- Applebee’s – (SAVOY LOCATION ONLY) - Kids eat for .99 from 4-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, one kids meal (12 and under) per every adult meal purchased. Dine-in only. 1201 N. Dunlap Ave., Savoy. (217) 359-1894
- Fazoli’s - Tuesday night from 5 – 8 p.m. Kids 12 and under eat a kids meal for .99 cents; one for every adult entree purchased. Activity table with arts and crafts available. 2029 N. Prospect Ave., Champaign. 356-4820
- BW3 – Sunday $1.99 cents kids meals for 12 and under; Dine-in only. Comes with a drink. Champaign and Savoy locations. 378-4400 and 356-9464
- Texas Roadhouse – Tuesday night is kids’ night. Free ice cream with every kids meal purchased. 204 N. Country Fair Dr., Champaign. (added 5/16)
- Ryan’s – Thursday night (5-8 p.m.) is family night, starting 11/1/2012. Kids 11 and under will eat for .99 with an adult meal purchase. Limit 2 kids per each adult. 1004 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign, 217 352-7403.
- Hometown Buffet – Thursday night is family night, starting 11/1/2012, from 5-8 p.m. Kids 11 and under will eat for .99 with an adult meal purchase. Limit 2 kids per each adult. 2306 North Prospect Avenue, Champaign (217) 355-9429.
We went to IHOP last week and they no longer had the kids-eat-free deal.
My husband and I use this site for C-U restaurant coupons including discounts on kids meals.
http://www.cusavings.com
TGI Friday’s has free kids meals, per adult entree, on Tuesdays and Saturdays, as of 7/15/10.
Thanks Heather – I talked to the folks at Friday’s and our listing above is still accurate (Sundays and Thursday nights).
Yeah! Thanks for this list!
i am pretty sure kids night is Tuesday now at Fazolis
It’s like you have a fly on my kitchen wall. I was so proud of myself for planning ahead and using the crockpot this morning. I came home to semi frozen chicken breast covered in sauce in a cold crockpot. On the verge of a mental breakdown I proclaimed we were eating out! If only I check this first!
O’Charley’s still have free kids meals w/ an adult purchase.
Kids can eat free anytime with the coupon at this link for Guadaljara Mexican restaurant in Champaign http://www.cusavings.com/directory/guadalajaramexican/index.html
I think the kids eat free deal at Kamakura is only at the teppan tables. They also have specials in the dining room Sunday through Thursday. Our favorite is Wednesday, when you get free teriyaki mushrooms or yakatori with the purchase of a teriyaki dinner.
Kids eat free on Sundays at La Fiesta (Sunnycrest Mall, Philo Road, Urbana).
Kids no longer eat free at Kamakura. Very disappointing since this has become our favorite place to take the kids on Sundays for birthdays, celebrations, etc. Unfortunately,since we’d now have to pay $10 a child, we’ll have to find a new favorite place. = (
We took that one down.
Kids eat free at Chili’s on Tuesdays.
we’ve confirmed this – thanks!
Just discovered today that at the Atlanta Bread Company on Neil St kids eat free with paying adult after 4pm on Tuesdays.
The Savoy Applebee’s is now limited to Mon-Thurs with their kids eat free deal.
Cocina Real on University Ave. in Urbana has Kids Eat Free on Sundays. I believe La Fiesta in Urbana has Kids Eat Free on Sundays too.
Perkins no longer offers the .99 cent meal anymore.
O’Charley’s is now limited to Monday through Thursday as well. We went there on Friday and were going to get my son his first entree and found that out.
Applebee’s in Savoy has stopped their kids eat free deal. Now it’s $0.99 meals on Mondays and Tuesdays only. Discovered this change last night, when we decided to run to Applebee’s pretty much specifically because the kids would eat free. Oh well.
Thanks so much for this list! My family checks it often.
Unfortunately, Cocina Real and Fiesta Ranchero are now closed.
We went to El Toro 2 today (Sunday, 1/13/13) and learned that kids no longer eat free. Our waiter told us they discontinued that policy as of the first of the year.
The kids meals at Prairie Fire have been very good and very generous portions. The chicken tenders are huge and very tasty. Even my 10 year old was full after his grilled chicken sandwich kids meal! This has become a favorite Sunday night dinner place for us.