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Want to skip cooking? Here are 10 restaurants in Charlotte where kids eat free

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Key Takeaways

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  • Charlotte restaurants offer weekday deals where kids eat free with adult meals.
  • Participating locations include pizza joints, diners, pubs and taco spots citywide.
  • Most deals require dine-in service and limit one free kid per adult entrée purchase.

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Back-to-school season is here, and for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, the first day back is Monday, Aug. 25.

As kids swap pool floats for pencils and parents juggle new routines, dinnertime can feel like just one more homework assignment. Luckily, plenty of restaurants in the Queen City are stepping up to help with family-friendly deals where kids eat free.

Here are 10 places where kids can eat for free in Charlotte, organized by day of the week.

Empire Pizza

Location: 7024 Brighton Park Dr, Charlotte, NC 28227

Location: 8500 Pineville-Matthews Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Day: Monday

You can kick off the school year at Empire Pizza, where kids eat free on Mondays from 4-9 p.m. There is a limit of one free kids meal per adult entree, and the deal is for dine-in customers only.

A table full of different dishes including a plate of meatballs in red sauce, a side salad with mandarin oranges, a bowl of steamed broccoli with grated cheese, a flatbread pizza with melted cheese and red peppers, and a turkey wrap.
Empire Pizza offerings include pasta, salads, handhelds, wings and more. Empire Pizza

The Lodge: A Sportsman’s Grill

Location: 7725 Colony Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226

Day: Monday

Kids eat free on Mondays from 12-4 p.m., when you order from the classic, burgers or grill section of the menu, filled with stacked, freshly-cooked beef.

Three Amigos Mexican Grill & Cantina

Location: 2917 Central Ave A, Charlotte, NC 28205

Day: Monday

Start your family’s week off right with sizzling fajitas, cheesy enchiladas and flavorful tacos, while kids eat free with your meal.

A plate of food, with two enchiladas covered in a dark red sauce and topped with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and grated white cheese. The enchiladas sit on a bed of sautéed zucchini. On the side are a scoop of refried beans topped with cheese and a pile of Spanish rice. A fork and knife are visible to the left of the plate.
The Enchiladas Calabaza at Three Amigos is made with zucchini, covered in your choice of roja, verde or mole sauce and then topped with lettuce, tomato, onions, avocado and queso fresco. It’s served with rice and beans. Poprock Photography

Hawthorne’s New York Pizza

Location: 1701 E 7th St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Location: 8420 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277

Location: 4100 Suite A Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226

Location: 5814 Highland Shoppes Drive, Charlotte, NC 28269

Location: 6215 Old Post Road, Suite 101, Charlotte, NC 28212

Location: 1515 S Tryon St, Suite 104, Charlotte, NC 28203

Location: 14205, 4 Reese Blvd E2, Huntersville, NC 28078

Location: 7319 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227

Day: Tuesday

For thin crust, gooey cheese and that perfect New York fold, visit Hawthorne’s, where kids eat free every Tuesday with the purchase of an adult meal.

A slice of pepperoni pizza is lifted from the pie, creating a long, dramatic pull of stretching, melted mozzarella cheese. The rest of the pizza sits on a metal pan in the background.
Hawthorne’s Pizza on 7th Street in Elizabeth. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

Midtown Tavern

Location: 1500 E 3rd St, Charlotte, NC 28204

Day: Tuesday

Midtown Tavern has all the pub favorites you crave, including wings, burgers and big sandwiches, while kids eat free from the dedicated kid’s menu all Tuesday long.

A low-angle close-up shot of a chicken sandwich and onion rings on a white rectangular plate. The chicken sandwich is on a toasted bun and topped with melted cheddar cheese and sliced avocado. The bun for the sandwich is separated, with the top half next to the chicken patty and topped with three golden-brown onion rings. The background is a blurry black table.
Midtown Tavern’s Ultimate Chicken Sandwich features fried chicken breast, avocado, Midtown aioli, an onion ring and a cheese blend. Courtesy of Midtown Tavern

Wolfman Pizza

Location: 8504 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210

Day: Tuesday

On Tuesdays, kids get their meal with your entree at Wolfman, meaning you can enjoy crispy crust, melty cheese and toppings piled high while saving some money.

A freshly baked pizza with a thick crust, topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese, and ground sausage. It is on a round metal pan sitting on a wire rack.
An individual 10” pizza from Wolfman Pizza in Cotswold. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse

Location: 330 N Tryon St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Location: 9805-D Sandy Rock Pl, Charlotte, NC 28277

Location: 4625 Piedmont Row Dr Suite 115A, Charlotte, NC 28210

Location: 16609 Statesville Rd, Huntersville, NC 28078

Day: Thursday

Known for its massive beer list and mouthwatering burgers, Duckworth’s makes Thursdays family-friendly with one free kid’s meal for every $12 you spend. This deal is for dine-in customers only.

A high-angle shot of a metal tray on a wooden table. On the tray are two large pieces of battered and fried fish next to a bowl of french fries, a small container of tartar sauce, and two lemon wedges.
Duckworth’s Hand-Breaded Fish & Chips. Duckworth's Grill & Taphouse

Deluxe Fun Dining

Location: 305 W 4th St, Charlotte, NC 28202

Day: Friday

At Deluxe Fun Dining, kids under 12 can score a free meal from a special kid’s menu on Fridays while you dig into hearty selections, like juicy steaks, sizzling pasta and shareable appetizers.

A black wall in a restaurant with gold lettering that says “DELUXE FUN DINING” and a silhouette of a Spartan helmet. Below the text is a pair of gold, feathered angel wings painted on the wall. To the left are several framed awards and certificates, including a City of Charlotte inspection rating of 96.5. To the right are more framed awards and a marble countertop.
Deluxe Fun Dining takes a playful approach in presenting food. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

Zapata’s Mexican Restaurant

Location: 15105 John J Delaney Dr, Charlotte, NC 28277

Day: Sunday

Dive into sizzling fajitas, loaded burritos or their famous house margaritas while the little ones enjoy a complimentary plate on Sundays. There is a limit of one free meal per adult.

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This story was originally published August 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Want to skip cooking? Here are 10 restaurants in Charlotte where kids eat free."

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Evan Moore
The Charlotte Observer
Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.
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