Brewpubs are surprisingly some of the best places to bring kids due to their laid-back atmospheres, daytime hours, and menus full of sandwiches, burgers, and fried finger foods — not to mention all beer for adults. Old Irving Brewing has all that and more in a neighborhood full of families, plus a kids menu with mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and ice cream made on-site.

Barbecue is messy and hands-on, which are helpful tools to get kids excited about a meal at one of Chicago’s best barbecue spots. A special kids menu features tiny brisket and pulled pork sandwiches, along with macaroni and cheese. Indoor seating hasn’t yet resumed but staff have opened a covered outdoor patio that’s also BYOB.

Crosby’s Kitchen is one of the most popular restaurant for kids in the stroller-saturated Southport Corridor. With a children’s menu stacked with grilled cheese, chicken fingers, and PB&J, management pulls out all the stops to make a meal for the whole family. Finish it all off with a skillet cookie topped with ice cream.

Seafood may not be the first thing people think of when many think “kid-friendly,” but what better way to introduce the kids to a good crustacean than by (literally) cracking them open on the table and getting their hands dirty with bags of seafood dressed however they’d like. There’s also a South Loop location of this popular Wrigleyville/Lakeview spot.

Fried chicken and mac and cheese are shoo-ins with most kids, but Honey Butter Fried Chicken goes even further with a kids meal that includes chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and a sticker sheet for a little entertainment. The restaurant is currently open exclusively for carryout and delivery.

Mini Mott, the Logan Square spinoff dedicated to chef Edward Kim’s mega-hit Mott Burger, also features tons of different fries, “katsu kruncher” panko-crusted chicken tenders. doughnuts, ice cream, and other well-crafted treats for every diner, regardless of age.

Chef Jason Hammel’s acclaimed neighborhood restaurant takes care of hungry little ones with an unfussy kids’ menu of baked mac and cheese or chicken tenders, a vegetable side, and a cookie for dessert. Lula is currently open for takeout.

The young and the young at heart have long beaten a path to Bang Bang for some of the best sweet and savory pies in town, along with flaky biscuit sandwiches, buttery grits, and quiche. The restaurant is open for takeout and patio service on Fridays and Saturdays in Logan Square.

This charming Detroit-style hot dog stand is truly a family affair, as owner and Motor City native Jesse Fakhoury named it after his own daughter, Lola. The iconic chili-smothered Coney Dog naturally gets top billing, but the menu also highlights other regional varieties like Chicago dogs (dragged through the garden) and New York-style dogs (sauerkraut or onions or both, spicy brown mustard). Other hits include burgers, malts, and floats.

A trip to Greek Islands is an adventure in itself, especially for young diners who long for more than chicken nuggets. The restaurant is Mediterranean royalty in Chicago, and an ideal venue for novices to learn about the wonders of flaming saganaki, mini pork and chicken kebabs, and pan-fried calamari.

This longtime classic diner in West Loop serves breakfast and lunch with Milk Dud pancakes, chicken fingers, and buttered noodles for children. Adults can eat like a kid too, with thick French toast smothered in syrup and fruit for a sweet start to the day.

Make kids happy at this classic Jewish deli and ice cream fountain in South Loop. An array of sweet treats including shakes, sundaes, house-made sodas and candy. Mammoth sandwiches, fluffy pancakes, and fried staples all add up to a food paradise for most minors.

This popular pan-Asian spot is best known for its fun and colorful bubble tea and smoothies, and kids can pick out their own fruits and toppings to make an extra-special drink just for them. The food menu features oodles of noodles, as well as protein and rice dishes, soups, and dumplings. Additional outposts are located in University Village and suburban Evanston.

A South Side destination famed for its Southern staples, 5 Loaves Eatery serves up crowd-pleasers for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant is known for its excellent fried chicken — an easy sell for meat-eating kids — but that’s far from the only draw. Options like buttermilk biscuits and cheesy grits are among its many hits, along with lunch entrees like catfish nuggets and shrimp po’boys. The restaurant is open for delivery and carryout.

Parents needn’t resort to plying offspring with pedestrian burgers and fries when they can go to Mikkey’s for top-notch fast food. Young customers have plenty to choose from, but a kids meal with options like chicken tenders, wings, and mozzarella sticks along with a cheeseburger and fries will likely be an easy win. Mikkey’s is also open in Hyde Park.