I’m finally back in Hawaii after a weeklong Mastermind and & Media Trip with my Break Into Travel Writing group. We spent a couple of days in Scottsdale, Arizona before heading across the border to the beautiful Mexican fishing town of Puerto Penasco.
Of course, spending a few days in the lovely town of Scottsdale wouldn’t be complete without a visit to its up and coming food scene. Known for attracting many locals living in Tempe, Mesa, and Phoenix, Scottsdale’s eateries are an absolute must-visit attraction for foodie families and should be added to your list of things to do.
Here’s our recommendations for family-friendly dining when you and your family find yourselves in Scottsdale.
TOP 10 FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS IN SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA
Handcut Burgers & Chophouse
Handcut is changing the way people eat burgers and steaks one meal at a time. While they take pride in the high quality and authenticity of their grass fed beef, they also pledge that the meat they serve is responsibly sourced (from the Arizona Grass Raised Beef Company) with respect to the animal, as well as respect for the land the animal has been raised on. If you’re headed there with the family for dinner, we recommend coming before 6:30pm because it gets crowded!
Kid Foodie Favorite: Salt & Vinegar Fries, Macaroni Carbonara, Western Bacon Cheeseburger and for dessert, the Salted Caramel Buttercake
Sugar Bowl Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant
The Scottsdale landmark began serving classic American fare and decadent ice cream creations in 1958. They’re one of Scottsdale’s Founding Businesses and have been placed on the Historic Preservation Register. If you’re craving a dessert after dinner, we highly suggest stopping by Sugar Bowl…you won’t regret it!
Kid Foodie Favorite: The Top Hat Sundae
Hash Kitchen
A fun place for brunch with the family (hours are 7am-3pm). They have an amazing Bloody Mary bar for the adults to enjoy that I got to try during my visit. Hash Kitchen serves up comfort food that is fun and what I love most is that it consists of delicious food options for the kids. They are well known for their “hash” so pick one and give it a try. You won’t be disappointed.
Kid Foodie Favorite: Cannoli donuts, banana brioche french toast, and corned beef hash over medium eggs.
Brat Haus
As its name implies, Brat Haus’ menu boasts house-made brats (sausages), chewy pretzels and a robust roster of imported beer for adults to enjoy. Their open-air patio paired with delicious grub and genuine hospitality from friendly servers makes Brat Haus the perfect Scottsdale spot for a casual lunch or dinner. The kids will have a great time with their patio games including bag toss, ping pong, darts and life-sized Jenga. The patio is also a dog-friendly zone – so be sure to bring your pup along for the fun.
Kid Foodie Favorite: Pretzels, brats and cheese curds
Barrio Queen
Enjoy award-winning Mexican cuisine with a little street attitude here at Barrio Queen. Generous portions, casual atmosphere, a great spot for large groups and families.
Kid Foodie Favorite: Barrio Pappas with sweet corn, shrimp ceviche, Carne asada and Barrio pollo (chicken tacos), for dessert, get the Churros.
The Mission
Located on the Park’s western edge, The Mission serves modern Latin Cuisine by Chef Matt Carter. It’s a great place to bring family or friends who are in town, or for a date night, birthday party or special celebration. We enjoyed dining out on the outdoor patio in the evening – very family-friendly!
Kid Foodie Favorites: Crispy pork and cola lime glaze, Pork shoulder, Steak tacos and for dessert, Pumpkin bread pudding with fried bananas.
True Food Kitchen
True Food Kitchen offers a unique dining experience suitable for any health-conscious foodie families. They have a wide selection of vegan, vegetarian, naturally organic, and gluten free options, along with dishes for those following a paleo or Mediterranean diet!
Kid Foodie Favorites: Almond Butter, Banana, Strawberry Sandwich, Quinoa Burger, and Teriyaki chicken bowl
Pita Jungle Scottsdale
The Pita Jungle concept is based on offering a healthy Mediterranean cuisine with lots of vegetarian options. The menu has a nice balance of greens, grains, legumes, meats, and fruits. Local art adorn the walls, and an eclectic blend of music make the vibe at Pita Jungle easy to embrace.
Kid Foodie Favorites: Hummus trio, Tapas, Tomato basil soup and Chicken sliders
Citizen Public House
This popular gastropub is known for Chef Bernie Kantak’s modern fare and a sophisticated craft cocktail program. While it seems like it wouldn’t be a kid-friendly place, don’t be fooled, the staff are warm and welcoming and the food is out of this world!
Kid Foodie Favorites: Chicken and waffles and fondue
Super Chunks Sweets and Treats
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Super Chunk makes small-batches of handcrafted desserts with a modernized, unique twist. Husband/wife team, Sergio and Country Velador, create everything in-house from scratch using the best possible ingredients. You can find them in Old Town Scottsdale where they sell their signature selection of confections including chocolate bacon caramel corn (seriously so good), duck fat toffee, homemade licorice (made with fennel, anise, and green chartreuse), hand-pulled taffy and an assortment of other unique treats.
Kid Foodie Favorites: Award-winning Mesquite chocolate chip cookie
And there you have it, our list of top 10 family-friendly restaurants in Scottsdale, Arizona! We hope you find Scottsdale as lovely as we did. Most of all, we hope this list of hidden-gems narrows down your search for family-friendly restaurants while visiting Scottsdale. Happy Eating!
Have you been to Scottsdale before? What are your favorite Scottsdale eats? Let us know in the comments below if we missed any other foodie-family locations!
Thanks for the recommendations. Really amazing.
What a great overview of Scottsdale kid-friendly restaurants.
Those Handcut burgers look absolutely yum. It’s great that the beef is responsibly sourced. Drooling for the Cannoli doughnuts 😉
Yes, I really liked the emphasis the restaurant placed on responsibly sourcing their meat. Wish more restaurants would follow suit!
What a great write up! Yumm! I am sad I didnt make the ice cream place!
Thank you – yes, just thinking about the ice creams is making me drool!
Great information. Restaurants look amazing. Thank you for your suggestions.
Thanks, Penny! Scottsdale is such a lovely town, we look forward to going back.
We love Scottsdale. Now we have a few new places to try next time we are in town.
Great, happy to share some of our finds. What are your go-tos when you’re in Scottsdale?