A variety of fast food choices remain largely unexplored through kids’ menus. Typically, people skip the children’s section since they aren’t kids themselves. Nevertheless, in the name of reporting, I sampled several kids’ meals to inform you about the offerings and explain why they could be a smart choice.
Before diving in, consider my suggestion. Regardless of your location, place your order through the website or app. While using your phone can be inconvenient, it addresses multiple issues. First, menus in-store may not clearly indicate what options are available for customization or how much you can alter them. Second, I was informed something wasn’t customizable in person (even though it could be changed online or through the app) or was charged more (fortunately, I had already done some research online to know the right price). Therefore, for the optimal experience, order online.
Alright, now that we’ve covered the best practices, let’s dig in! These quick-service restaurants made the list due to their variety, meal sizes, and/or affordability.
Read more: 8 Things to Skip When Ordering at McDonald’s
Sonic Corn Dog Crazy Pack
I hadn’t visited Sonic in nearly twenty years, so it was quite entertaining to go there as an adult. Sonic offers some children’s meals known as Wacky Packs, which provide a bit more variety than the typical hamburger, chicken nuggets, or tenders that other restaurants serve. Naturally, those options are available too, but Sonic also has hot dogs, corn dogs, or a grilled cheese. I went with the corn dog just for fun, and it was really delicious.
Choose from crinkle fries (or Groovy Fries, as Sonic refers to them), tater tots, or an apple sauce packet as a side. I opted for the Groovy Fries, which are crunchy, resembling those that have been fried twice. You can also customize your drink, so I selected the signature cherry limeade for an additional small fee, and it turned out to be a favorite. It’s sweet and tart with a squeezed lime wedge and a maraschino cherry inside. You can also order lemonade, which ended up being in the middle of our…fast-food lemonade rankingI was completely impressed with my Sonic kids’ meal and can recognize the variety offered on the menu.
Wendy’s Hot Chicken Nuggets children’s meal
Wendy’s offers four different children’s meal choices — four chicken nuggets, four spicy nuggets, a hamburger, or a cheeseburger. Since this was the only kids’ menu I’ve come across that includes spicy nuggets, I opted for those. You can also pay a small extra charge to upgrade and get a Frosty, which is a great addition that makes it much more appealing for adults.
I was aware of the correct price because I had looked up the customization details online. Nevertheless, the cashier attempted to charge $15, which was approximately twice what I anticipated. The manager corrected the customization, but I suggest placing your order online or via the app to prevent confusion. Employees often assume you’re ordering an adult meal — you need to specifically mention that you want the children’s size.
The chicken has a slight spiciness, while the fries are crispy, delicious, and the only ones in my kids’ meal hunt that have some potato skin, which I like. The Frosty was the perfect finish, providing a rich, sweet contrast to the meal.
McDonald’s Hamburger Happy Meal
If you’re looking to revisit a memory from your childhood, I suggest getting a Happy Meal. You have the choice of the hamburger, four-piece chicken McNuggets, or six-piece. Despite that, the McDonald’s Happy Meal works well within the app. I ordered the hamburger but chose to pay extra for an additional patty and cheese. I swapped the apple slices for another fry without any charge, which was a smart move since the apple slices are very small.
You can order a drink such as chocolate milk or apple juice, or upgrade to a different soda or bottled water. There’s something really classic and delicious about a McDonald’s hamburger with the ketchup oozing out the side, and I really loved this meal. It also includes a toy (you can opt out if you prefer). Since I have a young child at home, I went for the under-three toy, which ended up being a board book (!!!). Although it’s not a…rare Happy Meal toyin any way, it was easily the top “toy” among all the choices from the places I visited.
Jack in the Box Jr. Cheeseburger Meal
Jack in the Box offers a few children’s or junior menu items, referred to as such. These include the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Jr. Jumbo Jack, and others depending on your appetite. Once more, it’s beneficial to have a clear idea of what you want by checking ahead or placing an order online, as when I visited the store and inquired about the kids’ options, they only provided a limited selection.
I ended up getting the Jr. Cheeseburger along with French fries and apple juice, but you have the option to choose a soda or even milk instead. I enjoy the juice box because it’s convenient to carry around or store in your cubicle or pantry for later. This wasn’t my top choice among the meals since the bun was a little dry, but there’s still promise, especially if you go for a bigger meal. The bacon cheeseburger sounds good, as other kids’ meals didn’t come with bacon.
Popeyes four-piece chicken meal without bones
As a fan of Popeyes’ delicious chicken and crunchy coating, I was eager to try the kids’ menu, which includes options like a four-piece boneless chicken, one leg piece, one chicken tender, or a kids’ mac and cheese. The four-piece meal caught my attention, so that’s what I ordered.
I placed my order in person, but they refused to replace the child’s apple juice, even though the website states that you can get any quantity of the soda base drinks (this is yet another example of how the tips mentioned at the beginning of the article are relevant). The applesauce cannot be swapped, regardless of where you order.
I’m not sure if this is the usual portion (since some items were smaller) or if they felt bad for me, but my kids’ meal included six pieces of chicken. Without that, this was one of the smaller meals I sampled for this article. Still, the chicken is delicious, crispy, and juicy, which makes it worth mentioning, and the Popeyes staff gets extra credit for giving me additional chicken.
Chick-fil-A five-piece nuggets kids’ meal
As I stated before, I have a young child, and we choose the Chick-fil-A kids’ meal more often than any other fast food choice. You can select between five chicken nuggets, five grilled nuggets, or two chicken strips. Each meal includes the protein, a small side, a children’s drink, and a toy. The side options are waffle fries, potato chips, apple sauce, fruit cup, or you can pay a little more for a small serving of macaroni and cheese.
The chain’s fries take the number one spot in afast-food chicken nugget rankingSo I got the five-piece of juicy nuggets. I chose the fries as a side because it’s a classic, and the fresh, hot, salted fries are absolutely delightful. However, the small fee for the mac and cheese upgrade is great if you need extra comfort. You can select any number of kids’ size drinks at no extra cost, such as chocolate milk or Coca-Cola. But you can also upgrade to other items if you want. Grab a kids’ toy or exchange it for an Icedream cone or cup. Icedream is the best option, but only if you’re eating in, since it’s such a small serving that it will melt during the drive.
Burger King Cheeseburger King Jr. Meal
Children’s meals at Burger King feature a cheeseburger, regular hamburger, or a choice of six or four chicken nuggets. There is also an option for a double cheeseburger, which would be a better choice for a more substantial meal for kids (though I have not seen this in person, only through online information). When asked if you want all the toppings, it will typically include American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. Additional items such as bacon, lettuce, or onion rings can also be purchased.
The meal includes a beverage and a side option (fries, onion rings, a mix of both, or applesauce). I chose milk since I had consumed too much soda and juice by this stage in my taste test journey. Thehamburger patty offers a flame-grilled taste, and the fries are warm and crunchy. This was the most affordable meal among all the options I tried, and it’s great if you’re looking for a budget-friendly meal. It also included a toy.
Raising Cane’s chicken fingers – The Kids Meal
I’ve eaten several adult meals at Raising Cane’s, so I was interested in the kids’ option, known as the Kids Combo. This includes two of the company’siconic chicken fingers, crispy-cut fries, one Cane’s Sauce, a children’s drink in a durable plastic cup, and a small toy. None of the other restaurants offered a reusable plastic cup, so I found this to be an enjoyable detail that made it unique.
Similar to Popeyes, I’m not sure if the employees were being generous or if this is just a typical serving size, but I received more than two chicken fingers, and they paired perfectly with the Cane’s Sauce. Overall, I found this to be a tasty meal and a good deal. This was the only menu that mentioned it was for children 12 and younger on the physical menu, but I can’t find that information anywhere online.
Panda Express orange chicken Panda Cub Meal
Panda Express offers its Panda Cub meals for kids, which include some great options. You can choose one of three different bases: orange chicken, broccoli and beef, or grilled teriyaki chicken. You can also select one or two (for a half-half combination) of four sides: white steamed rice, fried rice, chow mein, or the super greens. I went with orange chicken and half chow mein, half fried rice. I loved the sweet and sour taste, but next time I’ll try half super greens to add more vegetables to the meal (this isn’t really an option on other kids’ meals I’ve tried).
My meal included dried apple crisps, a fortune cookie, and a drink of my choice, like bottled water, iced juice, or a fountain beverage. I’ve had this with the adult serving size, so I appreciate that this selection offers a different option for kids than the many burgers and fried chicken strips I tried during my journey.
Carl’s Jr. StarPals Cheeseburger Kids Meal
At Carl’s Jr., you have the option of a hamburger, a cheeseburger, or the Chicken Stars. The meal includes fries, a drink, your preferred sauce (I chose honey mustard), and a cookie. I selected the cheeseburger and had a fountain drink, though you can also choose milk or any other beverage that fits your dietary preferences. The burger is enjoyable and quite flavorful, featuring a soft bun and pickles that add a bit of tanginess.
I enjoyed the small cookie, since other fast food restaurants don’t offer that. The cookie is wrapped in a way that allows you to eat it immediately or store it on your office desk for an unexpected snack. Carl’s Jr. was the only place that actually delivered my food to me; I’m not sure if this is common at all locations, but it’s a pleasant gesture.
KFC’s two-piece chicken tender kids’ meal
This was my first KFC kids’ meal, and I was quite pleased. To begin with, you can choose between the two-piece tenders or five-piece nuggets (I went with the former). It comes with applesauce by default, but I wanted something more mature and satisfying. After reading theKFC sides ranking, I replaced the regular apple sauce with mashed potatoes and gravy, but you can choose anything from coleslaw to macaroni and cheese.
The gravy has a salty flavor, while the potatoes are smooth. The chicken is juicy and delicious. It includes milk, but you can replace it with a soda-based drink or a Capri Sun. Lemonade costs a bit more, and I chose that for a refreshing way to enjoy the meal. Although I was able to get a sauce, I preferred dipping the chicken into the mashed potatoes for extra flavor. It also came with some stickers, which I knew my toddler would love. The meal offers a nice balance of protein, carbohydrates, and a touch of sweet and tart from the lemonade.
Methodology
I examined every fast food restaurant in my vicinity to determine which offered children’s meals. There are probably more available, particularly if youconsider local fast food restaurants, and some, such as Taco Bell, do not currently provide children’s meals.
To be included on this list, items needed to achieve a balance between taste, variety, serving size, and cost. Due to the vast number of meals I had to eat along with the travel involved, it took me four days to visit all the locations.
Read the original article on Tasting Table.
