Concerns regarding SNAP benefits following the recent United States government shutdown have forced restaurants to take action by offering free children's meals; which ones can you still take advantage of?
When SNAP benefits expired on Nov. 1, 2025, many establishments offered help for families struggling to feed their loved ones. These included TGI Fridays, which held a "Kids Eat Free" promotion to assist SNAP recipients from Nov. 6 to Nov. 20.
SNAP Benefits Cuts
At the time, the promotion worked by allowing families who dined in to be eligible to receive one free kids' meal with each adult entree they bought. The offer was valid at participating U.S. locations and was limited to one kids' meal per adult per day.
There were also other restaurants that offered assistance for SNAP recipients, with some still ongoing. These include Cody's Original Roadhouse, which offers customers one free kids' meal per adult entree purchased on Tuesday nights, according to Today.
Read more: Government Shutdown Threatens Childcare Services for Many Families Across the United States
Denny's is also taking part, as the company announced a new Kids Eat Free promotion that will be available every day between 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with the purchase of an adult entree. Huddle House lets children eat free on Mondays and Tuesdays with every purchase of an adult entree.
Another establishment that is offering support is Main Event, which is where children aged 12 and under can eat free all day with the purchase of any menu item worth $11.99 or more on Tuesdays.
Restaurants Offering Free Kids' Meals
Chicken Salad Chick is also joining after it announced that on Tuesdays, it would be offering free meals for children at all locations. What makes this promotion even better is that there is no purchase necessary and "no questions asked" until SNAP benefits are completely restored, Restaurant Business Online reported.
The company said that it does not intend to take sides or make the offer political, adding that it simply believes that no child should go hungry. The only restriction for this promotion was that it was limited to one kids' meal per child, and could only be used for dine-in.
Other than major chains, many local businesses, including those in Texas, stepped in to make sure that children have food to eat. Biundo's Pizzeria in Venus offered free cheese pizzas every Tuesday for families who provided their SNAP card, an ID, and brought a child.
The owners, Vince and Jennifer Biundo, said that with more than 3.5 million Texans, with roughly 1.7 million children, affected by the temporary SNAP benefits pause, they felt compelled to provide assistance, as per NBC DFW.
