Food recommendations

[Lu Lu]

As much as I love to go with the flow on holiday, we often find that we end up wandering aimlessly trying to find something to eat and then go somewhere expensive and poor and so I am hoping to have a few recommendations up my sleeve for our trip.

If anyone has any that meet the following criteria in the right places I would love to hear them!

What we need:
Places that don't cost the earth - i know it's not cheap to eat in the US but don't have a never ending budget!
Places that welcome children - aged 10 and 7
Places that have a good childrens menu (not just burgers, chicken strips and pasta, although that would be OK for some as long as not all meals)
Different types of cuisines are fine but my kids won't sit down and eat Chinese/ Japanese etc so that's out for us unless we get takeaway.
Places that don't charge a fortune for wine :-)

We are staying in:
San Francisco - 3 nights
Monterey - 3 nights
Pismo Beach - 1 night
Los Angeles (very north in Tarzana) - 3 nights
Las Vegas - 4 nights (I will be using myvegas rewards to get some bogof buffets and maybe some restaurant credit here)

Thanks all!

[daytonababe]

Vegas buffets aren't great value for kids imo . The 10 yr old will have to pay adult prices . Even with BOGOF buffets the costs for the 2 your paying for can be more than paying for 4 off strip .

In Vegas if you have a car eat off of the strip sometimes it will save you a fortune . Strip buffets for 4 at night on the strip cost us 4 about $140.. off strip ( 10 mins away ) at South Point for example the buffet costs us 4 about $60 .
Egg works off the strip is good value too.

Denny's / In N out burger / Pinks Hot dogs / smash burger / Panda Express / outback / Hooters/ Planet Hollywood /Cabo Wabo /Margaritaville are places we eat in Vegas but yes the children's menus are limited as they are anywhere . Buffets if we have them are always off strip at South Point / Red Rock / Green Valley as they are so much cheaper .

LA has all the usual chains too and prices the same as elsewhere from what I've seen when I've been there.

[DisneyBelle1105]

You definitely need to try In N Out burger. Bubba Gumps, they have lovely ones in SF and Monterey.

The best place we have EVER eaten is at Grand Central market in Downtown LA. Google it, its all kinds of amazing!

[daytonababe]

In N Out burger is fab , costs us $22 for the 4 of us , excellent value .

[tocpe321]

Paying attention here.



In n out Burger sounds great and we already love Denny's.

SF Bubba Gumps would be nice. Enjoyed the one at City Walk in Florida.

[rusty30]

The Cheesecake Factory. They will do a half / kids portion of almost all of their main meals (and there are A LOT!). It's superb value, massive portions and you can get Cheesecake to go if you are too full!

There are several in LA & Vegas. It's probably my favourite place to eat in LA - the Marina del Rey one is in a lovely setting on the harbour. There is a beach with a kids playground too where your younger ones can let off some steam!

Crappy phone pic I took in Dec !

[daytonababe]

Originally Posted by tocpe321

Paying attention here.



In n out Burger sounds great and we already love Denny's.

SF Bubba Gumps would be nice. Enjoyed the one at City Walk in Florida.

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Smash burger at the South Outlets in Vegas is fab too , cost us $52 for 5 adult meals but well worth it . Much nicer than the likes of Five Guys.

[KarenG]

My kids really liked Mon Ami Gabi (Paris) and Nine Fine Irishmen (NY) (and were made extremely welcome at both places).

[tocpe321]

Originally Posted by daytonababe

Smash burger at the South Outlets in Vegas is fab too , cost us $52 for 5 adult meals but well worth it . Much nicer than the likes of Five Guys.

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Sounds nice.

[Disney Wishing]

For SF we enjoyed Pier Market on Pier 39 and also Boudin's Cafe was pretty good. Both have a children's menu.